The Healer's Vigil: From Medicine Stone to Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Liu Yishan, a physician from the Han Dynasty who sought Spiritual 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 1,809 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on February 27, 2026.

Liu Yishan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. In my youth, the figure I admired most was the hero Xiang Yu of the Chu State. There is a famous poem that says, 'In life, be a hero among men; in death, be a hero among ghosts. To this day, we think of Xiang Yu, who would not cross the river east.' Although that poem was written by a poet many years after my time, the spirit of Xiang Yu was already legendary. Even though I was born during the decline of the Han Dynasty, I had heard whispers of the chaotic Warring States period. Whether from the village scholars or through the characters I struggled to decipher in old books, it became known to all that I, Liu Yishan, idolised Xiang Yu and took him as my model.

The Simple Life of a Rural Youth

Back then, we village children knew little of what happened beyond our borders. The most recent news came from the volunteer armies passing through. They were farmers like us, wearing yellow headscarves, yet their martial bearing was quite different from our own. Our land was fertile, so few in our village joined the uprising. We lived comfortably, far from the reach of the Emperor. Most of us did not even know the location of the county magistrate's office a few dozen miles away. We simply farmed, traded, and lived. A few families had children who could study for a few years, eventually becoming teachers or seeking their fortunes elsewhere.

I was originally an unknown boy, practising martial arts at home, inspired by the spirit of Xiang Yu. My parents would shake their heads, urging me not to be so ambitious. They believed farming was the best life—simple, happy, and secure, especially with the abundant water and fertile soil along our river. I often asked myself: Why practise martial arts? Why follow the spirit of Xiang Yu? What was it about him that was worth learning? I was young and understood little, yet I felt a burning need to seek something greater.

A Heart for Justice

As I grew, I realised that my heart reacted strongly to injustice. Even as a child, I wanted to act with chivalry, though I lacked the power to do much. The most I could do was help the village elders with heavy lifting or home repairs. Yet, I could see that a heart for helping others had begun to sprout within me, and my curiosity about the wider world grew with every passing day.

Our home was in southern Jiangsu. We knew the volunteer armies were northern forces, aiming to resist the exploitation and injustice of the imperial court. Soon, our village was filled with anxiety. People debated whether we should join the volunteer armies to avoid being left behind or excluded from the shifting tides of history. Though I was young, I understood much, and with my parents' consent, I set out alone to explore the world beyond our village. I travelled north, aiming for the capital, Luoyang. Along the way, I saw the full spectrum of human life—the suffering, the poverty, and the misery of the people. My heart ached, yet I remained powerless to change it.

The Cruelty of War

Before long, the northern wars raged in full force. Every hero I knew occupied a piece of territory, each believing himself the rightful monarch, the one who could replace the Han royal house. At the time, I did not know who the true ruler was. However, as I walked the world alone, I began to reject war. In my childhood, I had romanticised the image of the hero in battle, but once I witnessed the true cruelty—the broken homes, the shattered nation, and the destitute lives of the people—I realised that war is never a good thing. It does not necessarily bring victory or stability to the people's lives.

I eventually settled in Xuzhou, seeking my own direction. I used my small savings to establish myself. Needing work to survive, I successfully applied to a pharmacy. The shop was run by an elderly doctor who, due to his age, needed someone to manage the daily chores while he focused entirely on treating patients. Working there was deeply fulfilling. The old doctor was a man of great virtue; he frequently gave to the poor and helped the sick and disabled in Xuzhou and the surrounding areas. He had little savings, living on two simple meals of rice a day. His selflessness and sincerity moved me, and I decided to stay, working alongside him to help others. As battles broke out, injured soldiers and civilians alike came to our shop for healing. I became his right-hand man, and together we managed that small pharmacy.

A Life of Healing

Those days were rich and meaningful. I slowly made qualitative progress in my medical skills, and the old doctor entrusted his entire knowledge to me without reservation. Thus, I, Liu Yishan, chose the path of medicine in a chaotic world, rather than the path of the sword. We worked silently for both soldiers and civilians. I never saved money for myself; any surplus was used to help the impoverished. We did not charge them, ensuring they had a chance to recover without worrying about food or shelter. Though I had few savings, I never lacked for anything. I believe this was Heaven's blessing upon those who are kind. Xuzhou was a strategic location, a place fought over by many, so generals, soldiers, and civilians came to us in an endless stream. I even saw Cao Cao and Liu Bei pass through, and watched their teams reside there for a time.

After the old doctor passed away, I, as his adopted son, took over the pharmacy and never left until my own death. Everyone knew I was a good physician, so they kindly buried me in the suburbs outside Xuzhou. My spirit quickly entered the stone mortar I had used every day while I was alive. To my surprise, I saw the old doctor's presence there; he was in another mortar stone next to mine, smiling at me and watching the bustling city of Xuzhou. Before I died, I had gifted the pharmacy to a kind-hearted person who continued to run it, and there we two old doctors sat.

The Long Vigil

We sat there for many springs and autumns. A century later, the pharmacy became other shops, yet our spirits remained guarding those mortar stones, never leaving Xuzhou. We silently emitted good energy into every medicine, hoping that those who consumed it would be cured of all illnesses and never need to rely on medicine again. This went on for a very long time. The mortar stone was my home, and I never thought to leave. Even as a spirit, my world remained simple, without unnecessary thoughts.

Not long ago, a great light shone throughout Xuzhou. Many spirits looked up in curiosity, wondering what was happening. In the pharmacy where I resided, there were many medicine spirits—even those hidden in wooden boxes or cabinets could feel the power of this light and poked their heads out to see. The old doctor and I followed the crowd of spirits, looking toward the light, and naturally, we followed it. Before long, we arrived in another world. We later learned this is called the Western Land of Dharma Nature, the world of the Buddha. We had heard of the Buddha, but never knew we could reach His world. We were so joyful and moved; we had the blessings to arrive in such a beautiful place.

Gratitude for Deliverance

After slowly learning about the Buddha, I realised that Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su had come to the Saha world to save suffering souls like us. When I was a mortar stone, I did not feel I was suffering, but looking back, I see that while my life was fulfilling and I did good deeds, I had no direction for the future and did not know where I was going.

Knowing Namo Amituofo and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I finally understood where the home of the spirit truly is. The light and hope that Practitioner Su brings to us is something all people on Earth should cherish and hold dear. A place like the Western Land of Dharma Nature has not existed for thousands of years. We spirits are filled with Dharma-joy, knowing that many of our compatriots who followed us have also been saved. We join them in bowing to thank the Buddha, chanting the Buddha-name, and listening to the sutras. Looking back at the Xuzhou of my time, it seems there are fewer spirits in that space; many have been saved, though many still remain, lost and wandering. We long to help them, to help our fellow Chinese compatriots and people all over the world come to this world of light by following the Buddha-light. Then, everyone will be saved!

Liu Yishan carries a heart full of gratitude, thanking Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Liu Yishan"