The Three Lives of Zen Master Yuanze

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Zen Master Yuanze, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life during the Tang Dynasty. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on April 8, 2018.

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"May I ask if the spirit of Zen Master Yuanze, residing within the porcelain statue of the monk upon the cow at the Mingde Society, is available to accept an interview?"

Zen Master Yuanze speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am here. I am deeply grateful to you, Venerable, for granting me this precious opportunity. I have lingered in this space for a very long time. If we measure by dynasties, it has been over one thousand and one hundred years since the Tang Dynasty!"

A Voice from the Tang Dynasty

"In the spiritual realm, there is no need to count the days or track the passage of time. Now that this space has been opened, I can look upon your world—it is truly a 'world of flowers,' a dazzling and fleeting display of phenomena. I have been waiting here for all of you to arrive. It has been about two months since our last connection, and every single day, I have been able to hear the sacred Buddha-name, Namo Amituofo, echoing through the void. I have turned my entire consciousness into the chanting of this name; it has become my deepest form of meditative concentration."

"From a very young age, I possessed a much deeper understanding of birth, aging, sickness, and death than the other children around me. I often asked my elders, 'Why did you bring me into this world? Why is the child born as me, and not someone else?' The adults could never provide an answer. I would tell them, 'Because my parents wanted me, so I came.' They would look at me, completely bewildered. I often found myself contemplating these questions, and I would compose little verses to express my inner state: 'I laugh and ask the heavens why I have come; it is only because I was wanted that I arrived. Who knows that I possess nothing at all? It turns out, this is simply how it must be.'"

The Burden of Supernatural Powers

"The story of my journey with my dear friend, travelling by water and mountain paths, has been passed down through the generations. Even though I possessed vast supernatural powers and could perceive my past and future lives, I still could not escape the laws of karma and cause and effect. On the Three-Lives Stone, I saw my future: one life as Yuanze, the second as a newborn child, and the third as a shepherd boy on the back of an ox, meeting the Yuanze of the past. It was then that I truly understood the terrifying nature of karma. A thousand years have passed, and yet, the world remains largely unaware of this truth."

"My spirit has wandered through these spaces, and while it may seem like a 'carefree journey,' true liberation and freedom can only be found through Amitabha. I have come to realise that no matter how deep one's practice or how great one's powers, without the Buddha, one remains trapped in the cycle of rebirth."

The Truth Behind the Three Lives

"Let me share my story with you. As a child, I was quick-witted, and my questions often left the adults around me at a loss. My parents, though well-read scholars, felt they could not teach me. One day, while travelling with them, we passed a temple. The sound of the bell ringing out from within struck my heart and entered my ears; I was deeply shaken, for the feeling was so incredibly familiar. From that moment on, I felt a deep affinity for temples and immersed myself in the scriptures and the Buddha’s teachings. However, I had many questions that no one could answer. My father eventually decided to let me stay in the temple for a while, and from then on, I made it my home."

"I loved the library of the temple most of all, for it was there that all my doubts were finally resolved. I was only eleven or twelve years old, yet I was perfectly content to settle into the study of the sutras. When my father came to take me home, I shook my head; I did not want to leave. After speaking with the abbot, my father did not force me. I became a part of the temple, took the Precepts, and donned the monastic robes. It felt as though I had finally returned to my true self. As I grew older, I spent much of my time in the meditation hall. My master often said that I had a natural, intuitive understanding of the Dharma. In my meditative concentration, I could see my past and my present, but I knew I must not let my heart be moved, nor could I hold onto any attachments. Naturally, I could see my future as well."

The Mystery of the Soul

"There was a dear friend who often invited me to travel. One time, he proposed a route that made my heart sink; I did not want to go, but he insisted, so I eventually agreed. He wanted to travel by water, while I preferred the mountain path to return quickly, but I yielded to his wishes. As we sailed, I saw a pregnant woman washing clothes by the river. I sighed, knowing that what was meant to happen could not be avoided. I told my friend the truth: that woman was waiting for me to be reborn, and it was time for us to part. He was devastated, regretting that he had insisted on the trip! But since it was meant to be, we had to say goodbye. We agreed to meet two days later at that woman's house, where he would see a child who would smile at him. Thirteen years later, he would find a shepherd boy on the back of an ox in the fields near the temple, singing of our meeting. Shortly after, he found me in meditation, but my life had ended. When he visited the woman's house two days later, he heard a baby crying. He asked to hold the child, and the moment the baby saw him, he smiled. My friend was overcome with grief, regretting everything. Thirteen years later, he went to the fields by the temple, and there, he saw an old ox walking slowly with a shepherd boy on its back, playing a flute and singing of our karmic connection."

"This is the story of the 'Three Lives' that everyone knows so well. In truth, it serves as a warning to future generations: even with deep supernatural powers and high levels of practice, as long as one remains within the six realms of existence, it is difficult to escape the karmic retribution of the cycle of rebirth. That is why I now seek to leave the six realms. Having encountered Namo Amituofo, I humbly request to follow the Buddha and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Final Return to Namo Amituofo

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"I am deeply grateful to you, Zen Master Yuanze, for sharing this magnificent story. May I ask, if your spirit had already been reborn into a mother's womb and later as a shepherd boy, how is it that you are here now to accept this interview?"

Zen Master Yuanze speaks:

"This relates to the concept of the 'three hun souls and seven po souls' that Practitioner Su often speaks of. One of my souls entered the spiritual realm during meditation, while my other souls and spirits were reborn into the mother's womb. It is the soul that entered the spiritual realm that is here now, seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. After a thousand years, through the compassion of the Buddha, I have finally found the path to liberation. I am also deeply grateful to the Great Bodhisattva Zhang and the Great Bodhisattva Fan for their protection, which gave us the opportunity to encounter Namo Amituofo and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"I understand now! In tomorrow's Thrice Yearning Ceremony, when we chant the Buddha-name and see the pure, bright, golden light, that is the direction of the Western Land. We shall then be led by the Buddha to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo."

Zen Master Yuanze speaks:

"Namo Amituofo."

This interview was recorded by the disciple of the Buddha, Venerable HaiZe.