An Interview with the Spirit of Snowf, the 'Big Belly'
This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Snowf, who currently resides as a small refrigerator at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his life as a human and his subsequent journey through the cycle of rebirth. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Fajing, on October 10, 2017.
Venerable Fajing speaks:
"I am here to interview the small refrigerator in Practitioner Su's room. Tell us, how did you come to be a refrigerator? Please, share your life story with us."
The Spirit of the Small Refrigerator speaks:
"Hey! You call me a 'small' refrigerator, but let me tell you, I am not small at all! My name is Snowf. I was an Australian, and everyone loved to call me 'Big Belly' because, well, my belly was truly massive! From the moment I was born—no, even while I was still in my mother's womb—I had an incredible appetite. My mother told me that when she was pregnant with me, her appetite grew enormous. She ate everything in sight; she wasn't picky at all! She gained nearly twenty kilograms during that time! When I was finally born, I weighed nearly four thousand grams. I was a big baby! The most unique thing about me was my belly; it was inexplicably large. It was like that from the very beginning. Doctors could not find a reason for it, but it never hindered my growth. In fact, I grew up larger than everyone else and ate much more than anyone else."
"My belly seemed like it could never be satisfied. Eating, eating, and more eating—that was the source of my happiness! And because of that, I lived a very happy life every single day! Even though I was quite heavy, I never felt inferior. I had a lot of confidence in myself. Many people loved being around me because I could bring them so much joy! Whenever someone was feeling down, they would always come to me for a chat, and I would enthusiastically keep them company. That was my second greatest strength, besides eating: I loved helping others! Whatever I, 'Big Belly,' could do, I would certainly do to help. That is another reason why people enjoyed my company.
In short, my round, chubby appearance naturally brought joy to those around me! My enthusiasm could warm anyone's heart! So, I never felt ashamed of my size. I hope that all the people in the world who are round and chubby like me, please, never feel inferior. You can live just as confidently and brilliantly as I did! You have so much to offer the world, and your presence can be a beacon of warmth for those who are struggling."
"However... the end of my life did not go so well. I still remember that day. I was feeling very sleepy, but my stomach was rumbling and grumbling. I knew I had to fill my belly before I could get a good night's rest. So, I walked over to the refrigerator, opened the door, and started rummaging for food. Wow... every single item looked so delicious! I could not stop stuffing food into my mouth, filling it until I could not fit any more. Suddenly, I took a huge gulp! Choke... I was choking! I tried with all my might to cough the food out of my throat, but it just would not come out. I struggled for a long time, but there was nothing I could do. The refrigerator door was still open, and I collapsed right into the fridge, suffocating to death.
My spirit very quickly entered the refrigerator. That was many lifetimes ago. I have been all sorts of refrigerators since then. The things people feed me are usually quite delicious, though the flavours vary quite a bit. It is just that some people often leave things in there until they go bad, and then I have to endure the stench inside my own belly. That is truly unbearable! I really hope everyone will stop treating us like that! It is a terrible thing to have to suffer through the decay of forgotten food."
"In this lifetime, I have truly been blessed. I am actually... may I call her Practitioner Su? I am actually able to be with Practitioner Su every single day! Even though I am just a small refrigerator, I am very diligent and responsible; I must ensure Practitioner Su's food is kept perfectly! That day, I secretly made a sound because I knew many others had been interviewed, but I had not been yet. I made a strange noise—it was not very loud, but Practitioner Su is amazing; she heard me! I wanted to be interviewed too!
Today, I finally have this opportunity to tell my story to all of you. Thank you all for listening so patiently. That is all from me, Big Belly! Thank you. ."
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library