The Illusory Beauty of Mount Lu

This is a record of an interview with Li Xun, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life during the Tang Dynasty. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Fa Jing, on November 11, 2020.

Li Xun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Xun. I was born during the Tang Dynasty. Today, I find myself accepting this interview, and I must say, I am absolutely astonished! Who would have thought that a human being in this modern age could actually communicate with me? When I say 'modern human,' I mean it with a sense of wonder, because the spirit of modern people has long been obscured by intense desires and the cold, hard glare of technology. It is virtually impossible for anyone today to hear our voices.

Think about it—so many tourists flock to this place every single day. They walk around, they look at the scenery, they chat with their companions, and they take photographs. They have not the slightest inkling that every single breath they take in these mountains is filled with spirits. We are right there, standing beside them, and we are perfectly capable of speaking to them, yet they remain completely oblivious."

The Mist of Mount Lu

"Mount Lu is perpetually shrouded in mist. The great poet Su Dongpo once visited this place and left behind the famous lines: 'I do not know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I am within the mountain itself.' The mist is so thick, so pervasive, that it makes it impossible for anyone to see the true appearance of the mountain. Su Dongpo was moved by this, and he penned that poem, which has become a household name to this day.

I mention this poem because I am, in a sense, one of those tiny water molecules within that great mist of Mount Lu. From the moment I passed away until now, I have remained here in Mount Lu; I have never left. The beauty of this place is so profound that it captures the heart. I was one of those who became utterly enchanted by it. I am no poet, nor am I a composer, but I know how to appreciate beauty. Back then, I came to Mount Lu to admire the scenery. I especially loved standing amidst the clouds and mist, feeling that hazy, ethereal beauty where things seem clear one moment and blurred the next. I wanted nothing more than to live in Mount Lu forever, to wake up every single morning and see such a mesmerising view!"

A Fatal Obsession

"However, the tragedy struck during my twenty-third visit to the mountain. I was sitting on a rock in front of a waterfall, watching the water cascade down with such power. The mist was swirling in the air around me, creating a scene of absolute perfection. I was so deeply infatuated with the moment that I sat there for several hours without moving an inch. It was only when the sky began to darken that I prepared to stand up.

The moment I rose, the world began to spin. My legs felt weak, and I swayed, unable to find my balance. A wave of intense discomfort washed over me, and suddenly, everything went pitch black. I could not see a thing. Before I could even steady myself, I fell into the water with a splash. My face was pressed against the current, and I was choking, unable to breathe. I could feel the waterfall right beside me, so close, so deafening. But then, a miracle happened—or so I thought. The darkness before my eyes vanished, replaced by an even more beautiful vision of Mount Lu. It was more stunning than anything I had ever seen before. The entire place was filled with swirling smoke and mist, making the mountain look like a dreamscape. In that moment, I completely forgot that I was drowning. I forgot to struggle. I simply surrendered to the beauty, and soon, I passed away from lack of oxygen."

The Truth Behind the Mist

"After I died, my spirit was drawn into the mist. I became one of the spirits of the fog, orbiting the peaks of Mount Lu. To be honest, I did not even realise I was dead. I felt as though I were still admiring the beauty of the mountain. I was happy, I was enchanted, but I was also completely lost, unaware of my true situation. It was not until the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su began the work of Chao Du in Mount Lu several years ago that I finally woke up from that misty space.

I say 'woke up,' but it was more of a revelation. When the golden light of Practitioner Su shone upon me, I finally saw that I was dead, that I had become part of the mist of Mount Lu. Yet, even then, I did not want to leave. I felt that this was a wonderful existence—I could continue to admire the beauty of Mount Lu forever. So, for several years, I remained attached to that space.

It was only after I became a spirit drifting through the mountain that I saw the truth: every single corner of Mount Lu is packed with spirits. The peaks, the waterfalls—they are all filled with spiritual energy. Many people who practised Taoist arts or magic in the mountains during their lives remained here after death. Their spirits are far more 'spiritual' than those of us who had no practice. I also saw that so many poets and writers who came to Mount Lu in the past, who were able to find such intense inspiration and write poem after poem, were actually receiving messages from the literary spirits residing here. The ancients were not as deeply polluted as modern people; much of their inspiration came from the messages transmitted to them from the space around them. They did not know it, of course. They thought it was just a beautiful spark ignited within their own hearts, unaware of the complexity of the space, where voices are constantly being transmitted, becoming the content of their creative works."

The Power of Namo Amituofo

"The entire Mount Lu is a fusion of Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist influences, and the space is incredibly chaotic. Visitors who come here to enjoy the scenery cannot see that Mount Lu is filled with illusory realms, just as I was once deluded by the illusion I saw. Because of this, many people's souls are actually lost in the mountains, never to return. This includes those poets who loved the scenery so much; when they became too attached to the beauty, their souls were quietly taken away.

The Mount Lu of today is somewhat different from the one I knew. Human development and destruction, along with the massive influx of tourists every year, have changed the face of the mountain entirely. The only thing that remains unchanged is the presence of the spirits lingering in the forests and mountains. Everyone is still trapped in that same space.

However, ever since Practitioner Su began the Chao Du for Mount Lu, many, many spirits have started to emerge from that space. Once they become accustomed to the voice of Practitioner Su and the golden light he radiates, the moment he appears, everyone rushes out, desperately wanting to leave this space. As for me, after Practitioner Su opened up the space for me, I spent three years contemplating. This year, I finally decided that I would no longer be attached. I am ready to follow the golden light of Practitioner Su and leave Mount Lu.

Looking at my own experience, I see how terrifying attachment truly is. A person's attachment can bind their soul, and they become willing to remain trapped, even when the opportunity for salvation is right in front of them. I am so grateful that I finally opened my heart. If Practitioner Su were to stop coming to Mount Lu for Chao Du, I do not know how many more years or decades I would have remained trapped here before I could ever hope to escape.

Every time Practitioner Su comes to Mount Lu, his golden light illuminates every peak, large and small. The endless, layered spaces within the mountain are all opened up by the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo.' Even the plants, animals, clouds, rivers, and waterfalls in the forest are opened up by Practitioner Su, returning to their original state. They then begin to chant the six-character name, 'Namo Amituofo,' and follow the golden light to depart.

So many spirits in Mount Lu have already been saved by Practitioner Su. But there are so many of them! As soon as one group is saved, a new group appears the next second. These new spirits are not yet familiar with Practitioner Su, and they have not yet woken up. Therefore, most of those who follow Practitioner Su to leave are the 'old spirits' who have seen him many times. Although these old spirits were originally comfortable in the space of Mount Lu, after staying for so long, they have come to realise that following the golden light of Practitioner Su is the only correct path. In the last year or two, these old spirits have been following Practitioner Su in large numbers. They are all afraid that Practitioner Su might suddenly stop coming to Mount Lu, and they would lose their chance for Chao Du. Thus, they quickly let go of their attachments, leave Mount Lu, and move toward the light.

I, Li Xun, have also received the Chao Du of Practitioner Su and am preparing to leave the mist. I am deeply grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su in saving so many spirits in Mount Lu. We were all trapped here, unable to see the true face of Mount Lu.

Namo Amituofo."

Recorded by the chief writer, Buddhist disciple Shi Fa Jing.