The Nagging Tongue and the Turkey's Fate

This interview was recorded on September 22, 2016, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The subject is the spirit of Xu Quman, who, after suffering the karmic consequences of her past actions, sought Spiritual Deliverance. She currently resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. The interview was conducted by the chief writer, Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian.

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. May I ask which Bodhisattva is here to be interviewed today?"

The Spirit speaks:

"A turkey."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"May I ask for your name, and in which dimension you currently reside?"

The Spirit:

"My name is Xu Quman, and I am in the third dimension."

The Life of a Turkey

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"What is the reason you ended up as a turkey?"

Xu Quman:

"Every morning, I would wake up and make that 'gobble-gobble' sound. Once we grew up, we were slaughtered to be served as Chiayi chicken rice, or for the Christmas turkey feasts. My flesh would be sliced up on the table, served as a dish for others. It is the Christmas feast that Westerners love the most."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"How long have you been in this state?"

Xu Quman:

"About fifteen years or so."

A Simple Life and a Fateful Marriage

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"What did you do during your life?"

Xu Quman:

"I was born in the countryside of Chiayi, Taiwan. I was a simple, rustic girl. From a young age, I helped my father with the farm work, and when I had free time, I helped my mother manage the household chores. I was always polite to my uncles, aunts, and the elderly neighbours. In their eyes, I was a good girl. Because of this, as I grew up, neighbours constantly wanted to introduce me to good matches. Eventually, my parents carefully selected a family that was quite wealthy. In that era, marriages were arranged by parents. I only met my husband at our engagement. Fortunately, he was the kind of person I had hoped for, so our parents chose an auspicious date, and I was married."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"Since your parents chose a wealthy family and he was someone you liked, you must have lived a happy and fulfilling life, right?"

Xu Quman:

"Yes, at first. I was a very diligent daughter-in-law. I would wake up at four or five in the morning to prepare breakfast for the whole family. After meals, I would wash all the clothes by hand, and for the rest of the day, I would keep the house spotlessly clean. I was hardworking and filial to my parents-in-law. They were very satisfied with me. After being married for over a year, I was proud to give birth to a son. Once they had a grandson, my parents-in-law were busy doting on him, smiling from ear to ear."

The Shadow of Resentment

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"Wow! That sounds like a very happy life."

Xu Quman:

"But good times do not last forever. About a year later, my brother-in-law married a woman from a wealthy, prestigious family. She was a young lady who never lifted a finger. She was rich, and she was very good at flattery. She would often return from her parents' home with many gifts for my parents-in-law, and she knew how to act spoiled and buy them the clothes they liked. My parents-in-law were delighted by her. She did not have to do any housework; she would just dress up beautifully and go out shopping, while I was left to handle all three meals. At first, I did not mind. But then she also gave birth to a son, and my parents-in-law doted on them even more. As the children grew, they would fight and grab toys, and my parents-in-law would always take her side. I saw all of this, and I felt so much injustice in my heart. I thought, 'What is so great about her family being rich?' I was the one doing all the work inside and out. Why did they favour her just because she had money? The more I thought about it, the more nauseated I felt. I started complaining behind her back to my husband."

The Habit of Nagging

Xu Quman:

"My life felt so worthless. I worked from dawn until dusk for the family, while she spent her days dressed up, taking her child out to play and shop. The more I thought about it, the more resentful I became. I started nagging while I worked. I became more and more long-winded. When my parents-in-law heard me complaining constantly, they grew to dislike me. Later, as the children grew up, my parents-in-law could not stand my nagging anymore and suggested we split the family assets. We moved out, which was the happiest thing for me—I did not have to serve them anymore, and I did not have to look at their faces."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"How was your life after you moved out?"

Xu Quman:

"After moving out, I raised many turkeys in the courtyard to sell and supplement our income. As the days passed, the children grew up, and our life became more affluent. However, the habit of nagging I had developed at my parents-in-law's house had become second nature. I would find fault with everything at home. As I got older, it became even worse. My husband would often say to me, 'You nag from morning till night. When you die, won't you just be reborn as a turkey?'"

The Karmic Retribution

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"And so, did you end up becoming a turkey?"

Xu Quman:

"Later, I fell seriously ill. I was often weak and eventually could not even cook meals. My husband had to take care of me. He was a man who rarely did housework, but even though I was sick, I never stopped nagging him. He took care of me meticulously, but his catchphrase was always, 'Stop nagging, or you will be reborn as a turkey when you die.' A year later, my condition worsened, and at about fifty-six, I died of heart failure. I do not know if it was because of my nagging or my husband's curse, but after I died, I was reborn as a turkey. Every day, it was just 'gobble, gobble...'"

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"Would you like to see the karmic connection between you and your sister-in-law that caused your life to change so drastically after she married into the family?"

Xu Quman:

"Looking back about four lifetimes ago, we were sworn sisters. We married into the same family and became sisters-in-law. At first, we were very close, but later we became enemies over the division of family property. I harboured evil thoughts, wanting to take the property for myself. I spread rumours and did things to harm her, slandering her by saying she was unfaithful to my brother-in-law. She was eventually driven out of the house. In this life, the situation was reversed, and I was the one being ignored. This is retribution."

Seeking Deliverance

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"What brought you to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre today?"

Xu Quman:

"Today, a very strong Buddha-light shone upon me. I shed my turkey form and followed a flock of turkeys and chickens to the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land to seek Spiritual Deliverance."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"Do you know how to chant Namo Amituofo?"

Xu Quman:

"I know how to chant, but I do not know what to do in the Western Pure Land."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"Then you should stay in the Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Listen to the Dharma talks by Practitioner Su to understand the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and then seek Spiritual Deliverance."

Xu Quman:

"Very well, let us listen to the scriptures first."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian:

"May I ask how many beings you have brought with you today?"

Xu Quman:

"Four great numbers."

Namo Amituofo.