The Legacy of Compassion and Endurance

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Shinto, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,640 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on October 3, 2018.

Venerable Shinto speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Shinto. My grandmother once crafted a new garment for me, stitching it with great care from the fabric of her own clothes. We had no money for new attire, so she took her only relatively new piece of clothing, carefully recut it, and fashioned a garment that fit me perfectly. She poured all her love into those stitches, ensuring that even in our poverty, I would have something decent to wear as I grew into the world.

The Embroidered Lesson of Compassion

Inside the lining of that garment, she embroidered the two characters for 'Compassion' and 'Endurance.' As she dressed me in it, she expressed her deepest hope: that throughout my life, I would never forget these virtues. Whether I encountered favourable circumstances or harsh adversity, she wanted me to learn to treat myself and all sentient beings with compassion and endurance. It was her way of shielding me with the Dharma before I even understood what it was.

My grandmother had never received a formal education. She had only learned a few characters from her father, yet those few words were enough to sustain her for a lifetime. 'Compassion' and 'Endurance' were among those characters. She did not merely learn how to write them; she practised the spirit and meaning of these words in every facet of her daily life, turning her existence into a living testament of the Buddha's teachings."

A Mother's Sacrifice and a Grandmother's Wisdom

"My mother gave her absolute all to bring me into this world. She held me only once before we were separated forever. I was the only hope my father had left for her. My father had lost his life while working to support our family, and when the tragic news of his accidental death reached us, my mother was nearly broken by grief. Only days later, she discovered she was pregnant. The physician warned her that her frail body might not withstand the pregnancy, suggesting the child might not survive, or that even if I were born, her own life would be at risk. Yet, my mother insisted on bringing me into the world. I was the only hope left for her, my grandmother, and our home. She persisted, regardless of the immense toll it took on her own body, choosing to give me life at the cost of her own.

After I was born, only my grandmother remained by my side. She used her wisdom to guide me, hoping that I would grow into someone capable of helping others rather than someone who relied on the support of others for a lifetime. Though we were poor, she taught me that while I lacked wealth, I possessed sound limbs and a heart willing to serve. I could use my own body to be of service to others, and in doing so, find the true purpose of my existence."

The Seeds of Gratitude

"My grandmother could not afford to send me to school, so she educated me through the bits and pieces of our daily life. Every minute detail was a lesson. She told herself, 'I must raise this child well so he can contribute to society; only then will his mother's sacrifice be honoured.' My grandmother had been a recipient of charity herself, and she never forgot a particular day in her youth. It was snowing heavily, and she was carrying a heavy load of firewood for her mother. The snow was too deep to continue, and she was dressed in only thin rags. A kind stranger saw her shivering under an eave, immediately took off his own thick coat to wrap around her, and gave her his warm food. He directed her to an old temple where she could shelter from the storm. Had it not been for that benefactor, she likely would have frozen to death. She never forgot that kindness, and she carried that gratitude in her heart until her final days.

She taught me that if everyone could cultivate a heart of compassion, the world would be filled with warmth. She wanted me to learn to be compassionate toward all people, events, and things. As a six-year-old, I often asked her, 'What exactly is compassion? What does it look like? What must I do to be compassionate? Where can I find it?' She would simply reply, 'Compassion is right here in your heart. When you encounter anything, think of the other person first, not yourself. That is compassion.' Raised by her, I learned to consider others in all things. Even in our poverty, we helped others whenever we could. Living in this world, one is only truly useful if one helps others; a life lived only for oneself has no meaning."

The Path of Endurance

"My grandmother took me out to interact with people, teaching me to learn compassion through our daily exchanges and to treat everyone with a sincere heart. Whenever someone needed help, we reached out without hesitation. We helped others naturally, never measuring what we might gain or lose, always maintaining a calm, ordinary heart and a sincere enthusiasm for service. Beyond compassion, she taught me 'Endurance.' To learn endurance, one must have compassion as a foundation. No matter how others mocked or bullied me, I remained 'unmoved.' This skill was not easy to master. Many times, I felt my heart waver, but my grandmother would compassionately encourage me: 'Practise with unremitting effort.' Her support was the driving force behind my transformation. I hoped to continue improving so that I would be more capable and qualified to help others."

The Old Woman and the Dharma

"When I was seven, my grandmother and I encountered the Buddha’s teachings. We were helping an elderly woman who was quite ill-tempered. She had difficulty walking and used a cane, and she would curse at anyone who passed by. People called her a 'madwoman,' and some even threw stones or hit her with brooms. Everyone disliked her. When I walked past her, she struck me with her cane. While passersby tried to intervene and punish her, I saw the helplessness and sorrow in her eyes. Her actions were not her true intent. I asked everyone not to harm her, gave her the food I had just bought, and spoke with her. The woman burst into tears. She said she had never been treated with such kindness. She had once been wealthy, but her bad temper and arrogance had driven everyone away, including her own son. When her fortune vanished, she was left alone, becoming the person she was now. She was not insane; she was simply using that behaviour to hide her inner anxiety and sorrow. My concern helped her regain her clarity. She told me, 'You are so young, yet you understand my heart. Your compassion has deeply moved me. You are surely a good child of the Buddha. Use your gifts well; you can help many people.' She asked me to help her walk to a temple. I had never been to a temple before, but her request led me to discover the preciousness of the Buddha’s teachings.

I took her to a temple in the mountains where the monastics practised in purity. She knelt before the Buddha, repenting and begging for another chance to learn the Dharma. She promised to change her ways and start her life of practice anew. The monastics told her, 'The Buddha does not look at the mistakes we have made in the past, but at the sincerity of our repentance in the present moment.' She was so moved that she kowtowed repeatedly. From that day on, she served at the temple daily. Her face grew softer and more compassionate as she truly let go of her bad temper and served the public with a sincere heart."

The Inconceivable Dharma

"Seeing her transformation, I felt the Buddha’s teachings were truly inconceivable. I brought my grandmother to the temple to learn as well. In every monastic, I saw compassion. Compassion cannot be described by any form; it is invisible, a gentle force that can embrace and save every sentient being according to their needs and habits. I was filled with admiration. Within a week, I decided to stay and learn from the masters. I was grateful to my grandmother for cultivating a kind heart in me from childhood. In the temple, I served everyone naturally and selflessly. To help sentient beings, I practised with even greater diligence, and in the process, I grew rapidly within the Buddha’s gate.

Throughout my life, I learned many skills from the Buddha, none of which were for my own benefit; they were all used to help sentient beings. I travelled everywhere, teaching the Dharma and helping people change themselves. Beyond changing their temperament, they changed their destiny, gaining the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss instead of continuing to suffer in the cycle of rebirth. After I entered the temple, my grandmother also practised diligently, chanting Namo Amituofo until she was reborn in the Western Pure Land at the end of her life. I am grateful for the Buddha’s compassion. At the age of seventy, I followed the Buddha back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Timeless Mission

"Every day, I follow the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su into the universe to save sentient beings. I have lived in this world for immeasurable eons, and there are immeasurable eons of time and space in the universe that have karmic affinities with me. It turns out that the memories of the past never truly disappeared. When I return to the past, the scenes before me are not unfamiliar at all; these spaces have never truly vanished. It is truly astonishing. I use the name 'Namo Amituofo' to save these familiar beings, helping them seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su."

Namo Amituofo."