The Illusion of Material Comfort

This is a record of an interview with Fan Yuesheng, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 245 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 16, 2019.

Fan Yuesheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Yuesheng. I was born into the Fan family in this lifetime. Many lifetimes ago, I had karmic connections with this family—some good, some bad—but by the time I was born, those memories had faded."

A Mother’s Devotion and the Sound of the Buddha

"My grandmother decorated our home with red silk balls to welcome my birth. My mother was a Buddhist—the only one in our entire family. She was incredibly devout, kneeling before the Buddha every day to recite the Sutras, even while she was pregnant with me. While I was in her womb, I listened to her chanting. Her voice was so gentle, so filled with compassion. I listened quietly, feeling as if the Buddha himself were stroking my face. Sometimes I wanted to chant along, but I could not speak, so I would move my hands and feet in rhythm with the chanting. I could hear my mother telling me she hoped I would become a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings. My spirit understood her words, and I responded in my own way, though she did not seem to feel it yet."

The Purity of a Lotus

"Mother would say to me, 'I hope Yuesheng’s heart will be as pure and white as a lotus, and your appearance as dignified as the Compassionate One, so that in the future you may save sentient beings.' She used the sound of the Buddha to transform my spirit; my heart felt as if it had been washed clean by nectar, without a single speck of impurity. On the day I was born, I felt the noise of the outside world—so many voices waiting to welcome me. To spare my mother pain, I chanted along with her. The agony of birth, which felt like the pain of the Jia Shan Hell, vanished in an instant, and I slipped into the midwife’s hands. The air outside was so different from the warm space of my mother’s womb; I felt such discomfort and pain that I burst into tears. The louder I cried, the happier the people around me were. They laughed and said, 'Good, good! A healthy baby!'"

Early Lessons in Compassion

"Mother said happily, 'Look at this child’s face—plump cheeks, rosy lips, and those long, large ears. His heart is truly as pure as a lotus, as bright as the Buddha.' I became a beloved baby. Everyone took turns holding me, praising my appearance and the suppleness of my bones. I began to integrate into this world, adapting to this new, strange environment. Mother held me every day while chanting, and the sound of the Buddha’s name poured into my ears, flowing from my head to my feet, purifying every single cell in my body. To protect me from the impurities of the world, she rarely took me out, keeping me away from the chaos of human life so that I was constantly nurtured by the Dharma."

A Duty to All Sentient Beings

"'Mother! Come quickly! Look, there are so many insects here. I am chanting for them, and they seem so happy!' From a young age, Mother taught me to treat all things with kindness. Even a tiny fly, no bigger than a grain of sand, I treated with the utmost care, fearing I might harm it, for it too was a spirit reborn. No matter where I went, I chanted the Buddha’s name. This was Mother’s teaching; she wanted me to chant at every moment, to benefit all sentient and insentient beings."

The Unpredictability of Karma

"From the age of five, I followed my mother out to do good deeds every day. Sometimes it was as simple as chanting 'Namo Amituofo' for someone, planting the Vajra Seed of the Buddha within them. Sometimes I used my own meager strength to pick up trash, making the path comfortable for pedestrians. Sometimes Mother gave me a little money, and I would use it for charity. Most of the beneficiaries were poor children, as my money was only enough to buy them some food. I do not remember how many good deeds I did; in Mother’s teachings, doing good was simply my responsibility—a duty I could never neglect as long as I was in this world."

A Tragic Loss

"However, the impermanence of the world is always shocking. Without the transformation of karma, when spiritual obstacles manifest, one cannot escape the karmic creditors coming to seek their due. After a month of heavy rain in our village, Mother went to help Grandmother reorganize the vegetable garden on the hillside and was accidentally struck by a falling rock. She suffered a severe head injury and lay in bed for ten days, unconscious and unable to chant. I stayed by her side, chanting day and night, begging the Buddha to help her wake up. But fate is cruel; Mother could not escape this calamity and passed away on a windy night. I cried uncontrollably. I did not understand why such a good mother, who taught me to do good from the time I was small, would leave me when I was only seven years old. I did not understand why she was taken away so soon."

