The Spirit Within the Mango

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of a young girl named Fran Loya, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She was found residing within a mango that had been purchased for the Centre. This account reflects upon her tragic passing at the age of six and her subsequent journey through the cycle of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Shi Faxi, on October 5, 2017.

Fran Loya speaks:

"Wow, I heard yesterday that I might be interviewed today. Do you think I look pretty? I am a cute little girl, but I have a severe allergy to mangoes, so I am not supposed to eat them at all..."

A Forbidden Temptation

"But I really, truly love the taste of mangoes. I just could not help myself, so I snuck a bite. Unexpectedly, it triggered a massive allergic reaction. Perhaps it was simply my time to go; I suddenly developed severe respiratory distress. There was no time for anyone to save me, and I passed away."

"My family lived in the countryside on a small farm here in Australia. The weather in Toowoomba is quite pleasant throughout the four seasons. Many people living near the city enjoy planting flowers, which is why our town is known as the Garden City. I lived in the more suburban outskirts. We grew some mangoes at home. At first, no one knew I was allergic, but I would often break out in mysterious red rashes. I had mild allergic reactions from time to time. Because our family finances were not very good, we rarely went to the hospital for check-ups. Since we are indigenous to this land, we often lived in a more traditional way. It was only after a friend suggested it repeatedly that my parents finally took me to the hospital for an allergy test. I was devastated to find out that I tested positive for a mango allergy. Even so, I would still sneak a bite every now and then. I never expected that at the age of six, I would not be able to overcome this hurdle."

The Final Moments

"Because I had snuck a bite, I was afraid of being scolded, so I hid myself away. I was still so young and did not understand the gravity of the situation. I only knew that I was struggling to breathe, as if there was no air left in the world. I started to feel a bit nervous, but I could no longer call out for help. I felt dizzy and lost all my strength. I was hiding inside a cardboard box used for packing mangoes. At first, I was just afraid of being discovered, but when I finally wanted to crawl out, I did not even have the strength to lift the flap of the box. I could not see the change in my own complexion. When I took my final breath and could no longer draw in any air, I simply lost consciousness."

"The next morning, my family could not find me and searched everywhere in a panic. A day and a night passed, and my family became worried that I had met with an accident, so they called the police for help. The police searched the area around our home with great expertise. They had almost given up and were about to expand the search further afield when, just before leaving, the police officer kicked the box I was in. It was a heavy box sitting against the outer wall. When everyone lifted the lid, they found me—already cold, my face a deep, bruised blue, and my limbs showing clear, red signs of an allergic reaction. My family cried so bitterly. I felt so sad, too. That is how I died."

A Journey Through Rebirth

"I never left the environment of my home until my family prepared to move away from Toowoomba. But I seemed unable to follow them; I could not break through the boundaries of that space. I was so miserable. Then, I saw the mango tree at home bearing ripe fruit once again. I was so happy to see the fully ripened mangoes. I thought to myself, 'They must be very sweet,' so I entered into one of the mangoes. I do not know how much time passed, but I was eventually sent to a store. Today, I had the opportunity to be bought by Practitioner Su. I was so excited! I heard the news yesterday. Everyone was so generous, saying that if they chose this mango, I would be allowed to come here. All the fruits and vegetables in our truck were screaming along the way. Only the driver seemed dazed; his mind was filled with too many thoughts. We saw that he had many sentient beings entering his head, but we could not do anything about it. Thank you for buying us and for performing the deliverance for us. Only then did we have the chance to wash away our defilements and grow in Goodness. My name is Fran Loya. I do not quite understand your numbers, but someone said there were five great numbers. Thank you all."

Karmic Retribution

Venerable Shi Faxi: "Are the mangoes your karmic creditors?"

Fran Loya: "Not exactly. It was my karmic creditors who caused me to have that allergic reaction. They intentionally triggered the reaction in my body that made me unable to tolerate mangoes whenever I ate them. That is why I would have an allergic reaction every time I touched a mango. It was only after I died that I realized I had harmed them quite deeply in my past lives. I had poisoned everyone with medicine, and they all suffered fatal reactions just like I did. I truly deserved my fate."

Venerable Shi Faxi: "Have you studied Buddhism before? You seem to have some concepts of Buddhist teachings."

Fran Loya: "In a past life, I was once a monastic. I am so ashamed. I was even a disciple of Practitioner Su, but now I have become a spirit reincarnated into a mango. I am so ashamed. Namo Amituofo."