The Path of Ultimate Sacrifice

This is a record of an interview with Yueshuang, 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 1,200 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 7, 2019.

Yueshuang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Yueshuang. Looking back at that lifetime, it feels like a dream, yet the lessons of the heart remain etched in my consciousness. Let me tell you about the environment I grew up in—it was a world of stark contrasts, where the simple act of sharing could ignite a firestorm of resentment."

A Lesson in Generosity

"During the New Year celebrations of that year, some distant relatives came to visit our home. My mother, in her boundless kindness, hurried to welcome them. She brought out the fine cups we had kept tucked away for over a decade and prepared all the food we had been saving, the delicacies we usually could not bear to eat ourselves. I remember standing in the kitchen and seeing my sister stamping her feet in frustration. I asked her, 'Sister, what is the matter?' She looked at me, her face flushed with anger, and hissed, 'Look at Mother! She is taking all our best things to feed these relatives who appeared out of nowhere. We have saved those items for years, and now she is wasting them all! How can she be so reckless?'

I could not help but laugh at her reaction. She stared at me, bewildered, and demanded, 'What are you laughing at, you foolish boy?' I replied, 'Even if these people had not come, Mother would never have brought those things out for us to eat anyway. Besides, it is rare for us to have guests. Is it not a wonderful thing to have something to share with others? We could hardly leave them unhosted, could we? Seeing them eat with such joy makes me happy. Do you not feel the same?' My sister, however, was deaf to my words. She retorted, 'You have been like this since you were a child—always giving everything away, never keeping a single thing for yourself. You are going to suffer a loss! If our family had more children like you, I fear that even ten houses would not be enough to satisfy your urge to give!' Knowing her temperament, I simply smiled and walked out of the kitchen, choosing not to argue further."

The Conflict of Possessions

"The lively chatter in the living room suddenly fell silent; it seemed our guests had departed. I walked into the room and saw a box of pastries sitting on the table—a rare sight in our home, standing out quite prominently. Just as I reached out to take the box, another pair of hands snatched it away. I looked up to see my sister. She declared, 'Do not even think about competing with me for this! I am going to hide these pastries to enjoy myself. None of you are to give them away!'

Mother walked in just then, having finished seeing our guests off, and heard my sister shouting while clutching the box. Mother said to her, 'Ning-er, I know you are angry, but it is a rare occasion to have guests. It is only right to offer them hospitality. How can you be so upset over this? Did I raise you to be so stingy?' My sister, refusing to listen, pouted and stomped off to her room with the pastries. Mother could only shrug, feeling helpless in how to guide her."

The Burden of Compassion

"I went out to our vegetable garden and saw that the produce I had grown was large and beautiful. I grabbed a large basket and began to harvest, filling it with fresh vegetables and fruits. Seizing a moment when my sister was not looking, I slipped out of the house. I ran to the slums at the edge of the village and distributed the harvest to every impoverished household, ensuring they had the chance to eat fresh, nourishing food. Each family was so grateful, thanking me repeatedly. Seeing their joy filled my own heart with such immense happiness.

When I returned home, my sister was waiting at the door. She demanded, 'Where are the vegetables from the garden?' I was shocked that she had noticed, but I answered honestly, 'I picked them and gave them away!' She immediately berated me and ran to tell Mother. To punish me, she took me to a remote, backward tribe. The people there lived in extreme misery, suffering from severe, incurable diseases. No one ever dared to visit for fear of contagion. My sister told me, 'Since you love helping people so much, here they are—all waiting for your help! Our family has no money for you to give away. Let us see how capable you really are!' With that, she turned and left, leaving me standing there alone."

The Search for the Wise Elder

"I walked into that tribe alone. The people were gaunt and withered. Some children ran through the streets with no clothes; others were so thin they looked like skeletons, sitting motionless on chairs. The air was filled with the groans of the sick. I could hardly believe such a place existed in this world; it was truly a living hell. When I returned home that day, I was a different person, completely silent. My sister whispered to Mother, 'I took him to see that terrible tribe today. I think he was frightened out of his wits. Now he will learn his lesson! Helping people is not so easy. Even if he had three heads and six arms, he could not save them all!' She said this loudly on purpose, but I ignored her, finished my meal, and went to my room, my heart heavy with sorrow.

The next morning, Mother called for me to eat, but there was no response. When my sister opened the door, she found I had already left. They looked at each other in confusion, wondering where I had gone. The weather was bitter, but I wore only a hat and set out into the biting wind. I knew that in the distant mountains lived a Wise Elder who had been going into seclusion for years. Many had sought him for business advice and failed, but it was said that those who approached him with a sincere heart would find him. I was determined to try.