The Conflict of Two Worlds

"After the funeral, Mother was truly gone. Grandmother took over the role of caring for me. She told me, 'Practicing Buddhism is useless! Look at your mother—she practiced for so long, and yet she died so miserably! If practicing Buddhism cannot lead to a good death, what is the point?' Grandmother forbade me from chanting and returned all my Buddhist books to the temple. I began to feel conflicted—should I listen to my mother or my grandmother? I knew that when Mother was alive, she and Grandmother never got along. Although there were no open arguments, there was always underlying tension. Grandmother loved me dearly, as I was her only grandson and the hope of the Fan family."

The Path of Materialism

"Grandmother took me everywhere to eat, drink, and play. While I was eating expensive food, I saw children standing in the distance, barefoot and in rags in the cold weather. I wanted to give them my hot food, but Grandmother stopped me. She said, 'Those children deserve their fate! You do not need to give them such good food! Just take care of yourself; do not worry about them!' I did not understand why the teachings of my mother and grandmother were so different. For a moment, I truly could not adapt, and I did not know how to react. But Mother had taught me to listen to my elders, so I could not disobey Grandmother, even if I disagreed in my heart. I wanted to continue doing good deeds as I had before—it was my mother’s teaching, my lifelong duty—but now Grandmother blocked me, saying I had nothing better to do. If I wanted to use my pocket money for charity, she would call me extravagant and wasteful. Eventually, any money she gave me had to be spent in front of her, on myself, before she would show a satisfied smile."

A Life of Excess

"Years passed, and I grew up under Grandmother’s guidance. She took me to many places; whenever she knew of a fun place, she would take me there immediately. If she knew of good food, she would take me to eat it. I enjoyed everything this world had to offer, including my clothes, which were made of the finest materials. The horses I rode were the most expensive. Grandmother spent a great deal of money on me, her grandson; it was her way of showing love, hoping I would enjoy myself and be happy every day."

The Habit of Spending

"'Pack all of these up!' I learned what Grandmother taught me: if you want to buy something, buy enough at once, because money is always sufficient. I listened to Grandmother and spent money without restraint, buying things wherever I went. I did not necessarily use everything I bought, but I spent freely. Seeing this, Grandmother was pleased. She said to herself, 'This child is finally listening! This is how a descendant of the Fan family should be!' Not only that, I would spend a lot of money buying land. Whenever I saw fertile land for sale, I would buy it and register it in my name. As for spending money, I did not feel it was extravagant at all; if I could spend it, I would spend it to my heart’s content."

When I was seventeen, I looked closely at my grandmother’s face and realised she had aged significantly; she could barely walk anymore. Grandmother told me, 'My dear grandson, I hope you can take a wife and give me a great-grandson. I am old, and my time is running out.' She gestured for me to sit beside her. She looked at my face intently and said in surprise, 'Grandson, the older you get, the younger and more handsome you look! Wang, who grew up with you next door, already looks like a middle-aged man, yet you still look like a tender child.' I looked at her and thought, 'Now is the time.' I gathered my courage to introduce the Buddha’s teachings to her. Grandmother looked at me, stunned: 'When did you start studying Buddhism again?' I replied, 'Even though you returned all the sutras to the temple, I have always been chanting the Buddha-name silently in my heart, just as Mother did when she was alive. Mother told me that studying Buddhism and performing acts of Goodness were my lifelong responsibilities, and I have never forgotten. The money I spent so freely was not wasted; I specifically sought out vendors who had no business. When I bought land, I chose the most fertile soil so that poor families who could not afford to rent fields could farm without paying rent. I know you dislike my study of the Dharma, but I know this is the path I must walk for my entire life, for without the Buddha, we can never escape the cycle of rebirth. Now that you are ill, I hope you will study the Dharma, for only the Buddha can help you heal.'

