The Journey to Awakening: An Interview with Lay Practitioner Fang Dongmei

The Quest for the Ultimate Truth

To awaken to the Righteous Path is to encounter the supreme and magnificent Dharma, a path that offers salvation without limits. For a long time, I, Fang Dongmei, dedicated my life to exploring the nature of human existence. I sought to understand where the true path of life truly lies. In my studies of the philosophy of life and death, I examined the processes of birth and passing with great care. Yet, after reading countless books and treatises, I found that I had not attained the true meaning or the correct understanding. This remained a deep-seated doubt within my heart, and I longed for the day when I might finally find the key to unlock this mystery. It was through this sincere yearning that I was eventually led to encounter the Buddha’s teachings.

As I delved into the great sutras and commentaries, I realised that the Buddha’s teachings are the only path capable of transcending the cycle of birth and death. The pure stream of the Dharma nourished my heart like gentle rain upon parched earth. I was filled with wonder, experiencing the boundless benefits of the Dharma and a profound joy that I had never known before. From that moment, I harboured a deep wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I hoped to share this magnificent path with others, so I integrated the sutras and the philosophy of life and death into my teaching. I wanted everyone to understand that studying the Buddha’s teachings is not merely a traditional ritual; it is a way to achieve true freedom and liberation for our Body-Mind-Spirit. I came to realise that studying the Buddha’s teachings is the highest enjoyment in life, and I understood the joy of being able to leave suffering behind.

From Academic Study to True Practice

I had many students, but few truly grasped the depth of this realisation. It was not until I met Venerable Master Chin Kung, who was wholeheartedly seeking the Way, that I felt a true sense of joy. I shared everything I knew and understood with him. However, what I taught was merely the entry point to the Buddha’s teachings; to truly understand the profound meaning, one must engage in diligent practice. After teaching him the foundational sutras and the essential methods, I encouraged him to seek further understanding elsewhere.

For my own part, I struggled. While I was diligent in my study of the Buddha’s path, I felt ashamed that I remained caught in the entanglements of the worldly realm, still clinging to worldly attachments. I had not truly penetrated the essence of the Dharma through practice, and I remained trapped in academic study. Because I did not truly perform the work of Chao Du to resolve my karmic creditors, I was unable to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was only through the Causal Conditions of the future—specifically through Practitioner Su, the esteemed student of my own disciple, Venerable Master Chin Kung—that I was led from the ghost realm to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have witnessed the Buddha descend into the world, and I have vowed to follow the Buddha to save all beings, leading those connected by karmic affinity to the West to fulfil the vow I made during my time in the human world.

A World Lost in Desire

In the present age, the environment for practice is far less pure than it was in the time of the patriarchs and venerable masters. The world is filled with countless desires—the craving for food, for possessions, and for pleasure. These desires keep the body trapped in a cycle of endless pursuit. This is not true practice; in fact, the spirit remains tightly bound by the body, constantly catering to its demands. This physical form is also frequently influenced by external fluctuations, including emotions and sensory perceptions. Once these fluctuations arise, the spirit is covered and can no longer remain clear and bright. Without balance, the Body-Mind-Spirit cannot truly find stability and joy. Have those who study the Buddha’s teachings seen this problem? I urge you to reflect on whether you are still trapped within it. It is not that you cannot be liberated, but you must truly "see through" and "let go" if you wish to be reborn in the Buddha’s land. If you are sincere, you must not indulge yourself; you must engage in true, diligent practice.

The Pandemic as a Mirror of the Human Heart

Today, the magnificent Dharma has descended into the world. Practitioner Su, who sincerely follows the Buddha’s vows and actions, speaks the truth in every lecture, exposing the root of the problems within the human heart in the worldly realm. With the directness of the Lion’s Roar, Practitioner Su calls upon the masses to wake up, to truly face their own problems, and to change. This cannot be realised merely by reading the sutras. Most people are accustomed to forgiving themselves and prefer to keep their bodies comfortable, mistakenly believing that such a way of practice is sufficient. They remain unaware of their blind spots, and thus, they cannot achieve success in their practice. The cycle of rebirth is a grave matter! Do not continue to cling to worldly things or nourish the worldly body. If you cannot wake up, your spirit will be like dust, lost and unable to find its way.

I now descend into the world alongside Practitioner Su, primarily hoping to help alleviate the suffering caused by The Pandemic: A Message from Namo Amituofo. I can see that the space permeated by the pandemic is filled with human conflict, dissatisfaction, resentment, and selfishness. These magnetic fields circulate throughout the entire country, which is why they are in sync with the viruses, evil spirits, and demon crowds associated with the pandemic. The human world must understand that the pandemic is a disaster of the human heart, caused by evil, wicked, and biased mental notes. The panic and anxiety of people globally are the result of the collective karma of human corruption. The lack of moral education in the global environment has led to this disaster. In past dynasties, the teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism were used to govern, allowing the hearts and minds of the people to remain calm and stable. Today, however, countries are driven by technology and economics, with self-interest as the starting point. This has caused a great upheaval in the overall environment, leading to a backlash. The human world must wake up quickly so that the pandemic can be resolved.

The Magnificent Work of Practitioner Su

While counseling the human world to wake up, Practitioner Su leads countless spirits—far more than the number of humans—toward Goodness. By chanting Namo Amituofo throughout the environment, the discordant and broken states are transformed. With the compassionate blessing of the Buddha, these beings realise their suffering, wish to be liberated from it, and follow along in chanting Namo Amituofo or follow the light during the Chao Du ceremonies. During these ceremonies, I travel to Taiwan to lead these beings, as well as those from the mountains, rivers, and every layer of space, who seek liberation. Daily, large-scale Chao Du ceremonies are truly precious. The Dharma Body is boundless, and this work continues without pause. Practitioner Su has truly verified that in this age of the Dharma’s decline, one can truly engage in practice and realise the Dharma Body, manifesting in countless forms to perform Chao Du in boundless spaces, leading endless spirits to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Practitioner Su moves freely within the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, communicating with the Three Holy Ones of the West and all the holy assembly. The manifestation of such magnificent power in the human world is the revelation of the true self. Practitioner Su leads the fourfold assembly to find their true selves, and I hope for even more Dharma Bodies to emerge, to perform Chao Du for the endless beings of the worldly realm, to turn the age of the Dharma’s decline into the Righteous Path, and to teach the world through Buddhist education. For this reason, I hope that this magnificent Dharma can be widely spread through online resources, allowing more people to be cleansed by Buddhist education so that their hearts may truly attain the state of ultimate bliss.

Practitioner Su, you are now known throughout the Dharma realm of emptiness as Practitioner Su. I admire your persistence and your great strength, which allow the Buddha’s teachings to truly abide. I hope that the vows made by Practitioner Su are fulfilled in action, and I, along with the holy assembly of the West, will follow you in this work.

Namo Amituofo.

This interview was recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Faxin.