The Path of Learning the Buddha

This is a record of an interview with Mu Weiguang, who sought deliverance 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 948 years ago. Recorded by the editorial team at the Centre.

Mu Weiguang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mu Weiguang. When I look back at my life nine hundred and forty-eight years ago, I am filled with such profound gratitude for the moment my journey toward the Dharma truly began. It started with a simple, yet life-changing encounter that would eventually lead me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Gift of the Prayer Beads

"One day, I came running to my mother, my eyes wide with excitement. 'Weiguang, what are you holding in your hand? Let Mother see,' she asked with a gentle, curious smile. I hurried to her side and placed the object into her palm. She looked at it, puzzled, and asked, 'Where did you get this?' I replied, 'An old gentleman gave it to me.' She looked closely at the item and asked, 'These are prayer beads. Who was this old man?'

I shook my head and explained, 'I do not know him. Today, Grandpa Wang from nearby took me out for a walk. I accidentally bumped into this old gentleman on the road. I was so nervous that I kept apologising to him, but when he saw me, he didn't get angry at all. Instead, he smiled at me with such kindness, took this out of his pocket, and gave it to me. He even chanted something to me...' Before I could finish, Mother finished the sentence for me: 'Namo Amituofo.' I looked at her in complete surprise and asked, 'Mother, how did you know?'"

"Mother sighed softly and said, 'Before I was married, I used to chant the Buddha-name. But after I met your father, I somehow forgot all about it. My mind was completely clouded by the distractions of worldly love. Seeing these prayer beads today, I am suddenly reminded of that sacred name. I suspect that this old gentleman must be a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings.' I fell in love with those prayer beads instantly. Whenever I held them in my hand, I would naturally begin to chant Namo Amituofo. When I chanted, my entire body felt so relaxed, so comfortable, and my heart became clearer and purer than it had ever been. I also discovered something remarkable: whenever I chanted, the world I saw through my eyes seemed to transform into a place of absolute beauty. Nothing could make my heart feel sad, and no worries or afflictions could touch me. Everything was so peaceful and serene. That is why I grew to love chanting the Buddha-name so deeply."

A Morning of Unrest

"'Why is it so noisy outside?' I wondered, opening my eyes at the first light of dawn. I could hear a chaotic, clamorous sound coming from outside the house. I tried to shake my older brother and sister awake, but they were still deep in their dreams. My shaking only caused them to rub their eyes, turn over, and drift back into slumber. Unable to fall back asleep, I had to climb out of bed. I threw on a simple garment to ward off the morning chill and opened the door, desperate to see what was happening. The sky had not yet fully brightened; there was only a faint, pale light of dawn. My parents' bedroom door was wide open, and I assumed they must be among the noisy crowd outside. I walked toward the group gathered at our doorstep, eager to know what they were arguing about."

"Mother walked out from the crowd and, seeing me in my thin clothing, immediately pulled me back into the house. 'Why did you get up on your own? It is not even light yet! You will catch a cold wearing so little. Quickly, go back to bed! This is none of your concern, go back to your room!' I had not even figured out what was going on before Mother ushered me back. My brother and sister were still snoring away, and they had completely occupied my spot on the bed. It was no easy task to wake them up to make room for me, so I had to sit in a chair and doze off, thinking that in an hour or so, I would finally be able to step outside again."

A Dream of Suffering

"'Save us! Save us! We are truly suffering!' I saw so many people reaching out their hands to me, begging for help. I had never seen these people before in my life, but for some reason, seeing their expressions of agony and hearing their cries of pain made my heart ache. It was as if my heart were being twisted and torn—it was unbearable! I felt so much pain that I could barely breathe! Suddenly, I opened my eyes. It turned out that I had been slumped over the table for too long, pressing against my chest and making it hard to breathe. I lifted my head and saw that the sky had brightened. I looked over and saw my brother and sister still sleeping. It was just a dream, but... how could I have had such a strange and haunting dream?"

The Fate of the Old Man

"I stepped out of the room and, after a quick wash by the water bucket, went to the kitchen to find Mother. She had already prepared breakfast—a warm, comforting porridge made from fresh sweet potatoes dug up just yesterday. I especially loved this kind of breakfast; it was simple and pure. In this cold weather, drinking a bowl of hot porridge made my hands and feet feel warm instantly. Eager to share this meal, I rushed back to the room to wake my brother and sister. While waiting for them to join me, I returned to the kitchen to help Mother pick vegetables. I asked her, 'What happened this morning? Why was it so noisy outside?'"