A Promise of Faith

Grandmother stared at me with wide eyes, pondered for a moment, and asked, 'Then why did your mother die so miserably even though she studied the Dharma?' I explained, 'Although Mother studied the Dharma, she still harboured personality traits she had not discovered. She often felt rebellious toward you, though she buried these feelings deep within. In the past, she had harmed many people with such a heart. Because she had not yet resolved her karmic debts, when her karmic creditors came to seek revenge, she could not escape the fate of death.' Grandmother thought for a long time before saying, 'Fine! If you are willing to take a wife and give me a great-grandson, I will study the Dharma!' I replied, 'As long as you are willing to study the Dharma, I will do anything!'

Ten days later, I brought home a beautiful woman. I told Grandmother, 'This is my bride-to-be, a girl from the next village named Qiu Mei.' Qiu Mei greeted Grandmother shyly. Seeing her beautiful appearance and gentle manner, Grandmother took an immediate liking to her. Grandmother asked anxiously, 'When will the wedding be?' I did not forget to remind her, 'Have you started studying the Dharma yet?' Grandmother pulled the prayer beads from her wrist to show me and said, 'I chant the Buddha-name a thousand times a day and recite three sutras. If I have time, I also perform prostrations before the Buddha.' I saw that Grandmother’s face had indeed begun to glow, a clear improvement from her previously dull and lifeless appearance, and I knew she was truly chanting.

A Joyous Celebration

The wedding procession arrived at Qiu Mei’s home in a lively atmosphere. Many young men stamped their feet in frustration, as Qiu Mei was the most beautiful girl in the village. She had rejected many suitors, and no one expected her to marry me. I felt deeply honoured and filled with gratitude toward her.

On the day of the wedding, the Fan family hosted a hundred-table banquet. All the villagers came to offer their congratulations. It was a joyous night, and Grandmother was the happiest of all. She kept introducing me to her friends: 'Don't underestimate my grandson. He has a very kind heart. I tried to stop him from studying the Dharma, but he secretly chanted the Buddha-name and did good deeds everywhere. It has been over ten years since he started.' Her friends were full of praise. One said, 'Your grandson has such good roots; why doesn't he become a monk?' Upon hearing the word 'monk,' Grandmother’s expression changed instantly. Another friend quickly kicked the one who had spoken and told Grandmother, 'Mengtao meant that someone as talented as your grandson is a blessing to whoever marries him!' Grandmother laughed heartily and went to toast other guests. Before leaving their table, I heard them whispering, 'Why would you say the word 'monk'? Don't you know Mrs. Fan doesn't like Buddhism at all? You really don't know how to read the room!' It turned out the whole village knew Grandmother rejected the Dharma, but fortunately, she was now willing to accept it, which brought me great relief.

The Arrival of a New Life

Qiu Mei soon became pregnant. I told Grandmother, 'Qiu Mei is the only child in her family. Her parents have a small wish: they hope she can return to her maiden home to wait for the birth, and her mother wants to personally care for her during her confinement.' Grandmother had wanted to help, but since her parents had already asked, she did not object, and Qiu Mei returned home.

After ten long months, the time came. Grandmother and I rushed to her parents' home. Grandmother was both excited and anxious, pacing back and forth outside the room; I knew she was eager to hold her great-grandson. Soon, the loud, clear cry of a baby echoed from the room. Grandmother stopped in her tracks and shouted, 'He’s born! Hahaha! He’s born!' Her mother brought the baby out, and the whole family scrambled to hold the newborn.

A Peaceful Departure

I had a wife and a child, and Grandmother studied the Dharma diligently as promised, even bringing her great-grandson along to chant. Seeing her great-grandson chant the Buddha-name so well made Grandmother very happy. Five years later, her health declined, and she was confined to her bed. I prayed constantly for the Buddha to help her find peace and escape her suffering. Grandmother listened to me and chanted continuously, fearing she might pass away suddenly without being prepared. One night, she passed away while I sat by her side. At the moment she stopped breathing, she was still chanting. The Buddha came personally to guide her to the Western Land, leaving the room filled with the fragrance of lotus flowers.

