The Monk of the Past and the Soul of the Present

This is a record of an interview with Ku Chung-liang, who sought spiritual deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his life as a monastic approximately 1,300 years ago and his current spiritual awakening. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on February 23, 2018.

Venerable Faxin:

"Yesterday, when I interviewed the monastics of the White Horse Temple (Baima Temple), you had not yet reached the Western Pure Land. May I ask, in which past life did you attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land, Namo Amituofo?"

Ku Chung-liang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. That was over fifteen lifetimes ago. It was more than 1,300 years ago, during a golden age of the Buddha’s teachings. My mother was a woman of noble birth, but she had conceived me in secret. To hide this, my family had me sent away in the dead of night, leaving me at the gates of a temple. I grew up without a father or mother, never knowing my true origins. Because I had lived this way since infancy, I never felt particularly inferior. My master was very affectionate toward me, as were my fellow brothers in the Dharma.

A Childhood in the Temple

I was a very unique child from a young age—I could be both incredibly active and perfectly still. When I was quiet, I would imitate the way my brothers sat in meditation. At first, I was only mimicking the outward appearance, but later, when I truly began to meditate, I found I could settle my mind instantly. My brothers were all quite delighted to see me sitting there with such composure. During those moments of deep meditation, I would see such beautiful realms that I would long to step into them, only to be reminded of my master’s instructions.

As I grew older, around the age of fifteen, my master took me and several other brothers to another temple to transmit the Dharma. It was a long journey that required us to traverse many rivers and mountains. My master taught us not to speak too much on the road, but to simply keep our minds pure, and he taught us to chant the name of Namo Amituofo. That purity was truly inconceivable; it felt as though I could sense the vibrations of every person and object around me.

The Vow of Compassion

While crossing a river, we encountered a father and son. The father was rowing the boat with all his might, while the young boy was responsible for greeting and guiding the passengers. The boy was dressed in rags. Even at my young age, my heart ached for them; it was clear they lived a life of immense hardship. My master used the suffering of this father and son as a lesson for us disciples. He knew that I had seen everything, and in that moment, my heart matured significantly, and I gained a profound understanding of life. After making that journey back and forth several times, I silently made a sincere vow to help all beings. Once this vow was made, I felt myself become much more mature and steady. This was the process of following my master to transmit the Dharma.

When I was around fifty years old, I took over as the abbot. I passed on my practice experience to my disciples, teaching both Chan and Pure Land methods. After I became the abbot, many local officials came to seek my guidance. Even so, I was never moved by fame or fortune. After establishing a lineage at the temple, I chanted the name of Namo Amituofo and attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I was sixty-four years old when I attained rebirth. This is what I can recall, though it is not entirely clear.

Awakening to the Present

Now, my spirit knows these past events again and again. I realise that I have a mission, and that I am not merely meant to be an ordinary wealthy man. Every day, playing these 'money games'—manipulating wealth—it all feels so illusory and unreal. I do not wish to continue living this way. My spirit has awakened once more. I look at my physical body and see that my fifty trillion cells have been purified significantly. I pick up my phone, scrolling through websites, and inadvertently, I seem to have stumbled upon the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I thought I had clicked it by mistake, so I did not pay much attention at first. However, from the perspective of my spirit, this is already the blessing of the ancestral masters. I am clear-headed now, and I hope that everything will soon be revealed.

Namo Amituofo."