This is a record of an interview with Tai Qi, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Nature. This account reflects upon his life, which began approximately in the early years of the Republic of China. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on December 10, 2020.
Tai Qi speaks:
". I have guarded this mountain for many years, maintaining its integrity and ensuring it was not easily destroyed. I am the Yushan Mountain God, named Tai Qi—Tai is my surname, and Qi is my given name. I was a native Taiwanese, born around the early years of the Republic of China. I was a lone wanderer—I never married in my life, choosing instead to dedicate my existence to watching over this mountain.
A Life Among the Peaks
When I was alive in the human world, this mountain was incredibly beautiful in my eyes. I loved to climb. Whenever I had time off, I would pack my gear and spend two days and one night trekking. Every time I ascended, my heart would feel exceptionally joyful; it was as if the fatigue of the entire week could be released into the mountain forests. My steps were light, my body was supple, and I could move across the terrain with great speed.
I climbed every single week, so I was intimately familiar with the mountain. Many times during my climbs, I rescued hikers who had gotten into trouble. Because they were unfamiliar with the trails, were first-time climbers, or did not understand their own physical limits, they would often encounter dangerous situations halfway up the mountain. Fortunately, I was very experienced. No matter what problem they faced, I could help them in the shortest time possible. Furthermore, every time I climbed, I would inspect the forest to see where protection was needed. As soon as I found a spot, I would mark it and find a way to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, ensuring that no part of the mountain was damaged and maintaining its most primitive, pristine appearance.
The Impermanence of Life
I always believed that because I climbed and exercised every week, my body would remain robust. I never imagined that my lifespan would be so short. When it is time for a person to die, there is no need for a specific reason, nor does one need to suffer from a major illness. Once your allotted time in the world is exhausted, any method can cause you to stop breathing. This was a realization I had while I was alive, having watched so many friends pass away, and now, experiencing my own unexpected death at a young age. Life is truly full of impermanence.
I died at the age of thirty-seven, right here in Yushan. That day, I was fully geared up as usual, preparing to climb. My body was healthy, I had no illnesses, my stamina was excellent, and with so many years of climbing experience, there was really no great danger. However, it was very strange that day. Only thirty minutes into the climb, my head began to spin. I saw many illusions before my eyes, and I became confused about where I was standing. It felt as if I were in the forest, yet also somewhere else. The images before me were blurry and shifting constantly; I was completely disoriented. Within seconds, my body collapsed to the ground. There were a few hikers behind me who saw me fall from a distance and rushed over to help. I heard them calling, 'Sir! Sir! Are you alright?' I had no strength to answer them, and I quickly lost .
Becoming the Mountain God
The moment my spirit left my body, I felt a force supporting my soul. This force was kind, and it seemed as if it wanted to help me. Under the protection of this power, I slowly regained clarity.
'Welcome to the new Mountain God!' Many spirits of the forest—the tree gods, flower gods, grass gods, stone gods, and other sentient beings of the mountain—all spoke these words to me. I looked at myself in astonishment. I was sitting in the center of the peak of Yushan. I had become the Yushan Mountain God! I had died? I found it hard to believe that I had died just like that, and I found it even harder to believe that I had become the Mountain God of Yushan! To be the Mountain God was an honour for me, and I was happy that I could continue to stay in Yushan to fulfill my duty of guarding and protecting it.
The Hidden Spirits of the Mountain
After I lost my physical body, became a spirit, and assumed the role of the Mountain God, I finally saw the mountain in its entirety. I was shocked. I realized that within this mountain I loved so much, there were so many souls existing. These souls were all suspended in the space of the mountain, and many were in the midst of undergoing retribution.