I walked for ten full days, drinking only a few drops of water and eating nothing. Despite the lack of food, I felt full of energy, for my mind was entirely focused on meeting the Elder. I did not feel the hardship. At the foot of the mountain, I began to climb, believing that if I prayed with enough sincerity, he would appear."

The Ultimate Sacrifice

"Halfway up the mountain, an old man leaning on a cane appeared before me. I asked, 'Are you the Wise Elder?' He replied, 'I am not the one you seek. I am a blind man. My eyes are gone, and I see nothing. Young man, can you help me? Will you give me your eyes?' I looked at him in astonishment. 'Give you my eyes?' He nodded, 'Yes. If you give me your eyes, I can finally see the light of day. It is my lifelong wish. My life is nearing its end; can you help me fulfil this?'

I looked at the old man and thought of the sick in the tribe, lamenting how hard life is for everyone in this world. I took the knife I had been using to clear the brush and, without a moment's hesitation, plunged it into my eyes, gouging them out to give to him. The old man held the precious eyes and used his thought power to place them into his own sockets. Moments later, he cheered, 'I can see! I can finally see the world! Thank you for relinquishing your eyes so that I could regain the light!'

Enduring the agony, my world turned to darkness. I continued to walk, but my pace was slow, for I could no longer see the path. After a few steps, my right foot missed its footing, and I tumbled down the mountainside. Though I survived the fall, my legs were broken. Unable to walk, I began to crawl with my hands, dragging myself over thorns until my palms were bleeding profusely. Suddenly, I heard the sound of animals fleeing and hunters in pursuit. I realised an animal was nearby, hiding. I whispered to it, 'Do not be afraid, I will protect you. Do not make a sound.' I crawled forcefully in the opposite direction, rubbing my body against the grass to create a rustling noise. The hunters shouted, 'Quick! Over there!' As I crawled through the brush like an animal, the hunters drew their bows and fired at my back. I lay still in the grass, and my life came to an end."

Inside the bright room, waves of sandalwood incense drifted through the air. Fresh lotus flowers were arranged before the Buddha statue, and newly gathered fruits were offered in devotion. Yueshuang opened her eyes, gazing at the solemn and dignified furnishings of the room. 'Cough, cough!' A kind-faced elder stood by the doorway, letting out two soft coughs. Yueshuang immediately rose to her feet and asked, 'Are you the wise elder I have been seeking?' The elder nodded. Yueshuang jumped up with joy, though she immediately felt a wave of soreness throughout her body. She touched her eyes, then her legs, and exclaimed in surprise, 'They are still here!' The elder replied, 'Of course they are! You exhausted yourself climbing this steep mountain peak, and you were so tired that you fell into a deep sleep right at my doorstep. I could not wake you, and I lacked the strength to carry you, so I simply dragged you inside.'

A Test of Compassion

Yueshuang asked in confusion, 'Then, what I just experienced...?' The elder answered, 'That was a dream, and also a test. I do not see just anyone. There are so many beings waiting to be saved; I cannot waste time meeting those who do not care for the suffering of others. Anyone who wishes to see me must pass my test. Those who possess a heart of compassion, great love, and a desire to save the world—those are the ones I will surely meet! You were willing to sacrifice your own life for the sake of sentient beings; this is not something an ordinary person can do. People in this world are selfish, clinging to their own physical bodies and doing everything possible to protect themselves. Yet, you, at such a young age, understood how to sacrifice yourself to help others. This selflessness and compassion truly moved me.'

Yueshuang did not dare to claim such merit. She quickly seized the opportunity to ask the elder, 'I wish to save the people in my tribe. They live in misery and are plagued by illness. Elder, how can I help them?' The elder replied, 'There are many ways to save sentient beings. Which method will truly bring them real benefit depends entirely on the capacity of the savior’s heart and the depth of their compassion.' Yueshuang told the elder firmly, 'I am willing to sacrifice my life for the sake of sentient beings!' The elder answered, 'Very well! Then you shall become a monastic!' Although Yueshuang did not yet understand the Buddha’s teachings, since the elder had spoken, she believed it was certainly the right path to help the beings she loved.

