The Healing Power of the Buddha-Name

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Konagamana, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,605 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on June 7, 2018.

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"May I ask the Venerable from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, who protects Practitioner Su by her left leg, if one of you could share with us the details of the mission this morning, when you accompanied Practitioner Su to deliver sentient beings across the Milky Way? We are deeply grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of the Venerables."

Venerable Konagamana speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the 458th Venerable, Konagamana. I was born in India and attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land in the year 413 AD, which is 1,605 years ago from your current time. As a child, I was intellectually sharp, with reactions faster than most other children; my parents were often left speechless by the questions I posed to them. Then, one day, I suddenly lost my voice. It startled my parents, but I felt a strange sense of quietude. The days without speech were entirely different from my previous life; suddenly, the connection between the outside world and myself diminished. I began to see my own problems clearly. Since I had no interaction with the outside world, how were these problems to be solved? I kept these questions deep within my heart. Gradually, I lost the vitality a child should have. I often felt weary, powerless, and had no appetite; I would just stare blankly or lie in bed. Even when my parents called for a physician and I took the medicine, it had no effect. My voice did not return, and there was no improvement at all. Eventually, my parents were at their wits' end, and I slowly grew accustomed to living in a world without sound.

A Silent Life and the Call of the Buddha

From a young age, I loved to read, especially texts exploring the principles of life. Why do humans exist in this world? Why do we have our own views and thoughts? I wrote these questions down, and my parents answered that one must inherit the family business, continue the lineage, and live well in the human world. I read their answers and felt that life was tasteless. I did not want to ask any more questions, living one day at a time without purpose. One night, while I was in a drowsy, semi-conscious state, I dreamt that I arrived at a temple. The sound of 'Namo Amituofo' emanated from within, and each syllable struck deep into my heart. I listened quietly for a long time; having grown accustomed to silence, I followed along in my heart. When I finally regained consciousness and woke up, I remembered that Buddha-name. I chanted it in my heart, and to my utter astonishment, my mouth followed suit—I had produced a sound! I was shocked! I tried to speak other words, but not a single one would come out. I could only chant 'Namo Amituofo'. So, I chanted incessantly: 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo...' I spent the entire day chanting this one phrase. Although I did not understand the meaning of the Buddha-name, I chanted it with great joy. Later, when my parents called me, I would respond with 'Namo Amituofo', and my response to others was also 'Namo Amituofo'. If I heard or understood what someone said to me, I would respond with 'Namo Amituofo'. I was so happy; my mouth was filled with the name of Namo Amituofo all day long.

The Miracle of the Buddha-Name

About a year later, while I was chanting 'Namo Amituofo', my body experienced a great vibration. A surge of energy rushed through my entire being, radiating out from my head, and a breath of air was released from my throat. My whole body felt incredibly comfortable. I tried to speak, and to my amazement, I could produce sound! I could speak! It was the Buddha-name that saved me! My story spread through the streets and alleys. Suddenly, the Buddha-name was on everyone's lips; everyone knew that by constantly chanting 'Namo Amituofo', one could cure illnesses. Because of this causal condition, I felt that living in the human world held no further meaning, so I resolutely told my parents I wished to go to a temple. Afterward, I entered the path of practice. Because I was saved by this Buddha-name, I made a vow to use this same name to save others. Through the Buddha's blessings, people came to the temple in an endless stream to seek the Dharma. I kept the Buddha-name with me all day long; even when my mouth was silent, my heart never stopped chanting. At the age of sixty-seven, seven days before my passing, I knew the time of my departure in advance. I received the Buddha and the Western lotus platform, and attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

A Mission Beyond the Galaxy

The causal conditions today are magnificent. Under the compassionate leadership of Practitioner Su, we, 1,162 Venerables, flew across the Milky Way to save sentient beings. I had never imagined that I would have any connection to the Milky Way. As the Venerables in the lead surged forward, I saw a field of meteorites floating in the void. They seemed as if they were about to fall, yet they remained suspended in space. Looking closer, I realised that there were many small children beside the meteorites, their hands pressed against the rocks, their eyes fixed upon me. I could not help but stop. The children pointed with their fingers to the right, and I looked over to see a massive meteorite suspended in the air. They pointed to the left, and I looked to see another massive meteorite suspended there. A thought arose in my mind: 'What is happening here?' The children gestured and communicated a message: 'The energy of our planet is nearly exhausted. If the energy in one region runs out and it explodes, it will cause the entire planet to explode with it. Our method of self-rescue is to break the planet down into small, individual regions—the meteorites you see now—and find safe positions for each to settle. This way, if the energy in one region is depleted and it explodes, it will not implicate the other regions. In this manner, we still have a chance to find the energy required for our planet to survive.'

The Resonance of Past Lives

So that was it. I looked around and saw many meteorites orbiting me, though this was not happening to the other Venerables. I had a thought, and they received it, transmitting a message: 'It is because the magnetic field around you attracts us. Long ago, you once stayed on our planet, so the energy you radiate carries the message of our world, and we were attracted to orbit around you.' I asked, 'How long ago was this?' The message replied: 'Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep (searching)...' A number appeared: 11,623 years. Eleven thousand, six hundred and twenty-three years ago! Wow! An astronomical figure—over ten thousand years ago! I was stunned. The children gestured again: 'Save us!' I connected the link. That's right! Practitioner Su is currently performing Chao Du. The Buddha-name is constant in the surroundings, echoing through the void. I quickly sent out a mental message: 'Everyone, quickly chant the Buddha-name: Namo Amituofo! Keep chanting, keep chanting, and hurry toward the great light ahead where Practitioner Su is; you will be saved!' A message came back: 'But we have other planetary regions; we do not know where they have drifted. They may have already exploded, or perhaps they cannot make it here in time. Otherwise, we sent out a signal earlier hoping everyone could meet here to be saved; they should be coming. Your arrival a few days ago gave everyone a lot of energy and saved many!' This news spread, and the entire star system knew. Everyone was desperate to seek energy to save their lives.

Gratitude and the Path to the West

I replied, 'Time is limited. You must save yourselves first; quickly chant the Buddha-name and fly toward the front. As long as you enter the light, Practitioner Su can send you to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. There is an inexhaustible source of energy there that can save you. Hurry and go!' A message returned: 'Really?' I answered, 'Yes!' Then, a scene appeared before my eyes: the originally scattered planetary regions rapidly connected together to form a sphere, though several regions were missing, making the sphere appear irregular. Then, at a speed like a shooting star, it vanished from my sight. A moment later, I heard a mental message in the air: 'Thank you! Babadar!' I immediately understood that Babadar was the name I had on that planet over ten thousand years ago.

I quickly took a step forward, then another, to catch up with the team of Practitioner Su and the other senior Venerables. The Venerable beside me told me, 'You just stopped, and the children around you said they want to meet you in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss!' They have all entered Practitioner Su's sleeves and have been sent to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. After hearing this, my heart was filled with infinite gratitude! The 'unconditional compassion and the empathy of oneness' is truly manifested in the continuation of life across the stars in outer space. Gratitude to Namo Amituofo! Gratitude to Practitioner Su!'"

Namo Amituofo.