"Mother replied, 'The usual. Old Mr. Wang from next door was having another drunken episode. He was intoxicated, holding his wine bottle, and knocking on everyone's door, waking half the village. Everyone was so furious that they stood outside discussing how to deal with him. Because they were so angry, their voices were quite loud.' Hearing this, I fell silent for a moment before asking, 'And what did they decide to do?' Mother said, 'They are currently discussing how to drive him out of the village.' I asked nervously, 'Do Father and you agree with their decision?' Mother sighed, 'Old Mr. Wang has truly disturbed the peace of the village, but if they drive him away, who knows where he will go? It seems far too cruel, but your father and I have no better solution.' Hearing that the villagers intended to cast Old Mr. Wang out, my heart felt heavy. Although there was a gap of nearly sixty years between us, he was not just like a grandfather to me; he was a true friend across the generations. I put down the vegetables I was holding, stood up, and told Mother, 'I am going to Grandpa Wang’s house!' Mother called out, 'We are about to eat, come back quickly!'"

"Namo Amituofo."

I had barely reached the outside of Grandpa Wang’s house when I saw many people walking out. I recognised them all—Auntie Liu, Uncle Zhang, Uncle Lin, and several other elders from the village who were always involved in handling community matters. After greeting them one by one, I stepped inside. The house was in total disarray, as if it had been ravaged by a storm. I looked everywhere, but Grandpa Wang was nowhere to be found. I hurried to the backyard, and the sight before me made my heart stop: Grandpa Wang was actually preparing to jump into the well! I rushed forward and pulled him back with all my might. Fortunately, he was frail and thin, so my desperate tug succeeded, and we both tumbled onto the grass. Grandpa Wang cried out in agitation, 'Why won't you let me die?' He had never been so fierce with me before; it was clear his heart was in deep despair. He continued, 'I am a lonely old man, living in this world all by myself, without a single family member to call my own...' I knew he had always longed for a warm home, but my mother had told me that he had been drinking since he was young. Whenever he drank, he would fly into a drunken rage. No woman wanted to marry such a man, so naturally, he remained alone in his old age.

The Illusion of Worldly Wealth and Family

I said to him, 'Grandpa, there was once a very wealthy merchant. He had everything he could ever want—fame, status, and a wife and children who loved him. But he had a terrible temper. Whenever things didn't go his way, he would fly into a rage, screaming and cursing at everyone around him who cared for him, including his wife and children. Beyond that, he was filled with arrogance. He looked down on labourers and even more so on the poor who struggled to feed themselves. When he spoke to others, he always held his chin high, as if everyone were beneath him. Because of this, no one in the village liked him. Even though he was wealthy, everyone sneered at his haughty and overbearing personality. One day, when he woke up, he discovered he was completely alone. He roared and shouted for his wife and children, but there was no response. His face turned purple with fury as he struggled to climb out of bed. He hadn't realised that, at his advanced age, such a violent movement would take a toll on his body. Indeed, the moment he stood up, his entire body seized, and he couldn't even take a step. For several days, the villagers wondered, 'Why haven't we seen that arrogant fool?' A few curious neighbours knocked on his door, but there was no answer. Weeks later, they finally broke in. A foul stench hit them instantly. When they reached his room, they found only a pile of bones; the house was completely empty. The villagers were baffled—where had his wife and children gone? Why wasn't even a cat to be found? After an investigation, they discovered that the merchant's wife had long ago completed her plan: she had stolen most of his wealth, taken the children to live a life of luxury, and eventually found a new lover to start a new family.'

The Fragility of Human Connection

Grandpa Wang looked at me, confused, and asked, 'Why are you telling me this story? I have nothing to do with that merchant!' I replied, 'Grandpa, you always lament that you never married or had children, but having a family does not guarantee a happy life. Take that merchant’s family of five, for example. Each person had their own agenda: the merchant obsessed over his status, the wife over her gold and silver, and the three children over their own grand dreams. Five people in one house, but five separate hearts, each hiding selfishness. In the end, they all went their separate ways and never reunited. Furthermore, consider Auntie Yang from the next village. Everyone envied her happy, three-generation household. Although they weren't wealthy, the family was heart-to-heart, deeply caring for one another. Yet, the moment the doctor diagnosed her with a terminal illness, everything changed. The family members who were once full of smiles lost their joy. The laughter that used to fill their home was replaced by sorrow and afflictions. The bright house turned gloomy, and even the cheerful Uncle Yang became a different person, listless and filled with worry every day. After Auntie Yang passed away, Uncle Yang was so overcome with grief that he lived in a daze. One day at work, a moment of carelessness led to an accident that claimed his life, leaving behind two elderly parents and young children. The children were sent to live with relatives, and the two elders were taken away from the Yang home. Where is that happy Yang family now? It is gone forever.'

Finding True Happiness in the Heart

Grandpa Wang nodded and said, 'I heard about the Yang family. It is a tragic story.' I said, 'When I heard about what happened to them, I felt so much. A family is like a dense net, trapping everyone together, and no one can bear to leave. But when one family member faces trouble or departs, it is like a hole in that net—it can never return to its original state. That feeling of loss is far more painful than never having had it at all. Having family and emotions brings happiness while together, but it also brings the pain of separation. True happiness in this world does not come from emotional dependency on others; it is found only when one’s heart is stable and content. That is the only true joy.' Grandpa Wang looked into my eyes and asked, 'You are so young, how do you understand these things?' I told him, 'Do you remember when we bumped into that old gentleman on the road? Before he left, he gave me a string of prayer beads and said, "The heart is the foundation that governs everything. There is nothing more joyful than chanting the Buddha's name. Learn to look at this world again with a compassionate heart of chanting, and you will make many different discoveries." I followed his method, calming my heart every day to slowly chant the name of Amitabha. When my mind became pure, I realised that this world was truly different from how I had first perceived it.' Grandpa Wang said, 'I have lived over seventy years. Don't you think I see this world more clearly than you?' I replied, 'Grandpa, your experience is vast, and you have certainly seen more than I have. But if that is the case, why were you trying to jump into the well? Don't you feel that life is precious?' He sighed, 'Life is precious, yes, but I am so old—what use could I possibly be?' He hung his head, as if he could not find a single spark of light in his life. I took the prayer beads off my wrist and gave them to him, saying, 'Chanting the Buddha's name has inconceivable effects. Grandpa, please, chant with me!'

A Remarkable Transformation

Mother told me with surprise, 'The neighbours say that Grandpa Wang is a completely different person now. Every morning at dawn, he takes a broom and sweeps the village streets with such joy. After he finishes, he walks a long distance—no one knows where—and doesn't return until dusk. He has even started giving away the savings he accumulated since he was young. Everyone is in disbelief! That Grandpa Wang, who was once so stingy he wouldn't even share a grain of salt, has changed so drastically! He is full of smiles every day and never drinks or rages anymore. What on earth happened? How could such an unbelievable change occur?' Hearing this, I smiled, feeling so happy for him. Mother saw my reaction and asked, 'What are you laughing at?' I told her, 'Grandpa Wang has started learning the Buddha’s teachings.' After he began his practice, he became even more active than I was in participating in all kinds of Dharma events. One day, I ran into him on the road and greeted him happily. To my surprise, he stood with such dignity and solemnity, pressed his palms together, and chanted, "Namo Amituofo." His temperament and his very presence had completely transformed. We sat under a large tree and talked for a long time. He told me, 'When you gave me those beads, I didn't think they would be of any help at all. So, after you left, I tossed them onto my rocking chair. One day, my heart suddenly started beating so fast, so fast that I couldn't catch my breath. I thought my time had come. I pressed my chest and sat down on that chair, and the moment I did, I felt the beads. I reached out, picked them up, and remembered what you had told me. I started to chant. I chanted ten times, then another ten, then another ten, and I just kept going, one phrase after another. As I focused on the chanting, my heartbeat slowed down in rhythm with the Buddha's name. In that moment, I knew this was the Buddha’s blessing, showing me the value of chanting. From that day on, my faith in the Buddha has been unshakable. I am old, and I don't have much time to take things slowly, so I am actively changing myself—listening to sutras, hearing the Dharma, participating in Dharma events, and serving the public. I am filled with Dharma joy every day. For the first time in my life, I feel true happiness.' Grandpa Wang even invited me to join him in propagating the Dharma, hoping that more people could come to know the benefits of chanting Namo Amituofo.