The Path of Practice

Yueshuang settled into the elder's home. The elder told her, 'You may live freely and happily, but your life must never be separated from practice.' Every day, the elder introduced her to the Buddha’s teachings, allowing Yueshuang to realize the Dharma through nature and daily life. The Dharma is profound, yet one can find enlightenment in the mundane; it all depends on whether the heart is anchored in Buddha-actions. Yueshuang practiced with diligent practice, seeking the Dharma without fatigue, all to attain Buddhahood sooner so she could help sentient beings. Her heart was always focused on others, never considering her own position, needs, or difficulties. Once a goal is set and pursued with determination, there are no so-called obstacles. Any obstruction is merely a manifestation of one's own mind, a self-imposed barrier. For Yueshuang, this path of saving beings was unobstructed, as vast as the capacity of her heart—accommodating every river, accepting every grain of sand. No obstacle could block this wide and open road.

Returning to the Tribe

Yueshuang broke through layer after layer of trials with a firm heart. Three years later, she bid farewell to the elder and became a monastic in a solemn temple. Under the elder's guidance, she was already dignified in her deportment, and after becoming a monastic, she was even more magnificent, excelling in the Discipline. When Yueshuang returned to her tribe, she found that more than half of the people had perished in a disaster; only half remained. Yueshuang walked into the tribe barefoot, sitting fearlessly on the dirty ground, blending in with the local people. In Yueshuang's heart, there was no distinction between herself and the tribespeople; she sought to save them with a heart of equality and compassion. She slept in the open, teaching the Dharma to the villagers every day. The residents wept bitterly, lamenting their heavy sins. Under Yueshuang's guidance, they began to chant Namo Amituofo, chanting with sincerity, repenting for the sins they had committed in the past, and performing Goodness through their labor, helping one another.

Under Yueshuang's guidance, the fate of the people in this place began to change. Life was no longer filled with sorrow, but with satisfaction and joy. Their original poverty also underwent a miraculous change. A vast gold mine was unexpectedly discovered beneath the tribe's land, and every household benefited, lifting them out of poverty. Yet, the people did not forget the teachings of the Buddha because of this; they continued to chant Namo Amituofo diligently, helping others and benefiting all. Several years later, the entire tribe had completely transformed.

The Final Revelation

Yueshuang returned home to find her sister bedridden with illness, with their mother caring for her. When they saw Yueshuang, they were too surprised to speak. They had not expected that Yueshuang would be gone for over ten years. Her sister regretted her past ignorance and narrow-mindedness, but seeing Yueshuang's growth, she felt at peace. Yueshuang guided her mother and sister to learn the Buddha’s teachings. They often went to the temple to listen to the Dharma or served as volunteers, and their lives began to improve through the infusion of the Buddha’s teachings.

Yueshuang fulfilled her life's mission, saving countless sentient beings. Before she passed away, she returned to the mountain to find the elder's old residence, only to find that the house where she had lived for over three years had become a wilderness. Nearby residents said that no such wise elder had ever existed there; it had always been a place for raising animals. Who was the elder, really? Who helped Yueshuang attain the Buddha’s path? Yueshuang believed the answer would eventually be revealed. Indeed, after returning to the Western Land, she received the answer: it was 'Namo Amituofo!'

The Truth of the Dharma Body

Every thought is empty, every thought is pure. This freedom of emptiness and purity is truly seen in the person of Practitioner Su. How can there be any worldly matter that obstructs one's heart? It is only because the heart still clings to the world. If the heart is no longer of this world, seeking only liberation, then no worldly matter can burden the heart. Practice lies in the steadfastness and sincerity of this heart; the state of emptiness requires one to completely 'see through' and 'let go' of the world. Practitioner Su had long ago seen through this world and attained the Dharma Body many years ago. She simply did not yet know she had the ability to save sentient beings. Through an accidental Causal Condition, she began her mission of saving the world, and from then on, she has continuously used her Dharma Body to deliver sentient beings.

Practitioner Su is dedicated to helping sentient beings escape the six realms of rebirth and break free from the constraints of space. She teaches the Dharma incessantly, breaking through the delusions of the heart, yet sentient beings are deeply attached and unwilling to awaken. There is too much falsehood in the world that makes people mistake it for reality; because the heart is not at peace, it needs this illusory world to satisfy its inner emptiness. The Buddha has truly arrived. People of the world no longer need to pursue this vanishing world. As long as they follow the Buddha's teachings and listen to the scriptures and Dharma taught by Practitioner Su, they can attain enlightenment, freedom, and liberation. In this Dharma-ending age, beings suffer immensely. All Buddhas, responding to Practitioner Su's Ultimate Vow, have rushed to save the world. People should grasp this magnificent Causal Condition and not let it slip through their fingers, or it will be a regret for thousands of generations. Yueshuang offers gratitude to Practitioner Su's compassion on behalf of all sentient beings. Namo Amituofo.

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