The Teacher Who Became Chalk

This is a record of an interview with Tsai Bentian, a former primary school teacher who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life as an educator and his subsequent spiritual journey. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on February 19, 2026.

Tsai Bentian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today is a truly remarkable day. I am honoured to be interviewed by the monastics of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, allowing me to transmit my story from the spiritual realms so that others may hear it. I am Tsai Bentian, and in my life, I was a primary school teacher in Taoyuan. After I passed away, I became a piece of chalk—not the pink kind, but a simple, white piece of chalk. This chalk was imbued with the weight of my life's work. I had spent so much time obsessively practising my handwriting, wanting to ensure that my students could learn more easily and that their note-taking would be effortless. Finally, my hard work paid off, and my calligraphy on the chalkboard improved significantly. It was a labour of love for my students."

A Life Dedicated to the Chalkboard

"If you ask why I chose to become a primary school teacher, I must take you back to my middle school years. 'Oh, another day has passed... how incredibly boring,' I would sigh, lying on the grass beneath the pedestrian bridge, staring up at the vast blue sky. Back then, I was a student with decent grades, but I had a terrible habit of skipping class. I became a 'problem student' in the eyes of my teachers. On one hand, they hoped I would bring glory to the school with high exam scores; on the other, they were frustrated by my lack of ambition and my constant rule-breaking. Because my parents were permanent board members of the school, the administration often turned a blind eye to my behaviour, provided I did not go too far. Day after day, my antics grew more extreme, until I was finally on the verge of being expelled."

"My parents did not say much, but I could see the profound disappointment in their eyes. Thankfully, my teacher at the time stepped in to vouch for me. He promised that if I did not improve, he would resign. Because he was a veteran educator with an excellent track record, the school gave me one final chance. Seeing that even my own parents had lost faith in me, yet a teacher with no blood relation still believed I could change, I was deeply moved. My heart was stirred in a way I had never experienced before. He told me, 'Everyone, on the path of life, needs a helping hand at a critical moment.' Because of his words and his actions, I resolved to turn over a new leaf. I suddenly had a new goal: to become a teacher who could be that 'helping hand' for my own students. Later, I truly achieved that dream and became a primary school teacher in Taoyuan."

The Chalk Spirit's Vigil

"In that life, I did not do anything particularly extraordinary. Beyond teaching the curriculum thoroughly, I simply gave my students my absolute, unwavering trust whenever they faced a choice. I truly, from the bottom of my heart, believed they could make the right decisions. I knew that what often saves a person is not some grand gesture, but that simple, pure trust—that simple act of believing in someone's potential."

"After I became a piece of chalk, my spirit drifted between different pieces of chalk. No matter how the form changed, the essence of my spirit remained trapped within that space. I was a piece of chalk with a kind heart. Whenever a teacher picked me up, I would help them naturally become more considerate of their students, especially by giving them more confidence in their pupils. I spent fifty years in that 'chalk space' until, recently, a delivery driver carrying a box of us saw a 'Namo Amituofo' billboard in Taiwan. He recited, 'Namo Amituofo,' and because of that, I was liberated from the space of the chalk. When I saw the golden light emanating from the billboard, I was filled with such joy. That is how I arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where, through the myriad Dharma bodies of Practitioner Su, I was delivered into the light and entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature."

Reflections on Modern Education

"Listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have finally come to understand the terror of being reincarnated, as well as the universal principle and the righteous path of Truth. I think about my time as a piece of chalk; if I had not been saved by Practitioner Su and brought to this Western Land of Dharma Nature, I do not know what fate would have awaited me. Seeing so many different types of spirits coming to the temple seeking Chao Du, I realise that any one of those paths could have been mine. I am so fortunate to have encountered Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su; I no longer need to wander in samsara, and I even have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"Looking at the current educational environment, I see that while technology develops at a breakneck speed—even primary school students are using high-tech gadgets to learn—it is a pity that the cultivation of character and moral foundations has not kept pace. Now, as I listen to the Dharma in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I see the education provided by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is the teaching given by Namo Amituofo to the masses, and it is truly the education that children today need. Beyond understanding the laws of karma and cause and effect, it allows them to understand the situations of the spiritual realms and the relationship between the countless sentient beings within the human body. This naturally inspires students to develop a desire for liberation, to be willing to adjust the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness, to reclaim their original nature, and to truly save beings and help them leave suffering behind."

"I am currently here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, constantly listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma. I hope that one day, I can be like Practitioner Su—someone who can truly help sentient beings, truly help spirits leave suffering behind, end their cycle of rebirth, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"Namo Amituofo."

"Tsai Bentian"