The Reflection of the Moon in the Water

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Renda, who sought deliverance 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 two hundred years ago. It was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on May 10, 2019.

Venerable Renda speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Renda. The moon reflected in the water ripples gently with the movement of the surface, and I found myself swaying along with it. As I swayed, 'Splash!'—I fell right into the water. That sudden plunge sobered me up instantly from the wine I had been drinking.

A Youthful Rebellion

I was fished out of the water with a large net. My mother was furious, shouting, 'You are only twelve years old! Why are you drinking alcohol with those people?' I replied to her, 'Poets can compose beautiful verses after drinking; I also wanted to write a moving poem for my woman.' My mother was even more incensed. She slammed the table and demanded, 'A woman? You are just a child, why do you have a woman?' I had no choice but to tell her, 'I asked Father at what age he started having women. He told me proudly that he had a crowd of girls around him before he was even ten. I am already twelve, and I only have one woman by my side. Compared to Father, I am still miles behind, so this should be acceptable, right?' My mother beat her chest in despair, crying, 'I am so angry! I am so angry! You father and son are truly going to be the death of me!'

My grandmother had cooked a pot of chicken with rice wine and called out happily, 'Renda! Come quickly! Grandmother’s chicken with rice wine turned out perfectly. Smell this aroma. Wow! It is incredibly fragrant. Come, bring your bowl and chopsticks; Grandmother will serve you a bowl. I guarantee you will sleep soundly tonight!' My mother glared at me, so I pointed at my grandmother to let her know, 'It was Grandmother who told me to eat it, not that I wanted to.' Father, smelling the fragrance, excitedly joined us, asking, 'What smells so good?' I helped him get his bowl and chopsticks as well. Father couldn't wait and ate with great relish. My mother watched from the side, her hair standing on end with rage. She stomped her feet hard and walked straight out of the house.

The Intervention of a Noble Friend

One of my mother’s closest sisters from childhood was married into a wealthy family nearby. Whenever my mother was upset, she would go to this sister—my godmother—to pour out her heart. My mother held her handkerchief, weeping as she said to her, 'How much do I owe them? Why do they oppose me every single day? I want to raise my child well, but he listens to them instead of me! I am just a daughter-in-law in this house; if my mother-in-law says one, I have no right to say two. I can only watch as my child learns their bad habits. If this continues, my child’s life will be ruined.' My godmother, always calm and possessing great meditative concentration, slowly turned the prayer beads in her hand and told her, 'Renda is also my child. I have a responsibility to teach him well. Just leave him to me. As for your mother-in-law, she will listen to a few words from me. Leave that to me as well.' Hearing this, my mother looked at her godmother as if she had found a savior, her eyes brimming with tears of gratitude. 'It is fortunate that I still have you to help me, otherwise I would really just want to jump into the river and die!' My godmother couldn't help but laugh, 'What is there in this world so serious that one must accompany it with death? The most serious thing is to see only darkness and no light after death. Worldly matters! Take them lightly, and your heart will be at peace. Listen to me, study the Buddha’s teachings and chant Namo Amituofo; your life will change.'

A Lesson in Stillness

As soon as my mother returned home, she told me, 'Your godmother wants you to go over tomorrow.' Hearing the word 'godmother' made me sigh deeply, as nothing good ever happened when I went to her house. She knew how to discipline me, and her words were commands I had to follow, unlike at home where everyone had to listen to me. I nodded helplessly and replied, 'I will go tomorrow.'

I walked with my head down, step by step, to my godmother’s house. It was the largest mansion in the village, with the characters 'Wang Mansion' hanging prominently above the gate. I tapped the door knocker to announce my arrival. The servants opened the door and addressed me as 'Young Master,' as I was my godmother’s only godson; she had no children of her own in this life.

Before I even entered the living room, the fragrance of tea drifted through the air. My godmother was brewing tea. I walked in with my head bowed and called out, 'Godmother.' She didn't speak, but gestured for me to sit. I took a deep breath and sat obediently opposite her. She continued to sip her tea. The only sound in the room was the clinking of her tea set; otherwise, there was absolute silence. After about half an hour, she finally asked, 'Has your heart settled yet?' I was stunned. She had seen through my restlessness all along! During that half hour, as I watched her sip tea and followed her slow, gentle pace, my heart had indeed calmed down. I replied, 'It has settled quite a bit.' She said, 'I have instructed the servants to prepare several sets of new clothes for you. Starting tomorrow, you will stay here for a while. I have already spoken to your grandmother and parents.' I exclaimed in shock, 'Stay here?' She nodded. Looking at her determined expression, I shook my head helplessly, knowing I had no choice but to obey.

The Price of Indulgence

Strangely, after I moved into her house, she did not treat me harshly. Instead, she gave me a large amount of silver and said, 'Spend this however you like. If you need anything, just tell the servants.' At first, I was surprised, but after observing her for a few days, I realized she was genuinely kind to me. I let down my guard and began to squander the money, buying whatever I wanted and eating and drinking to my heart’s content. For three full months, I lived like a wealthy young master, traveling, eating, and playing. I visited every place I had ever wanted to go, living a life as carefree and happy as if I were in heaven.

In the fourth month, when I went to ask for more money, my godmother suddenly said sternly, 'It is time to pay your debts.' I looked at her, puzzled. 'Pay debts?' She nodded and said, 'The money I gave you to spend was not free. I had the servants keep an account of everything. If you calculate it now, in just three months, you have spent enough to buy a house. Now it is time for you to pay it back.' I looked at her in shock, not knowing what to do. I told her, 'I can go to work and slowly pay you back.' She shook her head and said, 'I don't need you to work. You just need to stay by my side and do whatever I tell you to do. When the time comes, this debt will naturally be cleared.' I had no other choice but to follow her instructions and continue living in the Wang Mansion, staying by her side every day.

The True Face of Compassion

Only when I stayed by her side did I realize that the stern demeanor I knew was something she deliberately put on. When she was not with me, her face became so compassionate and approachable. Everywhere she went, people loved and welcomed her. No matter where she went, she was the most generous donor.

She took me to a disaster area that had recently suffered a calamity. She bought one hundred loads of rice at once and ordered me to carry them all by myself. By the time I had carried fifty loads, my hands were trembling and my legs were weak. But there were still many victims waiting for food, so I had to keep moving, delivering bag after bag to every household. When I saw their expressions of gratitude, nodding repeatedly to thank me, my heart was deeply moved. This was a good deed I had never done in my life.

When I returned home, I collapsed on my bed. Although I was physically exhausted and my muscles ached, my heart felt inexplicably joyful. Compared to the three months of indulgence, this was the first time I felt true happiness from the bottom of my heart. I wanted to rest, but a knock came at the door: 'Young Master, the Mistress is going out again.' My godmother could not bear to rest for even a moment. As soon as she returned home to catch her breath, she was off to the next destination. I forced myself to get up and quickly followed her to the next place.

As soon as she stepped out of her sedan chair, a large group of children surrounded her, all calling her 'Mother!' I was stunned. After looking, I realized these children were all orphans. This orphanage was built by my godmother, and because she treated them like her own, they called her 'Mother.' She introduced me to them, and they called me 'Big Brother.' I had never had younger siblings, and having so many around me brought an indescribable warmth. My godmother had prepared many gifts for them, and she asked me to hand them out one by one. The weather outside was cold, and these gifts were warm clothing. It felt as if I were bringing warmth to every child in the bitter winter. Although these gifts didn't cost much, seeing the children’s joy and how they cherished them made me feel inexplicably ashamed. I had never known how to be content, nor how to be grateful for the people around me. These children, some only four or five years old, were far more grateful and appreciative than I was. Watching their joyful expressions, I felt happy for them. I had never experienced such an atmosphere before. Helping others is truly such a joyful thing.

A Heart Transformed

For a full year, my godmother took me to every dark corner of every town. When we reached the last town, I told her, 'It has been a year, and I finally understand what you wanted to teach me. It turns out that the power one can exert for society depends entirely on the heart. I have seen that your heart is always thinking of others, always filled with gratitude. I am grateful for this healthy body and sufficient wealth to perform various acts of Generosity. I am grateful for the blessings to hear the Buddha’s teachings, which made me realize that this body is false. This heart of gratitude has stripped away your arrogance as a noble lady and removed all discriminatory views, allowing you to become one with everyone and treat them with sincerity.'

From everything I saw and experienced, I realized my own shortcomings. Since I was young, not only did I not know how to be grateful, I often provoked my mother. The more she didn't want me to do something, the more I would do it just to show her. This year, I saw how many children have no mother by their side; they were as happy to see my godmother as if they were seeing their own kin. Yet my mother was always by my side, and I didn't know how to cherish her. I thought, it is time for me to change. I want to learn from these children, to make a sincere change from the bottom of my heart, and to use my actions to show filial piety to my father, mother, and grandmother.'

