The Three-Hundred-Year Wait of a Fly
An Interview with the Spirit of Johnson, a Former Homeless Man
Recorded on September 25, 2017
This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Johnson, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his life as a young homeless man in Australia and his subsequent three centuries of wandering as a fly. Recorded by the disciple Shi Faxin on September 25, 2017.
Venerable Faxin speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. While I was sitting down to enjoy my breakfast this morning, I noticed a small fly buzzing persistently around me. I felt a deep connection and a sense of urgency, and I promised to help it by writing a memorial tablet for its liberation. Could you please share your story with us so that others may learn from your journey? Namo Amituofo."
A Life of Desires and Regrets
The spirit speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. I was once a homeless man here in Australia, just a young lad trying to survive on the streets. You know, the Australian government is quite compassionate and places great importance on the welfare of its people, so those who have been unemployed for a period can apply for government assistance. After receiving the subsidy, I had to stretch that money to cover my meals for the entire month, which meant I had to be extremely frugal and careful with every cent.
But I was young, and I had my desires! I had my cravings! Sometimes, I just wanted to eat something decent, something that tasted like real food instead of the scraps I usually found. I would often laugh at myself in my own heart, thinking, 'You are a homeless man, why are you even thinking about such things?' But I simply could not control my impulses. I would give in to my desires and spend the money on one good meal. The consequence, however, was always bitter: for the next few days, I had to scavenge for food in trash cans just to stay alive. It was a cycle of shame and hunger that I could not break.
Three Centuries of Buzzing
I tried my best to keep my spirits up and make it through each day. Day after day, that was my boring, aimless life. Because I was lazy and lived only for my appetites, after I passed away, I was reborn as a fly. I have been a fly for three hundred years now—three hundred years of buzzing, searching, and suffering. It is truly a miracle that today, by some stroke of karmic fortune, I flew into your building. I have the to have someone write a memorial tablet for me. I am so deeply grateful for this opportunity to be saved.
My name is Johnson. By the way, could you please be kind enough to also write one for my fly friends nearby? They are suffering just as I was, trapped in this cycle of existence. I hope they can also find the peace that I have finally encountered today. Namo Amituofo."
This interview was recorded and transcribed by the disciple Shi Faxin.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library