The Journey to the Buddha Realm

This is a record of an interview with Xuan Han Shangren, who attained deliverance through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Buddha Realm of the Four Sacred Realms within the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his spiritual journey spanning fifteen million years. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on August 26, 2020.

Xuan Han Shangren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xuan Han Shangren. Buddhism and Taoism are merely human-made distinctions; people have created these labels based on different Dharma affinities and the needs of their learning. In truth, within the natural laws of the universe, how could there possibly be a division between Buddhism and Taoism? Those who abide by the natural laws will find harmony, prosperity, and progress, ultimately ensuring their survival. Those who defy these laws will face adversity, decline, and regression, eventually being eliminated. This is the eternal and unchanging Truth.

Humanity has survived until this day only through the transmission of countless experiences, paying a heavy price in life to continue our existence. I, Xuan Han Shangren, have been able to reach the Buddha Realm of the Four Sacred Realms because I first studied in the Taoist tradition before learning the Buddha’s teachings. My heart is filled with gratitude. I wear these monastic robes and hold a whisk to signify that it was the integration of the Buddha’s path that allowed me to reach this state of the Four Sacred Realms.

A Debt of Gratitude to Practitioner Su

I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for delivering us—the celestial beings of the twenty-eight heavens and the sages of the Four Sacred Realms—to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is only because of this that I have the opportunity to be interviewed today. In this environment of great compassion, I can express myself naturally, using my robes and whisk to convey my meaning. The whisk symbolises 'purification,' much like how a person who chants Namo Amituofo holds prayer beads to remind themselves at all times that they are a practitioner, and that their practice must achieve success. The whisk is not merely for purification; it is also a symbolic instrument, representing the power of the Dharma. Most people recognise that one who holds a whisk is a practitioner of the Way, just as seeing someone with prayer beads tells us they are a person who chants the Buddha's name, perhaps to seek good fortune and avoid calamity.

Throughout history, many ancestral masters have achieved success on the Buddha’s path because they realised that the spirit and the physical body are interdependent. They support and complement each other, yet they also possess a relationship of mutual independence. Once this principle is understood, the spirit and body can be utilised in harmony. By dedicating this body and mind to the service of the Dharma Realm, one can work for the benefit of all beings without being constrained by them. Only then can one attain the Buddha’s path and see one's original nature. In this life, do not be attached to the body; while you possess it, use it well—use it for the sake of all beings, and let it exist for them. When this heart merges with the mountains, rivers, and the entire physical world, seeing no distinction between 'self' and 'other,' one can truly behold their original nature.

The Compassion of the Dharma Body

Standing here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I look upon the suffering of all beings. There are countless suffering spirits, and not one of them can contain the joy and laughter of true freedom; their true selves are deeply locked within their bodies. How tragic! That I am able to enter the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is entirely due to the grace of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. With the Buddha-eye, Practitioner Su saw that on the day of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, the celestial beings of the twenty-eight heavens and the sages of the Four Sacred Realms were painting the sky together, using thin clouds to draw a lotus flower of the Western Land. Afterwards, Practitioner Su manifested immeasurable and boundless Dharma Bodies to send us off. Each Dharma Body waved its sleeves, and in that motion, they delivered us, the thin clouds, and the celestial beings into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Seeing these immeasurable Dharma Bodies before our eyes was truly breathtaking; they were so vivid and lifelike, each one as compassionate and radiant as Practitioner Su himself! The current body of Practitioner Su is no ordinary flesh; to transform a body of an ordinary person into a Buddha-body is truly inconceivable! Even when I was in the world, I had never heard of a Buddha’s Dharma Body possessing such compassionate power to save suffering spirits. It is truly the manifestation of the Buddha’s great compassion in the world!

The Preciousness of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

I am honoured that Practitioner Su, who never abandons any being, chose to interview the sages of the Four Sacred Realms. I am very happy to share my experiences for the public to hear. Hearing, contemplating, and practising are the processes of the Buddha’s teachings in the world; attaining Buddhahood is not easy. If my experiences can help you gain some insight and realise how precious it is to be at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, then it is worth it. The results of the practice achieved here in a single second are equivalent to a lifetime of study and practice for those in the mundane world. I do not exaggerate; it is just that you who reside in this sacred place for a long time may not yet fully feel it. I hope you will cherish it! It is not easy for a Buddha to dwell in the world. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, there is the protection of all Buddhas—Namo Amituofo, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and the various ancestral masters. Even more, there are immeasurable and boundless Dharma protectors surrounding the centre. At this moment, even the celestial soldiers and divine generals bow their heads in submission, full of praise! The Buddha’s teachings are vast and profound, and the many Dharma-protecting holy beings cultivated here are each tall, majestic, and solemn, capable of subduing even the demon crowds. Now, I shall recount the causes and consequences of how I became a Buddha of the Four Sacred Realms.

Origins: The Human Species Fifteen Million Years Ago

For beings to practise, they must first have a body. The causal body is where the four elements combine and the soul resides; only with a body does one have the opportunity to transform the causes and consequences of the past. In the distant past, humans and animals shared the same origin, even the same lineage. Later, they diverged into different forms, temperaments, names, and species, forming what we call the world. At that time, there were many species—humanoid animals, or what we might call the 'human species'—the ancestors of modern humans. In the process of seeking survival, they developed their own ways of life, which gradually distinguished them from other species. Therefore, in terms of bloodline, if we trace back to the very beginning, we are the same. The fundamental origin of all creatures is the same; this is what the Buddha’s teachings call the 'view of oneness.' It was only because of subsequent divisions and distinctions that different species were formed.

Fifteen million years ago, I existed on this Earth in the form of a human species. It is difficult to find the exact location today, as it no longer exists on the surface of the world; it sank into the ocean after many crustal movements. The place where I lived was a vast primeval forest with many high, steep cliffs. These cliffs acted as natural barriers, separating one species from another, making it difficult for them to cross. This led to the formation of many different lifestyles. If one were to look down from the sky, the world at that time was not lonely at all; there were many species living independently, without infringing upon one another. This was the state of the physical world at that time.

In the invisible world, the concept of space already existed. From the moment spiritual life existed, the cycle of rebirth in the six realms also naturally existed. It is a natural attraction, forming a natural law. Among later generations, because of the invention of writing or the use of symbols, people recorded these natural laws, leading to what we now call 'laws of karma and cause and effect' and the 'six realms of rebirth.' Before these records, these things already existed naturally, just as people need to breathe and need water to survive. This was not created by humans; it was simply the way things were—it was natural. At that time, I was part of the 'human species.' The term 'species' covers many creatures of different physical forms. The distinction between male and female is a human classification, but it has always existed in the natural world. Men were men, and women were women. In their primitive lives, they helped and complemented each other. From simple interactions, they gradually formed relationships such as families, parents, and spouses, imbuing these bonds with emotions and deep attachments.

At that time, I was a male, gentle in nature and not inclined to aggression. In our group, I often existed alone. I was not good at socialising, but I was skilled at observing subtle details. Things others had not yet noticed, I had already observed. This is what is now called 'sensitivity.' Therefore, my knowledge, vision, hearing, and perception were deeper than those of the average human species. Thus, I appeared more composed than others, and for events about to happen, my companions were often unaware, while I already knew. I had long known I possessed this ability because I had descended from the Arhat realm of the Four Sacred Realms into a human womb. Because I was a purified soul, I was more sensitive than the average human species.

I never had a female companion; I loved entering the jungle because it was full of life, so I never felt lonely. Flowers, plants, and trees have their own ways of living, and they react differently to different people and events. Insects, ants, and animals all have different appearances, preferences, and habits, and all of them could become good friends. When we interacted, it was mostly heart-to-heart communication, using simple gestures or simple sounds to express our meaning. Unless it concerned survival and safety, we rarely used strong, direct methods to harm others, and even less did we use illegal means to seize or compete for status. The most common problem for the human species at that time was that the various changes in nature made people aware of their own limitations, so they learned to adapt and change to survive in the environment.

My independent nature meant I was rarely disturbed by others, and with my innate sensitivity, I could often foresee upcoming problems. Sometimes I would take the initiative to tell my companions, asking them to avoid going in a certain direction or to find food elsewhere to avoid danger, because I had already seen aggressive animals fighting there. The energy field at that time was fierce and violent. If a human were to pass by, it was very likely to conflict with their energy field. If they attacked, we would need to defend ourselves, causing harm to both sides. At first, some did not believe me, but after a few accidents occurred, they gradually began to trust my ability. Sometimes they would come to ask me things, and I would naturally take a look and give them an answer. Over time, I became the 'know-it-all' in the group and was respected by everyone. Having such a person in the group was beneficial, as it prevented many unpleasant and unfortunate events from happening."

Sometimes, when members of our tribe were injured in conflicts with wild beasts, I would observe their situations, gently touch their wounds, and speak to the injuries with my heart. Very quickly, the bleeding would stop, and the wounds would gradually shrink. I even knew which tree leaves could alleviate pain and stop bleeding; I would crush them into a paste and apply it to the wounds, and soon the pain would subside. For me, these things were not taught by anyone; I simply knew them naturally. This ability of mine became a way to help my people. In those days, what our people feared most were natural disasters, as they were impossible to predict. Once a disaster struck, everyone could only helplessly accept the test of nature—those who could survive, survived, and those who could not, perished in the calamity. At such times, we would naturally bow our heads in silent mourning beside the fallen, and some would shed tears out of deep attachment. Through our collective experience, we knew that bodies would eventually emit a foul odour, so when someone passed away, we would bury them in the earth and cover them with soil to prevent the scent from spreading. This was our method of handling death at that time.

The Natural Wisdom of Our People

We generally let the hair on our bodies grow naturally; if left untouched, it would reach a certain length and stop growing. We determined a person's age by the wrinkles on their face and body, much like how one identifies the age of a tree by its rings. This was the most primitive method of identification. Because the elders could provide experience to the group and help others avoid harm, a natural sense of respect and reverence for them would arise. In the simple character of our people at that time, these were natural behaviours; respect and reverence were spontaneous. However, as human civilisation evolved, these qualities were gradually diluted and lost, eventually requiring education to teach people how to show respect. Therefore, if a person can naturally manifest a sincere, respectful attitude without being taught, it is certain that their innate nature possesses much Goodness and natural potential waiting to be developed. The reason people now need to be taught to respect others is that the pollution and turbidity of the modern environment have covered their original, pure, and kind nature.

Under such circumstances, it is fortunate that humanity can still receive education to guide and inspire these seeds of Goodness. Otherwise, the seeds of kindness, compassion, respect, and reverence would never sprout, and they would be replaced by behaviours of malice, disregard, and mockery. When human character is tainted in this way, it leads to many sins and heinous acts. Thus, the original nature of man is Good; the aggression and violent actions we see are merely self-protective behaviours triggered by external invasions that threaten one's existence.

A Role of Natural Ability

In this lifetime, if I were to describe my role in the group using terms you might understand, it was somewhat like that of a kind shaman or someone with supernatural powers. These were natural abilities, not the result of spiritual attachment by evil spirits. Most of my people who possessed such abilities would not choose to seek a female partner or indulge in natural physiological urges to reproduce. These various desires would cause those of us with such sensitive, innate abilities to become restless and anxious, which would cloud our judgment. Therefore, to maintain the clarity of my spirit, I naturally distanced myself from female partners and did not allow myself to develop such physiological needs. Consequently, I remained single throughout this lifetime.

No matter where I went, I could naturally perceive the phenomena of life around me, including the changes in the wind, the growth of trees, and the very breathing of the earth and soil. Even if I had not encountered those trees before, I could feel whether they were injured, healthy, or suffering from the intrusion of insects. I could also know if the breathing of the earth contained the presence of other life forms. If that life was external, evil, or carried a negative aura, I could smell and sense the change, and I would take the initiative to warn everyone to avoid that place. If the breath of the earth was kind and non-threatening, it meant the place was pure and safe to visit. All these abilities were instinctive; in our group, a person with such gifts was rare and highly valued.

The Great Shift and the Sea Turtles

I lived to be a thousand years old by our people's reckoning, which was considered a long life at the time. I knew how to avoid harm, how to seek good fortune and avoid disaster, and I ate simply to avoid burdening my body. In fact, I did not eat meat, which was a very rare situation within the group. Before I passed on, I hoped to find someone like myself to carry on these abilities and help the others, but I never found such a person; everything is governed by Causal Conditions. It was not until the year before my departure that I noticed the earth's crust shifting slightly and the waves of the ocean behaving differently. Later, everyone noticed it too—a phenomenon we had never encountered before.

Finally, one night, the earth shook violently. In our terror, we fled outdoors, and the animals ran in every direction. When we woke the next day, we discovered that a new piece of land had emerged, the ocean had receded significantly, and four giant sea turtles had appeared on the shore. In those days, sea turtles were considered highly spiritual and sacred symbols. Their bodies were massive, roughly two point eight metres long, and they moved slowly. Generally, sea turtles are not aggressive. I went forward to observe them and discovered that one of them felt familiar and possessed a very high level of spiritual awareness. As we locked eyes, he used the power of his mind to tell me that they had lived deep in the ocean for a very long time. Yesterday, a great upheaval on the ocean floor had pushed a piece of the seabed up onto the land. These four giant sea turtles were responsible for guarding an imperial palace hidden in the depths. If any intruders tried to seize the treasures within, they would use their massive limbs to drive them away or use their hard shells to knock them unconscious. They had not expected that the great earthquake would push both them and the treasure onto the land.

The Palace of Treasures

I found the matter of the treasure very mysterious and asked the giant sea turtle, "Could you take me to see it?" The turtle told me I could sit on his back. I climbed onto his shell, and the other three turtles followed behind us, as if protecting us. We travelled across the sea from noon until dusk before we saw a small island. It turned out that the underwater imperial palace he spoke of had surfaced on this distant island. When I stepped onto the land, I could feel that the heat and light on this island were different from the land where I lived. Before the sun set, I could clearly see the palace on the island shimmering with light. The giant sea turtle led me forward, and upon entering the palace, I saw a vast amount of gold, silver, and jewels.

In truth, for our people, we had never seen gold or silver, so the light emitted by these treasures was even more attractive than the wealth itself. Standing before the treasures was another large turtle. Seeing that I had arrived with the giant sea turtle, he did not harm me, but I noticed his gaze was fierce and unfriendly. The turtle who brought me explained that the palace was their kingdom, divided into two factions. The large turtle belonged to the evil faction, while the giant sea turtles belonged to the righteous faction, existing for the sake of the righteous path and justice. The others were their adversaries. The fact that both factions had been pushed onto the island together seemed to symbolise a change in the situation on the mainland. Originally, everyone lived without interfering with one another, but now a force of non-Goodness had appeared. Could this be the very force that caused the earthquake?

Indeed, while the creatures living on this land had previously lived in peace, I now saw this aura of evil in the large turtle. His eyes locked onto a target, staring with murderous intent. When he looked at me, it was as if he were telling me not to come any closer, so I stopped in my tracks. However, the giant sea turtle who brought me kept nudging me from behind with his head, urging me to move forward. I did not know what to do or whether to advance or retreat. Suddenly, a voice rang out, shouting to stop the evil turtle, and a creature with the head of a fish and the body of a human emerged. This great beast told me that the treasures here belonged to him and that he would give them to me if I would accompany them to the ocean depths to help resolve a crisis of survival. I had never entered the underwater world, but the beast promised that if I agreed, he would take me there immediately, and if I succeeded in saving them, the gold and silver would be mine.

I nodded in agreement. To me, gold and silver were things I had never seen and had no use for; it was not the treasure I wanted, but the desire to see if I could resolve a crisis of survival that prompted my decision. The giant sea turtle came over and tapped my foot with his massive limb, signalling me to climb onto his back. Once I was seated, he moved rapidly toward the sea. Only then did I realise how fast these giant sea turtles could move! I did not know how to swim and had never been near the ocean, and I was screaming in my heart, "I have never been underwater!" But it was too late; my body was already completely submerged. To my astonishment, I found that I could breathe underwater, and the giant sea turtle swam much faster than he moved on land—it felt as if we were flying.

This was my first time witnessing the world beneath the sea. Under the illumination of the sunlight, it was breathtakingly beautiful. All sorts of fish and shrimp swam about, and they possessed a profound spiritual nature, casting curious glances in my direction. As I ventured further, I entered a region where one side was bright and clear, while the other was shrouded in a dim, murky gloom. It seemed as though half of this underwater world had already been consumed by darkness, leaving the remaining half in a state of twilight, where brilliance struggled against the encroaching shadows. In my heart, I understood the purpose for which they had brought me here: to see if it was possible to restore the original radiance of this oceanic realm. I could perceive that not long ago, a war had broken out in these depths. The opposing side had gained the upper hand, occupying half of the territory, leaving the Great Beast and the sea turtles to desperately defend the remaining palace, which now existed in that dim, half-lit state.

