The Prince of the Midland Empire’s Eon of Waiting

This is a record of an interview with the Prince of the Midland Empire, who sought Chao Du 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 existence over one hundred million years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Fa Jing, on June 24, 2018.

Venerable Fa Jing speaks: "I respectfully invite the Venerable One to compassionately accept this interview."

The Prince of the Midland Empire speaks: "Through the power of Practitioner Su's universal Chao Du, many spirits who have existed in various spaces for eons have been able to break through the barriers of space and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, regarding this universal Chao Du, there is a Midland Empire located within a small planet. The Prince of this empire, the Prince of Wonderful Dharma, wishes to express his gratitude for Practitioner Su's deliverance and briefly share his story."

A Civilization of Flying Carpets and Intent

"My empire existed over a hundred million years ago. It was a world of immense supernatural power. My people travelled everywhere on flying carpets. These carpets were our primary means of transport, and their power lay in their ability to change size, altitude, and speed—all dependent upon the intent of the operator. If we wished to eat, my people simply had to focus their intent, and various foods would naturally appear before them. This food was real, substantial, and exquisitely delicious. If we desired new clothing, we would simply close our eyes and visualise it, and the garments on our bodies would change instantly according to our wishes. Within our empire, there was no strife; the country was prosperous, the people were at peace, and there was a sense of profound harmony. Within our borders, the Dharma of Goodness was promoted, teaching the people to practise kindness in their daily lives. Everything we thought and did was for the benefit of self and others, integrated into one without any discrimination.

"The citizens of our empire frequently rode their flying carpets to travel between other planets. Practitioners from other worlds would come to reside in our land, yearning for the peace and tranquility they found there, seeking it as a place of practice. Our people were long-lived, often reaching one hundred or two hundred years of age. Yet, my people yearned for eternal life—to never die. I flew across countless planets, but I could not find the answer: how could one attain immortality? When my people reached the end of their lives, they would simply turn into mist and vanish. Where did they go? No one knew.

The Eon-Long Vigil

"I believed that there must be a world where people could attain a state of non-birth and non-death, free from the suffering of samsara. This was the place I sought throughout my life. After more than a hundred years of practice, I was able to traverse the universe and reach the world beyond. In the far distance, I saw a beautiful new world. It was a world permeated by golden light, where people lived in total freedom and ease, immortal and indestructible. I longed to fly into this place, but in the blink of an eye, this world vanished before my eyes. What kind of world was this? I sat upon my flying carpet, remaining outside the universe for a long time, observing how one might enter this realm. I wanted to bring all my people to this place of eternal life. I waited there for over a hundred million years, lingering in that space, still waiting.

The Sound of Deliverance

"Until recently, a sound of music pierced through the universe, reaching far beyond it. It was a melody I had never heard before. Just then, as the music crossed the boundaries of the universe, the realm I had yearned for reappeared before my eyes. It was this very music that was guiding immeasurable and boundless beings from the universe into this world. After a hundred million years of waiting, I finally received my answer at this very moment.

"I flew back to my empire and entered my physical body. The empire had already gone through many generations of change. I told my people about the magnificence of the sacred name 'Namo Amituofo.' In order to move the citizens of my empire to this new world, this sacred name was widely spread throughout the land. My people chanted this sacred name with pure hearts, waiting for the moment the golden light would shine again. Eventually, the entire population of the empire migrated to this holy land.

Arrival at the Western Pure Land

"The music of 'Namo Amituofo' came again. A tall Dharma Body appeared, leading immeasurable and boundless beings from various planets toward the holy land. I led my people to follow, chanting the sacred name 'Namo Amituofo' together, riding our flying carpets toward the light. To reach the holy land we had longed for, we never stopped chanting the Buddha-name. Indeed, with this leap, I successfully stepped into the holy land of my dreams. Now, I finally know that this place is called the 'Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.'

"Today, the citizens of my empire have migrated in a grand procession to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My people are finally able to leave suffering behind and gain happiness. This sacred name of Namo Amituofo—I waited for an eon to hear it, and finally, my wish has been fulfilled. On behalf of my people, I express my gratitude for the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo. As for the practitioners who once lived in my empire, despite many years of practice, they never knew the importance of this Buddha-name. They remained trapped in space, unable to break through their practice to reach the land of eternal life."

The Power of the Buddha-Name

The Prince's wait of a hundred million years finally bore fruit at this moment, precisely because Practitioner Su spread the sacred name of Namo Amituofo throughout the universe, breaking through layer upon layer of cosmic space. Only then was the Prince able to bring his people to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a place they had longed for. The Prince's story is but one small example. Many planets have been able to escape their closed spaces because of the Causal Conditions opened by Practitioner Su. Those with good fortune will surely be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Practitioner Su's virtuous deeds and power of Chao Du are truly being practised throughout the universe. I am one of those practitioners who once received Practitioner Su's Chao Du and was thus able to be reborn in the Western Land. I used to immerse myself in the sutras, yet I did not know to chant the Buddha-name or seek rebirth in the Western Land, and for many years, I remained trapped in space, unable to leave. I, too, received the deliverance of Practitioner Su's Dharma Body, which allowed me to be reborn in the Western Land. To repay Practitioner Su's kindness, I have entered into the leg where Practitioner Su was injured, doing my utmost to help repair the damage caused by the spirits within the leg. To help more beings, I will certainly do everything in my power to assist, so that Practitioner Su may walk with ease and continue to save immeasurable and boundless sentient beings.

Namo Amituofo.