The Illusion of Life and the Path to Bliss

This is a record of an interview with the 376th Venerable, Gobada, who sought deliverance 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 in India approximately 1,860 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on June 13, 2018.

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"May I ask, among the 371st to the 380th Venerables, who would like to share their story today?"

Venerable Gobada speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the 376th Venerable, Gobada. I was born in India in the year 158 AD—that is 1,860 years ago from your current time. In those days, the Buddha’s teachings were the primary faith in India. I was born into a commoner family; my father and brothers were labourers, working the land. Generations of our family were trapped within the rigid caste system. No matter how talented or capable one might be, one could never escape the limitations imposed by that social structure. We had to obey the laws of the land and survive only within our assigned class. The monks, however, held the highest social status. Often, people of different castes were not even permitted to see one another. If a meeting was unavoidable, there had to be a barrier between us so that we would not face each other directly, lest we cause some perceived harm to those of a higher rank."

A Childhood Lost to the Wheels of Fate

"When I was eleven years old, my mother sent me to the market to ask a neighbour for some leftover vegetables to cook for our meal. I was running along, singing a song, feeling quite carefree. As I turned a corner, a horse-drawn carriage came rushing toward me. I could not stop in time. The horse’s front hooves struck me squarely, and after a sudden, dizzying flash of pain in my head, I collapsed. When I finally regained consciousness, I saw a brilliant light before me. The surroundings were opulent and magnificent, but I felt completely powerless, and my head throbbed with agony. A voice asked me, 'What is your name?' I tried to think, but I could not remember. The voice asked again, 'Where do you live?' Again, I could not recall. 'How old are you?' I was speechless; I could not remember anything. I just stared blankly at the person before me. I saw that he was an elder with a kind, compassionate face, and he told me to rest well."

"The elder and his wife had no children of their own, so they treated me as if I were their own son. From that day on, I grew up in their home. I had forgotten my past and even my own name. I learned to read and write, studied poetry, and fully integrated into this new family, eventually receiving a new name. My identity had changed completely; I had entered the life of the nobility, becoming the adopted son of this kind elder."

A New Life and the Call of the Dharma

"One day, a close friend of my adoptive father—a monk—visited our home to discuss various aspects of spiritual practice. My father was a great elder who was incredibly devoted to supporting the Dharma assemblies and providing offerings to the Sangha. I sat nearby, listening intently, and felt a deep yearning in my heart. Before the monk departed, he chanted, 'Namo Amituofo.' I was startled; the sound carried such immense power and resonance. I immediately told my father that I wanted to be just like that monk. My father was surprised, and he fell into deep thought. From that day forward, whenever he went to hear the Dharma or participate in a ceremony, he would take me along. I was always completely captivated by the dignified presence of the monks and their ability to answer any question with such clarity. Eventually, I became a lay practitioner under the guidance of my father’s teacher. My master was a dedicated practitioner of chanting Namo Amituofo. I was overjoyed to follow in my father’s footsteps as a protector of the Dharma, constantly chanting 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo' in my heart and with my lips."

The Unveiling of a Forgotten Past

"Like my father, I loved to practise generosity and protect the Dharma, and I remained unmarried my entire life. When I was about sixty years old, I was walking in the garden one afternoon, chanting the Buddha’s name, when suddenly, the scene of that day when I was eleven—the market, the carriage, and the loss of my memory—flashed before my eyes. My memories had returned. I immediately sent people to investigate my original home. But after nearly fifty years, the news that returned was devastating: a flood and a plague had struck the village, and almost everyone had perished. My family had likely been among those lost in that plague; not a single one survived. It had happened only a year after I lost my memory. Upon hearing this, my heart was filled with a thousand emotions. I sighed at the impermanence of life and the unpredictable nature of fate! If I had not gone out that day, if I had remained at home, I would have surely perished as well. I would not know which of the six realms of rebirth I might be wandering in now. How could I have ever had the opportunity to hear the Dharma, study the Buddha’s teachings, chant His name, and aspire to be reborn in the Western Pure Land? Everything in this conditioned world is like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, or a shadow. It is truly fleeting. I realised then that I must cherish the present moment, for that is the only reality. From that point on, I set aside all worldly affairs and became even more diligent in my chanting, and my vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land became unshakable."

The Final Journey to the Western Pure Land

"Later, I donated all the wealth my adoptive father had left me to the temple. I came into this world with nothing, and I would leave with nothing. At the age of seventy-six, on the day of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Parinirvana—the fifteenth day of the second lunar month—I was in the temple chanting the Buddha’s name when I saw the Buddha appear before me. I let go of all worldly attachments, received the Buddha’s guidance, and followed Him to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo."