The Fragmented Soul: A Soldier's Cycle of Rebirth

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Augustine, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life as a soldier and his subsequent cycles of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on April 10, 2020.

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"Is there anyone here who is willing to accept an interview?"

The Beings speak:

"We have been waiting here for a very long time! We came in massive swarms specifically to catch your attention. Otherwise, because we are so light and so small, it is far too easy for us to be overlooked or accidentally crushed underfoot. You humans here are truly kind; to avoid stepping on us, you walk gently around us. We thank you for that!"

The Fragile Existence of a Three-Tiered Being

"We gather here because, within this vast expanse of light, there is a fragrance emanating that is particularly alluring to us. We only need water to survive. We have two long legs that we use to glide through the water, and on our backs, near our legs, are two wings. We can open these wings to fly. When we encounter danger, we can flip over, expose our white bellies, and play dead. We remain perfectly still, tricking our predators into believing we have already perished, allowing us to evade danger and preserve our lives. Then, we quickly flip back over and hop about. Our legs are not strong enough to allow us to crawl forward; we can only use the strength of our bodies to vibrate and shift sideways."

"We know you are curious about us, as you have never seen such creatures before and do not know what to call us. We ourselves do not know the name for what we have become. Because we can fly in the air, hop on the ground, and swim in the water, you might as well call us 'three-tiered beings.' We are like plankton, yet we are more advanced than plankton, and our lives are slightly longer. However, we still perish after only a few days—a few sunrises and sunsets. If you step on us, we bleed, which shows that we are creatures who also possess blood and tears."

A Soldier's Shattered Soul

"You are likely curious about who would end up as such a creature. Let me introduce myself. My name is Augustine. I was a soldier trained for land, sea, and air combat. I underwent rigorous military training, which allowed me to pilot fighter jets and soar through the skies. I was also agile on land, capable of leaping, crawling, and finding cover to remain undetected by enemy forces before launching a surprise attack. I could also swim through water to cross enemy lines and escape danger. Because of this, I killed countless enemies. This very land was once our training base. After completing our training, we were dispatched by the state to fight. You could say we were an elite unit; one of us was worth dozens of ordinary soldiers."

"It was because of this that, when I went to the battlefield, I was caught in a battle where I failed to dodge an explosive attack. My body was blown to pieces. I felt my own soul being shattered into fragments as well, and each broken piece of my soul became one of these creatures. Ever since that moment, I have spent my entire existence in this body, hopping, flying, and swimming. I no longer know how many lifetimes or how many years have passed; I have been this creature for as long as I can remember."

The Call of the Golden Light

"We heard that recently, there are humans here who possess a golden light, who can lead us to a world of brightness, and who can save us from living this current life. That is why we were drawn here, waiting to see when our wish might be fulfilled. Of course, we killed countless enemies, and the military honours we earned in life have resulted in this humble, easily crushed fate after death."

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"I can help you write memorial tablets. Once you enter the tablets, Practitioner Su will strike the large chime bowl, and the resulting vibrations will allow you to enter the world of light. Today, we are holding the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies. You can participate in them, and you will be able to shed your current form and no longer suffer in this way!"

Words of Namo Amituofo

Namo Amituofo speaks:

"The lives of beings on the bloody path are thin and fragile. Throughout your many lives, you suffer in every passing second."

"The Buddha-name and memorial tablets manifest the power of the Buddha. Be liberated from karmic retribution and receive deliverance."

"Only hope that the Buddha-name enters your ear-roots. In the end, there will be a day when you attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land."

This interview message was written down by the disciple of the Buddha, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo.