This is a record of an interview with Venerable Liyang, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his life approximately 666 lifetimes ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on June 30, 2018.
Venerable Liyang speaks:
". I am Liyang. I was born into a family of considerable wealth and status. A friend of my mother had a daughter named Yang Wumei, and we grew up together. We were childhood sweethearts with a bond that was truly deep and affectionate.
Liyang and Wumei often went horse riding together. Though Wumei appeared delicate, her riding skills were second to none. There were several occasions where I was actually defeated by her; her technique was truly superb, and it earned my profound respect. Our families were both among the wealthiest in the region, and our relatives often remarked that we were a perfect match, a couple destined for one another."
A Life of Prosperity and
"At the age of sixteen, Wumei became pregnant with my child. Our parents were overjoyed when they heard the news, and both families were fully in favour of our marriage. To ensure she could wear her bridal gown before her pregnancy became too visible, we decided to marry as soon as possible.
The Li and Yang families were the two most prominent and wealthy clans in the town. As I was the only son of the Li family and Wumei the only daughter of the Yangs, the wedding was a grand affair. Many high-ranking officials came to offer their congratulations. We held a banquet of over a hundred tables and invited every household in the village to share in our joy.
Wumei gave birth to a lovely daughter, whom our parents cherished like a precious pearl. They often took care of our granddaughter themselves, allowing Wumei and me more time to be alone. We would frequently go on outings to the countryside, and our affection for one another grew even more intense than it had been before our marriage.
A little over a year later, Wumei gave birth to a healthy, chubby son. Our parents spent their days happily playing with their grandchildren; every day felt as blissful as if we were living in heaven."
The Turning Point: A Town in Despair
"Over the years of our marriage, Wumei and I had five children in total. She was a remarkably virtuous wife who dedicated her days to our children, and my friends were all envious, wishing they could find such a partner themselves.
When I was thirty-five, I had to leave home for work, a trip that would take a month and a half to complete. I instructed Wumei to take good care of my parents and our five children. After saying my goodbyes, I departed.
This journey was for business. I was partnering with a friend from afar to develop a new product, and if the deal succeeded, it would surely bring great profit. Along the way, I passed through a declining town where the people lived in extreme poverty. As soon as I entered, more than a dozen children, only three or four years old, crowded around me to beg. Seeing these pitiful children, my heart was filled with sorrow, and I gave them some silver.
As I walked deeper into the town, I heard weeping coming from house after house. Upon inquiring, I learned that for several years, the town had been plagued by inexplicable disasters. In every household, people were suddenly struck by a strange illness. When it flared up, the symptoms were bizarre. Sometimes they would strip off their clothes and run through the streets; sometimes they would scream like madmen; other times they would sit silently in a corner, refusing to speak; and at other times, they would mutter incessantly. Their behaviour became extremely strange, and there was no medicine to cure them."
The Burden of Suffering
"In some families, it was the children who were afflicted; in others, the elderly. Most tragic of all was when the head of the household fell ill. A father who had been perfectly healthy one day would suddenly be struck by the disease the next. With the mother also bedridden, the entire family of ten would be thrown into chaos. With no one left to work and provide for them, the children were eventually forced onto the streets to beg.
For months, the town's water source had been poisoned. Some families died after drinking the tainted water, while others fell gravely ill. Now, the entire town had no clean water supply. To fetch water, one had to travel to a very distant source, and the whole town was plunged into panic. My heart could not bear it, and I told myself that I must help these poor people. From that day on, I bought batch after batch of grain and spent a large sum of money to hire people to find a nearby water source and pipe clean water into the town.
For families who could not afford to bury their loved ones, I provided the funds so they could lay their relatives to rest with dignity. I also gathered teachers from other towns to provide free education to the children who had lost their parents, ensuring they would not have to wander the streets."
The Power of the Holy Name
"Facing the strange illness in the town, I did not know how to save them. I knelt on the ground and prayed to the heavens, begging for the salvation of these poor people. I vowed that if a noble person could come to save them, I would surely repay the kindness for the rest of my life. I stayed for over a year, having long since abandoned the business I had set out to do. Before my eyes, human lives were far more important than my own wealth.
