The Karmic Debt of a Lifetime

This is an interview with Venerable Fan Xi, who lived three hundred and twenty years ago. As a child, he was plagued by the persistent interference of karmic creditors, which led him to seek spiritual deliverance through the study of the Dharma. Through diligent practice and the guidance of the Buddha, he transformed his life and eventually dedicated himself to the salvation of others. He now resides within the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, assisting in the vital work of delivering sentient beings across the universe. This interview was recorded on February 24, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Fan Xi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Fan Xi. This is the name I carried during my practice in the human world three hundred and twenty years ago. When I was but a child of three, I was plagued by terrifying nightmares. In these dreams, countless headless ghosts would appear, surrounding me and demanding repayment for past debts. Every time I awoke from these visions, I would be drenched in a cold sweat, trembling with an inexplicable fear. My mother, sensing my distress, remained by my side from the moment I was born, watching over me through every restless night, ready to comfort me at the slightest movement.

The Futility of Worldly Remedies

My mother, desperate to alleviate my suffering, sought every possible remedy. She invited Taoist priests to perform rituals in our home and consulted the most renowned physicians to treat what she thought was a physical ailment. Yet, nothing worked. The nightmares persisted, growing more vivid with each passing night. I could see every detail of those spirits—the textures of their clothes, the expressions on their faces—as clearly as if they were standing right before me in the waking world.

One day, a long-lost friend of my father’s visited our home. He had been away for years, travelling to distant lands to conduct business. My parents were overjoyed to see him, but they were immediately struck by a disturbing change in his appearance. His face had transformed in a way they could not quite articulate. When my father inquired about his life abroad, the truth emerged: in his pursuit of wealth, he had abandoned his integrity, resorting to deceitful and opportunistic schemes. He had indeed amassed a great fortune, as evidenced by his fine attire, but his greed had manifested physically—his features had begun to resemble those of a rat.

The Lesson of the Greedy Rat

My parents gently urged him to abandon his dishonest ways, warning him that such behaviour was no different from stealing. He offered empty promises, but my father knew he was merely humouring us. Not long after, news reached our village that he had died. It was said that despite his opulent home, it had become infested with rats. A monk happened to pass by our home, and my mother, deeply troubled, asked him why our friend had passed so suddenly and why he had looked so strange. The monk closed his eyes and immediately perceived the man's state. He asked my mother, 'Why did the rat in your house die yesterday?' My mother replied, 'It climbed onto a barrel to drink the oil inside. It stretched its neck to reach the liquid, and wanting more, it stretched even further, until it lost its balance and drowned in the oil.' The monk replied, 'Your friend’s situation was exactly like that rat’s. A single thought of greed cost him his life.' My mother was stunned. She realised that so many people she knew were consumed by the same greed, and that their illnesses were merely the fruits of their own avarice. She resolved to use this story to warn others, hoping they might sever their attachments before it was too late. She then asked the monk about my recurring nightmares, and he told her, 'Though the child is young, his karma has come to collect. You must help him perform Chao Du for his karmic creditors and teach him to chant Namo Amituofo.'

A Path of Repentance and Practice

My mother followed the monk's instructions faithfully. Whenever the temple held a Dharma assembly, she would take me along to participate in the deliverance of my karmic creditors. I began to repent sincerely, and I started to study the Buddha’s teachings with a fervent heart, aspiring to be like the monastics who could resolve the suffering of all beings. As I continued to perform Chao Du, chant Namo Amituofo, and dedicate the merit to those I had harmed in past lives, the frequency and duration of my nightmares diminished until they vanished entirely. In that process, I truly understood the suffering of human existence. We have accumulated countless debts over many lifetimes, and upon being reborn as humans, we are inevitably pursued by the consequences of our past actions. Those who do not study the Dharma remain ignorant of the laws of karma and cause and effect that govern the universe. Now that I understood, I resolved to practise in the temple. I spent several years as a lay practitioner before taking the vows of a Bhikkhu to deliver sentient beings. Through years of diligent practice, not only did my appearance change, but my karmic creditors no longer appeared to interfere. Because my every thought was of the Buddha and of sentient beings, I no longer clung to my own ego, and thus, the creditors had no hold over me.

Serving Alongside Practitioner Su

I used this karmic body to practise and help others. Although my karma was not entirely resolved before I passed away, I made a vow to return to the human world to deliver those who were still suffering. Today, I have returned, though not through a mother’s womb; I am here assisting Practitioner Su by helping to heal the injuries in his legs. I am incredibly fortunate to follow Practitioner Su as he travels through the universe performing Chao Du. This is a magnificent and rare opportunity, one that I cherish deeply, and I remain ever vigilant in my efforts to save sentient beings with karmic affinity.

The Vastness of the Universe

The universe is in a constant state of flux, changing every second as space itself shifts. When Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body enters the universe, he delivers beings across countless layers of space, each containing infinite spirits who have never left their confined realms. Only upon hearing Practitioner Su’s teachings do they awaken and plead for deliverance. I am profoundly grateful for Practitioner Su’s compassion in rescuing these beings who have suffered for so long. Without him, they would remain trapped in those spaces for eons, waiting for an opportunity that might never come. I am filled with gratitude for his compassion. Namo Amituofo."

Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing.