The Satay Sauce Uncle's Story
An Interview with the Spirit of Ah San
Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Faxin, on October 6, 2017
This interview was recorded on October 6, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. The chief writer, Venerable Faxin, conducted an interview with a spirit who had become attached to the memory of a jar of satay sauce. Having been brought to the centre by Practitioner Su for deliverance, the spirit, known as Ah San, shares his humble life story and his gratitude for the opportunity to reside in this Buddha-land.
Venerable Faxin speaks:
"Greetings, . Please, tell us, how are you feeling?"
Ah San speaks:
"Am I not welcome here? Why does everyone keep pushing me around? I have a short temper, you know. If you keep this up, I am going to lose my temper! And let me tell you, if I get angry, the people who eat the satay sauce are going to end up with a lot of internal heat and inflammation. You really do not want that to happen."
Venerable Faxin speaks:
"Please, do not be troubled. No one here has any ill intentions toward you. I humbly ask you to calm your heart. May I ask how we should address you?"
Ah San speaks:
"My name is Ah San. Why are you bothering me? What do you want?"
A Call to Remember
Venerable Faxin speaks:
"You have been specifically invited by Practitioner Su for this interview. We are here to listen to your story. Could you tell us how you came to be the spirit of this satay sauce?"
Ah San speaks:
"I really do not want to talk about it. It is such a hassle, and I have no desire to relive the past. It is all just too much trouble."
Venerable Faxin speaks:
"Please, share your story with us. You are a truly blessed elder, and your words have the power to help many beings."
Ah San speaks:
"Stop with the flattery. Fine, I will tell you! You are so annoying! When I was a child, I grew up in a very poor family. We were so destitute that if we had even a little bit of flavour in our plain rice or porridge, we felt completely satisfied. One day, a distant relative gifted us a single jar of satay sauce. That jar became the greatest treasure in our home. Every time we ate, we would carefully scoop out just a tiny bit. Eating that, the whole family felt content and happy. That is the most beautiful memory I have from my entire life, from childhood until I grew old."
The Weight of Attachment
Ah San speaks:
"I have lived a life with very little to look back on, except for the memory of that satay sauce. Because I clung to that memory so tightly, I eventually became the spirit of the satay sauce itself. I am fully aware that I became this way because of my attachment to that memory. That is exactly why I told you I did not want to talk about the past—it is the very thing that bound me here. I know that you brought me here from Taiwan by aeroplane. I also know that this place is a true Buddha-land. I am currently making offerings to the Buddha, and I feel incredibly lucky and deeply grateful for this opportunity."
"Namo Amituofo."
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library