The Prince Who Returned to the Dharma

This is a record of an interview with Li Guotai, 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 life approximately 1,930 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 5, 2019.

Li Guotai speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Guotai. My story begins long ago, in a time when the world seemed to hold its breath in anticipation of something extraordinary. My elder brother had just stepped outside to play when he suddenly sprinted back into the house, his eyes wide with excitement. He shouted to our mother, 'Auspicious signs have appeared! Auspicious signs have appeared!' My mother, sensing the gravity in his voice, smiled and replied, 'Surely something wonderful is about to happen in our village!' No sooner had the words left her lips than she began to feel the onset of labour. Shortly thereafter, I was born into this world. My brother, looking at my round, peaceful face, whispered into my mother's ear, 'The sky showed those signs because Guotai was coming to us.'

A Prophetic Birth

From the moment I arrived, our home became a hub of activity. Friends, relatives, and even complete strangers arrived in droves, bearing gifts to celebrate my birth. Everyone who looked at me, even as I lay there innocently sucking on my fingers, felt a strange sense of wonder. They were puzzled, asking themselves, 'How is it that the entire village knew of this child's birth the very moment he arrived?' When my mother finally ventured outside after her month of confinement, she was stunned to see a red paper notice plastered on a wall nearby. It read: 'The Crane Immortal has prophesied: The Li family's son, Guotai, is a Prince returned.' My mother read those words over and over, her heart racing. We were the only Li family in the village, and I was indeed the child they called Guotai. Was I truly a Prince returned? She rushed home to share the news, and from that day on, my family looked at me with a mixture of reverence and bewilderment.

The Secret Practice of a Young Prince

As a child, I was remarkably quiet and contemplative. I preferred the solitude of the study, where I would sit for hours practising calligraphy. Every stroke of the brush was a form of meditative concentration for me. No matter how much noise erupted outside, my focus remained unbroken, anchored entirely to the ink and paper. My parents, eager to cultivate my potential, hired the finest tutors to instruct me in astronomy, Confucian thought, chess, and traditional ink painting. By the age of ten, I understood the depth of their devotion. Even with a schedule packed from dawn until dusk, I never uttered a single word of complaint. I was always at my desk, punctual and ready, and I consistently achieved the highest marks in every examination. Seeing these results, my parents would beam with pride, their joy overflowing.

Yet, there was a mystery that haunted our home. In the dead of night, my parents would often be awakened by the sound of my voice. They would find me fast asleep, yet my lips would be chanting the holy name of Namo Amituofo with great clarity and strength. The sound seemed to pierce through the very fabric of space, continuing for hours, night after night. By the time I reached my fifteenth year, I suddenly announced to my parents, 'A great monk has arrived in the East Village, and I must go to meet him.' My family was shocked, convinced that I had lost my senses or been troubled by a strange dream. When I turned to leave, they called out to me in desperation, but for the first time in my life, I did not heed their commands. I ran toward the door, leaving them in a state of profound disbelief.

The Master in the East Village

My parents, desperate to understand what had overcome me, followed closely behind. When I reached the East Village, everything seemed perfectly still—there was no sign of anyone. My mother, losing patience, prepared to step forward and drag me home, but my father held her back, whispering, 'Wait. Let us see what happens.' After a long while, an elderly monk dressed in simple robes appeared. I immediately knelt on the ground and said, 'Master, please accept these three bows from your disciple.' The old monk helped me up and asked, 'In these past days, what have you felt?' I replied, 'I am grateful to you, Master. When I was five, you awakened my memories. Every night, you took me to save beings, helping me fulfil my vow to deliver them, and only by morning would I return to my normal life. For these fifteen years, to honour my parents and repay their kindness, I have diligently studied the ways of the world. I once tried to speak to them of the Dharma, but they forbade it, so I have spent these years chanting in my heart, holding the suffering of all beings within me, waiting for this day to reunite with you.'

The Path of Renunciation

My mother, unable to contain her curiosity, interrupted, 'When did you start learning the Buddha's teachings?' I knelt before them once more and explained everything—the truth of my past life as a Prince, the nightly spiritual journeys, and the promise I had made to meet my Master, who was now one hundred and twenty years old. The villagers soon heard the news and flocked to our home. They urged my parents, 'Guotai has looked like a Buddha since he was a child! He is destined to become one. Since he can remember his past and save beings in his dreams, you must fulfil his wish to study the Dharma and let him do good for the world!' Faced with the pleas of the entire village and my own humble request to renounce the world, my parents finally relented.

In truth, they had always known I was not meant for the worldly life. Despite our wealth, I had always lived simply, often using only what my brother discarded and eating only plain rice while leaving the lavish feasts untouched. They had tried to distract me with endless lessons, hoping I would find joy in worldly pursuits, but they could not stop the calling of my soul. Realising that my resolve was unshakable and that my path could save countless beings, they finally let me go. I left everything behind, walking away with nothing but a clean heart, ready to shave my head and enter the temple with my Master.

A Lifetime of Universal Deliverance

I cherished every day I had with my Master. For ten years, he poured his life's wisdom into me, preparing me to take over the temple's responsibilities at the age of twenty-five. When I was forty-five, I was finally able to guide my own parents to the Dharma. Though they were elderly, their years of suffering from illness had made them ready to accept the importance of practice. Through diligent effort, they both attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss within ten years. I continued my work, never abandoning a single being. For those with whom I lacked a direct connection, I planted the seeds of Buddhist affinity, waiting for the conditions to ripen. I used every skillful means available to reach beings of different characters, knowing that their deep-seated habits were the only things keeping them trapped in samsara. By the age of one hundred and five, having fulfilled my vow to save countless beings, I chanted the name of Namo Amituofo and attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

Today, I have the great fortune to participate in the universal deliverance led by Practitioner Su. As Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body traverses the various dimensions, I see the endless suffering of beings in every corner of the universe. When Practitioner Su opens the space for me, I see all those with whom I have a karmic connection. I chant the holy name of Namo Amituofo, guiding these spirits toward liberation. I even returned to the dimension where I once lived as the Prince of the East. Many beings from that time, whom I had not yet saved, were still trapped there. I was able to bring them home to the Western Pure Land at last. I am filled with gratitude for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the boundless mercy of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."