The Supreme Mantra of Namo Amituofo

This is a record of an interview with the 666th Venerable, Liyang, 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 life approximately many centuries ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on June 30, 2018.

Venerable Liyang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Liyang. I was born into an incredibly wealthy family. My mother’s friend had a daughter named Yang Wumei, and we grew up together as childhood sweethearts with a deep, affectionate bond. We often raced horses together; though Wumei appeared delicate, her horsemanship was second to none. In fact, there were several times when I, Liyang, actually lost to her! Her skill was truly first-class, and it earned my deep respect. Our families were both prominent and wealthy, and our relatives often remarked that we were a perfect match. When we were sixteen, Wumei became pregnant with my child. Our parents were overjoyed, and to ensure she could wear her bridal gown before her pregnancy became too visible, we decided to marry that same year."

A Life of Prosperity and Joy

"The Li and Yang families were the two most influential and wealthy clans in our town. As the only son of the Li family and Wumei the only daughter of the Yangs, our wedding was a grand affair. High-ranking officials came to offer their congratulations, and we hosted hundreds of tables, inviting every villager to share in our joy. We were blessed with a beautiful daughter, whom our parents cherished like a precious pearl, always keeping her by their side. My wife and I still found time for ourselves, often travelling to the countryside, and our love grew even more intense than before our marriage. A year later, she gave birth to a healthy, chubby baby boy. Our parents spent their days playing with their grandchildren, and every day felt like living in heaven. Over the years, we had five children, and my wife was a truly virtuous woman who dedicated her life to them. My friends envied me, all wishing they could find such a perfect partner."

The Desolation of a Dying Town

"When I was thirty-five, I had to leave home for work, a trip that would take a month and a half. I told my wife, 'Take good care of yourself, my parents, and our five children.' After saying my goodbyes, I departed. I was on a business venture, partnering with a friend from a neighbouring country to develop a new product. If successful, it would have been a massive profit. On my journey, I passed through a desolate town where the people lived in extreme misery. As soon as I entered, more than a dozen toddlers, only three or four years old, surrounded me to beg. Seeing these poor children, my heart was filled with sorrow, and I gave them some silver. As I walked further into the town, I heard weeping coming from house after house. I asked what had happened. For years, the town had been plagued by a mysterious illness. When it struck, people would lose their minds—sometimes running naked through the streets, sometimes screaming like madmen, other times hiding in corners in total silence, or muttering incessantly. Their behaviour became bizarre, and no medicine could cure them. It struck children, the elderly, and most tragically, the heads of households. A father would be fine one day and stricken the next, while the mother lay bedridden. A family of ten would be thrown into chaos, unable to work or feed themselves, eventually forcing the children onto the streets to beg. To make matters worse, the town’s water source had been poisoned; some died from drinking it, while others were left critically ill. Now, there was no water supply at all, and people had to travel vast distances to find it. The entire town was in a state of panic."

The Power of the Supreme Mantra

"We are all human, yet the disparity in our lives was so vast. My heart could not bear it; I told myself that I must save these suffering people. From that day on, I brought in shipment after shipment of rice and spent a fortune hiring people to find nearby water sources to pipe into the town. For families who could not afford to bury their loved ones, I provided the funds for proper burials. For the children who had lost their parents, I gathered teachers from other towns to provide free education so they would not be left to wander the streets. I stayed for over a year, abandoning my business venture entirely. I realised that the lives of these people were far more important than my own wealth. Facing this strange illness, I did not know how to save them, so I knelt and prayed to the heavens to save these poor souls. I vowed that if a noble person could save them, I would repay that debt of gratitude for the rest of my life. One day, a monk appeared in town. He was travelling and teaching the Dharma, and upon arriving, he sensed a sinister energy. Seeing the pale faces of the people and the talismans hidden within their bodies, he realised this was the work of evil practitioners. I knelt before this eminent monk and begged him to save the people. He told me to teach them to chant the name of Namo Amituofo. He explained that this Buddha-name is the Supreme Mantra. If they could sincerely chant it every day, they would surely break through this calamity. I began to spread the name of Namo Amituofo everywhere, gathering the people in the square to chant in unison. The collective unity of the people, combined with the power of the Buddha, the monk’s visualisation, and the chanting, created an incredibly powerful energy. In an instant, a vast expanse of golden light enveloped the entire town, and every person was illuminated by it. The monk said this was the golden light of Namo Amituofo. All the people saw Namo Amituofo standing majestically in the sky, and they collectively knelt and kowtowed in gratitude. From that day on, all the sick recovered. The people were so moved that they hugged each other and wept with joy. I was filled with gratitude for the great compassion of Namo Amituofo. Truly, Namo Amituofo is the Great Mantra, the Supreme Mantra, the Incomparable Mantra. Namo Amituofo is the Supreme Great Physician who can eradicate all disasters. Sincere chanting will surely avert all suffering."

