The Rice of a Pure Heart

This is a record of an interview with Liang Xiuliang, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,500 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 5, 2026.

Liang Xiuliang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Liang Xiuliang. It has been 1,500 years since I lived in a small village in the northeast of China. My birth was a moment of great joy for the entire village. In the Liang family village of that time, our surname was the most prominent, though we lived alongside families named Chen, Wang, and Huang. We thrived together, and our village was known for a very specific, wonderful quality: the rice we grew was exceptionally delicious. We always believed this was due to the unique mountain spring water that flowed through our land. With such pure water, we were able to irrigate our fields and produce rice of the highest quality."

The Discovery that Changed Everything

"During that era, ancient artefacts from the Zhou Dynasty were highly sought after. By chance, one such antique was discovered within our village, and it caused quite a stir. It brought a strange, unsettling atmosphere to our once simple and peaceful home. Everyone felt that such a valuable item should be sold to the highest bidder, and the proceeds could be used to fund the development of our village. Before this, we had all lived simple lives, focused on farming or weaving. But the appearance of this object awakened desires in the villagers that should never have been there."

"The village was my home, and I could not bear to see it change in such a way. I saw greed appearing on the faces of people I had known my entire life, and it terrified me. I made a decision: I would secretly take the artefact and bury it where no one would ever find it, so that the villagers would no longer be bewitched by it. I acted immediately, but to my dismay, I was caught by the other villagers. They were furious. I tried to explain my intentions, but they would not listen. To my utter disbelief, these people—the neighbours I had grown up with—decided to place me under house arrest. I could hardly believe it; were these truly the people of the Liang family village? I was locked away for three months, and only after the antique was finally sold to an outsider for a high price was I released."

The Connection Between Heart and Harvest

"During those three months, I was brought meals, but I noticed that the rice I was served was terrible. It did not taste like the famous, high-quality rice of our village at all. It was then that I realised the truth: our rice had never been delicious because of the water source. It was delicious because we were a simple, honest, and pure-hearted community. Our kindness was the secret ingredient. Now that everyone was filled with complex, greedy thoughts, the quality of the rice had plummeted. The harvest reflected the state of our hearts."

"After this incident, I began to study the Buddha’s teachings. A wandering monk had once visited our village and given me a copy of the Heart Sutra. I had not read it at the time, keeping it only out of respect, but after what had happened, I became deeply moved by the impermanence of human nature and the importance of the heart. I began to study the sutra with great interest. At that time, very few people in our village practised the Buddha’s teachings, but I felt the profundity of the Heart Sutra and believed that such wisdom should be shared. Slowly, I began to introduce the Dharma to my fellow villagers."

A Village Transformed by the Dharma

"No other antiques ever appeared in our village, and slowly, everyone returned to their normal lives. However, the rice was never quite the same as it had been before—it was no longer as sweet, but rather a little bitter. Many villagers were troubled by this, and I took the opportunity to explain the importance of the heart. I suggested that we all study the Heart Sutra together and learn the principles within it. The response was overwhelming. Eventually, the entire village began to practise the Buddha’s teachings, and every household respectfully enshrined a statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."

"Before I died, I did not suffer from any major illness. I was simply going about my day, offering incense and changing the water for the venerable Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when I stumbled and fell. That was the end of my life. After I passed away, I became a water spirit. I remained in that state for 1,500 years, until recently, when Practitioner Su conducted a massive Chao Du in China. I was guided by the Buddha-light and entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

From Water Spirit to the Western Land

"The Western Land of Dharma Nature is truly a magnificent world, and I love it here. There is a saying: 'In every home, Avalokiteshvara; in every household, Namo Amituofo.' I never encountered Namo Amituofo during my lifetime, but now, after my death, I have been saved by the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, which is why I am able to speak to you today. I now know that Namo Amituofo is truly great; He is always working to save beings. If one simply chants 'Namo Amituofo' with sincerity, one can not only be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss but also help many other suffering beings."

"Practitioner Su uses this very name, 'Namo Amituofo,' to save immeasurable and boundless beings in China. It is truly vast and profound. Seeing how many suffering souls exist in this world, I feel that the Buddha is so great, and I am so grateful to Namo Amituofo. Because Namo Amituofo exists, we all have the possibility of being saved. On my lotus seat, I feel clearer and more awake every day. After listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, I hope that one day I, too, can be like Practitioner Su—a Buddha in the world who can save many beings."

"I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su."

"Namo Amituofo."

"Liang Xiuliang"