This is a record of an interview with the Lightning God, Chou Po-lung, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his life approximately 2,000 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on March 9, 2021.
Lightning God Chou Po-lung speaks:
". I am Chou Po-lung. Although there is no lightning or rain in the sky at this very moment, I am still here, present within this space.
A Millennium of Service
I have served as a Lightning God for approximately one thousand years. In all that time, I have never been assigned to the skies above Australia. It is not that Australia lacks lightning or thunder; rather, there are many of us assigned to these duties in rotation. Because this region receives relatively little rainfall, it was never my turn to come here. Today, however, Practitioner Su requested rain for this land, and the Jade Emperor commanded me to come and fulfil my duty. I am responsible for the lightning, while the Thunder God provides the thunder, and the Rain God brings the water. Finally, we have come together to ask Practitioner Su for Chao Du. I have done my utmost to complete my mission, and I now wait for Practitioner Su’s deliverance with a heart filled with the deepest gratitude.
The Legacy of the Chou Family
Over two thousand years ago, I was born into this world. My grandfather placed a neck ring around my neck—a precious heirloom passed down through the generations of the Chou family. It was meant to be taken from my father’s neck and placed upon mine, but my father was assassinated three days before I was born. He had sacrificed his own life to protect the vulnerable civilians. When my grandfather arrived at the scene of the tragedy, he found my father lying on the ground, breathing his last. Though his heart was shattered, my grandfather held back his tears and slowly removed the neck ring from my father’s neck. He told him, 'To die for the sake of others—this life has been worth it! I will place this ring upon your child’s neck. This is the spirit of our Chou family: Righteousness, a Righteous Heart, and Righteous Conduct.'
A Bloodline of Integrity
At that time, it was impossible to trace which ancestor had first passed down this ring. All we knew was that every ancestor in our line had been a person of integrity. Everything they did was for the sake of protecting the villagers and maintaining peace. Whenever they encountered injustice, they were the first to stand up and demand fairness, never fearing the consequences, even if it meant bringing trouble upon themselves. This spirit of justice seemed to have been infused into our family’s bloodline from that first ancestor. Everyone who carries the blood of the Chou family possesses this righteousness, and I am no exception.
As I grew up and began to understand the world, I would often touch the ring around my neck and gaze at the only portrait of my father. I told myself, 'I must learn from my father’s spirit. To protect the villagers, I will never fear death. Even if I must sacrifice my own life, I will not hesitate!'
Learning the Path of Generosity
From the age of five, I often travelled everywhere with my grandfather. Whenever we left home, he would always carry a large sum of money. We were not travelling for pleasure; rather, no matter which village or town we visited, if we saw someone in poverty, we would give them some silver. While this small amount could not solve all their problems, the act itself taught me the true meaning of helping others and performing acts of Goodness.
My grandfather and I did not wander the streets aimlessly. He taught me how to discern Goodness from evil. Although there is no absolute Good or absolute evil in this world, when events unfold, one can still distinguish between the two.
The Lesson of True Justice
When I was about fifteen years old, my grandfather gave me a pouch of silver and let me walk the streets alone. I wanted to emulate him, to give to those in need. Though it was only a modest gesture, it was precious to the children of poor families. That day, after I gave the silver to an impoverished elderly person, I turned to leave. Only a few steps later, I heard the old person cry out. I ran back and saw that the silver had been stolen. The thief was a boy a few years older than me, running away quickly. I was furious and gave chase. Although he was older, he was no match for my strength and speed. I reclaimed the silver and beat the boy severely. He was left bruised and battered, unable to even crawl, and I suspect I had injured his legs. Seeing him in such a state, I felt quite proud of myself.
When I returned home that day, I couldn't wait to tell my grandfather, wanting him to know that I, Chou Po-lung, had performed my first act of 'justice' at fifteen! After hearing my account, my grandfather roared at me, 'Kneel!' He was incredibly stern. Terrified, I knelt immediately. He told me, 'The justice and righteousness of the Chou family are not practised in this way! With such hot-headedness, how can you achieve anything? There are no natural-born criminals or evil-doers in this world. They are simply people who have never been taught the True Teachings, or who have been forced by their environment or circumstances to commit such acts. You should first seek to understand, then use Righteous thoughts and reason to guide them toward change. If they still refuse to repent, then you hand them over to the local authorities. You must never take the law into your own hands like a common thug!' I understood his words. My impulsive actions that day had indeed fallen short of his teachings, and I bowed my head to apologise.
A Life of Protection
No matter how old I grew, I never forgot to act with chivalry and help the people. I upheld justice whenever I saw unfairness, living my life with that inherent righteousness.
I had assumed I would marry, have children, and continue to pass down the Chou family heirloom. However, my life was cut short by a tyrant before I could ever meet the person I would have loved. This tyrant, who appeared from nowhere, constantly harassed our village. I stood up to protect the villagers, but I was no match for his power and was ultimately killed. With my final breath, I prayed to the heavens to protect the villagers, that they might all live in peace and not be harmed by this tyrant.
The actions of my life allowed me to enter the heavenly realm. The Jade Emperor appointed me to the position of Lightning God, where I continue to guard the world with that same spirit of righteousness.
I am deeply grateful for the of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Po-lung kneels in gratitude."
This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Fa Jing.
Memorial Tablet: For the Lightning God who came to seek rain at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, and for the countless spirits brought by the Lightning God seeking Chao Du. Representative: Chou Po-lung (seeking purification and deliverance).
