The Joy of Practising the Dharma

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Cheng Guang, who lived approximately 1,500 years ago. He sought deliverance and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his unique ability to communicate with all beings through the power of the Buddha-name. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on February 3, 2019.

Venerable Cheng Guang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Cheng Guang. It is a joy to share my story with you all. Even after all these centuries, the memory of my childhood remains as vivid as the morning dew. I remember one day, I had gathered many buckets of various sizes to catch the rain. As the raindrops fell into the containers, they created a symphony of different tones—a beautiful, rhythmic music composed by the heavy downpour and the light drizzle. I was absolutely delighted, listening to this natural orchestra with pure, unadulterated joy!"

A Childhood of Rain and Wonder

"My mother called out to me, her voice urgent: 'Cheng Guang, stop playing! Come and help me sweep the water away; it is about to flood into the house!' I immediately changed my clothes and rushed to help her clear the water. The rain was torrential, threatening to overwhelm our humble home. Seeing the anxiety on my mother's face, I quickly comforted her: 'Do not worry, Mother! I can see that this rain is about to end. Everything will be fine!' My mother looked at me—I was only four years old at the time—and asked, 'You can see that the rain is ending?' I nodded and replied, 'Yes! The raindrops themselves are telling me so!' Sure enough, the rain stopped shortly after. My mother looked at me, a child of such tender years, and thought to herself, 'This child is truly extraordinary.'

I was an orphan, and the woman who raised me was not my biological mother, but I loved her as if she were. She had adopted me from an orphanage; out of all the children there, she had noticed me at first glance, and I had felt an immediate connection to her. Though our life was one of poverty, my mother possessed a heart of boundless compassion. She never married, yet she loved children deeply and always wished to care for those who were lonely and helpless. I was the first child she took under her wing."

The Gift of Seeing the Unseen

"From a very young age, I possessed the innate ability to communicate with all things in nature. However, no one believed me. They thought I was a madman, always talking to the empty air. When my mother brought me home from the orphanage, the other children were astonished that she would choose a 'crazy' boy. It is true that I have always been naturally optimistic and cheerful, perhaps even a little eccentric. Whether facing great challenges or minor inconveniences, I would always laugh with ease and freedom. My mother once asked me, 'Are you truly happy?' I answered loudly, 'Yes! I am happy every single day!' I was like a little ray of sunshine in her home, and seeing my carefree spirit naturally lifted her own heart.

My mother was a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings. She lived alone and spent her days chanting the Buddha-name. She would work just enough to cover our monthly expenses, and once that was secured, she would dedicate the rest of her time to helping others and performing good deeds. After she brought me home, she began to teach me how to chant Namo Amituofo. I found myself deeply drawn to the Dharma; my mother firmly believed that our meeting was a profound arrangement of Causal Conditions."

The Power of the Holy Name

"I chanted Namo Amituofo with joy every single day! No matter where I went, the Buddha-name followed me. I would watch the flowers and grasses on the ground; when they heard me chanting, they would dance with delight, and some would even open their 'mouths' to hum along! Sometimes, spirits would drift out from the grass, bow to me in reverence, and depart following the Buddha-light. I deeply felt the energy of this holy name. Once, I chanted while walking across a patch of withered, dry grass; within a week, the grass that had been dead for years regained its vitality. My mother was stunned—she had practised for many years, yet she had not realised the power of this name was so immense! My chanting was filled with gentle compassion, devoid of attachment or wandering thoughts. With a simple, good heart, I sought only to transmit this holy name of Namo Amituofo to all beings in heaven and on earth. Countless spirits were saved by this simple, compassionate act, leaving their original spaces to head toward the light.

My foster mother took me everywhere to introduce the Dharma to others. I could naturally read the hearts of everyone I met. Whether they stood before me or sat by my side, I knew exactly what they were thinking. When my mother realised I had this ability, she encouraged me to use it to help sentient beings."

A Life Dedicated to Deliverance

"My smile became my trademark for saving beings. Whenever people saw my joy, they would ask my mother, 'How did you manage to raise such a wonderful child?' My mother would then loudly proclaim to everyone: 'Only by learning the Buddha’s teachings can we save our children; only by learning the Dharma can we truly raise them well!'

Soon, a large group of children began to follow me, and their parents were happy to entrust them to my care. The natural attraction I radiated drew children of all ages to me. I told my mother, 'I want to give lectures and teach the Dharma to everyone, so they can all practise like I do.' My mother took me to the temple to listen to the sutras, and I would then explain what I had heard to the children who followed me. Although we were all young, we could already taste the flavour of the Dharma. In that pure, unpolluted environment, all the children began to develop their own potential through the practice. I was the first example, and soon others began to manifest different abilities. We all understood that we must use these gifts to help others, not merely for our own amusement.

I could see into different spaces and hear the voices within them from a young age. At twelve, I shaved my head and became a monk. I could see the suffering of beings in those spaces; even when I did not leave the temple, I could feel their wailing in the midst of their agony. I told my master, 'This path of monastic life is the right one for me! I will dedicate my entire life to saving sentient beings!'"

Gratitude to Practitioner Su

"My innate abilities became a great aid in my practice. I understood the suffering of beings far better than my fellow practitioners because I could see and hear them. The suffering they endure is thousands of times greater than that of beings in the human world; they have no bodies, no home, and no ability to save themselves. I made a vow to dedicate my life to their deliverance.

I was always honest and humble, following my master’s instructions to the letter. I chanted the Buddha-name with sincerity, one word at a time, deep into my heart. I never missed a single daily practice, always the first to arrive at the main hall and the last to leave. I would take on any task in the temple that no one else wanted to do, and I did it with great joy.

My diligence was plain for all to see. Many who tried to emulate me found it difficult, for I was truly selfless in my service, while others were often seeking praise. Regardless, I remained unmoved, walking the straight path of saving beings. The suffering of beings does not cease for a single day; only the moment they are saved by the Buddha is their true liberation.

I have upheld my vow to save the world throughout my life. Everywhere I went, I performed Chao Du for the spirits in those spaces. I taught the Dharma to the spirits, and if any human beings wished to listen, they were most welcome. No matter where I travelled, I spread the Buddha’s teachings. I have walked through life with joy, happily saving beings, and have now attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

There are countless spirits in the universe, as many as the grains of sand on Earth. There are even more planets, thousands and tens of thousands of times larger than Earth, existing in the vastness of space. Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body performs Chao Du in the universe every day, saving these beings who exist in space. These spirits did not originally understand the six-character name, but through Practitioner Su’s daily deliverance, they have come to understand it more and more, and they hold it in the utmost reverence. This Buddha-name not only brings them energy but also teaches them to turn away from evil and toward Goodness. The spirits feel infinite gratitude toward Practitioner Su; they never imagined they would have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is only through Practitioner Su’s great compassion that they have obtained this Causal Condition. I am deeply grateful for Practitioner Su’s compassion. Namo Amituofo."