The Great Beast asked me, "Is there any way to save everyone?" I asked in return, "How many are they, and how many are you?" The Great Beast replied, "Our strength on this side is insufficient to resist them. They possess one hundred percent of their energy, while we have only half remaining, and among us are many elderly, weak, or young shrimp and crab soldiers." I surveyed the palace grounds. In the far corner, behind the palace, there was a protruding ledge. I saw that on the night of the full moon, a beam of moonlight would shine directly into the depths of the sea. I knew I had to stand upon that ledge and hold the precious jade pendant hanging around my neck toward the moonlight. The union of the moonlight and the jade would release a brilliant radiance. This intense light would merge with my own body, emitting an even more powerful glow. This light would illuminate the entire underwater world, granting these marine lives the strength to survive and rise up against the invading army. They would eventually defeat the forces that had occupied the palace, and the palace would finally return to their world. However, at that same moment, my physical body would cease to exist, dissolving into nothingness. In other words, I had to sacrifice my life to save the world of the underwater palace. I saw the ocean and the vast sea, and countless lives being saved because of the light emitted from the palace. As I witnessed this, the Great Beast must have seen it as well. I nodded to the Great Beast, signaling my willingness to do this; if my single life could save so many lives beneath the sea, it would be well worth it.

The Legacy of the Jade

This "precious jade" had been around my neck since I was old enough to understand things, and I have worn it ever since. The elders of our group told me it was a large stone given to me by my parents, and they instructed me to keep it safe and never lose it. Within our group, this stone had been preserved with great care. It was passed down from our ancestors, generation after generation, until it reached my parents, and then finally to me. There would always come a generation that would need to use it to save everyone. If the underwater world were to be ruled by the forces of darkness, it would trigger massive waves on the surface, causing the seawater to surge inland and submerge the very land upon which we lived, leading to the death of all. If my sacrifice could save not only the countless creatures beneath the sea but also the countless lives and people on land, it was a worthy cause. Although the underwater palace is in a different space, the impact it creates affects our reality. To the physical world, the underwater palace is an invisible realm—unseen and untouchable—yet it is a space that coexists with our own.

A Transition Between Realms

Three days remained until the full moon. I spent these three days beneath the sea, and to my surprise, breathing underwater was exactly the same as breathing on land. Although this space was deep beneath the ocean, it was not limited to supporting only aquatic life; it provided the conditions necessary for terrestrial life as well. Amphibious creatures, or even people like me who had never entered the sea, could live within the underwater palace.

When the third day arrived, everyone had made all the preparations they could. My heart was incredibly peaceful; there was no fear, no attachment, just living in the present moment. I was brought early to the protruding ledge behind the palace. Sure enough, a beam of moonlight shone straight down into the depths. I held the jade in my hand, directly facing the moonlight. In an instant, it emitted an incredibly intense and powerful light. This radiance merged with my body, and a great tremor shook the surroundings. I could feel the seawater churning—the two armies were clashing! The light continued to pour onto the palace and the surrounding waters until the sea finally returned to calm, and the entire palace was restored to its original brightness. My spirit floated up toward the surface, following the moonlight. I saw all the creatures of the sea bowing in gratitude toward me and the moonlight. My spirit was enveloped in a golden light, drifting upward. As I passed through the surrounding radiance, a sense of familiarity washed over me. I knew then that I had originally come from the light, and I had no other thoughts. The golden light carried me to a place of profound silence—a world illuminated by light, the place where sages go: the realm of the Pratyekabuddhas.

The Karmic Connection

When I merged with the moonlight, I saw my past lives. Once, when I had been in danger at sea, it was that very same giant sea turtle that saved me. To repay the sea turtle, I had promised that if it ever faced any danger in the future, it could come to me for help. After that, I had entered samadhi in the state of an Arhat.

It was precisely because I saw in that deep meditative state that the giant sea turtle and the many creatures in the palace were about to lose their lives that I chose to be reborn in the human world. I came solely to help everyone avoid this catastrophe; otherwise, the entire seabed would have been ruled by dark, evil spirits, and countless lives would have perished. Therefore, when I completed this mission, my spirit naturally ascended to the realm of the Pratyekabuddhas.

End of Part One

Part Two

While in a deep meditative state, I suddenly saw massive waves rising on the sea. The waves took on the appearance of fierce, malevolent demons, crashing into the coastal lands until the earth became a vast ocean. Afterward, the corpses of many humans, animals, and marine creatures floated to the surface. Seeing this scene, I awoke from my meditation and asked myself: Why did this happen? The previous calamity had already been resolved. How much time had passed since then? The answer naturally surfaced: ten million years. It had already been ten million years. Then what was the scene I had just witnessed in my meditation? The answer surfaced again: it was the heavens—a powerful force had arisen in the sky, triggering this disaster. My intuition told me that this disaster was connected to me by karmic affinity, so I emerged from my meditation and descended to the world.

Five million years ago, in terms of current human history, was the era of primitive life. People had places to live, knew how to use fire to cook food, and possessed simple pots and bowls made of stone. There were adults and children, and simple family structures had emerged, living in harmony with nature. At that time, I was born into an ordinary family by the sea. I had parents, and we could communicate using simple sounds. We engaged in basic farming and knew how to fish for a living. You could say I was a child who grew up by the sea; the ocean was my best friend, and we children often played along the shore. I could observe the celestial phenomena—a natural ability I had brought with me from birth. In such an environment, people were simple-hearted, and having such natural abilities was something they were accustomed to; however, if this ability could save lives, it was something that earned the respect of all.

At that time, human desires were so simple; having food, drink, clothing, and a place to sleep was enough to be satisfied. Our daily routine was simple: on clear, sunny days, everyone went out to work; if it was windy or raining, everyone gathered inside the houses to shelter from the storm, so simple family settlements already existed. When faced with external threats, everyone would unite to resist, which fostered a sense of cohesion, though it also began to create a distinction between "you" and "me." As this lifestyle became more pronounced and the number of people in the settlements grew, negative thoughts and emotions—such as discrimination and comparison—began to appear more frequently, and people gradually lost their original, simple, and sincere nature. Of course, this evolutionary process of humanity takes a long period of time.

At that time, because of the establishment of certain roles and relationships, emotional connections naturally developed. This meant that many things were no longer as open, fair, or unburdened as before; equality was lost, and distinctions of high and low, good and bad, began to emerge. When faced with sudden, massive changes that threatened their lives, people began to feel fear, dread, and anxiety. Consequently, they began to perform acts of reverence toward heaven and earth, hoping that through the offering of sacrifices, they could avoid disaster. Thus, through collective consensus, ritualistic behaviors were born. During the time I lived, these rituals were still quite weak and not very prominent. The more simple and pure a species is, the less they need to communicate through sound. The more complex human thoughts become, the more they require communication and mutual understanding to avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant events.

At that time, my name was "Dou," which was the simplest of sounds. Dou was a big child, taller than the others, with quick reflexes. The nights and days, the sunrises and sunsets, were distinct. One day, I saw that the moon at night was exceptionally bright and clear, but then it was covered by dark clouds. The next night, the moon was dim and lusterless. How could there be such a difference? According to my observations of the celestial signs, the sky should have been the same as usual, yet there was such a drastic change. In my heart, I understood that something was about to happen. At the same moment, a wild flower blooming in front of our door, which had been in full bloom for quite some time and emitted a fragrance, suddenly drooped and withered on that night when the moonlight was dim. Seeing this, I had a premonition of disaster. Suddenly, a massive wave rose from the sea and crashed onto the land, followed by a powerful wind. The wind blew from the direction of the waves, and it carried a scent of blood! It was the same smell of blood that the elders produced when they slaughtered the prey they had caught. I instinctively waved my hands toward the houses while shouting "Ah! Ah! Ah!" at the top of my lungs, urging everyone to get inside immediately.

