The Lion Rider's Path to Enlightenment

This is a record of an interview with the nine hundred and seventy-seventh Venerable, known as the Lion Rider, who lived approximately three thousand years ago. He sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on January 9, 2019.

The Lion Rider speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. In the city of Hula, where there was no conflict, every civilian possessed magical abilities. These were either passed down through generations or were innate skills. The serene environment allowed the natural sensitivity of the people to be awakened from birth.

The Boy and the Lion

I was called the 'Lion Rider' because, from a very young age, I loved to sit upon a lion to travel everywhere. In our city, people rode various animals—some rode elephants, others horses. The more noble and wealthy the family, the more fierce and powerful the animal they rode. I was born into a wealthy family as an only child. My mother was a great practitioner of Goodness who travelled everywhere performing acts of Generosity to be blessed with a child. A celestial deity once told her, 'This child will be able to save many people in the future.' To bring blessings and auspiciousness to me, my mother brought home a newborn lion the moment I was born. This lion grew up with me, played with me, and wherever I wished to go, this lion would take me there.

My innate sensitivity was truly unmatched by anyone in the city. Even the ancient sorcerers of that time could not compare to me, even when I was only five years old. Everyone possessed a myriad of magical skills, passed down through their families. My mother also taught me all her techniques. Being clever and sensitive, I learned various skills from a young age and was even able to transform and expand upon what I had learned.

Miracles and Illusions

Once, when the great ocean was about to submerge our town, I immediately conjured a massive whirlpool to absorb the sea. Only after the ocean calmed did I restore it to its original state. Everyone marvelled at my power; it was truly extraordinary. On another occasion, when a large enemy force attacked without warning, I instantly conjured three massive mirrors before them. They saw our city deploying an army many times larger than theirs, charging directly toward them. Terrified, they turned and fled in a panic. People were filled with endless praise for my wisdom.

In my entire life, I never encountered an opponent. Everyone knew of my power, and no one dared to challenge me lightly. However, many elders who claimed to have great skills would seek out five-year-old me to test my abilities. Some would turn the earth into the sky, the sky into the earth, or transform the sea into mountains and mountains into the sea, all to confuse me and gain an advantage. After they spent great effort creating these illusions, they would wait for me to strike. I would simply wave my hand and immediately shatter the illusion; I was never deceived. While they were casting their spells, I would remain perfectly still, closing my eyes to ignore the environmental changes. Then, I would mimic the incantations they used, change one character in their spell, and instantly break the entire illusion. The elders were astonished, yet they were also full of admiration.

The Encounter with the Dharma

When I was fifteen, the sky over our town was suddenly filled with thick, swirling smoke that constantly shifted into various strange scenes. I tried every method I knew to dispel this phenomenon, but no matter what I did, I could not break it. Just as I was at my wit's end, an elderly monk appeared. He simply recited, 'Namo Amituofo,' and in an instant, the sky cleared, and all the illusions vanished. I was dumbfounded. This was the first time in fifteen years that I had met someone whose power surpassed my own. I immediately knelt and begged the elder to teach me his skills.

The old monk looked at me with compassion and said, 'In this land of sorcery, people naturally use magic to change the heavens and earth, or to manifest whatever they desire. But you must know that everything has a price. In the Buddha’s teachings, we speak of the laws of karma and cause and effect. The people of this city cannot escape this retribution.' I listened intently as the old monk explained, and he patiently guided me.

The Path of Compassion

Day by day, I learned more about the Buddha’s teachings. I had never known such a path existed in this world. My mother had once told me that when I reached the age of fifteen, I would find the great Dharma to truly save the people; it turned out she had long foreseen my meeting with the old monk. I knelt and took him as my teacher, asking him to accept me as his disciple.

The old monk looked at me and said, 'Break all the skills you have mastered!' Upon hearing this, I immediately recited, 'Namo Amituofo.' With my powerful mental note, all the skills I had learned over the past fifteen years were erased, and I became a simple ordinary person. My teacher then told me, 'This lion was your disciple in a past life. He vowed to protect his teacher in his next life, which is why he came to be your pet and your mount in this life. Now, save him and help him become a Buddha first. Be grateful for his devotion to you.' I sincerely guided the lion, reciting the holy name of Namo Amituofo for him. A few days later, the lion let go of everything and departed for the world of light.

I followed my teacher diligently. On the first day, he asked me to find the meaning of 'compassion.' I told him, 'In these fifteen years, I have come to understand the suffering of sentient beings. Now, I make a vow before the Buddha: I am willing to spend my life saving sentient beings, to give my heart to the Buddha, and to learn the Buddha-heart to save all beings.' My teacher replied, 'Very good. You truly have a compassionate heart to learn the Buddha’s way. From now on, use this heart of compassion to practise. As long as you keep sentient beings in your heart and practise diligently, you will surely achieve success.'

A Mission Across Space

My sensitivity allowed me to perceive the suffering spirits in all spaces. What I saw were immeasurable and boundless beings, all trapped and suffering because of the sorcery of our land. I was deeply shocked. I never imagined that our magic had harmed so many beings. If I had not learned the Buddha’s teachings, these beings would still be suffering in those spaces. My teacher told me, 'The smoke that appeared that day was not a spell cast by other sorcerers, but these suffering spirits coming to seek revenge. No matter how much magic you used, you could not break it, because this is karma—the natural retribution that must be endured. But that day, I tried to resolve their grievances, using the holy name of Namo Amituofo to lead them out of those spaces, thus averting the disaster. You must know that you should achieve success early to save sentient beings, for they suffer more with each passing day.'

At the age of twenty-five, I began to travel, lecturing and teaching, urging the people of our land to stop using sorcery to harm others. I explained the principles to them, letting them know that the Buddha’s teachings were far more vast than the magic they used. After hearing the teachings, people gradually understood, and one by one, they broke their lifelong skills to focus solely on the great Dharma of Namo Amituofo. Our entire land became brighter, and people’s hearts became more peaceful. My teacher’s disciples grew in number, all seeking the Dharma. I also took in many disciples, teaching them to learn the Buddha’s way to save more suffering spirits. I turned from sorcery to the Buddha’s path, spending my life saving beings. At the end of my life, I recited the holy name of Namo Amituofo and returned to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, grateful for the great compassion of Namo Amituofo.

Continuing the Work

I now follow the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du throughout the universe. In fact, many planets in the universe were once controlled by sorcery. In the past, the power of sorcery was very profound. Great sorcerers could travel through space to the universe, using various substances to enhance their power. Some even cultivated their own magic in the universe, controlling the spirits within it.

When Practitioner Su opens the karmic spaces connected to me, many spirits controlled by magic appear before my eyes—many of whom were harmed by me in the past. I sincerely resolve these conflicts with them, using the holy name of Namo Amituofo to break the spells that have controlled them for thousands of years, leading them out of those spaces and liberating them from millennia of suffering. I continue to actively save sentient beings every day. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for giving me this karmic affinity. I am grateful for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

This interview was recorded by the disciple of the Buddha, Shi Fa Jing.