One day, a monk appeared in the town, travelling from place to place to spread the Buddha’s teachings. Upon arriving, the monk sensed a strange, sinister aura. Seeing the villagers with their pale faces and the many talismans placed within their bodies, he understood that this was the result of evil practitioners using their magic.
When I saw this eminent monk, I knelt and begged him to save the suffering people. The monk told me that I should teach the people to chant the Buddha's name. He said, 'This phrase, Namo Amituofo, is the Supreme Mantra. If you can chant it sincerely every day, you will surely break through this calamity.'
Thus, I began to spread the holy name of Namo Amituofo everywhere. I gathered all the villagers to chant together in the square with focused hearts. The collective unity of the people, combined with the of the Buddha and the monk's meditative visualization, created an incredibly powerful positive energy in the town. In an instant, a vast expanse of golden light enveloped the entire town. All the villagers were illuminated by this golden light. The monk explained that this was the golden light of the six-character holy name of Namo Amituofo. All the villagers saw Namo Amituofo standing majestically in the sky. They knelt and kowtowed collectively, expressing their gratitude for the Buddha's grace."
A Vow to Save All Beings
"After that day, all the afflicted villagers slowly returned to normal. They were so happy that they hugged each other and wept. I was deeply grateful for the great of Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo is truly the Supreme Mantra, the peerless mantra. Namo Amituofo is the Supreme Great Physician who can eliminate all disasters. If one chants the Buddha's name with sincerity, all disasters can surely be avoided.
The monk told me that the spreading of the Buddha’s teachings is meant to save all suffering beings. The world is full of suffering; whether one is rich or poor, healthy or ill, everyone endures different kinds of pain. If one has the vow to help sentient beings, one will surely receive the Buddha's blessings and be able to exert the strength to save those who are suffering in the cycle of rebirth.
Grateful for the monk's guidance, I decided from that day on to follow him and practice in the temple. Several years later, I resolved to let go of the mundane world and become a monk to save sentient beings. I wrote a letter to my parents and my wife, Wumei, telling them that I would dedicate my life to practice and to saving beings. I hoped that my parents and Wumei would support my decision.
I spent the rest of my life vigorously spreading the Buddha’s teachings, practicing diligently, and saving all beings. My parents and Wumei once visited me at the temple. Seeing my parents' aging faces made me understand even more the need for diligent practice. My dignified appearance moved my parents, wife, and children, and they supported me in continuing to spread the Dharma. They also brought the Buddha’s teachings back to our town, promoting the holy name of Namo Amituofo, and every household began to chant."
The Light of Universal Salvation
"There have been many monks who practiced effectively and entered the universe. They, too, spread the Buddha’s teachings according to Causal Conditions, hoping that the Dharma could exist throughout the universe, allowing the spirits within it to hear the sound of the Dharma, chant the Buddha's name, and seek rebirth in the Western Land. Although these monks used their to transmit the teachings, their mind-capacity was not broad enough at the time, and the Buddha’s teachings could only be transmitted to a small corner of the universe.
Today, through the Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, we see that there are indeed many scattered planets where the Buddha’s teachings exist. They are still waiting for the Causal Conditions to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, through the power of Practitioner Su's Chao Du, the inhabitants of all these planets are chanting the Buddha's name, following the golden light to depart and be reborn in the Western Land.
When the Buddha-light of Practitioner Su arrives, many beings on these planets watch as many extraterrestrials follow the light and depart. They do not understand if this golden light is another manifestation of demonic magic. They observe secretly, fearing they might be deceived and harmed again. After many days of observation, they confirm that Practitioner Su is the true saviour and that this golden light is the true golden Buddha-light from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This large group of extraterrestrials communicates with one another: 'It is the true Buddha! It is the true Buddha! Let us follow quickly!' They convey the message in different extraterrestrial languages, waiting with full hearts in the cosmic space to be saved.
Today, as the Buddha-light arrives, they quickly join the procession, seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, their hearts filled with infinite gratitude. They have also left a message in the universe: 'The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss truly exists. Everyone, chant the Buddha's name quickly. Chant Namo Amituofo and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.' Now, every day, more and more spirits in the universe are being saved. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, and I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo!"