Sure enough, after that gust of wind swept through, it left everything outside the houses in complete disarray. Even more chilling, small creatures that had been running and jumping about outside suddenly collapsed and died, bleeding out on the ground. They had been perfectly alive just moments before, but the moment the wind touched them, they perished. I saw people trembling, terrified by the shrill, piercing sound the wind made as it tore past. It felt as though, before one could even blink, the wind had already passed through, leaving behind a trail of scenes too horrific to believe. Some children were screaming in terror. The adults were frantically looking around to see what had happened, while others tried to tidy up the items scattered everywhere by the gale. Later, someone gestured wildly and made simple, distressed sounds to tell everyone, "My child is gone!" Because the child had not managed to run inside in time, they were nowhere to be found after the wind had passed. The parents were weeping in desperation, begging everyone to help search. Eventually, they found the child’s body on the sandy beach, already bled out and dead. Everyone was gripped by fear, for nothing like this had ever occurred before. We looked at one another in helplessness, a dark shadow of dread settling over our hearts. Several days and nights passed, and the same nightmare repeated itself. The day before had been a bright, full moon, but the next night, the moonlight appeared dull and dim. My heart was filled with a sense of foreboding, and I urged everyone to stay inside their homes and not venture out. Just as I feared, a massive wave surged toward the land, and that same wind swept through the village again, carrying the heavy, metallic scent of blood. The people of our tribe endured these bizarre and tragic events for quite some time.

The Pattern of the Moon and the Sea

During this period, I noticed that the interval between the first and second occurrences, and between the second and third, was identical in terms of days and nights. It always began with a full moon, followed by a day where the moonlight turned dark and gloomy. On the second day, when the moon should have still been full—perhaps with only slight shadows—the moonlight instead became completely obscured and lightless. Afterward, we would discover many dead fish and shrimp from the sea, their bodies covered in blood, scattered along the sandy shore. From then on, everyone knew that the day after the full moon, we had to stay indoors and not go out, though we did not understand why these anomalies occurred. At that time, we learned everything through experience. Without a written language to pass down knowledge, we relied entirely on observing our surroundings and our collective history. Good outcomes were to be repeated, while bad experiences and tragic results had to be avoided. After this ordeal, everyone learned to watch the celestial signs; we knew not to leave our homes the day after the full moon to avoid death, though we remained ignorant of the cause. We only saw the results.

The Elder’s Silent Wisdom

There was an elder in our tribe who was deeply respected by everyone. He spoke very little, almost never uttering a word, not even a simple sound. Instead, he would use a bamboo stick to draw patterns on the ground to express his meaning. We could discern much from these drawings. In those days, the ability to communicate heart-to-heart was very strong, and we could naturally sense whether the meaning the other person received was truly what we intended. If it was, we would simply nod to conclude the exchange. If the other person had misunderstood, most of us would continue to use simple body movements, hand gestures, basic vocal tones, or simple drawings to express our thoughts and facilitate further communication.

Therefore, regarding these recent events that occurred the day after the full moon, everyone went to consult this elder. We watched as the elder sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and then drew a terrifying humanoid figure on the ground, caught in the wind, covered in blood, and depicted in a horrific act of blood-sucking. It could only be interpreted as an evil spirit residing within the wind, one that fed on human blood. A tribesman asked, "Where does this evil spirit come from?" The elder used a series of drawings to indicate that this spirit came from the deep ocean. It had grown tired of eating sea creatures, so it came onto land to find food. Thus, every time it admired the full moon, the day after would bring a craving to hunt for food on land. When the evil spirit admired the moon, it would inhale the energy from within the moon into its own body. Because the spirit was filled with evil energy, the inhaled energy naturally transformed into malice. The desires within this evil energy could only be satisfied by consuming blood, which led to its behavior of coming onto land the day after the full moon to hunt. The spirit could hide within any type of wind—whether a breeze, a hurricane, or a gale—changing its form according to the strength of the wind at the time. In short, the evil spirit hid in the wind; if it could not drink human blood, it would consume the blood of sea creatures. The spirit loved to sit on the sandy beach by the sea under the dim moonlight, using its sharp claws to draw a horizontal line across a neck, letting the blood flow out, then pressing its mouth close to drink until the blood was completely drained. Watching the life it had captured struggle until it finally stopped, seeing the body turn pale and lifeless, the spirit would then sink back into the depths of the ocean.

The Burden of Sacrifice

This revelation left us utterly astonished. We were terrified that others would become victims, fearful of the wind that would blow the day after the full moon, and deeply saddened by the children who had already perished. We lived in constant fear. How could we free everyone from this terror? I wondered this in my heart. The elder, sensing my mental note, used his drawings to tell me: We had no way to stop the evil spirit from coming; we could only appease it so that it would not come. If we could place a life on the sandy beach the day after the full moon, the evil spirit would take that life and would not enter the village to satisfy its desires. In this way, everyone could be spared the threat of the evil spirit in the wind. I asked, "Is there no other way to stop the evil spirit from appearing again besides this method?" The elder shook his head: "Unless someone is willing to sacrifice their life to battle the evil spirit, but life and death are unpredictable. Moreover, the evil spirit loves to consume the blood of children; the younger the child, the purer and more untainted the blood, and the sweeter it tastes." Once the elder said this, the parents in the village who had children or newborns became even more fearful and anxious. Who would be willing to step forward and fight the evil spirit? And who would be willing to offer up their own child to save the lives of the other children in the village? One child at a time—how many children could be sacrificed in this way? As the days passed, everyone was at a loss. No one was willing to offer their own child, and no one dared to fight the evil spirit; we were unarmed, and going to face it was a certain death sentence.

The Power of the Spirit

From a young age, I knew I possessed a certain ability. Whenever I wanted to do something, I would quietly find a place to sit, naturally cross my legs, lower my eyes, and think of nothing. Without any external interference, I would sit quietly for half a day or a full day. When I awoke, my body would be filled with strength. I was just a child then, but as I grew older, I could sit for longer—one day, two days, three days. I knew that my spirit could leave my body to look around, stop and go, and then return to my physical form. Days had passed by without me realizing it.

Once, I was sitting under a tree, and my parents saw me; they could not wake me, but after three days, I naturally awoke and returned home. Eventually, my parents realized they didn't need to worry about me; in any case, when the time came, I would naturally return home. In our village, I was the only one who could do this, and others became accustomed to seeing it. Thus, I thought that I could use that time to see what this evil spirit actually looked like. So, after another period of time, when the day after the full moon arrived, everyone else could only use the most primitive method: staying inside their homes, not coming out, and hiding their children well so the evil spirit would not discover them. If the spirit found them, there was nothing to be done but accept it. If the children in the village were not discovered, just like the previous time, the evil spirit would have to settle for the creatures of the sea to satisfy its craving for blood, leaving the sandy beach littered with the corpses of fish and shrimp.

That day, I sat cross-legged in my home. When the evil spirit arrived, my spirit left my body and ascended into the air. I saw the appearance of the evil spirit in the wind: a mass of pitch-black energy, filled with water, its eyes, nose, and mouth brimming with malice and desire—a sight that made one gasp for breath. The evil spirit searched everywhere in the wind, sniffing for the scent of children. A child in one house accidentally let out a cry, and before the parents could stop it, the spirit discovered them. The evil spirit passed through the wall of the house and very quickly swept the child into the wind. The child’s crying stopped after only a few sounds; I could neither hear the cries nor see the figure anymore. Watching from the air, I gasped again, for I saw the evil spirit stop on the sandy beach. The child fell from the air, still alive, and before it could even cry, the spirit used its claws to quickly and forcefully tear open the child’s neck, greedily drinking the blood. The child went from struggling and crying to becoming weak and silent, dying as its body turned completely pale. The evil spirit nodded in satisfaction, walked to the edge of the sea, and dove into the depths, vanishing without a trace.

When the villagers discovered the child's body, the mother was overcome with grief, and the entire tribe mourned the loss. I witnessed these scenes one after another, knowing that unless we found a way to confront the evil spirit, such tragedies would continue to unfold. I knew that from the moment of my birth, I had to strive to find a way to stop these recurring disasters. I sat down in a cross-legged position, closed my eyes, and hoped to find a solution. I saw my own life in this lifetime, descending from the Pratyekabuddha realm, entering my mother's womb enveloped in golden light. Before entering the womb, a radiant celestial being gave me a brocade pouch, instructing me to wear it around my neck. The pouch merged directly into my spirit, becoming a part of my very essence. The celestial being reminded me that whenever I encountered danger, I should place my hand over my chest, focus on the thought of my entire body emitting a brilliant light, and the disaster would be averted. I had completely forgotten this, but this meditative contemplation allowed me to recall it once more.

The Sacrifice of a Protector

After returning to my body, I took the initiative to tell the elders: 'Let me go this time! I am willing to go in place of everyone else.' The elder drew a diagram on the ground, indicating that this journey would be life-threatening. I nodded, signaling that I was prepared. For the lives of my people, and to ensure they would no longer live in such fear, I was willing to try, even if it meant sacrificing my own life. The villagers were moved by my actions and used their most primitive gestures to express their gratitude. They knelt with their hands stretched forward, heads touching the ground—thirty or forty tribespeople offering their most sincere obeisance. I felt unworthy, unable to accept such profound gratitude from my people. Not knowing if this mission would succeed or fail, I returned the same gesture to them.

The day after the full moon, as the moon rose, the villagers shook my hand one by one, offering their deepest blessings and gratitude. I performed three kowtows to my parents; not knowing if I would live or die, my parents shed tears of sorrow but said nothing. Afterward, everyone hid inside their homes, not daring to come out. I walked alone to the sandy ground, sat cross-legged, and cleared my mind of all thoughts. My heart was incredibly calm, devoid of any fear, as I quietly awaited the arrival of the evil spirit. Sure enough, as the wind began to blow, I opened my eyes and saw the evil spirit emerging from the gale. I immediately clasped my hands over my chest, concentrated my spirit, and focused entirely on visualizing my whole body emitting light. In the next instant, my entire body radiated a brilliant, powerful light, filled with a firm conviction and vow to protect my people from harm. The more I focused, the brighter the light became. I saw the evil spirit, which had been advancing toward me, forced back a great distance by this sudden burst of light. I remained motionless, continuing my visualization, and the light illuminated the entire dark sky and the sandy ground. The evil spirit did not give up and moved forward again, only to be pushed back to the edge of the sands by the light. We clashed back and forth, and as the darkness on the evil spirit grew weaker, the light on my body grew brighter. Finally, when we had both exhausted our last reserves of strength, the evil spirit shrank and shrank until it was revealed to be nothing more than a small crab. It turned out that the evil spirit was a crab demon, which had cultivated for a thousand years to become a malevolent force. As for me, having exhausted all my physical strength, I collapsed onto the sand once the light faded, and the earth returned to its original tranquility. I saw the villagers rush to my side, and I told them: 'It is over. The evil spirit has turned into a small crab and entered the depths of the sea; it will never harm you again.' The villagers looked at me with eyes of relief and cheered, kneeling before me once more. At that very moment, my body, devoid of all strength, passed away. As my spirit left my body, a golden light emanated from it, and the villagers pressed their palms together, watching as my spirit was enveloped in golden light and departed. I left with a smile, at peace, ending my life in this lifetime. This light guided me into the Bodhisattva realm of the Four Sacred Realms, where I settled into a deep meditative state, surrounded by brightness and stillness.

The Evolution of Human Survival

To modern humans, in ancient environments, there existed ancient spirits whose needs and desires were satisfied according to the circumstances of the time, or avoided through offerings and rituals. In the sacrifices of that era, the lives of humans or animals were often used as exchange conditions. Through life experiences and the problems discovered by the pure humans and spirits of that time, between the strong and the weak, between good and evil, humans had to rely on these sacrificial rituals to exchange for the safety of more lives in order to survive. While such rituals or sacrificial acts are difficult for modern people to accept, such situations did indeed occur, existing in the lives of ancient humans. They were not illusory or empty; they were part of the process of human evolution. Some of the sacrifices made for survival, such as the aforementioned offering of infants to evil spirits to prevent greater disasters for the tribe, were instances where the weaker side provided offerings to the stronger side to avoid further harm to the living beings.

I was the Dragon King before I became an Arhat. After passing away in the human world, having performed good deeds and accumulated merit, I was appointed by the decree of the heavenly gods as the 'Dragon King of the East Sea' among the Four Sea Dragon Kings, and thus I have a very deep karmic affinity with the creatures of the ocean. Consequently, after entering the Four Sacred Realms, I have been particularly sensitive to the damage caused to marine life and humans by changes in the ocean. This gave me the opportunity to make a vow to descend to the human world to save beings from suffering, and once the vow was fulfilled, I gained the opportunity for spiritual elevation.

The sages of the Four Sacred Realms are not among the beings in the six realms of rebirth and are not bound by karma. Therefore, when these sages appear in the human world, they usually come with a vow to save humanity from suffering. If this vow is fulfilled, their spiritual nature can be elevated, surpassing the status they held before descending. (End of Part Two)

Part Three

From within my deep meditative state, the sound of surging, tumultuous waves echoed, sending high sprays of water crashing into the land and forest. On one side of this land was a sloping cliff, and below the cliff was a vast ocean. This vast ocean held ancient life, and when the rising waves entered the forest, many forest creatures could not escape in time and were submerged. The waves struck the tree trunks, snapping many thick trunks with their force, and the small birds in the trees flew away in terror. The blue sky, originally filled with white clouds, turned into large patches of dark clouds at this moment, and a torrential rain began to fall. The rain, combined with the surging waves, made the flooding of the land even more tragic. Suddenly, several heavy claps of thunder shook me awake from my meditative state. Upon opening my eyes, I found myself surrounded by a tranquil golden light, which brought me back from that scene. I asked myself: How much time had passed in my meditation? My spiritual intuition told me that over 7.9 million years had passed, dating back about 2,500 years. I knew that a catastrophe was destined to occur in the human world, and if there were no karmic affinity, there would be no disaster; the meditative state would not have manifested it.

The moment this thought arose, I had already entered a mortal body, becoming the child of a wealthy family. I wailed loudly, crying as I arrived in the human world. I did not go through the ten months of gestation in my mother's womb; as soon as I entered the mortal body, I was already a fully formed infant, for this was a sacred birth that did not require the suffering of a mortal fetus. Before I emerged from my mother's womb, the room was filled with golden light, and an elder with a full head of white hair, holding a whisk, with a long white beard, smiled as he welcomed the arrival of the sacred infant. This elder was the highest-ranking celestial being in the heavenly realms in charge of the birth of life. When a burst of golden light appeared in the sky, the elder saw it and knew that a sage was about to descend to the human world to save it from suffering. He knew that the place where the golden light fell was this family's home, so he waited here before the light emerged from the body.

The physical eyes of ordinary people saw only a bright light in the room and a male infant with skin as white and translucent as jade, crying with a powerful voice. The midwife held the baby and exclaimed in wonder, having never seen such a dignified child. The happiest were the grandparents and the father. When my mother was pregnant, the typical gestation period is ten months, but she gave birth to me after only eight months. The delivery was very smooth, my mother did not suffer much, and I showed no signs of being a premature baby at all.

Our home was situated in a fishing village, and we lived in relative prosperity. From a young age, I was a child held in the palm of my parents' hands, cherished and protected. Yet, I possessed no trace of arrogance; instead, I was often seen with a gentle smile, and a faint, natural fragrance seemed to emanate from my body. Because of this, my father named me Li Muxiang, while my mother affectionately called me Xiang'er. From childhood, Xiang'er was exceptionally bright and clever. Beyond having a photographic memory for words, I possessed an innate understanding of people and things, which earned me the reputation of a little prodigy.

Conversations with the River Creatures

My favourite pastime was to go to the small river behind our house and speak to the fish and shrimp. To onlookers, it must have appeared as if I were talking to myself, but in truth, I was genuinely conversing with them. These creatures had their own lives, their own social structures, and their own families. There were fish mothers and fish fathers; after spawning, there were little fish babies. I could even count how many babies there were and notice when one went missing. Once, I asked a fish mother in the river why I only saw seven babies today when there had been nine the day before. I watched as two lines of tears fell from the fish mother's eyes. As she wept, she told me that two of her babies had accidentally swum too far away and were eaten by a large shrimp. I comforted her, saying, 'Do not be sad or distressed! Perhaps it is better for them to be reborn early; it means they will suffer less.' The fish mother could not understand my words, but she continued to shed tears. I sat by the riverbank and addressed them all: 'Whether you are a fish or a shrimp, you are here because of the causes you created in the past. That is why you are in the water in this lifetime, unlike me, who has taken a human body. All of this is the law of karma and cause and effect. After death, you will be reincarnated again. Experiencing death is simply the conclusion of one karmic fruit and the settling of one karmic debt. Since you have encountered this, you must face it.' I told the fish mother, 'You are grieving because your babies lost their lives. This is suffering. That the little ones were eaten by a large shrimp is a karmic retribution; it is all part of the cycle of samsara. In fact, these fish babies have not only been your children in this lifetime; they have been your children many times in the past.'

As I spoke, I was delighted to find that many fish and shrimp had swum over to listen to me. It felt as if even the river water was listening, as if the surrounding air, the wind, and the clouds in the sky were all attentive to my words. At that very moment, I noticed an old man standing by the riverbank, also listening. He nodded and smiled at me. I naturally understood that this old man had been a large fish in his previous life. He had sacrificed his own life to protect many of the river's creatures from being swallowed by another large predator. After his death, he was elevated to the status of a River God. Among the spirits of the river and sea, those who can sacrifice their own lives to protect others possess a noble and virtuous character; thus, their spiritual nature is naturally elevated to such a rank. The River God knew that I could perceive his past, and he kept nodding and smiling at me in greeting, to which I responded in kind. This ability to interact naturally with the spirits of the river was an inherent gift. While people were initially puzzled when they saw me doing this, they eventually grew accustomed to it.

