The Upright Physician and the Thunder God

Huang Yonglai, a dedicated physician from the Northern region of Taiwan, lived a life defined by integrity and a commitment to healing. After passing away, he assumed the role of a Thunder God in the heavenly realms. In April 2021, he sought Spiritual Deliverance through the compassionate intervention of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, where he was granted the opportunity to share his testimony before ascending to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Huang Yonglai speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Huang Yonglai, the Thunder God. Throughout my life, I have been unyielding and upright—right is right, and wrong is wrong. My naturally stubborn temperament, inherited from my Shandong roots, caused me quite a bit of hardship, but I have never regretted it. I believe that people are born with a tendency to make excuses for themselves to find an exit from their mistakes. If someone does not point these excuses out, there is no room for progress. Of course, the one who points them out must lead by example and see the truth clearly. Only then can one stand firm and truly help the other person. After all, this process inevitably causes friction and displeasure, but if the other person can change their ways because of it, then it is all worth it!"

The Burden of Truth

"In truth, many things were none of my business, and I did not need to meddle. Yet, I simply could not stand by and watch. This personality trait offended many people, as most prefer to hear pleasantries rather than the truth. The truth can sometimes be quite grating to the ears, and those without a broad mind might even hold a grudge against you. Fortunately, in my later years of practising medicine, witnessing the suffering of sentient beings naturally softened my rigid personality. I believe that justice exists in this world. Everything is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect; it cannot escape the eyes of Heaven, the records of the Yama King, or one's own heart. Living a life that is open and clear has been the hallmark of my existence."

A Heavenly Mission

"I had long heard of the achievements of Practitioner Su in the heavenly realms. From the very beginning, when he performed Chao Du for the celestial beings of the twenty-eighth heaven in Shiding, it caused a sensation in the heavens. I never imagined that a practitioner in the human world could cultivate to the point of sending celestial beings and the Four Sages to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Years have passed since then, and Practitioner Su’s skills in Chao Du have flourished. The ones who benefit are undoubtedly the suffering beings; he is the kind of talent that is desperately needed in this age of the Dharma’s decline. Practitioner Su bears this great responsibility of saving the world alone. We celestial beings admire him from the bottom of our hearts, and if there is any way we can assist, we will certainly step forward. Indeed, during the recent drought in Taiwan, Practitioner Su, as a son of Taiwan, felt the plight of his homeland. Although he was at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, his heart remained in Taiwan. He prayed for rain and received the assistance of the Jade Emperor. Not long ago, I received an imperial decree from the Jade Emperor, ordering me to proceed to Taiwan to stand by with the Rain God, the Wind God, and the Lightning God, ready to perform the duty of bringing rain according to Practitioner Su’s Chao Du work. I accepted the order and immediately set off."

The Duty of the Thunder God

"I was happy to see that a few days ago, Practitioner Su performed Chao Du above the various reservoirs in Taiwan, reducing the number of vengeful spirits and successfully bringing rain. I also participated in the mission to bring rain to the northern reservoirs three days ago. Now, I am able to enter the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the temple to be interviewed and subsequently be sent to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Before the rain, I would send out a roll of thunder to let the earthly creatures know that rain was coming so they could find shelter; this was always my duty. Although I did not send out thunder this time, I am grateful for the care of Namo Amituofo. As a member of this group, I have still been included in the list of those who can be sent to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Humble Beginning

"I was born one thousand years ago in Northeast China. I was a standard Northeastern man—sturdy in build and broad-minded in personality. Dumplings and wheat-based foods were our staples; I grew up watching my father roll the dough. My father ran a dumpling shop, and he and my mother worked from dawn until dusk to raise us children. They would prepare the flour for the next day, rest, and then start the busy cycle all over again. They were so frugal; their clothes were often covered in white flour, almost like work uniforms, with permanent traces of flour that could never be washed away. They only had one set of clothes for temporary outings or weddings, and that same set lasted from my childhood until I left home to earn a living elsewhere. You can imagine how thrifty my parents were."

"My parents had three sons and three daughters, but because they were cousins who married, some of the children were miscarried or died shortly after birth. In the end, only my sister and I remained. Therefore, we were the treasures of their hearts, and they gave us the best education possible. Although people at that time did not place much importance on education, my parents believed that a good education could prevent suffering, and they hoped we would not have to endure the hardships they did. The income from the dumpling shop was decent, and they wanted to save money for our future needs."

The Path of the Physician

"My parents’ marriage was due to them growing up together and then, during the chaotic times of war, supporting each other until they became husband and wife. They did not know at the time that close relatives should not marry; they only learned this from a physician after the successive miscarriages. Thus, my parents believed that the popularisation of medical education was essential. They instilled this concept in me from a young age. Perhaps I was born with a talent for medicine, which made me particularly attentive to the body’s changes and the care required during illness."

"In my hometown, my parents first had me learn to read and write, then study herbs and healing at a pharmacy. Later, they sent me to a pharmacy in the capital opened by a retired imperial physician, hoping I would learn well and be able to save lives. I also hoped not to fail my parents’ expectations; saving the world had been my own aspiration since childhood. I had no memories of childhood play; my life was filled with the study of herbs, human meridians, acupoints, acupuncture, and practical application. By the time I was thirty, I was an experienced physician. I often immersed myself in it, forgetting the existence of time. With the help of my teacher, many officials came to know me and specifically requested my care, especially for hidden ailments that required confidentiality. In fact, keeping a patient’s identity and condition secret is the duty of a physician, but because the officials’ identities were sensitive, I had to be doubly careful."

