The Path to Liberation: A Journey from the Fields

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Mifeng, who lived approximately nine hundred years ago. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on July 31, 2019.

Venerable Mifeng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I was born into an ordinary family. My father was an honest farmer, and from a young age, I followed my grandfather into the fields to plough and sow. My entire life was destined to be one of agriculture. My mother was a housewife; ever since she married my father, she rarely left the house, dedicating every moment to caring for our family, with almost no time for herself. As the eldest child, my parents placed great hopes in me. They did not want me to waste my life; they longed for me to find a purpose and strive toward it."

A Childhood Defined by Comparison

"Donglin, who lived next door, grew up with me. We were the best of friends, as close as brothers. However, whenever we stood together, we were constantly compared. In truth, neither of us liked that feeling, but the adults loved to use comparison as a way to measure us.

Donglin’s family was well-off. From a young age, he was a 'young master' who never had to lift a finger. Servants handled every aspect of his life. His father had already mapped out his future, hoping he would become a high-ranking official. Although Donglin had the aptitude and would surely have passed the examinations, I knew he did not want that kind of life."

The Weight of Expectations

"Facing the endless commentary from the adults, I did not know who to listen to. Deep inside, there was a strong voice telling me that I did not want to live such a worldly life. I did not understand why that voice spoke to me, so I did not dwell on it.

I was not fond of reading, so I did not know many characters. Donglin was different. He read cartloads of books prepared by his parents. He had to read several books every day, or his father would accuse him of being lazy.

I called Donglin’s father 'Uncle'. On the surface, he was polite to me, but I knew he disliked me. Once, when I went to visit Donglin without notice, I accidentally overheard Uncle scolding him: 'I do not like you playing with that Mifeng next door. Look at him—he is idle all day, only knowing how to play, with no desire to improve. I worry he will be a bad influence on you. It is best you stop associating with him.' When I heard this, I was shocked. Usually, Uncle praised me to my face, calling me a happy, contented child who was diligent and destined for greatness. How could he now call me a child with no ambition? This contradiction created a conflict in my heart, but I chose to ignore it. The world of adults is just too complex. I simply smiled and walked straight into Donglin’s house."

Moments of Joy and the Bitterness of Duty

"When I entered, Donglin looked terrified. I guessed he was worried about what I might have heard. I greeted Uncle and told Donglin, 'I didn't hear a thing! Donglin, let’s go out and play!' Seeing Donglin’s awkwardness—looking at his father and then at me—I didn't care about anything else. I grabbed his hand and ran outside.

I knew Donglin was happy when he was with me because he also disliked being constrained. But facing his strict father, he could only choose to be a filial son and could not defy his father’s arrangements. I would not make things too difficult for him; I just wanted to help him relax for a while before letting him return to his studies.

Our favourite game was climbing trees to knock down fruit. Sometimes we would knock down a dozen nearly ripe fruits and eat them all at once! Although these were wild plants, the soil in our area was incredibly fertile, so the plants grew tall and the fruit was fragrant and sweet. We often laughed and ate until we were satisfied and happy."

The Heavy Toll of Ambition

"However, happy times always pass quickly. When the time came, Donglin’s face would turn gloomy again. I knew he didn't want to go home, but he had to, or his father would come looking for us. Before we even reached his house, we saw his father waiting. His expression was stern. I called out 'Uncle', but he ignored me completely, took Donglin by the hand, and turned away. Watching Donglin’s lonely back, I felt that such a life was truly miserable. Why must one achieve fame and wealth to have a 'perfect' life? I would rather live a simple life than have all that fame and profit. That kind of life was too stressful and too unnatural.

That night, I heard Donglin’s cries as he was being punished. He screamed loudly, and I felt a sense of guilt, as it was I who had taken him out to play. I was about to open my door and go over to ask his father to stop, but my mother stopped me, telling me not to meddle. I could only stand at the door, listening to his cries, feeling utterly helpless."

A Sudden Departure and the Passage of Time

"The next morning, I went to knock on Donglin’s door to apologise, but there was no response. I knocked harder, but still, no one answered. My mother, returning from the fields with a load of vegetables, saw me standing there and said, 'Stop knocking, there is no one inside! Donglin’s family moved away last night!' I was stunned. Why had they left so suddenly? Was it because I had taken him out to play? I chased after my mother, asking what had happened, but she only replied, 'It’s nothing, don’t think too much about it. Where other people choose to live is none of our business!' I felt a deep sense of loss, thinking of him forced to sit at his desk, and my heart ached. I hoped that one day we would meet again and climb those trees to knock down fruit—our happiest childhood memory.

Twenty years passed, and I was now over thirty. Returning to my hometown, memories flooded back. Looking at the golden rice stalks, each one heavy and bowing down, I wondered if my own life was as fulfilling. I thought of my childhood friend Donglin. I wondered how he was doing. After he left, my life felt empty. At eighteen, a distant relative of my father came to our house and offered me a job in the city. I left home and spent twenty years working day and night, living in constant busyness."

The Awakening of the Soul

"Twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye. Looking at the rice, I wondered what I had gained. It seemed I had only earned money and nothing else. I felt a sense of loss; this was not the life I wanted. Watching the rice quietly, I made up my mind to quit my job. Time waits for no one. I had to seize the remaining time and find the life I truly wanted to live.

