The Incense Maker’s Journey to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Tao Anji, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life beginning in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on January 29, 2023.

Tao Anji speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for the compassionate heart of Practitioner Su, which has allowed me the rare and magnificent opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. This is truly a miraculous event, one that is difficult to encounter in a thousand lifetimes. I wish to express my profound gratitude to Practitioner Su and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for their immense dedication and strength of heart. On behalf of all the prison guards and the sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in thanks for the Buddha’s grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

My name is Tao Anji. I was born during the transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties. My family was in the business of crafting incense. High-quality incense possesses a deep, steady colour and a fragrance that calms the mind—qualities that are immediately recognised by those who truly understand the art of incense.

The Sacred Art of Incense

In the folk traditions of the human world, burning incense is a vital part of ritual. It is used to pay homage to the Buddha, to offer respect to celestial deities, or to honour the spirits of the departed and one's own ancestors. It is a common sight at any Dharma assembly. The fragrance released during the burning process drifts naturally into the surrounding air and permeates various spaces, which is precisely why people consider it an essential element of any sacrificial or ceremonial activity.

The incense we produced in our family workshop was categorised into high, medium, and low grades, each crafted from different materials. Wealthy families preferred the serene scent of sandalwood or the steady, grounding aroma of agarwood. Ordinary families favoured standard wood-based incense. While these were mixed with various wood shavings and were perhaps less pure in scent, they still carried a natural, earthy fragrance. Because we maintained strict production standards and never cheated our customers, many people came to us to place their orders. We upheld our reputation with pride, ensuring that every batch met our exacting requirements.

Integrity as a Way of Life

From a very young age, I remember my grandfather constantly reminding me: 'Doing business is just like being a human being. You must walk the straight path and keep your feet firmly on the ground. We must never allow an impure thought to enter our minds during the incense-making process. We must never sacrifice our conscience for the sake of profit. It is better to earn a little less than to destroy the quality and integrity of our authentic incense.'

I spent my entire life crafting incense. I became intimately familiar with every shape, size, and raw material imaginable. The moment a scent wafted through the air, I could instantly judge the quality of the incense and identify the ingredients used. Some ghost deities were particularly fond of these aromas. They would often draw near to catch the scent, and sometimes they would even interfere with our work. Because of this, we would often set aside a portion of our incense specifically as an offering to these ghost deities. We did this not only to prevent them from disrupting our production but also as a gesture of respect and kindness toward them.

Sharing with the Unseen

Whether they were ghost deities or living people, everyone has their own preferences and desires. I was always willing to share with these beings. I would light incense for them, believing that making incense was not just about business—it was a way of learning how to be a better person. Beyond our offerings to the ghost deities, we frequently distributed our incense to impoverished families. Sharing with others is a wonderful thing; it is not always about profit. Sometimes, doing a good deed carries a significance that far outweighs any monetary gain.

I never married. I dedicated my entire life to the craft. My family often urged me to settle down and start a family, but I never felt the desire to do so. Perhaps it was because of my unique experiences that I came to such a realisation. From the moment I began my business, I could sense the presence of these ghost deities. I knew their states and their identities. Because I possessed this spiritual sensitivity, I understood deeply that the human world is filled with suffering.

The Truth of Samsara

Especially after people pass away, they fall into the same state as these ghost deities. They lose their physical bodies and exist only as souls. They cannot find a way out; they simply drift through space. It is truly agonising! And yet, every person must walk this same path after death. This realisation taught me that it is not worth being attached to the affairs of this world. Everyone must wake up—you cannot take anything with you when you leave this world.

Some spirits were very wealthy during their lives, and even after death, they remained attached to their luxuries, craving the finest incense. Others were poor and drifted aimlessly, drawn to any scent they could find because they had no idea where to go or what to do. These beings gave me a profound understanding of life and death, and the problem of a spirit's attachment to life. I began to search for a way to liberation, hoping to find an exit for the soul.

A Search for Liberation

I searched for a very long time, but I could not find a way to truly liberate life. I felt quite discouraged, even wondering if life was destined to be nothing but this cycle of suffering without any hope of escape. I did not know the truth, because I had not yet found it.

When I reached the end of my life, I still had not found the method for liberation, but I continued to help those ghost deities, hoping to provide them with some support. After I died and entered the underworld, because I had helped so many spirits during my life, many of them treated me with great kindness. Later, I was brought before the King of Hell. He reviewed my life records and even complimented me on the quality of my incense, as he too had enjoyed the incense I had crafted. He then assigned me a position of service, for which I was very grateful.

Finding the Path Home

During my time serving in the underworld, I witnessed countless lives coming and going, which gave me even deeper insights. It was only in recent years that I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. The principles Practitioner Su explained were exactly the Truth I had been searching for. I was deeply moved and began to study diligently. Through the teachings of Practitioner Su, I learned how to achieve the liberation of life. I am truly grateful for the compassionate heart of Practitioner Su, which allowed us to break through our delusion and attain enlightenment.

It turns out that liberation is not difficult at all. It is entirely a matter of changing one's heart and following Namo Amituofo in practice. We must learn to help all beings, knowing that in the end, we must all find our way out of this cycle of rebirth.

I am so happy! Today, I am finally going to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the true path to liberation. My heart is filled with endless gratitude. On behalf of all the prison guards and the sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in thanks for the Buddha’s grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Tao Anji, with joined palms."