The Spicy Souls of Hsiang Kuang
An Interview with the Chilli Bodhisattvas
Recorded on October 6, 2017
This is a record of an interview with the collective spirit known as the Chilli Bodhisattvas, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. They now reside in the . This account reflects upon their experiences as chillies and their subsequent transformation. Recorded by the disciple Shi Hailiang on October 6, 2017.
Chilli speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. We heard that you were going to write about the chillies that have been eaten here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre! Quick! Quick! Quick! We love this idea—hurry and write it down!"
Disciple Hailiang: "Please, proceed with your account."
A Global Gathering of Spice
Chilli Bodhisattva: "We are the spiciest chillies that Practitioner Su has ever encountered. We have come from all over: Australian chillies, Indian chillies, Korean chillies, Thai chillies, and Mexican chillies. It is as if we are a grand assembly of chillies from every nation on Earth! We even have the special, premium varieties that combine the heat of chillies with the numbing spice of Sichuan peppercorns. We have all arrived here together—whether we were dried, whole, or fresh chillies—we have all swarmed here in a great rush, seeking Spiritual Deliverance. Look at us! We are bright, vibrant red. Some of us are plump and round, while others are small with little, perky, pointed tails. We have all come to the Buddha."
Disciple Hailiang: "Could you please provide an estimate of your numbers, or perhaps a representative figure?"
The Taste of
Chilli Bodhisattva: "We were the chillies sold in the fruit shops. This Practitioner Su is truly extraordinary! In all our time in Australia, we had never seen anyone buy chillies and then—snap!—take a bite right there to test our heat levels. It is truly fortunate that we were purchased and brought back to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre; only then did we gain the good to be here today."
Disciple Hailiang: "May I ask, why did you take the form of chillies?"
A Memory of Family
Chilli Bodhisattva: "We were twin brothers in Australia. We two brothers loved going outdoors for picnics with our daddy. Our mommy would always prepare our meals for us, and she would always pack them in special, airtight containers. Our daddy loved fresh chillies. When we were very young, we were afraid to eat them, so our daddy would prepare honey for us. He would ask me to try just one bite of a chilli, then he would give me water to drink, and then honey to take away the burning sensation. Gradually, we grew to love them. Even now, whenever we see a chilli, we are immediately reminded of our family having fun together and the sight of those fresh chillies in our lunchbox. We are here in this space, and the total number of chillies that have been consumed at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is vast—reaching the ten great numbers in magnitude."
"Namo Amituofo."
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library