The Savior of the Village

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Liu Shaoqi, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,970 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on December 10, 2018.

Venerable Liu Shaoqi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Liu Shaoqi. My parents were simple, honest farmers who lived their lives by the rhythm of the sun—rising at dawn to toil in the fields and resting at dusk. Their existence was profoundly simple, devoid of grand desires or elaborate dreams. They asked for nothing more than the health and safety of our family. When I was born, my parents were overjoyed; after many years of marriage, I was their first and only child. To dedicate herself fully to my upbringing, my mother entrusted all the heavy farm work to my father, ensuring she could always be by my side. My father possessed a gentle, honest face, and my mother was equally sincere. From the moment I entered this world, I bore that same honest, guileless countenance, which made me a child who was easily loved by all who met me.

A Divine Sign and a Prophecy

It seems my life was destined for the path of the Buddha. My parents had never studied the Buddha’s teachings, yet from the moment my mother conceived me, she was visited in her dreams by a magnificent, radiant Buddha. She did not know which Buddha it was, but the compassion on that face was etched clearly into her memory. At first, she dismissed these visions as mere illusory experiences, but when I was born, my face was the exact reflection of the Buddha she had seen in her dreams. Seeking to understand this mystery, she travelled to a local temple. When she stood before the majestic Western Trinity, she was struck with awe—the figure in the centre, the radiant and powerful Namo Amituofo, was the very same Buddha from her dreams. My own features were a striking likeness to His.

Our village was a place of quietude, yet it was plagued by sudden, violent disasters. Fierce storms would frequently descend, tearing through our homes and flattening the crops we relied upon for survival. We were a community of impoverished people; we had no surplus wealth to repair the damage time and time again. Every household strove to build their homes as sturdily as possible, but no matter how strong the walls, they always crumbled under the fury of the elements. There was an ancient prophecy in our village: it was said that one day, a savior would appear, and with their arrival, the cycle of endless disasters would cease. This savior would possess the power to subdue demonic enemies and shield the village from the destruction wrought by demonic beings. The villagers waited with bated breath, scrutinising every stranger who entered our gates, hoping to find the prophesied one. Yet, as time passed and hope turned to disappointment, the prophecy was eventually dismissed as nothing more than a childhood fairy tale.

The Transformation of the Village

Everything changed the moment I was born. The withered plants and trees in our village began to sprout new life, and the seasons of disaster passed without a single calamity. The villagers began to whisper: 'Could the savior truly have arrived?' The village head counted the inhabitants, and though no strangers had moved in, the tally was one person higher than before—it was me. With one voice, the people declared, 'Shaoqi is the savior!' My parents, in their humility, were shocked, protesting, 'How could we have the blessings to give birth to a savior?' But the truth was undeniable. My birth had quelled the disasters, and the village entered a period of peace it had never known before.

When my mother shared the story of my resemblance to the compassionate Namo Amituofo, the village head gathered everyone in the square. There, they knelt upon the earth, chanting the holy name of Namo Amituofo and kowtowing in gratitude for His great compassion. Our village had never held any religious faith, but once they realised it was the mercy of Namo Amituofo that had saved them, every household began to chant. You could see the six-character name, 'Namo Amituofo', everywhere—inscribed on doorframes, carved into stone, or enshrined on altars within our homes. The gratitude was infinite; without Namo Amituofo, we would have continued to suffer under the crushing weight of those bitter, disaster-ridden days.

The Path to Monkhood

As I grew older, my interest in the Buddha’s teachings deepened. I would often walk long distances alone to the temple to study the sutras with the community. Whenever there was a lecture, I was always the first to arrive, sitting in the hall, waiting to receive the teaching. My parents were deeply influenced by my devotion and began to study the Buddha’s teachings alongside me. It was only then that they realised the true preciousness of the Dharma, lamenting that they had spent their entire lives in the fields without knowing they could use the Buddha’s teachings to help others. As the years went by, my parents grew healthier and more vigorous; compared to their state before they began their practice, they were like young people, full of vitality and spirit. They became models of diligent practice, and the villagers followed suit, visiting temples to listen to the teachings and learning to 'see through' and 'let go' of their attachments to reduce their suffering.

Although I was the only son of the Liu family, when I expressed my wish to leave the household life and become a monk, my parents did not oppose me. Instead, they gave their full support. They understood the rarity of the Dharma and the importance of saving the world through monastic life. They knew in their hearts that I was not born to carry on the family line, but to help beings escape the cycle of suffering. I became the first monk in our village, and the people took great pride in me. Many of the local youth looked to me as a role model, learning to emulate my compassion and desire to serve others.

A Universal Mission of Deliverance

When Practitioner Su opened up the space for me, the vastness of the universe appeared before my eyes—a boundless expanse filled with countless sentient beings. In my past efforts to save beings, I encountered many obstacles from the demon path. To subdue these demonic enemies, I had to dedicate myself to diligent practice for a very long time. I had to ensure that the demonic beings would respect my attainment, for one must have true attainment to successfully deliver those who wield such high levels of demonic power.

As I perform Chao Du for sentient beings throughout the universe, I see many layers of space occupied by beings with whom I have karmic affinities. Practitioner Su now refers to me as a 'Universal Bodhisattva'. Many of these beings have existed for hundreds of millions of years, still clinging to their desire to destroy the worlds they covet, controlling those they wish to dominate, or invading the lands they seek to conquer. Today, I have returned to deliver these beings, carrying the six-character name and the light of compassion, helping those labelled as 'evil' to turn away from their wicked ways and embrace Goodness. The group of Universal Bodhisattvas led by Practitioner Su has become a beacon for them to follow. Many are now willing to take refuge in the Buddha’s gate and join in the mission to save the world. It is a truly magnificent and rare opportunity. I am filled with gratitude for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su."

Namo Amituofo.