The Seven Heavenly Kings of the Big Dipper

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Kelida, who sought Chao Du 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 during the Song Dynasty, approximately 800 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on June 12, 2018.

Venerable Fajing: Please, Venerable, kindly accept this interview.

Venerable Kelida speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am known as Kelida, and in the spiritual hierarchy, I am ranked seven hundred and ninety-third. I was born during the Song Dynasty into a prominent family. My father was a great benefactor in our region, and he spared no effort in performing acts of charity. He was always generous with his wealth and his labour, driven solely by the desire to provide a better life for the common people. This was a tradition of kindness passed down through generations in our family. Even on his deathbed, my grandfather instructed my father that while one does not need worldly riches to live a meaningful life, a heart of kindness, virtuous actions, and pure thoughts are absolutely indispensable."

A Legacy of Compassion in the Song Dynasty

"My father rented vast tracts of land from the local landlords and then sublet them to the impoverished people of our town at extremely low rates. This allowed the poor to become self-sufficient. Those who were capable of working were given small plots of land to grow crops, which they could sell at the market to support their families. This meant they did not have to beg, and they were able to learn a trade. My parents also frequently created temporary job opportunities in the town, ensuring that families in urgent need could receive timely assistance.

Beyond this, my parents founded a free private school, providing children from impoverished families the opportunity to receive an education. Because my parents were devout Buddhists, they incorporated the Buddha’s teachings into the curriculum. This allowed the children to understand the importance of practising the Dharma from a young age, establishing a firm foundation of compassion and kindness, and teaching them the moral foundations of how to conduct themselves in the world. Because of this, the children from these poor families were less likely to go astray due to their circumstances. Many who possessed deep good roots eventually chose to leave the household life to practise the Dharma, becoming disciples of the Buddha. Growing up under my parents' guidance, I came to understand the profound importance of helping others."

The Search for the Red Treasure Mountain

"At the age of sixteen, I made a vow to save sentient beings in this world. I left home and embarked on my own journey of practice. I had heard legends of a place called the Red Treasure Mountain, where eminent monks of profound practice resided, though no one had ever truly seen this mountain. Driven by my desire to save others, I thought that if I could enter the Red Treasure Mountain, I would surely learn the supreme, wondrous Dharma. I began to inquire everywhere about its location and any possible method to find it.

The following night, after the hour of the ox (between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM), I waited in a remote forest, hoping for the mountain to appear. By the hour of the tiger (between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM), the forest before me began to tremble. The earth started to crack, shaking violently, and a sound emerged as if the very ground were about to be torn apart. I did not know what would happen next, but I remained calm, quietly waiting for the transformation. Suddenly, a massive fissure opened in the earth of the forest, and from the gap, a powerful golden light shot forth, instantly illuminating the dark sky. In the biting cold, the gentle, compassionate warmth of that golden light made my entire body feel warm. At that moment, the legendary image of the Red Treasure Mountain appeared before my eyes."

The Revelation of Namo Amituofo

"At the foot of the mountain stood a decorative archway, and I clearly saw the six golden characters 'Namo Amituofo' shining brilliantly. I prepared to walk into the Red Treasure Mountain, but as I took a single step forward, the scene reverted to the appearance of a forest. In that instant, I realised that the so-called supreme, wondrous Dharma refers precisely to the magnificent Dharma of 'Namo Amituofo'.

From that day on, I cultivated alone in a thatched hut within that forest. Even when strange occurrences manifested in the forest at night, or when the entire forest was suddenly engulfed in flames, I never ceased chanting the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo'. During a torrential rainstorm, when my hut was at risk of being washed away, I remained sitting on a large rock, allowing the wind and rain to lash against me while I focused solely on chanting the Buddha’s name. In a flash, the Buddha-light appeared before me, and a beautiful realm manifested—it was the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, from which wafted the scent of lotus flowers. I understood then that this was the supreme Dharma for saving the world.

From that day forward, my faith in the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo' became unshakable. I left my hut and returned to the town to propagate this great Dharma, actively promoting the chanting of 'Namo Amituofo' and teaching people to seek the Pure Land of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Many civilians began to chant the holy name exclusively. Those who understood the nature of suffering sought with all their hearts to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, looking for a way to transcend the cycle of rebirth. Over the decades, many people in the town with pure hearts chanted the Buddha’s name and achieved rebirth in the Western Pure Land, which greatly increased the public's faith in this holy name."

The Truth Behind the Big Dipper

"At the age of seventy-eight, I stepped onto a lotus pedestal and was reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I share my story today with the hope of letting the world know the magnificence of the Pure Land Dharma Gate. With a pure heart and sincere thoughts, by chanting the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo', one can truly be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I have followed the salvation team and Practitioner Su into the universe. Practitioner Su stands upon the Milky Way, his tall Dharma Body waving his sleeves, and the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo' spreads throughout the universe. His Dharma Body moves rapidly across the cosmos, and immeasurable and boundless planets are all enveloped in golden light.

Today, the Big Dipper has also received the illumination of the Buddha-light, infused with abundant energy, making its radiance appear even brighter. The Big Dipper is composed of seven bright stars within the Ursa Major constellation of the Milky Way (which includes our solar system). People have arranged these seven stars together to form a ladle shape, with four stars in the bowl and three in the handle.

From ancient times to the present, many legends about the Big Dipper have circulated in the world. What I see today is that the Big Dipper consists of seven great Heavenly Kings, each guarding the universe from their respective planets. These seven Heavenly Kings attained a very high level of practice in the past; through meditation and entering samadhi, they could travel freely throughout the universe, with a single journey lasting a hundred years. These seven Heavenly Kings lead sentient beings in the universe to practice goodness. Within the Big Dipper, there are also immeasurable and boundless beings who are followers who have been practising goodness under the guidance of these Kings. Among them are many who were often bullied by the strong in the universe; the seven Heavenly Kings brought these weaker beings back to their respective planets to protect them and to spread the teachings of goodness."

A New Era for the Seven Heavenly Kings

"'Goodness' naturally generates energy, which is why the Big Dipper can emit such powerful light, clearly visible to the physical eyes of people on Earth. These seven great planets are filled with good men and good women. On their respective planets, or collectively within the universe, they perform acts of goodness, working together to protect the vulnerable. However, neither the Heavenly Kings nor the good men and women understood the importance of chanting the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo', nor did they know how to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Today, with the illumination of the Buddha-light, the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo' has spread throughout the seven stars. The inhabitants of these planets have begun to recognise Amitabha Buddha, and many have started to follow along in chanting the Buddha’s name. As for the seven Heavenly Kings, through this Chao Du, they have followed us to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, all appearing as eminent monks with great dignity. They are: the Heavenly King of the Far East, the Heavenly King of the Southern Pool, the Heavenly King of Universal Vastness, the Heavenly King of Power, the Heavenly King of Earthly Causes, the Heavenly King of Constant Faith, and the Heavenly King of Diligent Goodness.

Now, successor Heavenly Kings have taken their places in the Big Dipper. The difference is that, in addition to spreading the teachings of goodness, these new Kings have all begun to widely propagate the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo', teaching all beings to chant the Buddha’s name and seek rebirth in the Pure Land."

Namo Amituofo.