The Journey of a Faithful Soul

This is a record of an interview with Miaoyin, a dog who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her many lifetimes spent in the cycle of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on January 31, 2025.

Miaoyin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Miaoyin. I can finally speak in human language again. It is such a profound relief. I am so deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for bringing me here to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is now so calm, so still, and so incredibly comfortable. I feel light, as if I am about to take flight into the infinite sky. I love it here. In this place, I no longer have to wander through the cycle of rebirth. I can finally rest, and it is a peace I have never known before.

The Endless Cycle of the Stray

Ever since I first fell into the realm of dogs many lifetimes ago, I have never been able to escape it. No matter how I was reborn, I always returned as a dog. It felt like an endless, suffocating loop. My fate seemed to be nothing more than that of a common stray. I have never been a pedigree or a pampered pet; I have always been a dog of the streets. For many lifetimes, I would be taken in by someone, only to be abandoned shortly after. I spent my days wandering, hungry, cold, and utterly alone. The suffering was constant. I encountered owners who were cruel, and when their tempers flared, they would strike me with heavy sticks. They would beat me until my legs were broken, and even then, they would not show a shred of mercy. In this final lifetime, my circumstances were slightly better, but my life was cut short. I had barely begun to experience a moment of kindness before my time was up.

The Weight of Karmic Debt

Now, as I look back upon my long journey through samsara, I realise that I must have created immense negative karma. That is the only reason I was trapped, lifetime after lifetime, as a dog, constantly paying off my debts through such intense suffering. I cannot blame anyone else for this; I can only blame myself for the heavy sins I accumulated in the past. Think about it—why else would I have endured such a miserable existence? However, even though my negative karma was vast, I must have also planted some seeds of virtue. It is because of those small, accumulated merits that I had the opportunity today to be brought here by Practitioner Su. I am now in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I will never have to be a dog again. I will never have to suffer in the cycle of rebirth. I am so incredibly happy.

A Bond of Compassion

I am filled with gratitude for my… how should I address her? I shall call her my 'little master.' Even though she has grown up now, when I recall the compassionate way she treated me back then, I love to think of her as my little master. The fact that I stayed by her side for so many years was due to our deep karmic affinity. I remember one time, when I had been beaten so severely that I was on the verge of death, she found me on the side of the road. She gave me water to drink and then carried me to a safe place to hide. I was so grateful to her then, and I never imagined that in this lifetime, she would be the one to save me again. My gratitude is beyond words—thank you, thank you, and thank you again.

A New Beginning in the Pure Land

Now, I will remain here to practise the Dharma alongside the Buddha. I am repenting for all the various sins and negative karma I created in the past. It is my sincere wish that all the beings I have ever harmed in my many lives can also find liberation and leave suffering behind as soon as possible. Namo Amituofo."