The Healer Who Found the Ultimate Cure

This is a record of an interview with the venerable Guangmu, 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 now shares his profound journey from a life of worldly healing to the ultimate liberation of the spirit. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,765 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 11, 2019.

Guangmu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Guangmu. My mother was a remarkably skilled acupuncturist who travelled far and wide, dedicating her existence to treating the sick. She passed her medical knowledge down to me, and from a very young age, I followed her on her arduous rounds. Wherever there was illness, we would arrive with our medicine chest, ready to provide acupuncture and compassionate care to those in need, regardless of the distance or the difficulty of the terrain.

A Dream of a Universal Cure

I once had a vivid dream in which I was researching a herbal remedy—a medicine that could cure every ailment, no matter how severe or chronic. I believed with all my heart that this was not an ordinary dream, but a premonition. I was convinced that I was destined to develop this medicine to help the world. From the age of eleven, I began collecting and experimenting with various herbs, determined to find the perfect formula. I spent fifty years—from age eleven to sixty-one—in this relentless, singular pursuit.

During those five decades, I pushed myself to the brink of death repeatedly. I would intentionally expose myself to snake venom or induce incurable illnesses, only to test my latest concoctions on my own body. My life's goal was to create this cure, for I knew that if I succeeded, I could save everyone in the world. I was willing to sacrifice my own life to achieve this; even if I perished in the process, it would have been a price worth paying for the sake of all sentient beings."

The Legacy of a Mother's Compassion

"My spirit of service was inherited from my mother. To save others, she sacrificed her own happiness, even setting aside her marriage to my father to travel and heal. She often gambled with her own life to save a single patient. She would tell me, 'Every day is the most precious final day. I do not know when I might suddenly pass, but to save a life, it is all worth it.' Though I was heartbroken to see her suffer, I was deeply moved by her resolve. She taught me everything she knew so that I could continue her work.

When I was twenty, my mother contracted a mysterious illness that defied all our treatments. She suffered for an entire year, enduring agony that made her writhe on the ground. When her body burned, we soaked her in ice water; when she froze, ten quilts and a furnace could not stop her shivering. Yet, on her final day, she told me, 'Though this year has been painful, it was worth it. I have saved hundreds of lives with this one life of mine. I hope you will continue this path. It is difficult, but if we do not do it, who will help these suffering people?' I promised her then that I would dedicate my life to healing others as she had. After she passed, her words became my anchor whenever I felt like giving up."

The Turning Point: A Life Saved by the Buddha-Name

"At sixty-one, after a lifetime of testing my own formulas, I suffered a massive shock and collapsed, unable to breathe. I believed my time had come, and that I would leave this world with my dream unfulfilled. But I was saved by an elderly woman who chanted the Buddha's name. She brought me to her home on a wooden cart, chanting Namo Amituofo constantly and feeding me water that had been blessed with ten thousand recitations of the Buddha's name. When I finally awoke, she was still sitting by my bed, counting her prayer beads. I was overwhelmed with gratitude.

I began to follow her, learning the Buddha's teachings. It was then that I realised the true 'universal cure' was the holy name of Namo Amituofo. I revisited the thousands of patients I had treated over the years, only to find that my herbal remedies had only provided temporary relief; their illnesses had always returned. This time, I brought them the medicine of Namo Amituofo. I spent long hours explaining the Dharma, helping them understand the importance of seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Upon hearing that there was a place of ultimate bliss awaiting them, their anxious hearts found peace. Many passed away peacefully while chanting the Buddha's name, while others saw their health improve as they began to practise diligently. The power of the Dharma was undeniable, and it gave me the confidence to use the Buddha's teachings to save even more people."

Disciplined Practice in the Twilight Years

"At sixty-one, I knew it was late to begin formal practice, but I wasted no time. I retreated to the mountain forests to cultivate diligently. I would kneel on sharp stones while chanting to prevent drowsiness; I slept on gravel to ensure I did not oversleep; I studied the sutras in the freezing snow to detach myself from the cravings of the physical body. I used every method to overcome the obstacles of my aging body. Through this effort, my vitality returned, and my body became radiant with energy.

My dedication moved the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and I was eventually ordained in a monastery at the age of seventy. On the day of my tonsure, I clearly saw my mother standing beside me. She told me, 'For these past years, I have been listening to the Dharma beside Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. Now, through the merit of your ordination and your work to save others, I am able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.' I knelt and bowed in gratitude to the great compassion of Namo Amituofo.

I lived until the age of ninety-eight, passing away with a radiant smile as I was reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where my mother was already waiting to welcome me. My life reached its perfect conclusion, all thanks to the great compassion of Namo Amituofo."

The Infinite Reach of Chao Du

"Practitioner Su has made the same great vow as Namo Amituofo, performing Chao Du for the entire Dharma Realm and empty space. Now, she even uses her Dharma Body to perform this work throughout the universe. She has kindly opened the space connected to me, and the colours of this universe are truly magnificent—each realm possesses its own unique light, and they are filled with sentient beings waiting for deliverance.

I have transformed the single name of Namo Amituofo into an infinite force, saving these countless beings so they may be guided to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The space of the universe is becoming increasingly purified, a testament to the daily work of Practitioner Su. The Chao Du continues, expanding in scope and speed, with more members joining the ranks of saviours every day. I believe the time of the world's transformation is drawing near. Let us all continue to advance together. Namo Amituofo."