Walking in the fields, enjoying the fragrance of nature, I sat under a large tree. Looking at the sun, I realised another day was ending. I thought, 'Is my life to be spent like this?' I walked back to my old home. The house was bright, and laughter echoed from within. As I opened the door, a group of children rushed toward me, shouting, 'Uncle! Uncle!' They were the children of my younger siblings. My mother had given birth to ten of us, and I was the eldest. Knowing I was returning for a reunion, they had all brought their children. Twenty years ago, I was a child; now, I was an elder to so many. How time flies."

The Heartbreaking Truth

"After a feast, I sat with my parents. My mother asked, 'Why do you look so thoughtful?' I told her, 'I don’t know what else I can do.' She replied, 'The harvest is bountiful this year. Looking at the rice, I remember you running in the fields as a child. You were so happy then; why are you so sad now?' I shook my head. Looking at my parents, I saw they had aged significantly. I thought, 'Everyone’s life is just a step toward death. Can we not do something meaningful?' I asked, 'Have you heard any news of Donglin?' My mother looked surprised, then lowered her head and whispered, 'Donglin is dead.' I was speechless. I asked again, 'What did you say?' She nodded firmly: 'Donglin is truly dead.' My heart tightened. I had so much to say to him. I grabbed her hand: 'When did he die?' She looked into my eyes: 'About five years ago. He failed his examinations, and his father put immense pressure on him. Unable to bear it, he jumped into the river and ended his life.' I was devastated. His life had ended so briefly; he never had the chance to live the life he wanted."

The Call of the Dharma

"Lying in bed, memories of Donglin flooded my mind. Before falling asleep, I remembered something he once said: 'Don’t let this world defeat you.' We had been discussing our life ambitions, and we both realised we didn't want to live a worldly life. We felt a desire for liberation, though we didn't know what that meant. Donglin had said, 'The practitioners in the forest, though they do the same things every day, have peaceful hearts. They see through the red dust, become monks, and practice purity to help those of us still in the world to find liberation.' At the time, he had a strong yearning for practice, but he dared not tell his father. My playfulness was too strong then, and I didn't fully grasp it. Now, after twenty years, I saw the world more clearly.

There was nothing in this world worth clinging to. If Donglin were still alive, I knew he would support me in taking the path of practice. I began to search for the meaning of practice, knowing it was a path of light. Once I decided to step onto it, I would not give up easily."

Purification and the Pure Land

"I wrote my name on paper, over and over. It began to look strange. What was truly mine? If even my name was not mine, what connection did I have to this world? Why cling to it? I settled my heart, emptied my thoughts, and realised there was only one bright path: the path of true practice.

On the way to the temple, a gust of wind blew sand into my eyes. Though it hurt, the tears washed my eyes, making them clearer. With every step, I observed the scenery, realising that the world I had been so fascinated by was full of illusions. Without desire, there would be no suffering.

In my practice, I entered into Meditation (Concentration), seeking stillness. But I realised that this stillness was only an external performance. When circumstances arose, my unpurified heart still fluctuated. This was the side of me I had hidden, packaged in false meditative concentration.

Gradually, seeing that my unpurified heart would hinder my rebirth in the Western Pure Land, I sought the Pure Land practice. Before turning to purity, I placed myself in the world to be tempered—to grind away the worldly heart that was still moved by the world, including the latent habits and character traits I had not truly let go of."

The Path of Compassion

"When I began to specialise in the Pure Land practice, I realised that the 'concentration' I had sought was a state where the heart is completely empty, without a trace of defilement. Now, I practice from the heart—cultivating the compassionate heart to save others, and the heart of no-self and selflessness. This body became my tool for practice. I no longer use it to experience the world, but to use its capabilities to save beings from suffering.

Pure Land practice is about cultivating compassion and a pure heart, seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss through the recitation of the name of Namo Amituofo. I spread this Dharma everywhere, so that people in remote places can also receive the benefits of the Dharma, understand the extreme suffering of the world, and develop the heart to seek liberation and rebirth in the Western Land. The Buddha’s teachings are truly vast and compassionate. I am grateful for the Causal Conditions to learn the Buddha’s teachings, and I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha."

Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body Deliverance

"Practitioner Su expounds the Great Dharma of Namo Amituofo according to the truth. Today, the spreading of the Buddha’s teachings is no longer done by travelling on foot as in the past; in this era of advanced technology, various online media serve as tools for spreading the Dharma. Practitioner Su practices truly and acts truly, prioritising the salvation of beings with the compassion of a Buddha. In thirty years of practice, he has realised the Dharma Body and performs Chao Du for an immeasurably vast number of spirits. Such majestic virtue is as deep and vast as the ocean, beyond the reach of ordinary people. I foresee that in the future, Practitioner Su’s teachings will be seen everywhere on television media, spreading the Buddha’s teachings to the world and benefiting all sentient beings. Human beings with blessings will also have the Causal Conditions to learn the True Teachings and attain liberation.

The Buddha’s teachings are a form of education for the world, yet they are slandered and stigmatised by worldly people. Practitioner Su is turning around this decline of the Buddha’s teachings in this era, correcting the improper atmosphere and allowing the Buddha’s teachings to return to the right path. If not for such a powerful effort, the Buddha’s teachings could not become the Great Dharma to save the world, because human hearts are defiled, and evil knowledge and various incorrect views are applied to various Dharma doors, leaving people with nowhere to turn and making it difficult for them to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now that Practitioner Su has come again, he is turning the situation around. Everything is in progress, and the Causal Conditions from all sides will converge. I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."