The Path of Selflessness and No-Self

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Dexian, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 310 years ago. Recorded by the disciple Shi Fajing on March 26, 2019.

Venerable Dexian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Dexian. It is a profound honour to share the story of my journey, a journey that began with a sacrifice that defined my entire existence.

A Mother's Final Gift

My mother gave her life to bring me into this world. The name 'Dexian' was her final gift to me; she whispered it with her very last breath before succumbing to the loss of blood. My father held her tightly, his cries echoing through our home, while I, a newborn, wailed in the shadow of that immense tragedy. My father loved her with a devotion that transcended time. He never remarried, choosing instead to dedicate his entire life to raising me, hoping that I would embody the virtues of 'De' (virtue) and 'Xian' (wisdom). Though I never saw my mother's face, she remained the guiding star of my heart. She was the ultimate example of a life lived for others—a life that never knew the concept of 'self' and culminated in the ultimate sacrifice for my sake. Beyond the gratitude I felt, there was a deep, aching sorrow that she could not be there to see the person I would become.

The Lesson of the Interconnected World

From my earliest memories, my father taught me the meaning of 'selflessness.' He would say, 'Your mother gave her life for you, Dexian. If you can dedicate this life to the service of all sentient beings, then her sacrifice will have found its true value.' There were those, including my aunt, who called me an unfilial son for wanting to give away the life my mother had sacrificed so much to provide. But I saw it differently. If my life could be used to save the lives of others, then my mother's love would ripple outward, touching countless souls. That, to me, was the only way to honour her.

My father taught me that we are all part of a vast, interconnected web. 'Think about it—if you were the only person left on this earth, you would not survive for long,' he would explain. 'The rice, the vegetables, the clothes we wear, the air we breathe, the water we drink—all of these require the labour and existence of others. We live in a world of mutual support. Without others, there is no "us." You must always think of others before yourself.' By the time I was three, he was already taking me into the heart of the community, teaching me how to interact with others with a selfless heart. I became known for my ability to connect with people, not because I was a gifted orator, but because I approached everyone with genuine respect and a desire to benefit them, never once putting my own needs first.

Witnessing the Suffering of Cause and Effect

While the neighbours saw me as a 'good child,' my father knew better. He saw the subtle ways I still clung to my own desires. One day, he took me to a village where the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. It was a place of sickness, inhabited by the elderly and the weak who were trapped by their own infirmities. As we went from house to house, offering warm buns to the suffering, my heart grew heavier with every door we knocked on. By the tenth house, I could barely walk. 'Father, why are they suffering so much?' I asked, my voice trembling.

He looked at me with profound compassion and said, 'It is the law of cause and effect. The suffering they endure now is the fruit of negative causes sown in the past. People in this world do not understand these laws; they create negative causes inadvertently, and when the time is ripe, they must endure the retribution. These people, unaware of their past actions, have gathered here to face the ravages of disease. It is truly agonising.' He then asked me, 'In your heart, what is this "self" that you are still hiding?' I bowed my head, ashamed. 'I still have times when I want to play, when I want to be stubborn, when I want to live my own life, when I don't want to listen,' I confessed. 'But now, seeing their pain, I want to let go of all of that. I want to listen to you, Father. Only by having no-self can I truly help them.' My father knew exactly how to nourish my good roots, and under his guidance, I began to understand the true nature of suffering and the vital importance of helping others.

From Father and Son to Dharma Brothers

At the age of six, I began to learn the Buddha's teachings through a friend of my father. My father, who had previously only understood the basic laws of cause and effect, was struck by the magnificence of the Dharma. We began to attend teachings together, adopting the Dharma as the absolute compass for our lives. Whatever the Buddha said not to do, I would never do; whatever the Buddha said to do, I would follow the teachings without hesitation.

Under the influence of the Dharma and my father's guidance, I grew into a person of great dignity. People often asked my father how he had raised me so well, and he would use those moments to propagate the Dharma, explaining its importance in education. With his encouragement and my own resolve, I shaved my head and became a monk at the age of nine. My father, too, took the vows of a Bhikshu. We lived in the temple, practising diligently together. Our relationship shifted from father and son to Dharma brothers. We stopped discussing family matters, focusing entirely on chanting Namo Amituofo and propagating the Dharma, with the shared goal of attaining the Buddha's path. At twenty-eight, I achieved Awakening, and by the time I was one hundred and eight, my mission in that life was complete. I sat upon the lotus platform and was reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Returning to the Planet Taiwala

Now, I have returned to this worldly realm to assist Practitioner Su in healing his leg injury and saving sentient beings. I follow Practitioner Su as he performs Chao Du throughout the universe. In the space connected to my karmic affinity, there is a familiar planet called Taiwala. I once lived there as the Queen of a kingdom. I had vowed to save all my subjects from the cycle of rebirth, but in a land without the Dharma, no matter what I did, my people still had to face the cycle of samsara. Thousands of years have passed, and I have returned to find that my people still exist, though they have long forgotten their former Queen.

I have brought the holy name of Namo Amituofo to that planet. The sound of Practitioner Su's teachings now resonates throughout the world daily. They have begun to understand how to chant this Buddha-name to seek liberation from the sea of suffering. Many have been saved, and I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for his compassion, which has given me the karmic affinity to save the beings I once knew so long ago. Namo Amituofo."

Namo Amituofo.