The Stone Spirit's Journey Home

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Master Chang Gao, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on July 27, 2019.

Master Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chang Gao. The compassionate power of the Buddha-name truly surpasses all things. Let me tell you about my life—a life that was, for the most part, spent in the shadows of the world.

I was once an elderly man who spent his days collecting trash. I never complained about the hardship; I travelled everywhere, picking up whatever I could find. With the meagre wages I earned from this, I would donate everything to the local orphanage. I never married. Marriage felt like a distant, unreachable dream. When I was young, I once shared a deep affection with a girl, but in the end, I was cruelly cast aside. She looked down on me, and that experience shattered my faith in human emotion. It taught me that the world is cold and transactional: if you can provide warmth, people will cling to you, but if you have nothing to offer, they will flee without a second thought. The reality was so harsh that I decided I was better off without it. I preferred to be alone. Even if I did not eat well and spent most of my time without companionship, my life felt, in its own way, free and unburdened.

A Life of Solitude and Scavenged Kindness

I had heard many stories of other elderly people—those who lived their entire lives in isolation, ignored by the world. Regardless of what happened, I had long prepared myself for the inevitable. I accepted whatever fate awaited me in my final years. Perhaps my story was like that of the old man and the sea. I had no grievances, no demands. I had only this one body, this one life, and whether I suffered a loss or not, it no longer mattered to me.

My neighbours, seeing me always alone, suggested I volunteer at the orphanage. They thought spending time with the children might help my heart feel young again, to stop me from looking at life with such a heavy, deadened gaze. When I arrived at the orphanage, the children truly brought me joy. In many ways, their experiences were not so different from my own. I would often say to them, 'You are fortunate. Even without the warmth of a family, experiencing the many facets of this human world will prevent you from becoming overly attached to it.'

The Philosophy of Doing Good

The children would look at me, puzzled, and ask, 'If we are not to be attached to this world, where should we go?' I would simply offer a faint smile and remain silent. The truth was, I did not know where I should go after death either. I had no answer as to where my true home was. I only told the children, 'Doing good is never wrong.' That was my life philosophy: to perform acts of kindness, to practise Generosity, to hold no grudges, to seek no gain, and to never ask for anything in return.

Finally, on a day when the clouds were thin and the weather was mild, I closed my eyes and departed. It was the children from the orphanage who discovered me when they came to visit. My face was expressionless, for in my heart, I knew that I had finally been released from this world.

The Stillness of the Stone Spirit

After my passing, I became a Stone Spirit in the celestial realm. Although I had done many good deeds, my heart still held onto stubbornness and rigid attachments. During my time as a Stone Spirit, I remained motionless, like a statue. This continued until the day Practitioner Su passed through the celestial realm while performing the Chao Du. At that moment, the light from the celestial beings began to shift in great waves, merging into a powerful, compassionate radiance that never returned to its source.

I heard the little spirits and flower deities whispering about it. It had been many months, and finally, I let go of my stubbornness. I looked up and saw the warm, brilliant beam of light that Practitioner Su had created through her deliverance. A strange, wonderful feeling stirred within me—it felt as though I had finally found where I belonged. I could not help but follow that light.

The Joy of the Western Pure Land

Everything from my past faded away. I did not want to remember it, and I did not need to. I wore a smile that I had not felt in a lifetime. I had become a citizen of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, I chant the Buddha-name louder and more clearly than anyone else. Seeing how the entire Dharma Realm trembles with the power of the Buddha-light, and watching as so many sentient beings are rescued from the dark, deep chasms of suffering, fills me with such immense joy.

Every day, I smile as I follow the pure assembly of Bodhisattvas to help save others. I want to tell everyone: the Western Pure Land is truly our home. I have found it. I am so grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su for this deliverance. I am grateful for everything, and I hope that all those who have a karmic affinity with the Buddha, and all those who are willing to believe, will be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo."