The Kingdom of Grass by the Lake

This is a record of an interview with the spirits of the ancient indigenous people who once inhabited the land surrounding the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Represented by their spokesperson, Busen, these spirits sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. They now reside in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon their lives approximately 500 years ago and was recorded on November 3, 2020.

Busen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo. We are so happy to see Practitioner Su, who leads us in chanting Namo Amituofo. We are the ancient indigenous people of this land, and we have never truly left it. This earth nurtured us, and we relied upon it for our very existence. Five hundred years ago, we lived in the Australian outback. The drought we see today is not a new phenomenon; even in our time, water was a precious, rare treasure. We lived as part of the earth, never bathing unless the heavens opened. If it rained once every three months, we bathed once every three months. If it rained once every five months, we waited five months. When the raindrops finally fell, it was our busiest time. We would gather every primitive vessel we could find to catch the precious water. We would cast off our coverings and revel in the downpour. When the rain washed over us, it felt as though it were washing the entire earth clean."

Life in the Ancient Outback

"We never thought of ourselves as special. We were simply one part of the landscape, living alongside the animals and the plants. Our tribe was small, and our hearts were simple. Unlike other tribes who loved to hunt and feast on animals, we lived differently. Our chief taught us: 'We are born of the earth, and we must be grateful to the earth.' He did not teach us with words; he taught us through his attitude of love and care for every living thing. He was the heart of our tribe, and we followed wherever he led. He was our guiding light, and his actions were the rhythm to which we lived our lives."

The Wisdom of Non-Violence

"Once, a tribe that loved hunting tried to invade our territory and seize our land. They were aggressive and fierce. Our chief told us not to engage in conflict. He told us to retreat, and so we did. To ensure that no one would be harmed or killed in a struggle, he led us to another part of the land. This new place was even harder to survive in; there was less water and even less food. Yet, we never saw a shadow of worry on our chief's face. Instead, his smile remained as bright as ever. He was a man of profound peace, and his presence was enough to keep our spirits whole even when our bellies were empty."

"The chief shared whatever food he found with everyone. It was not sweet, nor was it particularly delicious, but we were content. In that place, it rained perhaps once a year. We lived in a constant state of thirst, sharing a single mouthful of water between us, cherishing every drop. We learned the value of patience and the beauty of sharing in a world that offered us so little."

The Final Drought

"One day, a tribesman returned to our old land and saw that it had become lush and green. He ran back to the chief and said, 'Chief, should we move back? Life would be much easier for everyone.' But the chief’s face fell, and he refused. He did not want us to fight with others. He would rather we live in scarcity than have any of our people harbour a fighting spirit or a desire for conflict. We listened to him, but a few years later, a great drought struck. None of us could survive. We died of thirst, one by one, becoming a group of wandering spirits, still lingering in the space of this land."

A New Life Through Namo Amituofo

"Five hundred years passed. Then, a Chinese person appeared, whom everyone calls Practitioner Su. Practitioner Su smiles even more brightly than our chief did. Every day, he comes to talk to us and teaches us to chant the Buddha-name. At first, our chanting was not very good, but now we chant better and better, and we feel happier and happier. As we chant, the earth actually begins to rain! We take off our coverings and bathe in the rain on the earth, just as we did in the old days. Not long after we finish one bath, the sky rains again! We have never bathed so frequently in our lives. It is a miracle of the Buddha-name."

"Recently, all the spirits in the vicinity have been so happy. We know that by chanting Namo Amituofo, we can quench our thirst and bring the rain. So, even when Practitioner Su is not here to lead us, we continue to chant the Buddha-name. Today, we are so happy that Practitioner Su and several monastics have come to visit us. Thank you for letting us speak. Namo Amituofo."