The Reality of Chao Du in the Hell Realms
An Interview with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
Recorded on November 4, 2020
The Vow of Ksitigarbha
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, whose patience is as immovable as the earth and whose wisdom is as deep and hidden as a secret treasury, offers these teachings. The sea of suffering in this Saha world is boundless. The Bodhisattva has made a great vow: until the hells are empty, he will not attain Buddhahood. He has pledged to save all beings before he himself enters the final state of . Yet, the beings of this world are often stubborn, difficult to transform, and burdened by heavy sins. They are truly difficult to tame.
Practitioner Su has cultivated a heart of great virtue and . Every vow made is a vow to alleviate the suffering of all beings. When the world cries out for rain, he brings the rain of the . Through his efforts, the pandemic may be resolved, and countless spirits may find liberation. We must cherish the presence of a true practitioner who works to save the world. By chanting the name of Namo Amituofo, we seek and the resolution of this global crisis.
The Unique Power of Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre
At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, the is a rare and magnificent event. It differs significantly from Dharma assemblies held at other temples. The primary leader of the Dharma assembly is Namo Amituofo himself, and Practitioner Su is present to guide spirits into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In many other temples, those leading the Dharma assembly lack the required to truly perform Chao Du for sentient beings. Without this, the Dharma assembly becomes merely a performance. It fails to open the space, and the infinite suffering beings trapped within those spaces cannot find a way out. Only Practitioner Su possesses the true Dharma Body and the great cultivation to open these spaces, allowing suffering spirits to hear the Buddha-name and find liberation.
The Pandemic and Collective
This global pandemic is the result of a massive collective karma, driven by the greed, evil thoughts, selfishness, and the heavy burden of killing committed by humanity. The suffering of the world is immense. I have witnessed the hell realms overflowing with spirits seeking Chao Du. Every day, there are endless cases being judged, and the Ten Kings of Hell are kept busy reviewing these matters. Yet, even in their busyness, they do not forget to participate in the morning Buddha-recitation and the Thrice Yearning Ceremony.
When the Dharma assembly is held, I participate alongside them. When I encounter spirits who are particularly difficult to tame, I strike the ground with my staff. The ringing of the rings on my staff serves as a reminder to these spirits to chant the name of Namo Amituofo sincerely and to follow the Buddha-recitation team led by Practitioner Su.
The Reach of Compassionate Chao Du
This is a truly magnificent opportunity for Chao Du, especially regarding the current global pandemic. Through Dharma-Body Visualisation Deliverance, Practitioner Su reaches across vast distances:
- He extends his compassion to the mountains, rivers, and lands across the continent.
- He performs Chao Du for the smallest insects and the ancient spirits dwelling by the rivers.
- He reaches out to the flowers, trees, and animals within the mountains.
- His reach spans from mainland China, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, all the way back to Australia.
- He has performed Chao Du for the spirits throughout Toowoomba, Goombungee, and the entirety of the Australian continent.
I have watched as Practitioner Su patiently teaches the spirits of every inch of the earth to chant the Buddha-name. The hell realms he opens through his Dharma Body are boundless, containing infinite suffering beings. Every morning, as he chants the six-character name, Namo Amituofo, his Buddha-light illuminates the darkest corners of hell. Those who are undergoing punishment stop their suffering, awakened by the magnificent merit of the Buddha-name. They begin to repent in their hearts, kneel, and chant the Buddha-name aloud.
The Power of Sincere Repentance
Even those suffering in the Tongue-Plucking Hell, who are unable to speak, use their hearts to chant with true repentance and . Through the guidance of Practitioner Su, spirits from over one hundred different hells have finally found salvation. Even the spirits in the Hell of Wolf-Eating, who were covered in blood, heard the Buddha-name and found a moment of peace. By sincerely repenting and chanting in their hearts, they broke through the barriers of their space, were purified by the Buddha-light, and were delivered.
I have also seen the suffering beings in the Hell of Excrement and Urine chanting aloud with Practitioner Su. All these spirits, and even the worms within that realm, have been liberated. Practitioner Su’s Dharma-Body Visualisation Deliverance is dedicated entirely to saving infinite suffering beings. It is well known that he enters the hells daily to deliver those from the highest levels of attainment down to the lowest levels of hell. Because this pandemic is so severe, many spirits who were in a state of confusion have rushed to seek Chao Du, finding it through the loud, collective chanting of the ancestral masters and the fourfold assembly of disciples.
A Call to Unity and Salvation
To help resolve this global pandemic, every practitioner participating in the chanting has exerted their full effort. Practitioner Su, leading the ancestral masters and Bodhisattvas, stands united in purpose, chanting with one heart. As Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, I transmit this message to encourage the public and the salvation team at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to give their all, following Practitioner Su in chanting to save all beings. We offer our deepest gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva declares: Until the hells are empty, I vow not to attain Buddhahood. It is the wish of Practitioner Su that this pandemic be resolved and that international travel may resume. Namo Amituofo.
This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Haiyuan.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library