The Universal Mission of Venerable Deqin

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Deqin, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now serves as a member of the salvation team, assisting in the deliverance of sentient beings across the cosmos. This account reflects upon his life and his spiritual journey. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on June 15, 2018.

Venerable Deqin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Deqin, ranked number 1,150. My secular name was Togawa Rindo. My parents were Japanese, and they had eight children; I was the third. I was born with a visual impairment, which meant that from a very young age, I did not receive the warmth or affection of my elders. Our family was desperately poor, and my parents simply did not have the means to raise eight children. When I was two years old, they gave me away to a kind Chinese teacher who lived nearby."

A Childhood of Resilience

"The teacher was incredibly patient in teaching me the Chinese language. I felt deep gratitude and studied with a humble heart, learning to recognise and study each character one by one. Despite my visual impairment, my ability to learn was quite exceptional. By the age of three, I could converse fluently with my teacher. I could even pick up a calligraphy brush and write Chinese characters clearly, one after another, which astonished my teacher. When I was seven, I wanted to visit my parents and went to their home. They did not seem to welcome me; the moment I stepped through the door, I was immediately swept out with a broom. I heard the neighbours whispering, 'Giving birth to a child with a visual impairment—it must be because of heavy sins.' My parents quickly slammed the door shut."

"I walked down the road alone, but I felt no resentment toward my parents for their heartless treatment. I understood that in order to support the family, they had already been through the wringer and simply did not have the strength left to care for me. Giving me to the teacher was, in fact, the best choice for me. From that day on, I only quietly inquired about their well-being, but I never returned to visit them again. However, I held a wish in my heart: I hoped that one day I would be able to save my parents, so they would not have to suffer the hardships of life to the end."

The Path of Independence

"Day after day, I worked hard to learn how to be independent. I often walked into unfamiliar environments to learn how to navigate them. I once stepped into deep mud and fell, becoming covered in filth; another time, I fell into a river and nearly drowned, only surviving because a noble person saved me. Without parents by my side, I had to rely on myself from a very young age. As I grew year by year, even when I was in a strange environment, I felt no fear or anxiety. I always held a bright belief in my heart: I would absolutely find a way to succeed."

"My innate sensitivity allowed me, at the age of fifteen, to foresee the future direction of the Japanese Empire. I felt very clearly the greed of human nature—a powerful ambition that was shrouding the entire country. I understood that this was the evil side of human nature. While it might bring economic growth to the nation, it would also force my fellow countrymen to pay a terrible price. I did not want that day to come; I always hoped that people would remain pure and good forever."

Seeking the Dharma

"One day, while in a mountain forest, I happened to meet a monastic from China. I felt a pure and meditative energy radiating from within him. Because I was very interested in the Buddha’s teachings, I decided to leave Japan alone to study Mahayana Buddhism in China."

"I endured many hardships at sea and finally arrived in China. One day, I reached a remote wilderness. I could not see the scenery in front of me, but I felt that the magnetic field of this place was pure and at ease. As I walked, I bumped into a monastic. I apologised sincerely and asked him if there was any Buddha’s teaching to study here. The monastic asked me a question: 'These leaves drift with the wind; do they have any fixed nature?' I replied, 'The tree roots and the trunk stand firm and unmoving; that is the foundation of meditative concentration.' Upon hearing this, the monastic gently patted my shoulder and led me to a small temple in the forest."

The Temple of Light

"As soon as I stepped into the temple, I asked the monastic which Buddha or Bodhisattva was in front of us. He replied that it was the teaching master of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Namo Amituofo. I immediately prostrated before the Compassionate One. Then, the monastic took me to see the temple. It was not large. I touched the walls; they were quite old, yet they were filled with immense energy and silence. The monastic lived there alone, practicing. From that day on, I followed him to study the Buddha’s teachings. He required me to go out to chop wood, carry water, pick wild vegetables, plant fruits and vegetables, cook, and repair the temple."

"Although my eyes could not see clearly, I could still use my sense of touch, smell, and hearing to assist me. Even though I cut off a finger while chopping wood and broke a leg while repairing the house, I did not lose heart. I learned step by step with a sincere effort. No matter how difficult the tasks the monastic gave me, I was able to complete them perfectly."

Awakening and Enlightenment

"I never felt any resistance because of my visual impairment; instead, I studied even more diligently. One day, my vision suddenly returned to normal. 'What is happening?' I asked the monastic. He told me, 'It is your vow and your sincere heart that have invoked the Buddha’s blessings.' I was grateful to the Buddha and to the monastic. This was the first time I had ever seen the world with my own eyes."