A Vow to Save All Beings

"The monk told me that the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings lies in its infinite love and infinite compassion. The purpose of spreading the Dharma is to save all suffering beings. In this world, whether rich or poor, healthy or sick, everyone has their own unique suffering. I understood this, for I had seen the many facets of life. Even a woman in noble attire has her own inner pain that money cannot heal. Those who are healthy worry about the coming of illness, constantly taking supplements or exercising, never living with true ease. As for the poor and the sick, their suffering is even more obvious. The monk told me that if I had the vow to help sentient beings, I would receive the Buddha’s blessings, gain the strength to act, and be able to save these suffering beings in the cycle of rebirth. I was grateful for his guidance. From that day on, I decided to follow the monk to spread the Dharma. I did not hesitate to become a monk in the temple, willing to let go of all worldly attachments to save the world. I wrote a letter to my parents, wife, and children, telling them to chant Namo Amituofo sincerely. I told them I would dedicate my life to practising and saving beings, and I hoped they would support my decision."

The Reach of the Dharma Body

"I spent the rest of my life exerting great effort in the Dharma, practising and saving the people. My parents and family visited me at the temple, but I did not let worldly emotions sway me. Seeing my parents’ aging faces only made me understand the need for diligent practice. To save beings, my heart would not be easily shaken; it was always focused on the Dharma, and what I held in my heart was always the suffering of sentient beings. My dignified Dharma appearance moved my parents and family, and they supported my continued efforts to spread the Dharma. They even brought the teachings back to our town, promoting the name of Namo Amituofo, and every household began to follow the practice of chanting. Many monks who have achieved great success in their practice have been able to ascend into the universe to spread the Dharma there as well. They hope that the Dharma can exist throughout the universe, allowing the spirits within it to hear the sound of the Dharma and chant the Buddha’s name to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. However, the reach of the Dharma Body depends on the mind-capacity of the practitioner. Although these monks used their Dharma Bodies to spread the teachings, they did not understand the importance of the breadth of mind-capacity at the time, so they could only spread the Dharma in small corners of the vast universe. Today, through the Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, I have seen that there are many scattered planets where the Dharma truly exists. They are still waiting for the causal conditions to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, thanks to the power of Practitioner Su’s Chao Du, they have seized this opportunity. All the inhabitants of these planets are chanting the Buddha’s name, following the Buddha-light, and according to their own vows, they are dispersing into the three good realms."

The True Saviour

"Today, there is another peculiar phenomenon in the universe. When the Buddha-light of Practitioner Su shines, it illuminates the entire universe, and many extraterrestrials on various planets have gathered, waiting. Through the Chao Du of these past days, they have been secretly observing. They watched as many extraterrestrials followed the Buddha-light, but they were unsure if this golden light was another manifestation of demonic power, fearing they would be deceived and harmed again. After many days of observation, they confirmed that Practitioner Su is the true saviour and that this golden light truly comes from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This large group of extraterrestrials communicated to one another: 'It is the true Buddha! It is the true Buddha! Let us follow quickly!' They passed this message in their various extraterrestrial languages, waiting in the space of the universe with great joy to be saved. Today, as the Buddha-light arrived, they quickly joined the procession, seeking rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, leaving behind infinite gratitude. They have also left a message in the universe: The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss truly exists! Chant together, chant Namo Amituofo, and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! Now, every day, more and more sentient beings 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!"

Namo Amituofo.