The Mayfly's Plea: A Former Monastic's Testimony to Practitioner Su
An Interview with a Spirit by Venerable HaiZe
Recorded on February 20, 2018
The Signal of the Spirit
On the twentieth of February, 2018, a unique phenomenon occurred at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. Practitioner Su felt a persistent itching sensation in her ears. In the context of our practice, such physical sensations are often signals from the unseen world—a call for help from spirits who are seeking Spiritual Deliverance. Venerable HaiZe, acting as the interviewer, sought to understand the origin and the plight of these beings.
Venerable HaiZe asked, "May I ask where you sentient beings have come from?"
The spirit, speaking through the collective presence of the mayflies, replied with profound humility and sorrow. They explained that their ability to manifest and reach Practitioner Su was akin to the behaviour of mayflies gathering around a light before a heavy rainstorm. They had been drawn to the light of the radiating from Practitioner Su. They expressed deep gratitude that she had acknowledged their presence, for it was only through this connection that they were permitted to manifest near her ears, thereby gaining the opportunity to receive .
The Fragility of a Fleeting Life
The spirit continued to describe the nature of their existence, which is often overlooked by those in the human realm. "Although our lives appear so insignificant—so fragile that a mere touch causes our wings to fall, and we perish within days of being born—this short, transient existence is what we call a lifetime. Within this swarm of mayflies, many of us have already endured hundreds, even thousands, of such lifetimes."
They explained that it was only because Practitioner Su had mentioned them that their space was opened, allowing them to arrive at this place. It was their first true opportunity to escape the of being a mayfly and to finally seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. One might wonder how a mere insect could possess such clarity of speech and understanding. The answer lies in the spirit's past.
The Fall of a Monastic
The spirit revealed a startling truth: "Before I became a mayfly, I was a monastic." They recounted a life of spiritual failure, marked by the very poisons that the Buddha warned against. "I had many followers and disciples around my teacher. However, instead of practising with a pure heart, I spent my time engaging in flattery and sycophancy. My eyes were fixed only on those who were powerful, influential, or perceived to have a bright future. I looked only upward, never downward. To the humble, unknown disciples and fellow monastics, I did not even spare a glance."
The spirit confessed that their heart was filled with arrogance. They treated the noble people of the world with the same reverence one should reserve for the Buddha, while treating others with disdain. "Because of this conduct, after I passed away, I was judged and sentenced to be reborn as a mayfly. In this state, seeing a light is like seeing a lifeline—it is a desperate, instinctual pull. My behaviour lacked the basic decorum of a monastic; I did not even possess the decency expected of an ordinary person. This is the retribution I earned for my actions."
A Warning to the World
The spirit had been trapped in this cycle of rebirth as a mayfly for approximately ten years. They had died and been reborn countless times, suffering through the endless cycle of samsara. "Today, because I have been released from this state to tell my story, I must express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su and to Namo Amituofo, whose great is boundless. I offer this story as a warning to all monastics and to all people in the world."
They urged the living not to look down upon any small creature—be it a flying insect, a tiny ant, or a mayfly. "Every one of these beings is a life that has come to be reborn, and each carries their own story and the specific causes of their evil that led them to this state of crawling and flying. We have so many waiting for Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du for us. We are eternally grateful to the Buddha!"
This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, who serves as the chief writer for these accounts. May this testimony serve as a reminder to all of us to cultivate humility, to cherish every life, and to remain steadfast in our practice of chanting Namo Amituofo.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library