A Life of Dedication

"I always kept my distance from women. Seeing how my parents were exhausted by the demands of raising children, and observing that many physical and mental illnesses were caused by emotional entanglements between men and women, I limited my interactions with women strictly to medical relationships. I never married. Although many women were interested in me, I had no such intentions. I only adopted a child. This child was the descendant of an official whose parents had both perished, leaving him alone. I took him in as my foster son. He was five at the time and knew his background, so he was sensible and followed me to learn medicine, though there was always some distance between us. Everything is a matter of Causal Conditions; the arising and ceasing of these conditions weave the years of one’s life. After the boy fell gravely ill and I nursed him back to health, he finally began to treat me as his own father, calling me 'Foster Father.' I once took him back to my hometown. My parents did not pressure me to marry to continue the family line, but the boy was sensible; when he grew up, he married and had children, naming one of them 'Huang' to continue our family name, which was his way of repaying my kindness in raising him."

"While my foster son was with me, I taught him everything I knew. Whether he would succeed was up to him. I told him that one must be loyal and dedicated. A physician treats the illness; regardless of who the person is, as long as we meet them, it is our duty to do our best to treat them. As for whether they can be healed, that relates to their own karma and cause and effect. This is not something we physicians can resolve. There is a saying, 'Life and death are fated; wealth and honour are in the hands of Heaven.' This is true. Although one can hold their destiny in their own hands, for most people, unless they put in the effort to cultivate their character and accumulate merit, it is difficult to escape the arrangements of fate and karma. With this understanding, I could calmly accept the fact when I was unable to save a patient despite my best efforts. Doing one’s best is all that matters. This is the conclusion I reached after many years of practice, and I passed this concept on to him, hoping that with his cautious personality, he could view life and death lightly and not be attached to results, as results do not always match one’s expectations."

The Joy of Service

"It is not difficult for a physician to save people if they have the heart to do so. I often returned to my hometown during the off-season after the harvest to provide free medical consultations. The most frequent patients were the elderly and children; the young and middle-aged were busy working and were in the prime of their health, so they were less common. Since the elderly and children were the focus of the family’s struggle, I understood the interconnectedness of the family, which allowed me to offer comfort and concern to the patients. I also incorporated medical education related to their conditions into these consultations. Although I could not achieve my mother’s hope of universal medical education, I was able to improve the villagers’ ability to care for themselves. In their hearts, I was a kind, approachable physician with great skill. This was another side of me. My rigid and upright nature was my essence, but being able to add this kind side to my life was a good thing; it made life less serious and much more relaxed."

The Final Call

"When I was sixty-one, after a cold, snowy winter, the earth began to thaw, and spring thunder echoed in the sky. I felt as if I saw all the creatures of the earth waking up, the ice and snow melting, and I thought to myself: 'Spring is here! Another year has begun.' Looking back on my life, although it was not one of wealth and luxury, I never lacked food or clothing. In the eyes of others, I lived a life of abundance. My annual free clinics and help to the villagers were my way of giving back, which was the most comforting thing in my life. Those few days, my heart was particularly peaceful. One afternoon, I heard the thunder in the sky again, and I thought: 'The thunder this year is particularly frequent.' As I thought this, everything around me became bright, and I heard a response from the air: 'This thunder is for you; it is time for you to come with me!' Then, a tall figure appeared before me. Although I wanted to ask for more clarity, I felt there was nothing to ask, so I simply went with him, ending my life."

"Life and death can be so swift. When the spirit leaves the body, one cannot take anything with them. In an instant, I entered the bright heavenly realm, and the Jade Emperor was before me. This sudden change brought me into the next stage of spiritual life. The Jade Emperor told me that my medical practice had been successful, that I had used my skills to save people and pass on my knowledge, and that my upright, honest, and helpful nature made me very suitable to serve as a Thunder God. Thus, I accepted this position. Just like practising medicine, wherever I am needed, I go there to do what I must."

Gratitude for Deliverance

"This time, I received the Jade Emperor’s decree to go to Taiwan to resolve the drought, bring rain, and observe the timing for thunder. I saw that the space over Taiwan was filled with dark, gloomy, vengeful energy, containing various creatures. Besides ghost realm beings, there were many in the animal realm. One could see that these pigs, chickens, ducks, fish, and cows were the result of excessive slaughter by humans and the use of too many pesticides. Practitioner Su opened layer upon layer of space, allowing the spirits within to be released and receive Chao Du, so they would no longer have to be ghosts. Otherwise, they would remain ghosts in those spaces for hundreds, thousands, or ten thousand years, unable to be saved. This is truly a compassionate act by Practitioner Su. When these immeasurable beings, amidst the vast and majestic Buddha-light, saw Namo Amituofo, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva—the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas they were familiar with—they knelt and wept in gratitude. Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body was busy sending everyone into the Buddha-light to receive Chao Du. Afterward, the gloomy, vengeful energy and the spirits in those spaces were greatly reduced, allowing for the conditions to bring rain. Therefore, we were able to carry out what the Jade Emperor had promised Practitioner Su: to bring rain above the reservoirs to alleviate the drought. Thus, we executed the mission, and the northern region was able to see the rain fall."

"Now that the rain has successfully fallen, and I can enter the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss after this interview, it is a new stage of spiritual life. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, grateful to Practitioner Su, grateful to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and grateful to everyone!"

Words of Huang Yonglai

Memorial Tablet: The ghosts, sentient beings with karmic affinity, and Taiwanese spirits seeking Chao Du related to the rain in northern Taiwan, countless, represented by: Thunder God Huang Yonglai

Memorial Tablet: The citizens, family members, and divine beings involved in the thunder and rain mission within the jurisdiction of Thunder God Huang Yonglai, countless, represented by: Thunder God Huang Yonglai

Entered the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia.