The Standing Buddha: Leading Sentient Beings to the West

This is a record of an interview with the monastic Shi Hangzhou, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his experiences during the Dharma Assembly on May 25, 2020. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Shi Hangzhou speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Every time I return to the temple, it is an eye-opening experience for me. The mind-capacity of Practitioner Su and the wisdom that unfolds from it never cease to leave me and my fellow disciples in awe. The moment I arrive at the temple, I see the sky and every corner of the space filled with countless sentient beings. They are all waiting with such intense, earnest longing for the Dharma Assembly to begin. These beings come from all walks of life, with different appearances and histories, yet they share a singular, burning hope: to receive the deliverance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, and to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the scene of anticipation that greets me—a vast, crowded sea of souls waiting for salvation.

A Sea of Spirits Waiting for Deliverance

Seeing such a monumental scene, I cannot help but feel a deep sense of shame and remorse. I have truly transformed; it is only after my heart has changed that I can look upon this scene and feel the weight of true repentance. If I were still trapped in my old, malicious ways, I would be moving in the complete opposite direction. Without purification, the heart remains hard and wicked; even if one were to witness such a scene, there would be no resonance, no movement of the soul, and no capacity for repentance. But my heart today is one that gives rise to all roots of goodness and achieves the fruit of Bodhi. Every thought that arises is now wholesome, kind, and gentle. Only a heart purified in this way can be moved by the atmosphere of the Dharma Assembly. This is the power of heart-to-heart connection. The compassion and mind-capacity of Practitioner Su are qualities that I must continue to learn and emulate.

The Power of a Purified Heart

Why is it that one can achieve true purification during these three days of the Dharma Assembly? It is because we are immersed in an environment where we see what is good, do what is good, and speak what is good—an environment that fosters the growth of all roots of goodness to achieve the fruit of Bodhi. We see so many spirits seeking Chao Du to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, and in witnessing their plight, we feel a profound sense of shame for our own past ignorance and the various mistakes we have made. We see Practitioner Su, who makes no discriminations, delivering beings wherever he goes, hoping only that they may leave suffering behind. Through this, we learn the meaning of oneness, mind-capacity, and compassion.

Most importantly, we see Namo Amituofo standing there, personally receiving and leading these beings into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We learn that the only fundamental way to save suffering beings in these troubled times is to study the Buddha’s teachings and make the vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Knowing this, we must repent for our past, change our ways, and march forward toward the goal of purification, and then more purification."

The Precious Opportunity of a Human Body

"Hangzhou now understands the immense benefits of purification. It allows one to see the facts clearly and to perform actions that are correct, good, and truly helpful to all beings. The purification of the Body-Mind-Spirit is where humanity holds the advantage; it is only by having a physical body that one has the opportunity to realise one's true nature. Today, I and countless other new Buddha-children are spirits without a body. Even though we may possess souls that are perhaps more refined, compassionate, and wise than many, we still lack the unique advantage of the human form. Because we have a body, we can regulate the mind, develop our keen awareness, and through the transformation of the body, find the opportunity to realise our true nature. Therefore, I must grasp this moment more firmly than ever. Under the guidance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, I and my disciples must purify ourselves again and again as quickly as possible, so that we may do our utmost to help all sentient beings.

The Temple as a Sanctuary of Goodness

Practitioner Su, in his great compassion, summoned us—the new Buddha-children who were wandering outside—to return and participate in the Dharma Assembly. The moment we heard the call, we rushed back to the temple, and I felt as though a great weight had been lifted from everyone’s hearts. After spending time in the outside world, our clean and kind souls have deeply felt the pollution and evil thoughts that permeate society. To maintain one's meditative concentration and not be contaminated is truly no easy task! After all, many disciples still carry the remnants of old, bad habits. Fortunately, with the blessings of the Buddha and Practitioner Su’s constant emphasis on 'giving rise to all roots of goodness and achieving the fruit of Bodhi,' we have found the best way to resolve these habits. My disciples must feel this in their own hearts as well. The temple is the very place where these roots of goodness are initiated, so returning here is the best way to recharge our spiritual energy.

Delivering Spirits from Within

When we are with lay practitioners, we can receive and hear the fluctuations of the spirits residing within their bodies, as well as the various influences of the Five Desires and Six Dusts in their environment. One must be able to see without being affected, and hear without being swayed, to maintain right mindfulness. Only then can one resist external temptations and uphold the conviction of 'giving rise to all roots of goodness and achieving the fruit of Bodhi' while facing all these challenges. This is something I can do, and I encourage my disciples to do the same. It is a new challenge for them, but I can feel their changes and their efforts!

When I led many disciples to the temple, I left some behind to look after the lay practitioners. Because the Buddha instructed that Practitioner Su could perform Chao Du for the beings within the bodies of lay practitioners, these disciples stayed behind with the intention of doing good. As I often tell them: if one being can be delivered to the West, then there is one more Buddha, and one less suffering being in the world. So, with a 'let us try' attitude, they asked the beings within, 'Are you willing to go to the temple to attend the Dharma Assembly?' Even if only one or two were willing, it would be enough. To our surprise, many beings emerged from within the lay practitioners and were sent to the temple, where they were successfully placed in the Western Dharma-Nature Land by Practitioner Su. One day, these beings will surely be delivered to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

According to the reports from my disciples, these beings who were willing to attend the Dharma Assembly emerged from various parts of the lay practitioners' bodies—the head, the eyes, the face, and the abdomen. There were elderly people, the disabled, the weak, women, children, and even some dressed in official robes, ladies' attire, and some who appeared to be monastics. I am overjoyed for these beings who possess such tremendous blessings; after all, entering the temple is no small feat. Just as my disciples and I were only given the chance for rebirth because of the pandemic and the fact that Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su stepped forward to alleviate it, these beings within the lay practitioners have also been given a chance through the compassion of Practitioner Su, who seeks to save all beings. If Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su had not manifested to resolve this pandemic, none of this subsequent development—the purification and the growth of roots of goodness—would have occurred. Truly, the Buddha’s compassion is boundless! The disciples who stayed behind to care for the lay practitioners have also been working together to send their own wholesome energy to them, helping them maintain a positive state. The faint, steady vibrations coming from the lay practitioners indicate that their hearts are calm. For now, this is how it stands."

Namo Amituofo.