The Orange of Enlightenment

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Xitao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,100 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on December 5, 2018.

Venerable Xitao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xitao. When I look back at my life, it is often the smallest things that hold the greatest truths. One day, an orange fell from a tree and landed right on my head. It rolled on the ground, and I reached out to pick it up. As I looked at it closely, I realised with a start that this was a karmic creditor from one of my past lives. This being had been reborn as an orange, growing on that tree for many years, just waiting for the moment I would sit beneath it to complete his plan for vengeance—by striking me squarely on the head with his own body. I immediately chanted Namo Amituofo for him, took refuge on his behalf, and guided him toward the light."

The Karmic Creditor Turned Noble Person

"The sound of a staff striking the ground three times echoed through the air—it was my Master, Practitioner Su, calling for me. I hurried toward the sound. Master asked me, 'Xitao, what have you realised about life today?' I told him, 'Master, when one has the Buddha in their heart, even when encountering a karmic creditor, one can view them as a Buddha.' Master then asked, 'Did you encounter a karmic creditor today?' I replied, 'Yes, it was an orange. I chanted for him, took refuge for him, and told him to go toward the light.' Master asked again, 'How did you know this orange was your karmic creditor?' I answered, 'Because he hit me on the head!'

Master smiled gently at me and asked, 'Why not view him as your noble person?' I looked at him, puzzled. 'He is my noble person?' Master explained, 'The orange hit your head today, and that is exactly what led you to this realisation about life. Therefore, he is your noble person.' Hearing this, I suddenly understood: 'The orange was originally my karmic creditor, but once he struck me, he forced me to reflect and gain wisdom, thus becoming my noble person. And because I chanted for him and helped him attain Buddhahood, I became his noble person as well. So, today, I was lucky enough to meet a noble person, not a karmic creditor!' Master then told me, 'When your state of mind changes, the situation changes with it, because the environment transforms according to the heart. All good things come from this heart, and all bad things come from this heart as well. As long as the heart sees everything as good, this world will always be a place of peace.' I finally understood!"

The Lesson of the Rice Bowl

"I still held that orange in my hand. Other fellow practitioners asked me, 'Why are you holding an unripe orange?' I told them happily, 'This is the noble person I met today!'

I am Xitao, and I am eight years old. Even when I was still in my mother's womb, I was a lively, energetic child. But the year I was born, disaster after disaster struck our village. The villagers all claimed I was a bad omen! Neither my mother nor I were liked by anyone, and we had no direction in life. As soon as I learned to walk, I began following my mother, begging for food. We drifted from place to place, homeless and destitute. I have been beaten with bamboo sticks, doused with water and driven away, and I have even lain by the roadside, nearly dying of cold, forced to pick up sour, rotting food just to survive. To keep this life going, I experienced the true meaning of suffering in this world.

My mother passed away from illness when I was seven, leaving me all alone in this world. I had no desire to live and intended to let myself starve to death in the wilderness. I curled my body into a ball, huddled in the roadside grass. I thought I could leave this world just as my mother did, to be liberated from all suffering. But it seemed my time had not yet come."

From Despair to Dharma

"It took Master less than a day to save my life. It was the power of Namo Amituofo that pulled me back from the brink. At that time, I had only one breath left. Master chanted for me incessantly, using the Buddha-name to infuse energy into my body. In a very short time, I regained my strength, was able to speak, and began to eat. Master told me, 'To die is easy, but to live again is not a simple matter. Think of how many cycles of rebirth you would have to go through before you could obtain a human body again. These hands can be used to dig for scraps to eat, or they can be used to save others. The Buddha has given us all the same physical body; it is up to you how you make the best use of it.'

After I recovered, Master gave me a task: to give a bowl of rice to the person who needed it most. I did not know how to find such a person. I walked for a long time, passing through many poor villages and meeting many beggars, but I could not determine who was truly the most in need. Distressed, I sat under a large tree and set the bowl of rice aside. Before long, I fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, the bowl was surrounded by a large colony of ants, all working hard to carry away the grains of rice. I nervously reached out to drive them away, but immediately pulled my hand back. Seeing how hungry they were, I could not bear to chase them off and decided to give the rice to the ants instead.

When I returned to the temple, Master asked me, 'What did this bowl of rice teach you?' I told him, 'I realised that helping others requires a heart without attachment; it requires following karmic conditions, and most importantly, it requires no discrimination! I searched for a long time for the person most in need, but in the end, the rice was used to save immeasurable and boundless ants. When I let go of my discrimination, I realised that even the small ants on the ground are beings I can save.'"

The Universal Reach of Compassion

"Every day, Master gave me different lessons to help me realise the truth of life. I began to understand more and more that this seemingly insignificant body could achieve such great things, and that helping others is a source of such immense joy!

The suffering of this world does not distinguish between levels or ranks. The suffering of the wealthy is the same as the suffering of the poor, because suffering resides within the heart. If the heart cannot be liberated, even the richest billionaire will suffer more than a beggar on the street. Following Master and learning the Buddha’s teachings, I found enlightenment in every aspect of life. When I saw clearly that this world is but an illusion, I resolutely decided to shave my head and become a monk.

I am deeply grateful for Master’s guidance over these twenty years. He allowed me to find the strength to stand up again when I was at my most desperate—that strength is the practice of Buddhism and helping others. I have allowed my body to exert greater capabilities, so that these hands are no longer used for begging, but for saving immeasurable and boundless sentient beings. My heart is the Buddha, and the Buddha is in my heart. I learn the Buddha’s actions, helping every being to chant Namo Amituofo and attain Buddhahood.

This life was saved by Namo Amituofo, and it is Namo Amituofo who has led me to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. One could say that my life once existed in this world, or one could say it never existed at all, for life is inherently empty, illusory, and a false perception of arising and ceasing. My soul has awakened from delusion and returned to the West; that is the only true existence."

A Future of Boundless Goodness

"Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body is already a legendary figure in the universe. The scale of the space he opens is constantly expanding, with new breakthroughs and progress every day. A vast group of beings in the universe are actively supporting Practitioner Su’s Buddha-actions. They wish to learn from his compassionate efforts to save the world, helping other beings in the universe hear the Buddha’s voice and be saved. These beings happen to have a karmic connection with me, and today I met them and praised their compassion. Many of these kind beings have also chanted Namo Amituofo today and attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—it is a truly joyous occasion!

Human nature is inherently good. Whether it is humans or spirits without bodies, everyone still possesses a heart of goodness. The power of Goodness can be expanded; the goodness within human nature can be ignited, and the kind side of spirits can be reawakened. The power of Goodness in the universe is spreading further and further with Practitioner Su’s Chao Du. Every speck of dust and every planet in the entire universe is gradually turning toward Goodness. In the bitter sea of this world, where there is Goodness and there is the Buddha, there is no cycle of rebirth. This power will continue to be transmitted to every space and every corner. For all of this, we must be grateful for Practitioner Su’s compassion. Namo Amituofo."