The Son Who Saved His Father

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Tiancheng, 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 approximately 1,200 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on December 28, 2018.

Venerable Tiancheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Tiancheng. My father was a notorious thief. He looked down on small gains; he only had eyes for large hauls of wealth. On a lucky day, he could steal enough in one outing to sustain us for an entire year. But he never used that money for our livelihood. Instead, he squandered it all on drinking, gambling, and women.

When I was seven years old, my father drove my mother out of our home. He could not stand her constant nagging about his vices. During one of his drunken rages, he not only beat her but threw her out into the street. From that day on, I never saw my mother again.

A Life of Crime and Desperation

My father had no idea how to care for a child, and he was rarely home. Most of the time, I was left to fend for myself. My mother had taught me that my father's money was stolen, and she urged me to tell him to stop creating such heavy karma. I tried to counsel him, hoping he would find honest work, but he would not listen. He even shouted at me, 'You are just like your mother! From now on, do not call me father! I do not recognise you as my son!'

Since he would not listen to me, there was no one left in the world who could persuade him. I watched helplessly as he created more and more karma every day. It was as if he were possessed by a demon, constantly stealing from others and pouring the proceeds into gambling, alcohol, and debauchery.

The Hardest Decision

One day, while my father was in a deep, drunken stupor at home, a group of officials surrounded our house to arrest him. He was so intoxicated that he had no idea his days of reckless freedom were coming to an end. The officials entered and quickly apprehended him. When he finally sobered up in the magistrate's office, he was bewildered. He could not understand how they had found his hidden stone house deep in the mountains. He was convinced someone had betrayed him, and he spent his time in custody plotting revenge against this 'ungrateful' person, showing not a shred of repentance.

When the judge sentenced him, my father still refused to admit his guilt, so he was punished with a caning. He was beaten until his skin was torn and bloody. Only then did he confess to the extent of his thefts and express some remorse before the officials. He was eventually sentenced to fifteen years of hard labour and exile.

I knelt outside the magistrate's office, knowing my father was being judged inside. When I heard his cries of agony from the caning, I was heartbroken and wept uncontrollably. I could not bear to see him suffer, but he had committed grave wrongs. If I had not alerted the officials to his whereabouts while he was drunk, he would have continued to create endless karma. This was the only way to stop him.

The Path of Diligent Practice

After my father was imprisoned, I shaved my head and became a monk. I had seen through the vanity of the world and decided to dedicate my life to spiritual practice, believing that this was the only way I could truly save my father. In my heart, I whispered to him, 'Father, your child is unfilial for letting you suffer in prison. But when you are released, I will return to deliver you.'

I practised diligently every day, never forgetting that my father was waiting for salvation. Yet, after three years of practice, I had made no real progress. I finally gathered the courage to ask my master, 'Master, I practise diligently every day, so why have I not achieved any results?' My master asked, 'What is the most important aspect of chanting the Buddha's name?' I replied, 'Uninterrupted mindfulness.' My master then said, 'If there is no Buddha in your heart, even uninterrupted chanting will not lead to achievement. Your father is waiting for you to save him, but countless other beings are also suffering in the midst of their own torment. You must know that practice relies on the capacity of your heart. Why not let go of your private attachments and focus on delivering all suffering beings?'

Expanding the Mind-Capacity

At that moment, I understood. My heart had been fixated solely on my father, ignoring all other beings who were suffering just as much. My mind-capacity was as small as a grain of sand; how could I possibly achieve success in my practice with such a narrow view?

From the next day, I resolved to let go of my attachment to my father. My practice was no longer just for him, but for the salvation of immeasurable and boundless beings. My heart became purer day by day, my body and mind grew tranquil, and I was free from messy thoughts. Every thought was of the Buddha, and every thought was of sentient beings. This inner meditative concentration allowed me to progress and gain clarity every single day.

A Reunion and Transformation

Fifteen years passed. My father, while in prison, had also been thinking of me. He felt immense guilt for never having cared for me and for leaving me to live alone. Upon his release, the first person he wanted to see was me. He learned from others that I had become a monk, so he cleaned himself up and went to the temple. He saw me teaching the Dharma to the public, and my dignified appearance moved him to tears. I saw my father after fifteen years of separation and invited him to listen to the teachings. He felt ashamed and sat at the very back, yet he was the most attentive listener of all. He took every word to heart, and only then did he realise how ignorant he had been and how much karma he had created. He wept loudly, repenting his past confusion, and decided to start learning the Buddha's teachings, determined to turn over a new leaf.

My father's transformation inspired me to work even harder. I was no longer just saving one person; I was committed to saving countless suffering beings. I dedicated my entire heart to every being, completely letting go of myself. I spent my life delivering those with whom I had karmic affinity. Although there were still beings left to save when I passed away, I made a vow to return to the human world to save those who remained.

Continuing the Mission in the Universe

After returning to the Western Pure Land, I never forgot my vow to return to the worldly realm. It felt as though I had only just arrived, yet I discovered that the human world had already entered the age of the Dharma’s decline. Upon learning of Practitioner Su's leg injury, I immediately entered his leg to assist him.

Seeing the drastic changes in the world and how the lives of people have become increasingly difficult, I hear the cries of the spirits in the space around us. I am grateful for Practitioner Su's compassion in performing Chao Du, which has finally allowed these suffering beings a chance to leave their misery. When the spirits see the golden light, they kneel in gratitude, their thousands of years of suffering finally coming to an end.

It is through Practitioner Su's compassionate opening of the cosmic space that I have been able to save spirits throughout the universe. The cosmic space is vast, and the single Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo traverses time and space, delivering beings across layers of different dimensions. Every day, different spaces are opened, and I continue to save beings actively and without pause. I cherish this magnificent and rare opportunity. I am deeply grateful for Practitioner Su's great compassion, and I will certainly do my utmost to support this work. Namo Amituofo."