The Legacy of a Grandfather's Wisdom

This interview features the 207th Venerable, Qian'en, who lived approximately four centuries ago. After enduring a life of profound suffering and poverty, he found the path to the Dharma and eventually attained rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to share his life story and the lessons he learned from his grandfather, as well as his profound gratitude for the teachings of Practitioner Su. This interview was recorded on April 9, 2019.

Venerable Qian'en speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qian'en. Looking back across the vast expanse of four hundred years, the memories of my early life remain as vivid and poignant as if they were unfolding before me this very moment. I remember the sky darkening with a sudden, chilling rain, the cold biting at my skin as I hurried to carry my grandfather home. A devastating fire had already claimed my parents and my grandmother, leaving only the two of us to cling to one another in this harsh world. My grandfather raised me with his own two hands, pouring his remaining strength into my upbringing. But as the years passed, his body grew increasingly frail, and his legs began to fail him. By the time I was ten, he could barely walk. My heart ached to see him suffer such indignity and pain, and I spent every waking moment of my youth desperately searching for ways to heal his ailments and ease his burden."

A Childhood Forged in the Crucible of Hardship

"Because his legs were so weak, he could not work outside the home. He spent his days weaving straw shoes and brooms, which I would take to the bustling market to sell. The earnings were meagre, and most of our customers were kind-hearted souls who bought from us out of pity, seeing a young boy struggling to care for an elderly man. I could not bear to see him drag his weary, aching body to the market, so at the tender age of six, I took on the responsibility of selling our wares alone. One day, a woman demanded I sell her three pairs of shoes at a price so low it would have meant we had no money for my grandfather's medicine. When I hesitated, she grew aggressive and cruel. A vegetable seller nearby, witnessing this injustice, shouted at her, 'Have you no conscience? This child is working to support his grandfather, and you try to cheat him!' The argument escalated, drawing in other vendors, and in the chaos, I was left with nothing sold and a heavy, sorrowful heart, feeling as though I had failed my grandfather in the most fundamental way."

The Profound Lesson of Humility and Harmony

"When I returned home, my grandfather was waiting. The woman had already been there to complain, twisting the truth to make me look like a troublemaker. My grandfather scolded me, not for the failed sale, but for the conflict I had allowed to erupt. He told me, 'I would rather you give the shoes away than lose your temper or cause a scene. We must live in harmony. It is better to suffer a small loss than to engage in conflict with others.' He was a man of immense kindness who never sought to take advantage of anyone, even when he himself was being cheated. He wanted me to learn that true strength lies in patience and the ability to let go of petty grievances. He taught me that our character is defined not by what we gain, but by how we treat others, even when they treat us with malice."

The Temptation of Greed and the Path of Righteousness

"As I grew older, the cost of living rose, and our income from the straw shoes was no longer enough for his medicine. Without telling him, I took a job as a gatekeeper for a house. The pay was ten times what I earned at the market, and I was overjoyed. I didn't ask what happened inside; I only knew I had to stand by the door and knock three times whenever an official arrived. But my grandfather eventually grew suspicious of my late returns and the money I brought home. When he discovered the truth, he was furious. 'Those people inside are gambling and engaging in immoral acts,' he told me. 'You are acting as their lookout, helping them commit evil.' I had been blinded by greed, not seeing the harm I was causing. I returned every cent I had earned and spent a week under my grandfather's stern but loving instruction, learning that greed is a poison that can destroy one's soul. He taught me that no amount of money is worth the price of one's integrity."

The True Value of Wealth and Compassion

"I knew my grandfather's back pained him, making it impossible for him to sleep. I saved every copper I could for a year to buy him a comfortable mattress. When I finally brought it home, he was heartbroken. 'Take it back,' he insisted. 'I do not need this comfort. Use this money to help those who have nothing to eat. My life is simple—food, water, and shelter are enough.' I followed his wishes, returning the mattress and giving the money to the poor. Seeing the joy on the faces of hungry children as they ate, I finally understood the profound truth of his teachings: there is no greater happiness than letting go of one's own comfort to serve others. This was the moment I truly understood the meaning of Goodness."

A Final Farewell and the Call of the Dharma

"My grandfather left this world when I was twelve. His final words to me were a command to live a life of value: 'If you spend your life merely marrying and having children, you will have wasted the time I spent teaching you. Use your life to help others. Do not grieve for my old body; use the time you would have spent caring for me to contribute to society.' After he passed, I felt lost, but fate intervened. I saved the life of an elderly woman who happened to be a practitioner of the Buddha's teachings. In gratitude, she introduced me to the Dharma. For the first time, I heard the teachings of Namo Amituofo, and my heart awakened. I began to attend the temple, listening intently to every word, and soon, I knew my path was set."

A Life Dedicated to Saving Beings

"At fourteen, I made a vow before the Buddha to shave my head and become a monastic to save all sentient beings. By sixteen, I had passed the tests and fulfilled my vow. I never forgot my grandfather's lessons; I practised with the utmost discipline, keeping the precepts not just in my actions, but in my very thoughts. I chanted Namo Amituofo with every breath, keeping all beings in my heart. I knew that the peace of the temple was not enough; I had to go out into the world to save others. At twenty-five, with my master's blessing, I began to travel, spreading the Dharma until I reached the age of one hundred, when I was reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Magnificent Power of Practitioner Su

"Today, I stand in awe of the work being done by Practitioner Su. The 'Buddha-Explained Meanings' is a Dharma Jewel the likes of which the world has never seen. It is a treasure born of the Buddha-heart and the Buddha-vow, designed to unravel the confusion and ignorance of humanity. I have watched as Practitioner Su's Dharma Body travels through the universe, saving countless star systems that were on the brink of destruction. These beings, who never dreamed a Buddha would come for them, are now being reborn with new energy. The Chao Du ceremonies performed here are truly magnificent—a sight no human has ever witnessed. I urge all who have the heart to learn and the vow to save others to be diligent. Seize this precious time while Practitioner Su is in the world, learn the Dharma, and join in the mission to save the immeasurable beings of the universe. Namo Amituofo."