Grandmother was gone, and everything had come to an end, yet it was also a new beginning. Qiu Mei had been my friend in studying the Dharma since childhood, and her parents were like-minded friends of my mother. Qiu Mei knew I wanted to save Grandmother, but her personality was stubborn, and it was not easy. Thus, she agreed to stage this marriage with me, and we even spent money to bring back a newborn child. I am grateful for Qiu Mei’s help, which allowed me to successfully save Grandmother and guide her to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Life Dedicated to the Dharma

Qiu Mei and I shared the same vow: to become monastics in this life and attain liberation. The child we 'bought' was cared for by her parents, who raised him while studying the Dharma. We ended our fake marriage and each embarked on our own path of practice.

There is nothing more important in life than studying the Dharma. I feel sorry for deceiving my grandmother, but without doing so, I could not have saved her, nor could I have become a monk. I might have ended up a spoiled youth, wasting my life in pursuit of pleasure. I am grateful that my mother taught me to chant while I was in her womb, planting the seeds of my vow to study the Dharma for seven years and strengthening my good roots, so that even in the face of great storms, my heart remained unmoved.

When my practice matured, I fulfilled my wish to save my mother. She was still trapped in the space where she had been crushed by a great rock. I chanted for her to break through that space; she saw the Buddha-light before her, wept bitterly, and after bidding me farewell, followed the Buddha to the Western Land. For eighty years—ten, twenty, thirty years—I never once felt the urge to retreat. Even with the many tests from the Buddha and the demons, I remained unmoved, moving forward with no path of retreat. Time waits for no one. I encouraged myself to be mindful every day, to reach a higher level. This progress was not about surpassing others, but about understanding the suffering of beings more deeply, letting go of the self, and increasing my compassion in saving others until I reached the state of true no-self.

The Mission Continues

Seeing that there are still countless beings to be saved, but my body is failing, I must let go of everything and vow to return to this world in future lives to save them. At the final moment, I left the human world in a hurry. The Buddha was waiting for me with compassion, and my mother and grandmother were waving to me. I was overjoyed to reunite with them in the West and continue my diligent practice.

Coming back to the human world today is due to the karmic affinity of supporting Practitioner Su, which allowed me to help heal her leg injury and join her in saving beings. Everything that rises must fall, and the Buddha’s teachings are no exception. We are now in the age of the Dharma’s decline; those who study Buddhism are not as they once were, and the mutations in people’s hearts have led to the decline of the Dharma. Practitioner Su, as a lay practitioner, performs the deeds of a Bodhisattva, using her Dharma Body to save beings in the ten directions. She truly descended from the Western Land to the human world, never forgetting her vow to save beings despite the worldly dust. She began her journey of studying the Dharma at nearly fifty years old. Since then, she has been diligent every day, and today she has attained the Dharma Body to save ten thousand spirits.

When Practitioner Su teaches the Dharma, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas provide support, and beings from the spirit realms kneel to listen, moved to tears by every word. Having had no affinity to hear this great Dharma in the past, they cherish it all the more after losing their human bodies. Practitioners in the human world should seize this opportunity, listen to the Dharma with focus, and the beings within their bodies will have a path of light to escape. The difference between having a body and being a spirit is merely physical; the stubborn personality is the same. Only when one listens to the Dharma and lets go of deep-seated attachments will the beings within be willing to let go of their multi-generational desire for revenge. But the prerequisite is that these beings must also hear the Dharma to understand that letting go is the only way to liberation. I hope every Buddhist practitioner can succeed in their practice, benefit all beings, and cherish this magnificent Dharma affinity until they are reborn in the Western Land. Namo Amituofo.

This interview message was recorded by the chief writer, Buddhist disciple Shi Fajing.