The Dragon King's Journey to the Western Pure Land

The new North Sea Dragon King, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview, recorded on March 3, 2020, by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, recounts the events surrounding the rain-making in Toowoomba and the Dragon King’s subsequent deliverance.

The new North Sea Dragon King speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the newly appointed North Sea Dragon King. My father, the former King, has always held a place of supreme honour in my heart. He was a ruler deeply cherished by all the creatures of the North Sea and the subjects of the Dragon Palace. Through his immense boldness and his ability to balance strength with gentleness, he navigated many complex challenges and resolved them with great success.

A King's Legacy and a Divine Request

One day, he gathered us and shared a revelation. He spoke of Practitioner Su, who resides in the human world at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. He explained that Practitioner Su had cultivated his practice to such a level that he possessed the ability to guide beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, there was a condition: the drought and water shortages plaguing the Goombungee and Toowoomba regions of Australia, where the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is located, had to be resolved. This was a truly unique situation. In our tradition, it is usually only the people of China who know to seek rain from the Dragon Kings, yet here was a request for rain in a foreign land. For a Dragon King, the act of providing rain is a matter of protocol; one must petition the Jade Emperor, and upon receiving approval, we act according to the local conditions and the nature of the request.

When we heard this, we were filled with both joy and apprehension. We were joyful because never before had a rain-seeker possessed the capability to offer such a condition—the promise of leading the Dragon King and his subjects to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In our hearts, the Western Pure Land is the sacred realm where Namo Amituofo resides. It is not a place that ordinary divine beings can easily access, let alone enter and dwell within. Although the Dragon Palace is vast and comfortable, it cannot compare to the Western Pure Land—this is something known to all. More importantly, entering the Western Pure Land means escaping the cycle of rebirth. To have such an opportunity presented to us was truly inconceivable! Yet, we were also anxious, wondering if we could successfully complete this mission. Regardless, we knew we had to grasp this opportunity with all our might.

The Inconceivable Opportunity for Deliverance

The entire Dragon Palace became deeply concerned with the development of this matter, as it was inextricably linked to the future of our King and the fate of our realm. With the coordination of the Jade Emperor, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, and the deities of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, we began our work. Initially, the rainfall was insufficient, and Practitioner Su had to invite us back. This was because we were acting according to the laws of karma; the collective karma of the local residents meant they lacked the blessings to receive abundant rain, so we could only provide a modest amount. Later, through the wisdom of Practitioner Su, he used his awakened being's Dharma Body to perform Chao Du and taught the local creatures to respectfully chant the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo'. By using the Buddha's blessings and the meritorious power of the Buddha's name, he transformed the collective karma of the region. This allowed us, in accordance with the Truth and the Dharma, to bring down a bountiful rainfall to end the drought.

Practitioner Su fulfilled his promise exactly as he had stated. During the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, he successfully guided the Jade Emperor, the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, the deities of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, and all our subjects to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This was truly a joyous and celebratory occasion; everyone in the Dragon Palace was filled with boundless happiness!

The Power of the Holy Name and the Law of Karma

My father was five thousand five hundred years old, and I, as the prince, have lived for four thousand one hundred years. In the context of the Dragon race, this is considered an ordinary age. The Dragon race is also a member of the six realms of rebirth; therefore, our actions and words are governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect. We must take responsibility for our karma, and this is the Truth. The Truth is the standard that all things in the universe must abide by—this applies to humans, to the beings of the six realms, and to the Dragon race as well. Those who act in accordance with the Truth will find success, while those who act against it will face obstacles.

Therefore, education in the Truth must be spread widely so that sentient beings do not suffer from inadvertently violating it. When beings understand the Truth, they can abide by it and even exert the power of their lives to save others from suffering. This is exactly what Practitioner Su did. He understood the Truth and knew that the local residents lacked sufficient blessings and were burdened by collective karma. He adapted to the Truth and applied it flexibly, using the meritorious power of the Buddha's name to resolve their collective karma and helping the creatures to chant the Buddha's name and cultivate blessings. Combined with Practitioner Su's own meditative concentration and visualization skills for Chao Du, the rain-making was a success. If any one of these elements had been missing, the request for rain would have been difficult to fulfill. This is the preciousness of a practitioner who possesses both compassion and wisdom to save beings from suffering. To have encountered Practitioner Su is truly rare and a sign of immense blessings.

The Spirit of Universal Salvation

The North Sea region has existed since ancient times, passing through generations of Dragon Kings. Each generation has strived to maintain the safety of the sea and its creatures. As the times have changed, the hearts of people have also changed; they are no longer as simple and kind as they once were. However, the heart of Heaven that cherishes all living things remains unchanged. One must possess such a mind-capacity and do one's utmost to ensure the smooth operation of the Earth and the salvation of suffering beings. Just as Practitioner Su sought rain without distinguishing between nations—not for his own sake, but to resolve the suffering of beings—this spirit is the spirit of salvation. It is in accordance with the Truth and the laws of Heaven, which is why he received the recognition and assistance of the Jade Emperor, my father, and the deities, leading to the success of the rain-making.

Now, as the new North Sea Dragon King, I express my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their compassion. They have given my father, the many officials of the North Sea Dragon Palace, our subjects—the shrimp soldiers and crab generals—as well as the Jade Emperor and the deities, such a precious opportunity to be delivered and reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo."

This interview message was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.