The Scholar's Vow: From Haunted Past to Universal Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Li Zhengkang, 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 1,900 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on August 19, 2018.

Li Zhengkang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Zhengkang. It has been nineteen centuries since I walked the earth as a scholar, yet the lessons I learned in that lifetime remain as vivid and pressing as if they happened only yesterday. My journey from a life of worldly ambition to the path of liberation is a testament to the boundless compassion of the Buddha and the transformative power of the sacred Buddha-name."

A Haunting Encounter in the Rain

"One dark, stormy night, I ventured out into a torrential downpour to purchase medicine for my ailing mother. The wind was howling, and the rain lashed against the earth with such ferocity that it was nearly impossible to move forward. I sought refuge under the eaves of a nearby building, shivering and breathless. It was there, in the gloom, that I saw her—a female spirit with a complexion as grey as ash, standing right beside me. I was absolutely petrified. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. I did not care how violent the storm was; I turned and ran, desperate to escape. But no matter where I fled, no matter how many turns I took, she was always there, trailing silently behind me.

I have been able to see spirits since I was a child, but in all my years, I had never encountered a ghost that clung to me with such relentless intensity. I eventually had to stop running; I had no time to dwell on her presence. I reached the pharmacy, pounding on the door and begging the owner to have mercy and sell me the medicine. Once I secured the herbs, I rushed home, boiled the medicine, and tended to my mother. Only when the house was quiet and my mother was resting did I finally have a moment to breathe. I scanned the room, and there she was—standing by the folding screen in my own bedroom. I stopped hiding. I looked directly at her and asked, 'Why are you following me? What connection do we have?' Her voice was faint and garbled, but after listening intently, I finally understood her story."

The Weight of a Forgotten Vow

"In a past life, we had been lovers. She was the daughter of a wealthy family, and I was merely a poor scholar. She had defied her father, severed all ties with her family, and followed me with unwavering devotion. Yet, in the end, I abandoned her for the sake of fame and fortune, leaving her to live out her days in solitude and sorrow. The very place I had passed while running for medicine was where we had once lived. Though the house had been rebuilt, her spirit had remained there, waiting for centuries. Hearing her tale, my heart was a storm of conflicting emotions. I felt a profound sense of guilt, yet I was paralyzed, not knowing how to make amends. I could do nothing but let her follow me.

In this current life, I was again a scholar, shut away in my study, obsessively preparing for the imperial examinations. It was only when my mother fell ill that I finally set aside my books. I never expected that my first step outside would lead to such a haunting. As I cared for my mother, the spirit remained. Even in the bright light of day, I could feel her presence, and I could hear her weeping and calling out to me."

A Mother's Wisdom and the Path of Chanting

"One day, my mother looked at me and said, 'My son, I see the woman beside you. She calls for you, yet you ignore her. I have heard the story of your past, and I am heartbroken that you remain so indifferent. I am ashamed, my son. I pushed you to seek fame and glory, believing it was the path to honour, but now that I lie here on this sickbed, I realise that all those pursuits are hollow. Seeing you ignore your past wife, leaving her to suffer, has chilled my heart. I no longer care for those empty titles. Just find a way to help her find liberation; that is the only way to mend the harm you have caused.' I have always been a devoted son, and I knew I had to listen. I realised then that my pursuit of filial piety through academic success was merely a mask for worldly vanity. I had wasted years in a study, neglecting my mother, and now she was paying the price with her health.

I knelt before her, weeping in repentance. She told me of an old monk living in the deep mountains nearby. 'Go to him,' she urged. 'He will teach you how to help her.' I settled my affairs and set off, promising to return in a few days."

The Old Monk's Silent Lesson

"Deep in the mountains, I found a dilapidated hut. I knocked, but there was no answer. I waited for three days, my food supplies dwindling. On the fourth day, a man woke me from where I had been sleeping against the wall. 'Master Mingjue already knows you are here,' he said. 'He says you lack a heart of compassion. This spirit has followed you for lifetimes, yet you have shown no true repentance. You only came today because of your mother. The Master will not see you.' I begged the man to relay my plea: 'I only wish to repay my mother's kindness. Please, ask the Master for his mercy.' The man left and returned shortly after, handing me a slip of paper. On it were written six characters: 'Namo Amituofo.' He said nothing more and departed.

I was confused, but I brought the paper home to my mother. She looked at it and said, 'The Master has given you this Buddha-name for a reason. Perhaps you should simply chant it. Do not think of anything else; just chant, and perhaps one day you will understand.' I followed her advice. At first, my heart was hard, and the chanting felt like a struggle. But my mother encouraged me to calm my mind. She told me that this Buddha-name could help me, help her, help the spirit, and help all sentient beings."

A Vision of Past Lives and Liberation

"I began to chant with a quiet heart. Gradually, the practice became sweet. Within a week, my mother's illness vanished. I knew then, with absolute certainty, that it was the power of the Buddha-name. I continued to chant with even greater sincerity and diligence. For six months, my heart became increasingly stable and pure. I began to perceive the infinite compassion contained within the Buddha-name—the Great Compassion of the Buddha—and I was moved to tears.

One day, while chanting, I saw my past lives. The visions were crystal clear. I saw not just one life, but many, and I realised the magnitude of the karma I had created. I had harmed so many, including the woman who had loved me so dearly. She had only told me a fraction of the pain I had caused her. Overwhelmed by shame, I knelt before her and kowtowed, begging for her forgiveness. My eyes were red and swollen from weeping. I prayed to the Buddha to help me save all those I had hurt. As I chanted, every syllable was dedicated to them. Suddenly, a brilliant Buddha-light appeared. I saw the spirit follow the light, nodding at me with a gentle smile. She was saved. I was filled with boundless gratitude. I knelt before the Buddha and made a vow: I would dedicate this life to the Buddha's teachings, abandon all worldly greed, and strive to save all beings from suffering."

The True Meaning of Compassion

"After I made this vow, the man I had met on the mountain appeared at my door. 'The Master is ready to see you,' he said. I said goodbye to my mother, who wept tears of joy, and followed him. When I arrived, the hut was no longer a ruin; it was a magnificent temple filled with golden light. The old monk stood before the Buddha. When he turned, I was stunned—the man I had met was a manifestation of the Master himself. He told me, 'To nurture a heart of compassion, one must truly understand the suffering of beings. The Buddha's compassion allowed you to see your own faults so that you could finally awaken a true heart of compassion and vow to save all beings.' I knelt once more, my heart overflowing with gratitude for the Buddha's mercy."

Practitioner Su's Dharma Body Deliverance

Practitioner Su's Dharma Body delivers sentient beings throughout the universe. The cosmos is a complex web of space, and the beings within these star systems are diverse, each with their own unique form and nature. Yet, there are also many beings in the universe who are currently enduring the fruits of their past actions. Only when their retribution is complete can they be reborn into other realms. Through her great compassion, Practitioner Su delivers these beings from vast, suffering-filled star systems. Those who have truly repented are able to leave their realms of suffering and follow the Buddha-light to liberation.

As Practitioner Su's Dharma Body continues this work across the universe, the halo of light surrounding her is vast and boundless. It illuminates the intersecting dimensions of space, allowing beings to emerge from their confinement. Ahead lies the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. All who have the vow to go are able to be reborn there or proceed to the realms of Goodness. We are eternally grateful for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the mercy of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.