This interview was recorded on February 22, 2018, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. It features the spirit of Koo Chung-liang, who sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. Through this session, the spirit reflects upon his past life as a monk at the White Horse Temple and his current spiritual journey to reconnect with the .
Koo Chung-liang speaks:
". In my past life, I was known as Fu De. From a very young age, I was a quiet child. I was born into a family of officials and spent much of my time in my father’s study, which was filled with many sutras and scrolls. Because of this, I was deeply cherished by my father. I loved the stillness, and I loved to copy books. I would take the books I had copied and deliver them to a nearby school so that children without the means to buy their own could read them. Everything I saw left a deep impression on me; I could truly empathise with the hardships of life. Even as a young boy, I could not understand why the gap between the rich and the poor was so vast. I sought answers in books, and eventually, through the sutras, I understood the philosophy of the Dharma—that these circumstances arise from the karmic causes of past lives and the cycle of reincarnation. Once I understood this, I made a firm decision to practise the Buddha’s teachings. I was only ten years old at the time.
A Journey to the White Horse Temple
When I discussed this with my father, he was heartbroken to let go of his youngest son. However, seeing my unwavering determination, he and my mother tearfully sent me to the first Buddhist temple ever built in China, the White Horse Temple in Luoyang. When the Master saw my sincere intention and resolve, he bestowed upon me the Dharma name 'Yin Chuan'. I practised at the White Horse Temple for thirty years. During that time, I engaged in exchanges with many monastics from different countries, spreading the Buddha’s teachings to various places. I believed that everyone should have the Buddha’s teachings in their hearts; spreading the Dharma to the world is one of the primary responsibilities of a monastic.
At that time, I was very active in expanding the reach of the Buddha’s teachings, hoping that everyone could end the cycle of birth and death and transcend the three realms. This mindset was something I learned from my Master. My Master was the abbot of the White Horse Temple; he welcomed talent from all walks of life and never dwelled on petty rights or wrongs. However, he was meticulous in pointing out and correcting the erroneous views of his disciples. Only by doing so could we ensure that future generations would hold the correct concepts. As Yin Chuan, I gave my heart and soul to this work. Yet, I began to develop a subtle thought that no difficulty could defeat me. A subtle sense of arrogance manifested, and I was completely unaware of it. Because of this, I did not reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in that life; I only attained the twentieth heaven of the celestial realm.
from a Long Dream
Looking back at every detail of that past life, I find myself weeping. I wonder why, in this current life, the of my physical body led me to Christianity. While my intentions were sincere and I was happy to engage in public welfare, all of those actions were merely worldly affairs. Fortunately, my spirit has now encountered the Master once again. We have been connected through many lifetimes—as teacher and student, as father and son, and as Dharma protectors. In this current life, my role is to be a Dharma protector for the Master, to safeguard the lineage of the Buddha’s teachings. My own spirit is anxious to begin; I pray for the Buddha’s compassionate blessing to connect all these causal conditions, and I will certainly give my all. I sincerely wish to follow the Master’s path.
Suddenly, I feel like a piece of driftwood that has been drifting at sea, finally being picked up. I hope that everything proceeds smoothly. I will do my utmost to lead my physical body to rise and take action. I am deeply grateful for everything I have seen today; it is as if I have awakened from a great dream. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo for His in allowing me to see all of this."
Koo Chung-liang
IN THIS COLLECTION
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