"I told my mother that I would follow the old grandfather to the temple for three months. It was an opportunity he had worked hard to secure for me, allowing me to serve the community within the temple grounds. On the very first day I arrived, the temple was hosting a Dharma assembly to eliminate disasters. The monks I saw before me all possessed such dignified appearances; they were all striving to save beings. Their focused expressions and compassionate faces deeply stirred my heart. The old grandfather brought me along to help, and my duties were simply to carry water and pick vegetables in the kitchen. Every volunteer Bodhisattva there worked while chanting the Buddha's name with total focus. Aside from discussing work-related matters, one could not hear a single word of idle chatter. No matter where I looked, everyone was serving through chanting, and learning the Buddha's teachings through their service. I felt such joy in my work that day; when night fell, I fell into a deep, sound sleep the moment I lay down.

A Life of Diligent Practice

Throughout those three months, I performed every task with the utmost caution, never daring to slacken for even a moment. I knew that these three months were incredibly fleeting; if I were not careful, they would slip right through my fingers. In the temple, I was just a small volunteer, but my responsibility was not merely to complete tasks—it was to learn the essence of the Buddha's teachings through the work itself.

One day, I was outside the woodshed sharpening an axe. I was chanting the Buddha's name while grinding the blade, so focused that I did not notice someone standing behind me. When I stopped, a voice spoke up: 'You are the first person I have ever seen sharpen an axe with such sincerity.' I turned around to see a little novice. The little novice continued to ask: 'Why must you sharpen the blade so keenly? And why are you tied with those ropes on your body? Also, why do you never wear shoes?' I replied to the little novice: 'On my first day taking on the task of chopping wood, I went through several axes and spent a great deal of effort and time just to chop enough wood to bring back to the temple. It was only after I returned that I realized I had missed the Master's Dharma talk. From that day on, I used various methods to speed up my work. Naturally, the blade must be sharp to reduce the time I spend chopping. As for these ropes on my body, they serve a great purpose at the right time. For instance, I can pull a rope from my body to tie scattered wood into bundles, then strap them to my back. Finally, I can divide the remaining wood into two large bundles, tie them to either side of a bamboo pole, and carry them on my shoulders. In this way, I can transport three large bundles of wood at once. As for being barefoot, when I am working, not wearing shoes gives my feet better grip, allowing me to move more quickly. Although I have developed layer upon layer of calluses and the skin on my feet has thickened, because of this, I can adapt quite well to any ground I walk upon.' The little novice nodded in understanding and asked again: 'You are not very old, so why did you want to come to the temple to learn the Buddha's teachings?' I answered: 'At first, I only felt that chanting the Buddha's name was good. It made my body and heart feel comfortable, helped me forget all my worries, and purified my body and heart, allowing me to live in this world with a clean heart. But now that I have come to the temple and listen to the Master's Dharma talks every day, the sutras have helped me understand the true meaning of learning the Buddha's teachings. I have come to realize how much sentient beings suffer. Therefore, my determination to learn the Buddha's teachings is even firmer now, because I am no longer learning for my own sake, but so that one day, I can be like the masters in the temple and save sentient beings.' The little novice asked: 'Then, are you willing to become a monk?' I replied firmly: 'Of course, I am willing.'

A Return Home and a Final Decision

Three months passed quickly, and I returned to my village. As I walked along the road, my ears still caught the sounds of children laughing in the streets, the calls of street vendors, and the friction of wheels against the ground. But when I perceived this world with a pure heart, I saw the suffering of people living in this world—a suffering caused by the spirit being bound to a human body. This body lives according to desires; the desire for emotion makes people blindly pursue emotional comfort, while the desire for wealth makes people exhaust their lives in exchange for money. It seems like an ordinary life, living a simple, unremarkable existence, but without the teachings of the Buddha, these simple, honest people are still one by one falling into the cycle of rebirth.

When I arrived home, my eldest sister was the first to see me. She exclaimed in surprise: 'Is that you, Weiguang?' I said with certainty: 'Eldest sister, of course I am Weiguang! Can you not recognize me?' I knew my sister always liked to make dramatic gestures and expressions, but her reaction today was even more exaggerated than usual. Hearing her shout, my parents and brothers all ran out of the house. Mother said happily: 'It really is Weiguang who has returned!' Father looked at me and said: 'It has only been a few months, but Weiguang has changed so much!' My brother also said: 'Indeed! Look at Weiguang's face, it has become so... handsome?' Mother interrupted: 'You should say dignified.' My brother laughed and said: 'Yes, yes! Dignified! And look at Weiguang's shoulders, arms, and chest; they have all become so robust! Even his way of speaking has become so steady; he doesn't look like our Weiguang at all!' My sister asked: 'Can learning the Buddha's teachings really change a person? This is truly inconceivable!' That evening, Mother prepared a very sumptuous meal to welcome me home. While eating, I thought of the sentient beings still waiting for me to save them, and I could not wait to tell my whole family: 'I have decided to become a monk.' When I said this, it was as if my family had not heard me; they continued chatting loudly as before. I said it again: 'I have decided to become a monk.' Still, no one responded, as if I had suddenly turned into air. Finally, I told them with even greater certainty and solemnity: 'I have decided to become a monk!' This time, the whole family fell into an instant, deathly silence. After a long pause, Mother spoke: 'You have ultimately decided to walk the path of practice...' Her eyes were filled with reluctance. She continued: 'We were not prepared to face this, so we pretended not to hear you just now. In fact, during the time you were away, we guessed that you would choose to become a monk, because we all know you are a kind and compassionate child. It is just that we have not yet adapted to life without you at home; it feels as if the house has become very different since you left. Now that you are becoming a monk and will leave us forever, Mother's heart is filled with reluctance.' I told my parents: 'I cannot selfishly possess this body. Only by letting go of this body and becoming a monk can I save the immeasurable and boundless suffering beings. Only by letting go of worldly emotions can I truly achieve success in learning the Buddha's teachings. I also hope that our whole family can learn the Buddha's teachings together; only by doing so can we save the whole family from having to reincarnate again.'

The Path of Compassion

After staying for one night, I set off again to return to the temple. Along the way, I did not forget to chant the Buddha's name to save sentient beings; with every recitation of the Buddha-name, my heart became firmer. The scenes before me were not unfamiliar at all; these people reaching out to me for deliverance were the very beings who had appeared in my dreams. They were still waiting for me, waiting for this very moment when I made my vow to save them with compassion. This time, I was not returning to the temple clinging to this body, but stepping onto the bright path of practice with a sincere and compassionate heart.

I am grateful for the Causal Conditions to learn the Buddha's teachings in this life. I never forget to practice diligently, nor do I forget the suffering of beings as I strive throughout my life. At the end of my life, the Buddhas surrounded me, and Amitabha Buddha appeared before me with compassion, leading me to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha.

People in this world have deep ego-attachment. On the path of learning the Buddha's teachings, there is too much selfishness, personal intention, and personal thought, making practice difficult to achieve. In fact, practice can be very simple: let go of the 'self' that one should not cling to, and everything becomes natural and pure. Practitioner Su's Dharma Body manifests in countless forms, reaching into many spaces to save spirits that have suffered through many cycles of rebirth. The more chaotic the world becomes, the firmer Practitioner Su's heart to save the world becomes, because the world truly cannot be without the Buddha's teachings.

Seeing the changes in the world, with technology constantly developing, it may seem civilized and progressive, but in the eyes of Practitioner Su, it is the souls of people being locked into darkness, batch after batch. The spirits are endless; when will there be an end to saving them? Practitioner Su insists on one phrase: 'Save one, and that counts as one.' It is this spirit that ensures the work of saving the world never ceases, but rather moves forward with even greater courage.

True compassion means having no 'self'; everything one does is for the sake of all beings. Practitioner Su demonstrates the Dharma, and all should learn from this. As the Buddha's teachings decline, every practitioner has the responsibility to revive the True Teachings, simply because what the Buddha teaches us is 'compassion.' Where there is no Buddha's teaching, sentient beings cannot escape suffering; where there is compassion, a glimmer of life appears. May we all be of one heart, walk with the Buddha, resolve to save the world, resolve our own suffering, and resolve the suffering of others, turning the wheel of fate and causing the True Teachings to flourish widely.

I am grateful for Practitioner Su's compassionate salvation of the world; all should follow his path.

Namo Amituofo."

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