"The monastic taught me to have a heart of compassion and led me to see all the suffering in the world. I realised the Buddha’s teachings through life; I saw life through the Buddha’s teachings; I understood the truth through daily life; and from that understanding, I realised the importance of 'escaping the cycle of rebirth.' I practiced purely every day: 'The heart does not leave the Buddha, and the Buddha does not leave the heart.' I gained insights from the bits and pieces of life, and finally, at the age of forty-seven, I achieved Awakening. At forty-eight, I became a monk with the Dharma name 'Deqin.' I became well-versed in both Mahayana and Hinayana sutras, understanding that the only thing that can bring ordinary people to 'escape the cycle of rebirth' is the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo'—that one must chant the Buddha’s name with a single-minded heart and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Returning to Save Others

"I taught the Dharma in China, helping civilians understand the suffering of 'reincarnation' and the importance of 'chanting the Buddha’s name' to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. At fifty-eight, I prepared to return to Japan to teach the Dharma and save my fellow countrymen. I boarded a ship, and all the passengers were Japanese civilians. On the ship, I promoted the Buddha’s teachings, helping these people recognise Namo Amituofo and understand the magnificence of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"When the ship reached the deep ocean, a sudden storm arose. The ship rocked violently, and it looked as if it would capsize. Everyone was panicked. I told them not to be afraid; to chant the Buddha’s name—chant 'Namo Amituofo'—and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss would be right before their eyes. I led everyone to focus on chanting the Buddha’s name, using the Buddha-name to calm their panicked hearts. The chaos finally subsided, and we successfully made it through the crisis."

"Upon stepping onto the Japanese islands, I began to promote the Buddha’s teachings from a small village. At first, people did not understand the Dharma, so I lived among the villagers. I moved them with sincerity, letting them understand the magnificence of the Buddha’s teachings and the compassion of Namo Amituofo. More importantly, I let the people know that they must seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Gradually, the people of this village understood the Dharma more and more, eventually believing in it without doubt. The villagers here had pure and good hearts, and many successfully chanted the Buddha’s name and achieved rebirth."

A Universal Mission

"During my lifetime, I actively promoted the Buddha’s teachings. I even returned to my birthplace to reunite with my elderly parents and actively preached the Dharma in the village. When my parents saw my growth, besides feeling guilty, they were also grateful for the Buddha and Bodhisattvas’ care for me. They never missed a day of my teachings; they listened earnestly and believed deeply in Namo Amituofo. When my parents passed away, they chanted the Buddha’s name and sought rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha."

"Being able to come into the universe to save sentient beings was once my dream. I never expected that at this time, I would be able to follow Practitioner Su’s salvation team to fulfil the wish of saving the universe. The scope of the entire universe is far larger and wider than humans imagine; it is truly boundless. Every star has sentient beings, whether it is a star, a planet, or a satellite. There are even more planets that have not yet been discovered by humans, and each has sentient beings. However, most of the sentient beings on these planets do not know to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Light of Namo Amituofo

"The Buddha’s teachings were once introduced to the 'Badu Badu Planet.' An eminent monk used his Dharma Body to enter the planet and spread the Dharma throughout it. The Dharma on that planet was passed down through generations, but they still did not know to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Because of the inheritance of the Dharma, the Badu Badu Planet continuously transmitted positive energy. However, the residents of the planet were still trapped within the space of the planet and had never left. This planet, which had the Buddha’s teachings, was once destroyed by many evil forces in the universe. They did not want the Buddha’s teachings to exist in the universe. But the righteous power of the Buddha’s teachings cannot be violated; even though evil forces attacked the planet many times, the planet naturally radiated a powerful positive energy to resist them, allowing the Dharma to continue to this day."

"Today, Practitioner Su has truly introduced the 'six-character holy name' (Namo Amituofo) of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to the Badu Badu Planet. Besides practicing the Buddha’s teachings, the people of the planet should also seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. There is endless space within the Badu Badu Planet. The sentient beings are illuminated by the Buddha-light, and following the six-character holy name, they are led out of their space one by one, following the Buddha-light to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"From now on, the people of the Badu Badu Planet are willing to spread the Buddha’s teachings to other planets, so that people on other planets can also understand the magnificence of the Dharma. The Buddha’s teachings can truly bring energy and maintain the vitality of a planet. Furthermore, when the planet’s lifespan is near its end, everyone can chant the Buddha’s name and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"I have seen that there is a massive amount of energy in the universe, which is the result of Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body performing Chao Du, bringing the energy of the Buddha-name into the universe. The aliens in the universe have also begun to learn to promote the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo,' allowing energy to be generated and transmitted rapidly throughout the universe. This is the beginning of a positive change. In the future, every planet will eventually become a pure land of Namo Amituofo. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo!"