My godmother nodded, agreeing with what I said. She asked, 'How will you show filial piety to your parents?' I replied, 'If I continue to live a worldly life, I know I will sink further, because I am not a person of great perseverance. Therefore, I have decided to go to a temple to practice. I want to use my abilities to help beings. But before I can save beings, I know I must undergo rigorous training. I am not a naturally virtuous child; I have learned all the things in the world I shouldn't have, and these are deeply rooted in my mind. I must work harder than others to cleanse these pollutions.' She replied, 'Very good. Then go back and tell your family!'

Returning Home

To my surprise, when I returned home, my family had changed. My grandmother and father, who used to love eating meat, had now become vegetarians. It was my mother’s study of the Buddha’s teachings that changed them. During the year I was away, my mother actively studied Buddhism and participated in various Buddhist events, sharing the joy of the Dharma with my grandmother and father, which sparked their interest as well. In fact, my family members all had good roots; they just didn't know what was right or wrong without the guidance of the Buddha’s teachings, and they didn't know how to educate a child. Now, they have all been transformed by the Dharma. Their concepts and values have changed. My grandmother, who used to be stingy, has learned to practice Generosity and share what she has with those in need. My father, who used to love drinking and carousing, has not stepped foot in a brothel since he understood the laws of karma and cause and effect. He told my mother, 'If you want me to step into a brothel again, you might as well send me straight to hell to suffer!' My mother was happiest about my father’s change. Now that she sees my transformation, she is constantly kowtowing in gratitude to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for their compassionate protection.

I told my family, 'I want to become a monk.' They looked at each other in disbelief. They never expected that I would choose the path of monasticism in this life! It was something they never dared to imagine. I shared with them everything I had learned over the past year. The greatest harvest was this heart of compassion. Everything I wanted in the world, I could easily obtain and enjoy, but this heart of compassion could not be bought with all the wealth in the world, nor could it be understood by being penniless. It turns out that the most important thing lies in the measure of my heart. When my heart can encompass all good and bad, and even when there is no longer any distinction between good and bad, my heart is compassionate. When I can share in the suffering of all people and my heart can be with them, I am compassionate. If I see those who suffer in their suffering but are unwilling to seek salvation, I can have even more pity for them, using more kindness and compassion to accompany them; then I am compassionate. When I seek liberation and can also resolve to help others attain liberation, I am compassionate. Now that I have poured out my heart, I no longer possess it for myself; instead, I use it to encompass all people, adjusting this heart to benefit the masses. Therefore, I have chosen to walk the path of a monk, using the body of a Bhikshu to deliver sentient beings.

The Path of Compassion

In the days of practicing in the temple, the Buddha’s teachings are constantly refining my heart. When my heart is compassionate, it is soft. When my heart is truly compassionate, I no longer have an 'ego,' because having an ego prevents me from achieving anything. I choose to cultivate a heart of compassion, and I am willing to accept all kinds of tests to refine this false body. When my body no longer has any attachments, I begin to learn compassion. Only when there is no 'self' at all can I deliver all sentient beings.

I am grateful for all the magnificent encounters in this life that pulled me out of the turbid world. I have polished my heart until it is as pure and bright as lapis lazuli. With this pure body, I will meet Amitabha in the Western Pure Land.

People in the world are deluded by false thoughts, lost in anger, greedy for wealth and lust, and attached to this body, not knowing that the world is full of suffering. People think that life can be lived again, not knowing that life is short. If one does not possess the ten good karmas, one cannot obtain another life. People think that happiness is constant, not knowing that without suffering, how can there be happiness? The more one pursues happiness, the more one feels pain. How can the world accommodate a 'self'? Only by having no-self can one be reborn; having a 'self' leads to self-destruction. People do not see their own filth and think they are always pure; this is a deluded thought. If one does not know that the world is polluted and filled with the five turbidities, and if one does not practice purity, then the heart will never be pure.

Practitioner Su manifests the Dharma, and her Dharma Body is like the Tathagata—always joyful, true, and pure, never lingering in the world. She is not polluted by the dust of the world because her heart is like a lotus. In the Five Turbidities and Evil World, she only uses this body to deliver sentient beings, remaining unstained and pure, returning to the Western Pure Land with ease and without obstruction. People of the world should wake up and learn from Practitioner Su. If you do not know how to wake up from your delusions, after this life ends, you will face the suffering and distress of the three lower realms. When will you have another chance to escape? Do not miss this opportunity. Namo Amituofo."

Interview information recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Fajing.