The Soul Within the Mud

This is a record of an interview with a spirit known as Blackie, 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 in a past era. Recorded by the chief writer, Lay Practitioner Cao Rudi, on May 4, 2018.

Practitioner Su has spent thirty years cultivating the profound skill of breaking through the barriers of space. This morning, the results of this practice were visible. As the Dharma assembly approached, spirits from various realms and the three lower paths—including those of a Japanese military unit, suffering civilians, and countless fish—appeared, seeking the grace of deliverance. The sky was filled with the images of fish, appearing in clusters to make their presence known. If one were sensitive enough, the sky this morning was telling their story.

The Miracle in the Mud

The surroundings of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are filled with lessons. If you observe with a keen eye, you will realise that this place is extraordinary. As the Dharma assembly drew near, countless spirits from different dimensions and the three lower paths gathered, hoping to escape the sea of suffering. This morning, while following Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du, we passed by a deep, dark trench. Practitioner Su scooped up a handful of black, sludge-like mud. To our astonishment, the mud was teeming with life—thousands of tiny, struggling forms were writhing within it.

Among the mass of spirits, one figure pushed the others aside, stretching his neck out, hoping that Practitioner Su would grant him a chance to speak. At that moment, the sacred sound of the six-character Buddha-name, Namo Amituofo, began to resonate. As the chanting continued, the layers of filthy mud covering these spirits peeled away, and they were transformed into human forms. They boarded the lotus flowers and departed for the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the power of Practitioner Su’s Chao Du and his compassion. The spirit who had stretched his neck out, now free from his muddy shroud, was so moved by the compassionate rescue of Namo Amituofo that he wished to share his life story as a lesson for others.

A Life of Hardship

Blackie speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. My name is Blackie. Because my skin was naturally darker, my parents gave me this nickname. They would call out, 'Blackie! Could you please go down to the creek and fetch a bucket of water for your mother?' From childhood, I became accustomed to this name. My family was not wealthy; there were five of us siblings. My father made a living by weaving straw sandals, and it was an incredibly difficult struggle for him to support our household. The weight of that poverty was something we carried every single day."

"Life was a constant cycle of toil. I remember the rough texture of the straw against my fingers and the endless hours my father spent hunched over his work. We were always hungry, always tired, and always worried about the next day. I never imagined that my existence would end in such a dark, suffocating place, trapped in the mud of a trench, forgotten by the world. I was so lost, buried in the darkness of my own karmic retribution. I had no idea that there was a way out, no idea that the light of Namo Amituofo could reach even someone as lowly as me."

"When Practitioner Su reached into that trench, I felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of hope. I knew, in that instant, that this was my only chance. I pushed with everything I had, desperate to be saved. And then, the Buddha-name sounded. It was like a brilliant light piercing through the thickest, blackest night. My body felt light, the filth fell away, and I was finally free. I am so deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su for pulling me out of that abyss. Please, let my story be a reminder to everyone: no matter how deep the mud of your suffering, the compassion of Namo Amituofo is always there to lift you up. Namo Amituofo."