The forest was filled with various types of spirits: ghosts that had remained in the mountain space from ancient times to the present, gods, demons, spirits, and even beings that had cultivated into monsters or sprites, as well as evil spirits—they were all in this mountain. Every person who came to climb the mountain could not escape being possessed by these spirits. Even monsters and sprites could enter a human body, using it to live in this world once again. I once saw a middle-aged woman who loved to dress up. Her thoughts were not upright, and she often harbored evil intentions. When she first came to climb Yushan, she was encountered by a fox demon in the forest. This was not a mere coincidence; it was a Causal Condition from past lives. I could not stop such things from happening because my duty was only to protect the mountain. Within reasonable limits, I could protect the safety of hikers, but if it was a matter of personal cause and effect, I had no authority to interfere. I watched with my own eyes as a fox demon entered this woman. The makeup on her face actually looked very similar to the demon spirit; perhaps their temperaments were somewhat alike! The woman's own spirit was actually no longer within her body. After the demon entered, she was completely replaced by it, becoming a demon living in the world. Ordinary people could not discern this; only those sensitive to spiritual matters could observe it from the subtle details.
Waiting for Deliverance
Looking at all the beings in the mountain, as the Mountain God, I felt very sad to see everyone trapped in the space of the mountain, unable to leave. Now, more and more people are obsessed with mountain climbing, and their souls remain in the forest. I am also a spirit, and I had no ability to help these spirits find liberation, but I held a belief in my heart. I believed that one day, someone would surely come to save everyone. I waited and waited. During this long wait, no matter how the world changed, I continued to guard the mountain.
After waiting for nearly sixty years, one day, I suddenly saw a light appear within Yushan. I was astonished: 'What light is that?' I immediately went to investigate. At that time, I saw the of Practitioner Su. I did not know Practitioner Su, nor did I know why he appeared in Yushan or what his purpose was. All the spirits in the forest were also unfamiliar with him; everyone felt he was a stranger. I observed continuously, and from the light on Practitioner Su's body, I guessed that he must have come to save everyone. Gradually, I began to see some ghosts in the forest following the golden light of Practitioner Su, batch after batch, more and more. It was then that I confirmed that Practitioner Su was truly a living Buddha who had come to save us all.
The Salvation of the Demon Crowds
I was so happy that the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su could come to Yushan. Every time before Practitioner Su arrived, I would kneel and wait. I prayed that Practitioner Su would save these spirits in the mountain who could not find liberation, including the demon crowds pressed beneath the mountain. These demon crowds had existed under the seabed long before Yushan was pushed up by tectonic plates. It was only when the mountain was thrust upward that they were exposed above the sea level, but they had absolutely no ability to change their situation; they were simply continuously pressed beneath the mountain. When Practitioner Su arrived, their eyes all lit up as they looked at him, hoping he would help them escape from beneath the mountain. Many of them had been pressed there for thousands, even hundreds of millions of years. There were actually many demon crowds who knew they were wrong and wished to repent, but because they were still repaying their sins, they had to remain pressed beneath the mountain. Under the illumination of Practitioner Su's Buddha-light, they finally saw a glimmer of hope for salvation. Those who repented and were willing to change their ways chanted the Buddha's name along with the sound of the Buddha-name chanting, and they were able to leave from beneath the mountain. When they were first rescued, their spirits were still flat, having been pressed for too long, and they could not immediately return to their original form. After a while, they recovered their original appearance and followed the golden light brought by Practitioner Su to depart.
A Decision to Leave
Now, I see spirits in Yushan being saved by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su every day. I also chant the Buddha's name along with them. Until today, I have listened to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks for several years. Originally, I wanted to continue guarding Yushan, but when I understood the truth of being reincarnated, I decided to leave. I must be reborn to study the Buddha’s teachings and possess a Dharma Body like Practitioner Su; only then will I have the ability to save the spirits in the mountain forests. As a small Mountain God, I cannot exert any power at all, so I have decided to follow the golden light of Practitioner Su and depart.
I kneel once more to express my gratitude to Practitioner Su, thanking him for saving so many spirits in Yushan.
Namo Amituofo."
The interview content was received by the disciple Shi Fa Jing.
Memorial Tablet: The immeasurable spirits in the forests of Yushan, Taiwan, in uncountable numbers. Representative: Mountain God Tai Qi (seeking purification and restoration).
Entering the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
