This is a record of an interview with Lan Caihe, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,300 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on February 28, 2026.
Lan Caihe speaks:
". I am Lan Caihe. In the human world, I am known as one of the Eight Immortals, and indeed, I can be considered one who attained the Dao. When I was a child, I was a simple cowherd. I was born with a natural intelligence and a unique ability to communicate with all things in nature. At a very young age, I encountered my master. You see, what we practised in the Daoist tradition was the cultivation of one's nature—which is quite different from what the Buddha’s teachings refer to as 'realising one's true nature.' We focused on integrating our essence, qi, and spirit into one, condensing an 'inner elixir' within , such as the legendary Nine-Turn Golden Elixir. In short, I began my practice as a child, developing profound internal power. This required me to maintain an extreme level of purity and goodness in my heart and mind. I was born during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, and by the time I had achieved success in my practice, it was already the era of Emperor Xuanzong.
The Manifestation of Cultivation
Because my cultivation was successful, my appearance remained unchanged throughout the years. My manifestations in the world are well-documented—I was known for not fearing the heat of summer or the biting cold of winter while walking on ice. Whether it is Daoist practice or the Buddha’s teachings, the level of one's cultivation is always reflected through the changes in the physical body. Look at Practitioner Su, for instance. He manifests the body of one who has realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood. Even when he is injured by the attacks of demon crowds, he recovers with astonishing speed. Here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have observed this clearly. When Practitioner Su gives teachings during the , Namo Amituofo compassionately radiates light upon him. Practitioner Su’s body is constantly bathed in this Buddha-light. At any given moment, vast numbers of spirits are being led from within his body—especially from his face—toward that golden light. Those in the human world with keen eyesight can see that Practitioner Su’s face is constantly changing; it is as if he is in a perpetual state of healing. In one instant, he appears fully restored, and in the next, he seems to be suffering from wounds. This is because he is tirelessly using his countless manifestations to save sentient beings, never pausing even when under the fierce assault of demons. It truly fills me with profound respect.
The Power of the Twelve Lights
It was because of Practitioner Su’s recent act of performing Chao Du across the entirety of China that I had the karmic affinity to come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Even in the heavenly realms, I have never seen such high-quality golden light. Practitioner Su radiated the Twelve Lights of the Buddha across all of China, and the entire country became, in a sense, his manifestation. As he described it, the demon crowds in China were being sent into the Western Land of Dharma Nature as if they were being poured like water. Because he saved such an immeasurable number of demons, Practitioner Su has had to endure such intense and frantic attacks. Even while he was giving teachings to the fourfold assembly at the temple, he was still continuing to save spirits. This is why his face changes so rapidly to those who can see—his body is constantly bearing the suffering of sentient beings while simultaneously recovering at an incredible speed. This is the conduct of a true believer in the Buddha. It demonstrates Practitioner Su’s absolute, unwavering faith in Namo Amituofo, as well as his vow and to forget himself entirely for the sake of saving others.
A Call to Seek the Dharma
For us practitioners of Daoism, although we also speak of benefiting all living beings, we often find it difficult to let go of our attachment to the physical body. Even those in the Daoist tradition who specifically cultivate the elevation of the spirit—allowing their spirits to travel freely between the heavenly realms and the human body—are still far behind the achievements of Practitioner Su’s Buddhist practice. We can reach, at most, the Twenty-Eighth Heavenly Realm—the Heaven of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception—but after transcending our own state, we still have a long way to go before we can truly and effectively help other spirits. However, after Practitioner Su realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood, he became capable of manifesting in countless forms to help spirits leave suffering behind and lead them into the land he established—the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This truly makes me sigh in admiration and bow in submission: 'Those in this world who aspire to save the world must learn the Buddha’s teachings!' Yes, everyone under the heavens who truly aspires to save this world from suffering should learn the Buddha’s teachings. This is what I feel here in the Land of Dharma Nature, and every word comes from the depths of my heart.
The Song of Impermanence
In my youth, because of my pure nature and my master’s careful guidance, I entered the path quickly. My master told me that our lineage required us to choose a method of practising within the world, and when our merit was complete, we would be able to truly transcend the world. I chose a method that I expressed in the song I used to sing: 'Treading and singing, I am Lan Caihe, how long can this world last? The rosy cheeks of youth are like a spring tree, and the fleeting years pass like a shuttle on a loom. The ancients have vanished into the mist, never to return, while the people of today arrive in ever-greater numbers. In the morning, I ride the phoenix to the azure sky; by evening, I see the mulberry fields turned into white waves.'
In this song, I expressed my realisation of the dream-like, illusory nature of all things in this world. However, because I did not encounter the great Dharma of the Pure Land, nor did I meet a master like Namo Amituofo, I did not know to chant the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo.' I did not understand the power of merit and the majestic power of this holy name, nor did I know to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Therefore, after I passed away, I did not transcend the six realms of rebirth; instead, I became an immortal and entered the fifteenth level of the heavenly realms. I spent over 1,300 years in that state until Practitioner Su’s recent act of saving China stirred my heart in the heavenly realm. That is how I entered the golden light and arrived here at the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Only Path for the Modern World
Listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks here in the Land of Dharma Nature, I feel that it is truly a magnificent Dharma, full of infinite wonder. If I had encountered an awakened being and a sage like Practitioner Su instead of following the path of Daoist cultivation, I would have been able to help so many more spirits. But it is not too late. I have finally attained the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. When I descend to the world again, I will surely save immeasurable and boundless beings who have the karmic affinity to be saved. As for the path of Daoism in China today, it cannot compare to what it was in the past, so I will not dwell on it further. In the current environment, the pollution of the human heart is far more severe than in the past. To find a child as pure as I was in my time is truly difficult; perhaps such people no longer exist. Therefore, to follow the Daoist path—even if one only seeks to transcend the world and ascend to heaven without trying to save others—is nearly impossible. Furthermore, now that I am here in the Land of Dharma Nature listening to the Dharma, I have learned that the aptitude for cultivation is actually one of the accumulated from past lives. If one does not take the path of saving the world, it is impossible to have a solid foundation on the path of cultivation. As Practitioner Su says, 'If you do not save others, it is impossible to save yourself.' This is a profound yet straightforward truth. Therefore, in the current situation, one must follow the Buddha’s path. Looking at the sages in the world today, I see only Practitioner Su. So, for those who truly want to help the suffering beings of this world—especially young people and children—you should come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to seek the Dharma. The abbot here is Namo Amituofo of the spiritual realms, and there is a great teacher like Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood in a human body. With simple and direct teachings, he guides everyone to chant 'Namo Amituofo' and uphold The Infinite Life Sutra, The Buddha Speaks the , Infinite Life, Adornment, Purity, Impartiality, and
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Sutra. You can attain the magnificent benefits of being free from aging, free from illness, and your spirit never dies, while also gaining the ability to manifest in countless forms to save the world, just as Practitioner Su does. Gratitude to Namo Amituofo. Gratitude to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."
