The Redemption of a Violent Father: The Story of Venerable Qingtong

This is a record of an interview with the 918th Venerable, Qingtong, who lived approximately 1,800 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 account was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 21, 2019.

Venerable Qingtong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qingtong. My father had a volatile temper and frequently used my mother and me as outlets for his frustration. Whenever work went poorly or he had a dispute with someone outside, he would return home and fly into a rage. Sometimes he would strike my mother and me with his bare hands, and other times he would grab whatever stick or sharp object was within reach to attack us. Day after day, I endured my father's violence, suffering both physically and mentally."

A Childhood Defined by Fear

"One day, my mother and I were pushing a cart of fruit, preparing to sell it at the market. We had just set up our stall when I saw my father approaching from a distance. My mother and I stood frozen, not daring to move, wondering what would happen now that he had appeared. Many of the veteran vendors, who knew my father's temper, kept whispering to my mother, 'Don't say a word when he arrives; don't provoke him.' My mother nodded slightly. As soon as my father reached the stall, he swung his arm, and the entire display overturned, sending fruit rolling everywhere. I immediately crouched down, desperate to pick up the fruit, fearing that if they were bruised, we would lose a significant amount of money. Seeing me scramble, my father grabbed me and shouted, 'Does your old man not earn enough for you to spend? Why must you come out here to set up a stall? You are truly a disgrace to me!' I understood then that he did not want us working outside; he only wanted us to stay obediently at home. I apologised immediately, hoping to calm his anger. He turned and left, leaving my mother and me to clean up the wreckage."

The Hidden Goodness of a Troubled Soul

"This life continued until I was ten years old. Over those ten years, my heart underwent a constant transformation—from initial hatred toward my father, to gradually empathising with his state of mind, and finally, to being able to coexist with him in peace. I had originally assumed that my family was the only one in the village suffering like this, but when I observed the other households, I realised that many children were growing up in similar environments. Our village was filled with impoverished families. My own home was destitute; I once had three younger siblings, but they were sold by my father immediately after birth, leaving me as the only child to stay by my parents' side.

Despite his temper, I saw that my father's heart was inherently kind. When he was not troubled by work or consumed by rage, he was a truly good person. I once witnessed him rush into a burning house to save someone, disregarding his own life. In that moment, I was filled with admiration for his heroism—he was willing to sacrifice himself to save another. I also saw him give away an entire month's wages to help an elderly person who was on the verge of starvation. I began to understand my father better; he was a kind and compassionate man at his core."

The Miracle of the Buddha-Name

"When I was ten, I began to encounter the Buddha’s teachings. It was a little novice who transmitted the Dharma to me. He was walking down the street behind his master when he saw me and asked, 'Would you like to chant Namo Amituofo with me?' I followed his lead and chanted. Miraculously, with that single utterance, my heavy, troubled heart instantly opened. I had never experienced such a feeling before; this Buddha-name was truly inconceivable!

The little novice taught me the Dharma, and his master listened nearby. Although the novice was younger than me, in the study of the Way, seniority is determined by one's progress. Even at such a young age, he spoke in a way that captured the heart, making me want to follow the path of the Buddha as well."

Saving the Family Through the Dharma

"Within a few days, I appeared outside the temple, hoping for a chance to listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma. I met the little novice again, and he told me, 'Studying the Buddha’s teachings can change your life and save the lives of others.' I understood his words. Although I had not yet begun my formal practice, his guidance had already opened my closed heart. I realised that if I could be like him, helping others resolve their inner sorrows, I could save many more people who were suffering just as I had.

I did not study the Buddha’s teachings for my own sake, but to save my father. Although I did not know why his temper was so explosive, I knew it was not his true intention, for his kindness and compassion were already recognised by the entire village. Every time I returned from the temple, I would share what I had learned with my parents. Even when my father sat far away, not sitting beside me with my mother, I would still teach, raising my voice so he could hear clearly. I knew that although he pretended not to listen, he was actually straining his ears to hear what I was saying. Sometimes, when he heard something that pleased him, he would accidentally clap in approval. My mother and I would giggle secretly, pretending not to notice, so as not to embarrass my prideful father."

A Peaceful Home

"After I had been studying for a year, my parents had also listened to the Buddha’s teachings for a year. My father truly possessed good roots. Since he began listening to my teachings, he became a different person. He no longer flew into rages, and sometimes I would even hear him chanting the Buddha's name. Having heard the Dharma, he was able to take the Buddha-name into his heart and change his life. He actually practised better than my mother; sometimes he would even remind her to chant when she became too busy. Seeing the change in my parents, I felt truly happy for them.

When I proposed that I wanted to become a monk to help sentient beings, both my parents agreed. Over these years, if not for the Buddha’s teachings, no one could have saved our family. The suffering my father endured was known to no one. If not for the Buddha’s compassion in resolving the karmic creditors on his body, he would still be misunderstood as a wicked man, when in truth, he was a compassionate and kind person. Only the Buddha knew his helplessness. Through his sincere chanting, the Buddha saved him. Consequently, my father began to introduce the benefits of the Buddha’s teachings to everyone he met. Seeing his transformation, everyone began to believe and chant. Our village was no longer filled with the noise of quarrels, but with the peaceful sound of chanting."

The Journey to the Mountain

"I left home and travelled far away, preparing to practise in a deep mountain. The mountain was vast; some who entered never returned, and everyone assumed it was a mountain of demons. Others said it was home to immortals, while some claimed it was inhabited by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. No one had truly entered; they only speculated and spread rumours.

I chose this mountain because I had seen it clearly in a dream. The scenery within was brilliant, and many eminent monks were practising in a temple there. It took me over a month to reach the foot of the mountain. My heart was set on seeking the Dharma, and my sincerity moved the heavens. When I stood at the base of the mountain and chanted the name of Namo Amituofo with all my heart, a golden light opened the mountain gate, and a grand temple appeared clearly before my eyes. With the Buddha-name in my heart, I knelt every three steps and bowed every five steps until I entered the temple to study under a master."

A Life of Deliverance

"For twenty years, I practised until I became a dignified Bhikshu, travelling everywhere to help people resolve their confusion and sorrow. I taught the Dharma wherever I went, solely to help more people break through delusion and attain enlightenment. I travelled according to conditions, saving many children who were born into similarly difficult families. I gathered these children and taught them the sutras, and many developed the resolve to follow me to the temple to practise. Having suffered since birth, they cherished these precious days of practice even more. Over the decades, they all attained a pure and dignified appearance and spread the Dharma far and wide. I accepted them as disciples to continue the Dharma lineage. In this life, I fulfilled my great vow to save beings and attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The holy name of Namo Amituofo now resonates throughout the entire universe. Practitioner Su's Dharma Body leaps rapidly, and the planets in the Milky Way seem to dance, rotating quickly as they follow Practitioner Su's Dharma Body away. Many sentient beings are being led by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Every day, the time of Chao Du is incredibly vibrant. Many planets that had never appeared before are now manifesting in the universe. They are ancient planets that have been opened up by Practitioner Su. Everyone has come because of this causal condition to seek deliverance and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful for the compassion of Amitabha Buddha, and I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su."

Namo Amituofo.