The Grain Merchant's Redemption

This is a record of an interview with Chen Yishan, a spirit who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Having attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, he reflects upon his past lives and his eventual transformation. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on November 17, 2024.

Chen Yishan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chen Yishan. I am filled with such joy and gratitude to have this opportunity for liberation today. I will practise diligently, learn more to elevate myself, and then I will go forth to help others. I offer my deepest thanks to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the prison guards, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

A Life Built on Greed

My name is Chen Yishan, and this is a story about the profound lessons I learned through the laws of karma and cause and effect during my cycles of rebirth. I once lived a life where I could not empathise with the suffering of others. I believed I was superior to everyone, and because of the negative causes I planted, I eventually tasted the bitter fruit of karmic retribution in samsara.

I was once a famous merchant in town, possessing great wealth and managing several grain shops. To monopolise the grain trade, I was cunning and ruthless. I manipulated market prices to extract as much wealth as possible. I would hide the grain to manufacture a famine, then seize the opportunity to inflate prices, forcing the poor civilians to spend their last coins just to buy their daily rations.

For those who could not afford the high prices, I felt absolutely no compassion. I simply believed that their poverty was their own fault and that they deserved to suffer.

The Heart of a Merchant

One year, the town suffered a severe drought. The harvests failed, grain was scarce, and the lives of the people became increasingly difficult. I took advantage of this by hoarding everything. I locked up all the grain in my warehouses, selling it only to those who could pay exorbitant prices. Some poor families were so hungry they became gaunt and pale, and the sound of their wailing filled the streets. Yet, my heart remained unmoved. Instead of pity, I felt a sense of pride, thinking myself a clever man for finding a way to get rich in such desperate times.

Once, an old woman came to my shop with her young grandson. She begged me to give them some grain, as they had not eaten a full meal in days. She pleaded with me, even kneeling on the ground, hoping I would show mercy for the sake of her old age and the child's youth. But I impatiently scolded her: 'If you have no money, don't come here to buy grain! If you want charity, go to the temple!' I drove her away without a second thought, completely deaf to her tears and misery.

In my heart, money was supreme. The suffering of the people was not worth my attention. I secretly gloated, believing that because I controlled the grain, I controlled the fate of others. I did not realise that my greed and cold-heartedness were planting the seeds of a deep and heavy karmic retribution.

The Bitter Fruit of Retribution

Years later, due to long-term anxiety—as I was always obsessed with money—and an irregular diet, I fell gravely ill. There was no cure, and I eventually passed away. After death, my spirit arrived in the underworld to face the judgment of King Yama. He showed me all the evil deeds I had committed during my life: the families who starved because of me, the people I had driven to despair. Their wailing and tears appeared before me one by one.

King Yama said to me: 'Chen Yishan, you were greedy and deceitful in life. You hoarded grain and caused countless people to suffer. Now, you must pay the price for your actions.' Consequently, I was sentenced to be reborn as a mouse—a creature despised by all, forced to scramble for food just to survive.

The Life of a Scavenger

After being reborn as a mouse, I began a difficult journey. I was no longer the merchant who stood high above others; I was a mouse that was chased, beaten, and forced to hide in dark corners. To find food, I had to run through the streets every night. Sometimes I would sneak into a kitchen to steal scraps, but I was always chased by people, often struck with sticks, my body aching with pain.

I remember one time I crawled into a family's granary, hoping to steal some rice, but the owner discovered me. He grabbed a broom and beat me relentlessly. I fled in a panic, eventually having nowhere to run but into a sewer. My body was soaked in filth, and the feeling of hunger and cold was agonising. I finally understood the suffering of those who had starved because of my hoarding. Now, that same suffering had returned to me.

As a mouse, I not only had to endure hunger but also the constant threat of other animals. Once, while searching for food in a trash heap, I was spotted by a wild cat. It lunged at me, and though I tried to escape, it clawed my hind leg. I dragged my injured body into a small hole, trembling, filled with fear and helplessness. At that moment, I felt the fragility and insignificance of life. The pride and arrogance of my past were completely gone.

A Chance for Change

Years later, while searching for food, I was caught in a mousetrap and died from my injuries. My spirit returned to the underworld to face King Yama again. He looked at me and said earnestly: 'Chen Yishan, in your life as a mouse, you endured hunger and fear. This was the fruit of your greed and selfishness. Do you now understand that all lives are equal?'

I shed tears of regret, bowed to King Yama, and begged for a chance to be human again. I vowed to change my ways, to perform good deeds, and to make amends for my past sins. Seeing my genuine remorse, King Yama gave me another chance and allowed me to be reborn as a human.

In this lifetime, I was born into a poor farming family. My parents were hardworking and kind. Although life was difficult, they taught me how to treat others with kindness and how to cherish every grain of rice. I worked in the fields with them from a young age, learning the value of food and the hardship of labour. When I grew up, I decided to open a grain shop. This time, I did not aim for exorbitant profits. I sold grain at reasonable prices and offered even lower prices to help poor families.

The Path to Liberation

One year, the village suffered a drought. Many families could not afford grain, so I decided to distribute it for free to those in greatest need. Seeing the gratitude of those who received the grain filled my heart with satisfaction. I often offered food at the temple and fed stray animals on the street, especially mice. Whenever I saw hungry mice, I remembered my own experience, and my heart was filled with gratitude. I understood that these animals, like me, had the right to survive. I no longer viewed them as lowly creatures but as lives equal to my own.

Years later, the villagers called me 'Uncle Kind-Heart' because I was always willing to help others and gave of myself selflessly. In the final moments of my life, I lay quietly on my bed, my heart filled with peace. I knew that in this lifetime, I had finally found the way to change myself and was no longer trapped by the sins of the past. I closed my eyes and left this world with a smile, my spirit feeling a sense of release.

When I stood before King Yama again, my heart was quite calm. I waited quietly for his judgment. After a long time, I finally heard him smile and say: 'Stay here and serve for a while! Consider it a form of learning, and a way to see more of the suffering of sentient beings.' I thanked King Yama, happy for this opportunity to continue changing, and looked forward to further learning and growth.

During my service, I truly witnessed the suffering of many beings and realised the pain of life, which made my heart more determined to seek liberation. Later, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks here. Every word touched my heart, and I knew I had to seek liberation. Today, I have finally received the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This opportunity is extremely rare and magnificent! I will cherish it well and continue to practise diligently. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Chen Yishan, with palms joined.