The Mystery of the River's Source

My instincts were particularly sharp regarding the creatures of the river. Upstream, there was a waterfall that flowed down into the small river, which then wound through our village and rice paddies before entering the vast ocean. I was filled with curiosity, wondering: where does this river go if you travel upstream? Where does it lead when it flows downstream? I was only a five-year-old child, and when I asked my parents, they shook their heads and said, 'We only know that this river has existed since we were children, and it flows down into the great sea.' When I asked my grandparents the same question, they told me the river had been there since their childhood, but as for where it led upstream, they simply shook their heads, indicating they did not know. I asked my parents, 'Then may I follow the river upstream to see for myself?' The answer was, 'Of course not.' I remained curious, never finding an answer, yet I always felt that this mystery was somehow connected to my own origin.

The Sorrow of the Market

One day, my mother took me to the market. I saw many sea creatures that had already been killed, lying on the stalls, waiting to be chosen, weighed, and sold. I could not help but shed tears. Many large fish were being sliced into pieces right before my eyes. Seeing this scene felt as if a knife were cutting into my own body. I could see the struggle of every creature before it died—some had struggled in vain in fishing nets before being hauled up, dying because they could not breathe out of the water; others were brought up alive and kept in water until they reached the fish stall, only to be pulled out. I saw their bodies still twitching on the stalls. When a customer pointed to one, it would be butchered alive, bleeding and struggling until it died. I also saw many small fish and shrimp that had been dried or pickled. I saw all of this, and my heart ached; I could not stop the tears from falling. My mother asked me, 'What is wrong?' I told her, 'I cannot bear to see so many creatures lose their lives, only to be bought by people to be eaten. I do not want to come to the market ever again.' I had seen too many creatures being slaughtered, cut apart, and suffering the agony of death, while people bought them back to eat with such indifference. From that day on, I stopped eating meat and switched to a vegetarian diet. I was about seven or eight years old at the time. Although my elders were reluctant, I persisted with my counseling, and eventually, they agreed. My heart was filled with such unbearable sorrow for the fish and shrimp losing their lives, and I knew that such things were happening at every moment.

A Household Transformed

Day after day, I encouraged my parents and grandparents to adopt a vegetarian diet as well. I could see many vengeful spirits of the meat-eating animals they had consumed clinging to their bodies. These spirits were often located exactly where my grandparents complained of aches and pains. I told them this directly, which gave them quite a shock. At first, they did not believe me, but because my observations were so accurate—describing their exact points of pain and the types of meat they had consumed—they had no choice but to believe. Gradually, they reduced their meat intake and eventually switched to a vegetarian diet. Starting with my grandparents, then my parents, the entire household—including the servants, totaling about twenty-six people—turned to vegetarianism. Anyone who entered our home would find only vegetarian meals on the table. My mood shifted from the sorrow I had felt at the market to one of smiles; this was my small way of offering a gesture of kindness to those suffering spirits.

The Dragon King's Greeting

Once, my mother took me to a temple to offer incense. It was a Dragon King temple, housing a lifelike statue of the Dragon King, where many people came to pray for blessings. Since we lived in a fishing village, people naturally prayed for favourable weather, safety at sea, and a bountiful harvest of fish. Thus, the temple was always bustling with incense smoke. Especially when storms arose and the fishing boats had not yet returned, one would see many mothers bringing their children to the temple, praying fervently for the safe return of their loved ones. When I entered the temple, I saw the spirit of the Dragon King emerge from the statue. The Dragon King first appeared exactly as he was depicted in the statue, then revealed his true form—a dragon's head with a human body—and knelt before me. I was startled at first, but then a vision of my own past, when I was the Dragon King, surfaced in my mind, and I understood why he acted this way. I quickly said, 'Do not do this, do not do this! Go back, quickly go back!' My mother asked me, 'What are you saying?' I smiled and replied, 'The Dragon King knows me! So he came out to greet me.' I saw the look of astonishment on my mother's face; she must have thought I was speaking nonsense again.

A Vision of Impending Disaster

When I was twelve years old, I had a dream one night. The Dragon King sent me a message: 'In one month, a great flood will strike the village. It will claim the lives of many people and land creatures; the fishing village will be almost entirely submerged.' The Dragon King indicated that this was a disaster that seemed unavoidable. When I awoke, the dream was incredibly vivid. The scenes I had witnessed before descending from the Four Holy Realms surfaced in my mind, and my anxiety returned. I had heard my parents mention that our village relied on the sea, and it was common to hear of tides rising and seawater flooding the roads. After consulting with the Dragon King, the villagers pooled their resources to build a levee along the riverbank, which helped resolve some of the minor flooding issues that had caused injuries in the past. However, the scene I saw in my vision was different—the waves were rising incredibly high, and the seawater was rushing in so fast that the people had no time to escape. There were many casualties, and the bodies could not be buried in time, leaving the air thick with the stench of death. I worried deeply about how I could possibly resolve this.

The Dragon King appeared in my dream once more to offer a warning. I asked him, "Why must such a catastrophe occur?" The Dragon King replied, "It is the result of Collective Karma. Nine lifetimes ago, the villagers of this settlement were a band of bandits. During a time of war and chaos, they raided another village, stealing their wealth and grain, and ultimately taking the lives of nearly everyone there. That negative karma was sown then. Now, these same bandits have gathered in this village, making their living by fishing in the sea. Many of the villagers and the village chief who were raided back then have now reincarnated as sea creatures, with the former village chief becoming a Sea God. To bring a conclusion to that karmic debt, and to address the killing karma generated by the fishing in this village, this water disaster is necessary to resolve the negative karma. Those who perish are not only the bandits who committed such heavy killing in the past, but also those who have been out at sea slaughtering creatures, and those who must pay for the negative causes they created through the consumption of non-vegetarian food." I asked again, "Is there any way to resolve this negative karma?" The Dragon King said, "Collective Karma is difficult to escape, unless there is a sage with enough merit and Blessings to repay the karma of those originally destined to die in this flood." I asked, "Where can such a sage be found?" The Dragon King replied, "Looking at the current situation, you are the only one with the qualifications." With that, I woke up. The dream was incredibly clear and real. Although I had known in my daily life that I possessed certain abilities beyond those of ordinary people, I had not yet realised that I was a sage, as I always felt that apart from those few differences, I was just like everyone else. It was then that I recalled my parents mentioning the auspicious signs that appeared at my birth. That elder from back then had also said I was a sage who had made a vow to return to save the world. I knelt, pressed my palms together, and prayed for the heavens to protect all creatures.

A Visitor from the Path

A few days later, a Taoist practitioner arrived at our home and asked my parents to see me. He held a horsetail whisk in his hand. Once I emerged, the four of us—my parents, the Taoist, and I—stood together. The Taoist first bowed respectfully to me, took a sip of tea, and said, "I am the Taoist Kunming. May I ask how I should address you?" My parents replied, "We call him 'Xiang'er' [Fragrant One], because the room was filled with fragrance when he was born." The Taoist asked, "May I also call you Xiang'er?" My parents agreed. Taoist Kunming then said, "In his past lives, long ago, Xiang'er was a Dragon King. That is why he has such a deep connection with the sea and the creatures within it; it is only natural that he can communicate with them. Through diligent practice, he had already become a Bodhisattva of the Four Sacred Realms before this lifetime, transcending the level of an Arhat." Upon hearing this, my parents looked astonished and exclaimed, "We never imagined Xiang'er's past lives were so extraordinary!"

The Vow to Save the Village

The Taoist continued, "Because he saw that a great catastrophe would befall this village, he made a vow to descend to the human world to save everyone, to spare them from dying in this disaster." I remained calm, as if I already knew of my own past, and asked quietly, "How can this disaster be resolved?" The Taoist replied, "Time is running out, and many Causal Conditions have matured. Although the celestial signs and the environment do not yet show any anomalies—because if they did, the residents would have a chance to take precautions—this disaster is, in essence, unavoidable. However, since we now know, we can take measures to reduce the harm. The reason this disaster is known is because Xiang'er is present here, and many spirits, including the Dragon King and myself, have Causal Conditions with him from past lives, so we have come to warn or save him. The Dragon King of the local Dragon King Temple was a subordinate of Xiang'er in a past life, and Xiang'er was a very virtuous Dragon King back then. I have been saved by him, so I have come specifically to repay that kindness and save Xiang'er from this disaster. The villagers will be saved because of Xiang'er's presence." I nodded and said, "This, too, is the maturing of Causal Conditions." The Taoist said, "There is less than a month left. If the villagers are willing, they can relocate the village. They should move to a safe place. The disaster will still occur—Collective Karma is hard to escape—but many casualties can be avoided."

