The Transformation of Li Si: From Frailty to Dharma Practitioner

This is a record of an interview with Li Si, who sought Chao Du 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 approximately 1,315 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 11, 2018.

Li Si speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Si. In that lifetime, my body was frail and plagued by chronic illness. I was incredibly weak, and my voice was always faint, as if I lacked the strength to even draw a full breath. My mother, fearing that my body could not bear any physical burden, never allowed me to take on any work. The entire financial burden of our household fell upon my elder brother. He was a man of great strength and vitality, capable of doing the work of several men all by himself, and he carried the weight of our family on his shoulders with unwavering dedication.

A Brother's Devotion

My brother was a simple, honest, and kind-hearted man. He cared for me deeply. Every day, he would head out to work, and without fail, he would return in the evening with a small treat for me. I lived for those moments, waiting expectantly for his little gifts. My brother never intended to marry; his only goal was to care for our mother and me. To support our home, he worked himself to the bone, pouring his very life force into his labour, never once complaining about the heavy toll it took on his own health.

Seeing my brother work so tirelessly, I felt ashamed to be a burden, a 'useless rice-worm' waiting at home to be fed. One day, I secretly slipped out of the house, determined to find some simple work to contribute, even just a little, to help him. But I had not even reached the city gates before I collapsed to the ground. I could hear someone calling out to me, but I had no strength to respond. I drifted into a deep, dark sleep. A powerful force was pulling at me, urging me never to wake up. I resisted, but the pull was overwhelming, constantly tugging at my soul. I struggled, and suddenly, the image of my brother’s weary back as he returned from work flashed into my mind. That memory gave me the strength to wake up.

The Medicine of the Dharma

My blood felt as though it were barely flowing, and my breath came in shallow, ragged gasps. I was suffocating. Just then, I heard a sound outside. A monk stepped through the door. He held a bowl of hot, nourishing soup he had prepared specifically for me. He urged me to drink it while it was hot to invigorate my circulation. The moment I finished that soup, it was as if my blood began to flow anew. My entire being felt revitalised; my spirit was even more vibrant than it had ever been in my life. The effect of that soup was truly inconceivable!

I asked the monk where I was, and he explained that I was at the temple near my home. Although it was so close, I had never had the chance to visit. Every day, I would gaze at the temple’s roof, longing for the day I could enter to pay my respects to the Buddha. I never imagined I would enter under such circumstances. The monk was incredibly compassionate and cared for me with such meticulous attention. I was filled with immense gratitude toward him, for he had not only saved my life but had also opened the door to a new world.

Understanding the Laws of Karma

The monk shared stories with me about the laws of karma and cause and effect. He explained that whether one is beautiful or ugly, healthy or weak, wealthy or poor, it is all the result of past causes. The seeds we sowed in the past determine the fruits we harvest in this life. My frailty was the result of causes I had created in previous lives. In that moment, the monk unravelled the confusion that had plagued me for years. I had always wondered why my brother and I, born of the same mother, could be so different. I had often felt envious of his healthy body, but finally, I understood the truth of the laws of karma and cause and effect.

Half of my brother’s hard-earned money went toward buying medicine for me, hoping my health would improve. Yet, no matter how expensive the herbs were, my body remained broken. The monk taught me to chant Namo Amituofo and perform prostrations. He told me to do this every day when I returned home and to dedicate the merit to my karmic creditors, repenting for my past actions. Grateful for his guidance, I rested for a while before heading home, my heart lighter than it had been in years.

The Power of Prostration

My mother had been frantic, searching for me everywhere like an ant on a hot pan. When I appeared, she was instantly relieved and asked where I had been. I dared not tell her about my attempt to find work or my collapse; I simply told her I had visited the nearby temple to seek advice from the monk. I promised her I would always let her know where I was going so she would not worry.

From that day on, I practised diligently, chanting and bowing to the Buddha. I had never been one to sweat, but after just one week of prostrations, my body began to perspire. The energy from bowing was truly inconceivable. I worked hard at my practice every day, never daring to slacken. My health improved day by day. I went from being able to eat only a single mouthful of rice to eating full meals, and my body grew stronger and stronger. My mother and brother were stunned. They had never believed in the Buddha’s teachings, but now they marvelled at the Buddha’s divine power. I realised then that the true Great Physician was right before us: Namo Amituofo.

A New Purpose

My mother, brother, and I prepared fresh flowers and fruits to offer at the temple, thanking the Buddha for his compassion in restoring my health. When I entered the temple and saw the monk, I immediately introduced him to my mother. She knelt to thank him, but he gently helped her up. Seeing my transformation, he nodded and smiled at me. He told me, 'Continue your diligent practice. Learn the Buddha’s compassion and save those who are suffering just as you once did.'

Back home, I continued my prostrations. The monk’s words echoed in my mind. After finishing my daily practice, I told my mother I wanted to go out, and I walked into the city alone. My health had largely recovered. This was my first time truly experiencing the city. It was bustling with vendors, shoppers, street performers, and children playing. It was a vibrant, lively place. Yet, in all that noise, nothing caught my attention—except for one old man.

The Beggar on the Street

He was huddled by the roadside, a man with white hair and a hunched back, holding a broken bowl. He was a beggar. I walked toward him, and as he looked up, I was shocked—he was actually a young man! I asked him, 'Why have you chosen to be a beggar?' He remained silent, shrinking back down. Seeing he did not want to be bothered, I simply sat down beside him, enduring the wind and sun. He was like a wooden statue, motionless, head bowed, waiting for someone to drop a coin into his bowl. One day, two days, three days... a week passed. Every day, I sat with him, observing the people passing by, waiting for the right moment to share the Dharma.

After a week, he finally spoke. 'Are you a beggar too?' he asked. I shook my head. 'Then why are you sitting here, stealing my territory?' he demanded. I looked at him, puzzled—so this was his spot! I asked him again, 'Why would someone as young as you choose to be a beggar? Is there nothing else you can do with your life?' He sneered at me, 'What would a little brat like you know?' His temper was fierce. People nearby whispered his story to me: he had been abandoned by his parents as a child and had been begging on the streets ever since, completely hopeless about his future.

The Opening of a Closed Heart

I continued to sit with him every day, sharing the Buddha’s teachings. Although he kept his head down, I knew his ears were sharp. Even without a response, he was listening. As days turned into months, his appearance began to change. I could see that his once-closed heart was slowly opening. Three months passed, and I had shared the sutras with him every day. On the first day of the fourth month, I went to the street as usual, but he was gone. I looked everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. I wandered the streets, feeling lost, and eventually headed back toward the temple.

As I passed the temple, I ran into him. I had looked at his face for three months; I could not be mistaken. But this time, he was clean, his head was shaved, and he stood tall and refreshed. He was a completely different person. I could hardly believe my eyes. I hurried over to greet him, and he replied, 'Namo Amituofo.' I was astonished! He had decided to start learning the Buddha’s teachings. He told me that over the past three months, he had been deeply moved by the Dharma I shared, and he had decided to pull himself together and practise properly, so as not to waste the human body he had obtained in this lifetime.

A Shared Path

I marvelled that he had progressed even faster than I had—he had entered the temple before I even had the chance to invite him! I was overjoyed for him. A year later, I also entered the temple to practise. When I saw him again, his Dharma appearance was so radiant I almost didn't recognise him. I realised then that one’s heart truly influences the entire Body-Mind-Spirit. The Buddha’s teachings really can change a person’s life.

We became Dharma brothers. He was my senior, and we practised diligently together, hoping to use our life stories and our study of the Dharma to deliver sentient beings. Years later, we both became monks, spending our lives giving lectures to help others break through delusion and attain enlightenment. In that lifetime, I also guided my mother and brother to learn the Buddha’s teachings, and we all practised in the temple. I am so grateful that the Buddha came to lead me at the end of my life, guiding me to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I have been assisting Practitioner Su in performing Chao Du for the universe for several months now. Every day, I am cautious and diligent in delivering the spirits connected to me. The number of beings is truly vast; every day, different groups emerge, one after another, as if waiting in line to be saved. Seeing so many beings receive the karmic affinity to leave their realms, I feel deep gratitude in my heart for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo."