The Grain of Sand in the Zhuoshui River

This is a record of an interview with Sha Luo Qing Ze, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately fifty years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on November 17, 2020.

Sha Luo Qing Ze speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Sha Luo Qing Ze. I spent my life working in the sand and gravel industry. In Taiwan, people often said that hauling sand was a very lucrative business. I started following my father into the trade when I was just a young boy, and we frequented the area around the Zhuoshui River constantly. Fifty years ago, this region was teeming with people in the sand business. It was a rough world; everyone involved had to have some sort of connection to the underworld, or 'black' background, just to keep their operations running smoothly. Otherwise, it was nearly impossible to survive in that line of work.

People were constantly fighting and scheming for profit. It was the most terrifying side of humanity I have ever witnessed. I drove a sand truck, but I never liked the violence or the brawling. I refused to get involved with those criminal elements, choosing instead to just keep my head down and do my job honestly. I was a simple man, just trying to make a living, but in that environment, even that was a struggle."

A Life Cut Short by the Storm

"I drove those sand trucks for over a decade. From the moment I turned eighteen and earned my driver's licence, my father handed the reins over to me, and I took on the work myself. I spent years travelling back and forth, hauling loads across the region, never once suspecting that my life would end in a horrific road accident. One day, while I was out on a delivery, a typhoon struck. I do not even know what happened to the truck—it suddenly went completely out of control. It started to skid, and before I could even process what was happening, we slammed into the side of the road.

Because I was driving at a high speed, I had absolutely no time to react. The entire vehicle lost control and flipped over several times. I was crushed beneath the weight of the truck and died instantly. It was a truly gruesome way to go. I had never imagined that my life would end so abruptly while I was just trying to do my job. There were so many things I had not planned for, so many dreams left unfulfilled. Life is not something we can truly master; no matter how much I lamented my fate, I could never come back to life."

The Existence of a Grain of Sand

"After I died, my spirit descended into a void of total darkness. Later, I found myself transformed into a single grain of sand—and the strangest part was that this grain of sand could move around. I spent my days watching the other sand trucks passing by, loading and unloading, one after another. Sometimes, I would even be scooped up and carried away by a truck, but I would always find myself drawn back to the banks of the Zhuoshui River. Perhaps this was a form of attachment. Even when I was alive, when friends suggested I go elsewhere to find work, I remained stubborn, insisting on staying by the Zhuoshui River. I simply refused to leave.

Now that I was nothing more than a grain of sand, that same attachment remained. I was unwilling to leave this place. You could say that I had developed a deep, lingering affection for this riverbank, and I just could not let it go. If you had told me when I was alive that I would end up as a grain of sand, I would have laughed in your face—it sounds absolutely ridiculous, does it not? But it was the cold, hard truth. Human life is truly pathetic when you think about it—to live a whole life only to end up as a mere grain of sand!"

The Awakening and the Tornado

"Think about it—there are countless grains of sand along this entire river. That means there are countless spirits trapped here, just like I was. It is no wonder that I ended up in a fatal crash while hauling sand; I was surrounded by so much karmic debt. It was only recently that I finally awakened. I realised that in a job like mine, one really needs to perform good deeds to balance things out. For someone like me, who never did any good, when impermanence arrived, there was no escaping the calamity.

The fact that I am able to speak to you all today is a truly miraculous situation. One day, I saw a massive tornado rise up from the Zhuoshui River and the surrounding banks. It swirled for a very long time. At the time, I could not see clearly what was happening; I only knew that the entire space seemed to be undergoing a profound change. Faintly, I could hear the sound of someone chanting Namo Amituofo. After the tornado passed, I saw that the entire river had become much brighter, as if it had been washed clean by pure water. It was an inconceivable power. This happened for several days in a row, so I decided I had to find out what was going on."

A New Beginning in the Western Land

"When the tornado appeared again, I threw myself into it. The power was truly extraordinary. I felt as if I were being pulled out by an invisible force. I was terrified, but I did not forget to chant Namo Amituofo. When everything finally calmed down, I discovered that I had arrived in a completely new place. The people around me told me that this place is called the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

It is an incredibly pure and clean place. I felt as if my entire body had been washed clean. I was even wearing a full set of white clothes—the kind of clothes I had never worn in my entire life. Who would have thought that I would look so presentable? My whole being seems to have gained a sense of dignity and refinement. This place is so majestic, and I feel as though I have become decades younger.

Since arriving here, I have gradually begun to understand the Buddha’s teachings. Every day, I listen to the Dharma talks, and after hearing so many truths, I finally realise how much karma I created throughout my life! I am so grateful that I made the right decision to come here. I am deeply thankful to Practitioner Su for his compassion in helping me, and for helping so many other beings. People truly do not realise that they are constantly creating karma. No one explains the Dharma as clearly as Practitioner Su does. We were all like lost souls, with no one to guide us, completely unaware that we were doing things wrong.

Coming here to practise is the greatest stroke of luck in my existence. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for saving us. Namo Amituofo."

This interview was recorded by the disciple Shi Fa.