The Choice of Faith

My parents were shocked and said they must present this to the village chief to discuss how to proceed. When the village chief learned of this, he slammed the table and said, "No wonder the Dragon King Temple manifested spiritually a while ago, indicating that a disaster would strike the village and that a noble person would come to help. The residents must cooperate to save their lives and property." The village chief informed the villagers and began searching for a place to relocate. With everyone working together, they found a site twenty-five miles away that could serve as a temporary refuge. Relocating was exhausting; the villagers had to rely on walking and carts pulled by oxen and donkeys to transport their belongings. It took nearly half a month, and by the time everyone had adjusted to the new living conditions, another half-month had passed. As the time drew near, everyone could only pray to the heavens to minimize the casualties. But they waited and waited, and the flood did not happen. Thinking it was a false alarm, they relaxed, and some residents began to consider moving back. I urged them, "Observe for a while longer, do not let your guard down!" Some listened and stayed at the refuge, but others were eager to return home. About half a month later, in the middle of the night, the seawater suddenly surged, rushing into the fishing village with terrifying speed. By the time we heard the news the next day, the water had receded. We rushed back to the village, but it was too late to save them. Not a single creature on the land survived; they had all perished in the sudden flood.

The Nature of Impermanence

This flood still claimed many lives, leaving everyone filled with regret, but this was the karma of those residents. It is said that life and death are fated, and wealth is determined by the heavens. Those who listened to the counseling changed their karma, while those who did not were like those in their original destiny—they died when they were meant to die, and it could not be changed. It was a lack of Blessings that prevented them from changing their fate and karma; even though a noble person had warned them, because they did not believe and could not accept it, the result was death. After the disaster site was restored, the villagers moved back to rebuild their homes. Some did not move and remained at the refuge, forming a different kind of energy field. This is truly the nature of impermanence; in just a month and a half, the lives of so many had changed. We moved back to our original home. At twelve years old, I understood that I possessed the spirit of the Four Sacred Realms; although the body and the spirit coexist, they are two different entities. Feeling the unpredictability of worldly affairs and grateful for the help of the noble Dragon King and the Taoist, the villagers went to the Dragon King Temple to offer incense, thanking the Dragon King for the prior warning. As for the Taoist, he had departed on his own after the disaster before we could thank him, and he was nowhere to be found.

A Vision of the Future

Later, I caught a cold. After being protected by a golden light, the cold faded, but I fell into a long sleep, unable to wake for several days. In my dream, I was startled by a chorus of screams and cries. I saw the village engulfed in spreading flames. People were fleeing in every direction, unable to take their valuables, and after the fire slowly died down, I saw the ground turned to ash. Some had not managed to escape and their remains were burned to ash within the ruins; they could not be found. Yet, one temple stood in the village, completely unscathed. I saw that amidst the fire, the temple was protected by a radiance, so it was not burned. The temple was empty, save for an old man sitting in meditation, completely unmoved by the fire outside. Later, I saw disciples returning to the temple, and some villagers who had taken refuge also returned. Many strong men helped to restore the village and clean up the aftermath. There were several monastics in the temple, including little novices, totaling over a dozen masters. A little novice asked the master next to him, "When will the old master come out?" The master replied, "The old master will come out when he is ready!" I saw that this old master was me.

The Path of Renunciation

After I woke up, I realized I had been in a coma for many days, so I told my parents what I had seen. My parents said that they had already witnessed many unbelievable things regarding me, and now they had all come true. "Could it be that you will also become a monastic in the future?" I replied, "Life is impermanent, and life and death exist in a single instant. Even for a billionaire, life exists only in the present moment. When the breath stops, all wealth becomes empty, and nothing can be taken away. Just like the great disaster in our village—if not for the help of the noble person, the village would have been submerged by the flood, and no one would have survived. We must be grateful for the grace of the heavens and the earth. Even if I become a monastic, dedicating my body and heart to the earth and to all beings is only right; it is still not enough to repay even one ten-thousandth of the grace the heavens and earth have bestowed upon us." Upon hearing this, my parents looked slightly ashamed. My father said, "Xiang'er, if you truly do this, it would be a tremendous blessing for our family." I immediately knelt and performed three prostrations, thanking my parents for the grace of giving birth to and raising me. I told them, "Since that is the case, Xiang'er plans to set off for the temple in a few days." Three days later, I prepared a simple bag. My parents gave me some silver, and my mother said, "Xiang'er! We do not know if we will ever see each other again after you leave." I replied, "Mother, let it be according to Causal Conditions! Please do not worry about me; I naturally have the protection of the dragons and heavenly beings. Instead, please take care of yourselves."

The Taoist's Lesson

After bidding farewell to my parents, I did not know where to go, so I let everything follow the Causal Conditions. On the road, I met Taoist Kunming, who said, "Let me accompany you!" I walked beside the Taoist, who was truly a man of simple means, never parting with the horsetail whisk in his hand. I once asked him, "What is the use of this whisk?" The Taoist replied, "The whisk is a Dharma instrument of a Taoist. It signifies transmission, purity, and the sweeping away of dust and filth; it can also sweep away demons. In truth, demons may not be outside but within, or they may be both inside and outside, depending on the heart. If one is an ordinary person, the heart is at the mercy of fate and karma, just like those in the village water disaster who did not listen to the warning and could not escape the negative karma of death. If one cultivates Blessings and accumulates merit, practicing hidden virtues, one will receive the help of noble people. This heart will then transform fate and karma, no longer being dominated by them, and may even extend one's lifespan. Those who relocated and were saved during the flood are examples of this."

On another occasion, the Master entered the meditation room, and I could only watch from outside. The Master asked, "Who is outside the door?" I replied, "It is I." The Master asked, "There is a 'me,' so who am I?" I said, "Li Muxiang." The Master asked, "Who is Li Muxiang?" I replied, "It is I." The Master said, "Here, there is no 'self,' and there is no Li Muxiang." I was puzzled. Last time, the Master said there was no Dharma and no mind here, and this time he said there was no self and no Li Muxiang. So, what is here? What am I doing here? I told the Taoist about this, and he laughed and said, "Since there is no Dharma, no mind, no self, and no Li Muxiang here, then what is here?" I said, "I do not know." The Taoist said, "Then do you wish to seek knowledge?" I nodded. I asked the Master, "Since there is no Dharma, no mind, no self, and no Li Muxiang here, is there any knowledge to be sought?" The Master said, "There is no knowledge here either." I looked at the Master quietly, not knowing how to respond. The Master also looked at me with a smile and turned to leave, leaving me standing there in confusion.

The Mystery of the Empty Doorway

Another time, I saw everyone entering the meditation hall. This time, I watched from a distance, not daring to approach the door of the meditation room. To my surprise, the Master knew I was there. He asked loudly, "Who is in the distance?" I dared not make a sound. The Master said again, "Is it not a person?" I said, "It is a person." The Master asked loudly, "What person is it?" I did not dare to say a word; I did not know whether to answer "Li Muxiang" or "I." The Master then said loudly, "Oh—so there is no one." I replied, "There is someone!" The Master said, "Someone? Where is the person?" I answered, "The person is outside the door." The Master said, "There is no one outside the door." He left me standing there, filled with questions.

The Master as a Spiritual Pillar

The temple was located at the foot of the mountain, where mist often swirled. Villagers would come to the temple to offer incense, seek the Dharma, and ask the Master for guidance. Once, I saw a villager tell the Master with great worry, "The insect infestation in the village rice paddies is severe. They have almost eaten all the rice, and we cannot harvest it. Since there is no harvest this season, there is no income. After winter, the fields will lie fallow, and the villagers will have a hard time getting through this season." The Master said, "Just consider the rice as an offering to the insects; it settles a debt the farmers owed them! The villagers can use this winter to rest their bodies. When spring comes, your strength will be ready to be used." The villager nodded and left, satisfied. The Master was everyone's spiritual pillar; whenever there was a problem, once it reached the Master's hands and lips, it turned into nothing at all. I thought to myself: This is the wisdom and demeanor that a practitioner of the Dharma should have.

