The Glowing Character: A Testimony of Venerable Qin Taihe

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Qin Taihe, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,980 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on August 21, 2018.

Venerable Qin Taihe speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I was born into a family of profound poverty. Both my father and mother bore physical disabilities; my father was missing an arm, and my mother was born mute. My father worked tirelessly to support us, but finding employment was a constant, agonizing struggle. He would often secure work for a short time, only to be let go, as few employers were willing to hire a man with only one arm. We lived in a state of perpetual uncertainty, never knowing if we would have enough to eat the following day.

A Lesson in the Dust

Though we had no money for formal schooling, my father was determined that I should learn. He would say, 'I never had the chance to attend school, but a kind soul once taught me how to read. I will pass on every character I know to you, so that you may have a better understanding of the world.' Since we could not afford paper or brushes, we practiced in the sand of our courtyard. We learned stroke by stroke, accumulating characters one by one, and in that humble space, I began to grasp the beauty of language.

Among the characters my father taught me, one stood out with a profound, inexplicable resonance: the character for 'Buddha'. When my father first wrote it, he had not yet told me what it was. I asked him, 'Why is this character glowing?' My father looked at me in confusion, thinking I was playing a game. I repeated, 'This character is glowing; it emits a light that warms my heart.' This time, he heard me clearly and laughed, though he was puzzled. He turned to my mother and said, 'This child may have a deep karmic affinity with the Buddha.'"

The Mystery of the Glowing Character

"I asked my father, 'What is a Buddha?' He could not answer. In our village, the Buddha’s teachings had never been introduced, so he knew nothing of them. He only told me, 'A Buddha is a distant, sacred, and revered idol, but I do not know what it truly is.' My father could not explain the character, but because it radiated such genuine, ethereal light, I became consumed with curiosity. I decided that if I ever had the chance, I would seek out the Buddha myself, no matter how far I had to travel.

When I was in my teens, I planned to leave home to ask if anyone knew of the Buddha, but my father stopped me. He felt I was grown and should spend my time working to support the family, rather than chasing an unknown concept. As it happened, my father found work as a farmer, and he asked me to help. He told me the landlord was a kind man, and perhaps one day we could rent a small plot of land to grow our own vegetables and sell them at the market to become self-sufficient.

A Life of Gratitude

From then on, I worked the fields with my father, and our lives grew more stable. After years of frugality, we saved enough to rent a small plot from that kind landlord. He not only gave us a very low rent but told us that if we could not pay, we could wait until we had the money. My father and I were filled with gratitude for his care and support. We treated the land with reverence, knowing it was our lifeline.

Once we began farming, we took our harvest to the local market. A vegetable seller there eventually passed his stall on to us. We did not earn much, but it was enough to maintain our household and keep us from the brink of starvation. It was a simple, quiet life, yet my heart remained restless, always searching for the source of that glowing light I had seen as a child."

The Insect That Spoke

"One day, while I was selling vegetables, I noticed a large insect on a bunch of greens held by a female customer. She screamed in terror. I reached out to grab the insect to throw it on the ground, but it let out a sound. I thought it was the customer, but when I glanced at her, she looked bewildered. I prepared to throw the insect again, and this time, I heard it clearly—the insect itself was making the sound. I asked the customer, 'Did you hear that?' She shook her head in confusion. I knew what I had heard, and I dared not throw it away, for I felt a strange connection to it.

Just then, a monk with a shaved head walked by. He told me, 'This insect is also a Buddha.' I stared at him, stunned. 'A Buddha?' This was the first time I had heard that word in our village. I asked him, 'Why do you say this insect is a Buddha?' The monk replied, 'All things possess spirit and Buddha-nature. Every spirit is originally a Buddha, only reincarnated according to their individual karma.'"

The Path to the Temple

"I did not fully understand what he meant, but I watched as he chanted 'Namo Amituofo' for the insect and spoke words I did not comprehend. He then told me, 'I have performed the refuge for this insect; it can shed its insect body and need not be an insect again.' I was completely bewildered. How could a few words change its destiny? What would it become? I had so many questions, but the monk was leaving. I abandoned my stall and followed him, desperate to understand and to learn about the Buddha.

I followed him deep into a mountain I knew of but had never entered. I was surprised to find people living there. He led me into a simple house where I saw other monks and a large statue. I stood silently before it, feeling it radiating light. A monk approached and told me, 'This is Namo Amituofo.'"

The True Meaning of Compassion

"Once I knew the Buddha was there, I visited often after selling my vegetables. I learned that these men were monks practicing in the temple. After listening to many lectures, my understanding of the Buddha’s teachings grew. One day, my master told me, 'You are also a Buddha. Do not forget to find the Buddha-nature within your own heart.' I asked, 'How do I find it?' He replied with one word: 'Compassion.' When I asked how to be compassionate, he said, 'View all things as one with yourself. Help them recognize the Buddha and achieve liberation from the cycle of rebirth. This is true, great compassion.'

Gradually, I learned to treat every customer, every object, every vegetable, and every insect with a compassionate heart, for they were all spirits worthy of respect. I began to care for my customers, introducing them to the Buddha’s teachings, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo."

A Vow to Save All Beings

"One day, I read a book on the laws of karma and cause and effect. I finally understood why my parents suffered from disabilities—it was the fruit of causes from past lives. I realized the importance of chanting, learning, and transforming the heart to help all beings reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I made a great vow to help beings leave suffering behind and to save every soul lost in the cycle of rebirth.

Through my transformation, my parents became interested in the Dharma. They eventually joined me at the temple, and later, they allowed me to become a monk. Years later, I became a monk myself, spending my days teaching and delivering sentient beings. An insect opened my Buddha-nature, and I hope everyone learns compassion, finds their true self, practices diligently, and seeks rebirth in the Western Pure Land."

The Compassion of Practitioner Su

"Though sentient beings in their ignorance have harmed the body of Practitioner Su, she remains compassionate, bearing the pain of her injured foot to continue the work of Chao Du for all spirits. Her Dharma Body remains unaffected by this injury; she moves freely and swiftly through the universe, leaping and turning with ease.

Today, Practitioner Su continues to save the spirits of the universe. The sound of the Buddha-name touches every soul, and they follow the Buddha-light with hearts full of gratitude. Those who seek liberation are quickly guided to the Western Pure Land. Through the compassionate deliverance of Practitioner Su, every day is a day of great joy, as countless spirits depart for the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, leaving all suffering behind. I am eternally grateful to the Buddha for his great compassion."

Namo Amituofo.