The Smile That Led Me Home

The speaker is a spirit named Mo Sheng who, after drifting through the void of space for an immeasurable amount of time, sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. He now resides under the guidance of Practitioner Su, having found the path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on March 24, 2020.

The Spirit of Mo Sheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Swaying here, wandering there! People say we are free, and in a sense, we are truly free. But without a physical body, we are helpless, drifting like ghosts through the spaces of this Earth. Our nature is unstable, easily swayed by the slightest breeze. We possess a high degree of sensitivity, yet we are also incredibly stubborn. Our numbers are vast—an immeasurable, infinite multitude.

The Pandemic and the Nature of Spirits

Recently, across the entire Earth and throughout the universe, the pandemic has become the most talked-about topic. Humanity has plunged itself into a state of panic. Some queue for hours to buy masks, others scramble to hoard food, and many hide away in their homes, terrified of being infected. We are much like those viruses; we find it difficult to master our own existence. In the sky, we are like white clouds, clinging to the edges of the vapour, making the clouds look like tufts of cotton candy. When we drift near a pond, the water appears thick with plankton. When we attach ourselves to flowers, grasses, or trees, we lend them a hazy, ethereal beauty. To put it precisely, we are as thin as wisps of smoke.

Because this pandemic has been so shocking, we longed to find stability. We looked toward the demon crowds who dominate parts of the universe. They walk with such an air of arrogance; though they dress in strange, flamboyant costumes and wear many expressions, they possess a certain power. We noticed a peculiar phenomenon: wherever the demon crowds pass, the atmosphere turns grey and dim. Yet, we craved that very sense of authority we lacked. Just as we were discussing defecting to the Demon Realm, a fellow spirit came to report: 'I have heard that there is a Practitioner Su who specializes in subduing the demon crowds.' We decided to reconsider. After much deliberation, we chose to turn toward Practitioner Su instead. Word spread that wherever Practitioner Su goes, he radiates a warmth and a sense of auspicious peace. He is surrounded by Buddha-light, bringing a profound compassion that allows the hearts of all spirits to finally settle."

A Meeting with the True Dharma

"We went together to listen to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks. I was so moved that I burst into tears—'Wuu, wuu, wuu!' Others laughed with wild joy—'Ha! Ha! Ha!' This was truly the greatest news imaginable. After drifting and wandering for so long, I had finally encountered the true Buddha and the Great Dharma. I had never heard such teachings before; had I encountered this Dharma in the past, I would never have become a helpless, wandering ghost. Let me tell you my story.

It was a rainy day. I was walking home, step by step, under my umbrella, utterly dejected. I had failed in my business ventures in a distant land, and I felt a crushing sense of shame toward my parents, my wife, and my children. When I first left home, my family had entrusted me with all their savings, hoping I would make something of myself. Now, due to my own poor judgment, my business had been swallowed up by competitors. I was powerless to repay my debts and had to return home to beg for support. As I walked, I agonized over how to convince my parents to help me. When I finally reached home, I saw a tent erected in the courtyard and heard the sound of weeping. I hurried inside to find that it was my mother. She had been so worried about me, unable to let go of her anxiety, that she had fallen gravely ill. To save money for my sake, she had delayed seeking medical treatment, and now she had passed away. The guilt was unbearable. My greed had destroyed my family. I saw my father, my wife, and my children, and we all collapsed into each other's arms, sobbing.

After I finished the funeral arrangements for my mother, I sold our property to pay off the debts. I felt as though I were sinking into a stupor, perpetually gloomy. I thought to myself that life must go on, so my wife and I set up a small stall in our hometown to make a living. Although we didn't earn much, at least the family was together, which was the only comfort I could offer them. About a year later, my father also passed away. It was just the three of us—my wife, my child, and me. With both parents gone, my heart was shrouded in a thick, suffocating sorrow. My wife and child were patient and tried to comfort me, but I could not resist the depth of my own depression. I fell into a dark, melancholic state.

One day, my son ran up to me and asked, 'Father, why does your face always have the same expression? Even in my dreams, I see you looking like that.' I was stunned. As my son spoke, he kept a bright smile on his face. 'Father, can you be like me? Can I touch your face?' I nodded. His small hands gently stroked my cheeks, and he used both hands to pull up the corners of my mouth. He told me, 'Corners up! Corners up! I like it when Father’s mouth turns up; I don't like it when it turns down.' He pulled at my mouth about six times, and it was as if I had been jolted awake. I wrapped my arms around my son and wept—I cried until I had nothing left.

I told my child, 'From now on, I will keep the corners of my mouth turned up. Look, Father is smiling now, isn't he?' I forced a smile, and my son clapped his hands happily, saying, 'Just like that! That’s it!' That day, I held my son’s hands, and he chased away my depression. It was then I realized I had been controlled all along! My sorrow had been so deep that I had lost the ability to master my own heart."

The Final Transition

"Because of my change, the atmosphere of our entire family shifted. I lived to be sixty-two, and my son grew up, married, and had children of his own. When I was finally about to leave the human world, I found myself lingering in the space of my interactions with my son; I could not bear to leave. Then, one day, the sound of Practitioner Su chanting Namo Amituofo echoed through that space. I was pulled away from the realm where I had been staying with my son. In an instant, my thoughts shifted, and I was transported to another space, surrounded by many other spirits like me. We were called the 'ghosts of space' or 'sentient beings of the void.'

I could no longer return to the space where my son was. I drifted with these fellow suffering spirits, wandering until this very day. Now, we have chosen to take refuge in the Buddha, to take refuge in Namo Amituofo. When I saw Practitioner Su, I was the first to cry, because the sound of his chanting was so familiar. Moreover, Practitioner Su’s Dharma-face has the corners of his mouth turned up—it is the very smile my son taught me to wear. Or rather, it is a compassionate, smiling face. We know of the Buddha’s compassion, and we have decided to choose the world filled with golden light. Everyone pushed me forward to represent them, to lead this immeasurable multitude of space-ghosts to take refuge in the Buddha and turn toward Namo Amituofo. Mo Sheng is filled with gratitude!

The Buddha has bestowed upon me the Dharma name: Shi Xi Wu.

This interview was recorded by the chief writer, the Buddha’s disciple Shi Haliang."