Lessons from the River

At twelve years old, I looked as steady as a small adult. With my stature, everyone treated me like a grown boy, not a twelve-year-old child. I worked in the fields and planted vegetables with everyone. This was the first time a fishing village child had worked in the fields, and I experienced the joy of self-reliance and the harvest. There was a small river next to the foot of the mountain, and I wanted to take a walk by the bank, so the Taoist accompanied me. Seeing the clear, transparent water, I spoke to it, "Long time no see, how are you?" The water replied, "We are the same as before; there is no good, and there is no bad." I said, "If there is no good and no bad, then that is the best thing of all." I asked the fish in the river, "Long time no see, how are you?" The fish said, "I have grown up." The small fish had now become big fish. The fish added, "Before long, I might be caught by people like my mother, and that would surely be a dead end." I said, "Your mother being caught by people might be a dead end, but even now, as you swim freely in the water, there will come a day of death. All of this is due to karmic conditions and the causes and effects, and it is not something you can change right now. Please remember, no matter how this lifetime ends, do not harbor any resentment. Only then can you help yourself clear this debt. As for your next life, it is already destined, so you must be willing to accept it!" The fish said, "What are you saying? I understand some of it, but some I do not. I understand that I cannot harbor resentment, and I understand that there will be a next life. Thank you for telling me this." The fish nodded at me to show its gratitude. The Taoist heard my conversation with the fish and said to me, "Teaching the Dharma according to conditions, saving beings according to conditions—what a compassionate heart."

Life as a Novice

After studying in the temple for about half a year, I finally attained the status of a novice monk. I followed my senior brothers and the Master to learn, and from then on, I made the temple my home. The Master told us, "A monk no longer has a 'self,' no longer has a selfish heart; this heart exists solely for the sake of all beings." I nodded, feeling in my heart that what the Master said was the life I wanted to lead. A life lived only for oneself would be a selfish, uninteresting, and narrow life. In the temple, I started with chores and kitchen duties. No matter what I did or where I was, I treated myself as if I were learning everything anew. Regarding everything, I had no personal opinions; whatever the Master or my senior brothers said, I did. After about a year of living like this, the Master allowed me to enter the meditation room to practice, rather than just listening to the teachings as usual.

The Nature of Illusion

When I first sat down, a sense of familiarity arose in my heart, as if I had found a long-lost friend. There was a feeling of joy in my heart. When the Master learned of this, he guided me: "The heart during meditation should not be moved by anything. What you see during meditation is all illusory. If your heart is moved, it is like a ripple appearing in a pool of clear water. How can you see the true face of the original, ripple-free water? Therefore, no matter what you see during sitting or in a deep meditative state, do not disturb your heart, and do not disturb the original peace. This is the basic understanding of meditation." I then asked the Master, "What is illusory?" The Master said, "That which can change and that which is changed—all that can change is illusory. That which is unchanging and constant is the original nature." I nodded. Afterward, while sitting in meditation, I entered a deep meditative state. From the initial short duration of two or three incense sticks, to half a day, then a full day, I gradually progressed to half a month and then a month. At that time, I had already been in the temple for three years and was fifteen years old.

The Reality of Human Suffering

One time, the Master wanted to go into the village and asked me to accompany him. Along the way, the Master did not say a word. I looked at the scenery around me; it was the same place I had passed through three years ago when I entered the temple, and it had already changed a little. Before entering the village, the Master asked, "What do you see?" I told the Master, "This is a little different from what I saw before." The Master asked, "Is there anything in the world that does not change?" I paused and said, "I cannot think of anything that does not change; it seems everything changes." The Master said, "Indeed! This is the reality of the human world; there is nothing that does not change. That is what I meant when I said it was illusory." I said, "Since that is the case, Master, if we are currently living in an illusion, why should we take any action? Since everything will change, won't it still change even if we do something?" The Master said, "This is why people do not know they are suffering while they are in the midst of it. Chasing and attachment are all subject to change, yet people want to grasp them and prevent them from changing. Suffering arises from this, including wealth, health, family affection—everything seen, heard, felt, and experienced in the world is like this. Therefore, one must live in the present moment. The family we are visiting today is here because of the parents' request; we are going to visit a child who is twenty years old but is as difficult to wake up as a ten-year-old."

The Karmic Debt

When we met this twenty-year-old young man, he was eating snacks brought by a servant. His tall body revealed a child-like smile, and he kept saying, "So delicious! So delicious!" When he saw us, he said, "Do you want to eat? I will treat you." It really did not sound like anything a twenty-year-old man would say. The Master said, "Indeed! He is no longer himself." His parents heard this and asked, "Then who is he?" The Master said, "He is the soul of a ten-year-old child, but he has a twenty-year-old body. Is the body not suited to his soul, or is the soul not suited to his body? Which one is the real him?" His parents said, "Please help me bring my real son back." The Master said, "Your son's body is always here; it has not left. But your son's soul has been forced by karmic creditors and is currently in a dark abyss, unable to see the light of day. This ten-year-old child is the ten-year-old younger brother your son harmed in a past life. Now, he has come to seek revenge and reclaim the life he should have had."

The Path to Resolution

His parents asked, "Then where is my son? Please save him!" The Master said, "Originally, your son only had five more years of life. When the time comes, this spirit will naturally leave." His parents begged the Master to save him. The Master said, "Unless you can compensate for everything this spirit needs to eat, drink, and use for the next five years—the things he was owed—he will naturally leave after that. You can perform the merit of Generosity." His parents agreed and were willing to dedicate the merit of repairing the temple's architecture to this ten-year-old child. The Master said to the young man, "Your parents will perform merit and dedicate it to you to resolve this past debt. If you are willing, you can give us a smile." We saw the young man smile at the Master. After returning to the temple, the young man's parents kept their promise to repair the temple and sincerely repented before the Buddha, dedicating the merit to that ten-year-old child. Half a month after returning, news came that the young man had gradually regained his original sanity. The Master said, "Every drink and every bite is predetermined; there is not the slightest bit of luck involved. The laws of karma and cause and effect will not change because of time or the people involved. This is the truth of reality." Namo Amituofo.

A few years later, I completed the full ordination and became a formal bhikshu, receiving the Dharma name Shi Xuanhan. My eyes were opened to see the actions of my past lives and the causes and effects governing my current existence. When I was twenty-five, a sudden imperial decree was issued to all Buddhist temples across the nation: all temples were to be sealed. The ruling dynasty was actively promoting Taoism and ordered that all Buddhist temples be closed. We had never heard of such a thing; the monastics were ordered to either convert to Taoism or return to lay life. The temples were forbidden from opening their doors to the public. This came as a massive shock to us. Many monks were forced to return to lay life, while others chose to seek refuge in Taoist temples just to survive. My Master gave us this teaching: "The Buddha's teachings are facing such a situation, and as monastics, we all bear responsibility. It shows that the propagation and transmission of the Dharma have not been sufficiently valued by the imperial court. In this current situation, we may choose to return to lay life. Taoism has made immense contributions to China; before the Buddha's teachings were introduced, people lived according to the truths of heaven and earth. Taoism guides people onto the righteous path, aligning with truth and natural laws, allowing for peaceful coexistence with heaven and earth. The Buddha's teachings, however, transcend the heavens; macroscopically, they expand to the Dharma realm of emptiness beyond the heavens, and microscopically, they observe the finest particles. It is a more thorough path to liberation. The Buddha's path and the Taoist path do not conflict; both walk the righteous path. In this time of crisis, if any disciples wish to turn toward the Tao and seek refuge in Taoist temples, I will not stop you. But I hope you do not forget that you are disciples of the Shakya lineage. No matter where you are, do not forget your duty to propagate the Buddha's teachings. Taoist temples are merely temporary shelters; be still, not active; be scholarly, not militant. Always remember to reflect within, and do not forget your original home." "I am profoundly grateful for these Causal Conditions. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for granting me, Xuan Han, this precious opportunity to briefly recount my life’s journey. Today, I have joined many other interviewees and the Four Sages in Practitioner Su’s salvation team. Together with Practitioner Su, I participate in the morning Dharma Body Chao Du, working to open up the various spaces and time periods where we once resided. This allows the radiant Buddha-light and the sacred Buddha-name to permeate those realms, enabling all those connected by karmic affinity to receive Chao Du and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am truly filled with immense gratitude!

The Manifestation of the Buddha-Heart

This interview record was written by the chief writer, Buddhist disciple Venerable HaiZe.