The Stone That Found Its Way Home

This is a record of an interview with the spirit Bien Shi, who served as a prison guard in the underworld before seeking Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his long journey through the cycle of rebirth, spanning over ten thousand years. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on October 1, 2023.

Bien Shi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su, for I have come to realise that his teachings are the absolute Truth. Having personally experienced the cycle of rebirth for over ten thousand years, I understand profoundly just how rare and precious this Causal Conditions truly is.

I am especially grateful for the selfless Ultimate Vow of Practitioner Su, who has dedicated his life to helping infinite suffering beings. It is only because of his compassion that we have this incredible opportunity today to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Ten Thousand Years of Wandering

"This life was my one thousand two hundredth reincarnation. In each of those lives, I spent decades, centuries, or even millennia trapped in the cycle of rebirth. It has been such an incredibly long time that I have long since forgotten who I originally was.

In every single life, I believed that the world I was in was real. It was only when that life ended in death that I would suddenly realise it was all an illusion—that nothing in the world was truly real or lasting.

Throughout this endless cycle of rebirth, I have been everything imaginable. Yet, life after life, I have lived and died, and I could never take a single thing with me. This reality forced me to stop and reflect: what is the Truth? What is the true meaning of life?"

The Life of the Spirit Girl

"In one of my past lives, I was a very precious, magical herb. Legend had it that on Changbai Mountain, there grew a flower of extraordinary beauty, capable of curing a hundred illnesses and strengthening the body. Those who had seen it said the sight was unforgettable. Many people tried to capture me, but no one ever truly succeeded.

Although I was a magical herb that could bloom, I had feet, and I could run! Whenever people tried to hunt me down, I would simply run away. I would lead them on a chase, and sometimes, I would get so excited and caught up in the game that I would let out a silvery, bell-like laugh—'Hahaha! Hahaha!'—and because of this, some people began to call me the 'Spirit Girl'.

I loved that name. 'Spirit Girl'—I truly was a girl, though perhaps a bit old. At that time, I was already one thousand and one years old, so being called the Spirit Girl was something I was quite satisfied with."

The Lesson of the Greedy

"I was a very kind-hearted Spirit Girl. I often felt a deep desire to help others. When I encountered people who were suffering or destitute, I would observe their needs and provide them with my medicinal essence at just the right moment, hoping to help them overcome their hardships. I would often manifest in the form of a young girl, carrying a bamboo basket filled with magical medicine to their homes. If they truly needed it, I would provide exactly the right amount.

However, if they were driven by greed and did not truly need the medicine, the excess would automatically turn back into withered grass. I would never allow them the opportunity to indulge in their greed.

There were some greedy people who tried to steal my medicine. When I saw their ugly, dark, and terrifying hearts, I decided to teach them a lesson. I would lead them on a chase across the mountains and plains—not just for a day, but for three days and three nights. Finally, I would intentionally let them catch me, and just as they were filled with satisfaction, I would let them taste the bitterness of loss once more. I would make them trip and tumble into the smooth valley floor. Just as they were rejoicing that they hadn't lost the medicine, I would make them fall into a pool of water, and they could only watch helplessly as the medicine drifted away before their eyes. They couldn't retrieve it, and all they could hear in the distance was the sound of a little girl's silvery laughter: 'Hahaha! Hahaha!'"

The Transformation into Stone

"I had a very mischievous character. Many times, the ancient trees of the forest would advise me not to be so naughty, but I found it hard to change; I could not resist the urge to play. Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, I was a thousand years old. I saw the hearts of the people in the world very clearly. Although I appeared playful on the outside, I had a mature heart that knew how to contemplate the meaning of life. This was a question I was constantly exploring: what is the true meaning of life? Because of this question, I kept searching for the answer, and eventually, I decided to give up my thousand-year life. I no longer wanted to cling to the continuation of that life; instead, I chose to seek liberation.

Once I made this decision, I began to gradually release all the energy in my body to all the beings who needed help, and I slowly withered away. For over a hundred years, I stood motionless in the same spot, losing my original radiance until I was no different from a common weed. I watched the people coming and going, and unlike before, no one noticed my existence because I had become so ordinary. My heart was very calm because I knew I was waiting for death to arrive. I wanted to welcome the opportunity for liberation.

When I reached the one hundred and first year, I turned into a stone. This result was not what I had originally expected! It was not the outcome I wanted, but I could not change it. I could only tell myself to stay calm and think quietly about what I should do next."

The Monk's Recognition

"I thought for ten days and ten nights, but I still could not find the answer, and my heart began to grow agitated. Just then, something miraculous happened. I discovered that I still had feet—I was a stone that could walk! This discovery calmed my heart instantly. I began to carry this slightly heavy body, running here and rolling there, and for a while, I forgot my worries and had a wonderful time.

Soon, several hundred years passed, and I found myself sitting in the same spot again, sighing as I looked up at the sky. What is the meaning of life? I remembered my desire for liberation, so I began to think about the possibility of change once more.

One day, a monk passed by, and his aura told me that he was a person of great capability. Usually, I would not pay much attention to such people, but that day, I intentionally wanted to let this monk discover me. Sure enough, the monk's sensitivity was far beyond that of an ordinary person; he saw my uniqueness at a glance. The monk smiled and wrote the three characters 'Bien Shi' on my stone body, and later, he recited a sutra for me. From that moment on, I truly received Chao Du.

My story as a stone ended there. Because the monk recited the Rebirth Mantra for me three times, I gained the opportunity for liberation. When I left the stone body and arrived in the underworld with the name 'Bien Shi', I truly knew that this was my chance to be free."

Gratitude for Deliverance

"I cherished the role the King of Hell assigned to me, and I worked diligently and actively, believing in my heart that an opportunity for liberation would appear. Recently, I had the Causal Conditions to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the underworld. As I looked closely, I realised that Practitioner Su was that very monk from long ago. I am so grateful, and I have absolute faith in Practitioner Su's ability. Because of this magnificent Causal Conditions, I have finally been able to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I listen very carefully to every word of the sutras that Practitioner Su teaches, and I am working hard in my diligent practice. I am so grateful for this opportunity today. I will continue to practise diligently, hoping that in the future, I too can help more sentient beings, just as Practitioner Su helps infinite suffering beings.

On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Bien Shi, with palms joined."