The Vow of Faith in Action

This article presents an interview with the 844th Venerable, Zhu Hongyao, who lived approximately 980 years ago. Having sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su, he now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This testimony was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Zhu Hongyao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhu Hongyao. When I was six years old, I sat on a chair, motionless, holding a cup of water. My mother asked me, 'Why are you holding a cup of water?' I did not say a word and continued to sit there. Seeing that I offered no response, she went back to her own tasks. After a long while, she passed by me again. I was still sitting in the same spot, holding the cup of water, completely still. She could not help but ask again, 'Why are you sitting here holding a cup of water?' I finally replied, 'I am learning to be as still as this water. If the water ripples, it means my heart is not still. I am striving to maintain the balance between my body and this cup of water.' My mother looked at me, then at the water, and with a radiant smile, she said, 'What a precious child!'"

The Master's Lesson on Stillness

"Some time before that, I had encountered a Master on the road. Every movement and gesture of that Master filled me with admiration. His actions appeared unhurried, yet he moved much faster than those around him. Even while simply walking, his dignified presence was extraordinary. What amazed me even more was when he stood under a large tree. A branch suddenly snapped and fell; it would have struck the Master directly on the head. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he shifted his position, and the branch missed him entirely. I was in awe of his skills and thought to myself, 'If that were me standing there, I would have been hit squarely!' I stepped forward and asked, 'Master, how does one cultivate such skills?' The Master looked at me and replied, 'Little Bodhisattva, I saw your observation. If you wish to learn, start by chanting Namo Amituofo. Let your heart be as still as water forever.' I was so excited that I rushed home, which is why I began practising with the cup of water."

The True Meaning of a Pure Heart

"My mother eventually set aside her work and took me to the temple to ask the Master how to make the heart as pure as water. The Master told us, 'When the body holds the water, the water moves with the body; naturally, one cannot see the stillness of the water, and the heart cannot be quiet. Little Bodhisattva, if you wish for your heart to remain in constant stillness, chant Namo Amituofo. When you chant with one-pointed focus, you will naturally attain purity. You do not need to hold a cup of water to train your physical balance. That is not the way!'"

"I followed the Master's guidance, diligently chanting the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo every day, anchoring my heart within the Buddha-name. When my heart became pure, the people and things around me seemed to change. The world I saw when my heart was pure was so clear and bright; my Six Roots became sharper, and my movements became more agile."

Transforming Habits and Desires

"I was an only child, cherished by my parents and grandparents. Whatever I wanted, they provided. I would demand new toys every day, mimicking the other children. My heart was never satisfied because everything came too easily. However, this behaviour did not last long. After meeting that Master, I began to change my habits. I wanted to be as dignified as he was, and I wanted to learn how to deliver sentient beings. I was determined to follow him and study the Buddha’s teachings. The Master told me, 'The pollution of this world is like dust in the air. Without sunlight, you may not see it, but over time, everything becomes covered in a thick layer of grime. Our worldly habits and desires are like this invisible dust. They seem insignificant, but day by day, they coat our bodies in filth. If you wish to remain pure, do not let this dust settle upon you.' His teachings helped me understand that I had to change my habits bit by bit, following the sutras in truth. Even at the young age of six, I understood more about the reality of this world than most adults."

A Model for the Community

"After I began practising the Buddha’s teachings, my personality underwent a continuous transformation. My family witnessed these changes and realised that the Dharma truly has the power to change a person. My entire family began to study the Dharma, attending lectures and realising that this life is but a fleeting existence. The physical body is false, relationships are false, and all wealth is false; only the spirit within is real. Although it is difficult to change habits formed over many years, my parents and grandparents worked hard to change themselves, never straying from the teachings. Only through constant immersion in the Dharma can one find the motivation for lasting change."

"There were many families in our village who believed in the Buddha, but they only knew how to chant; they did not know how to use the Dharma to change themselves or their families. My family travelled everywhere, introducing the benefits of the Dharma and teaching people that by changing themselves through practice, their families would naturally become harmonious, peaceful, and prosperous. The Zhu family became the model of a 'Dharma-family,' leading the villagers to study the Buddha’s teachings together."

A Life Dedicated to Deliverance

"I volunteered to become a monk. I wanted to put my faith and vows into real action. Beyond following the sutras, I wanted to dedicate my entire life to the deliverance of sentient beings. I spent my life spreading the Dharma, helping people resolve their doubts about life, breaking through their delusions about the world, and helping them realise the true meaning of existence. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the final destination for our spirits. I propagated the Dharma actively, introducing the magnificence of the Western Pure Land and helping people chant Namo Amituofo to attain rebirth there."

The Compassion of Practitioner Su

"Practitioner Su, in her great compassion, sent me to deliver spirits throughout the universe. The extent of one's deliverance depends on the capacity of one's heart. The space in the universe is vast, and the level of detail in Practitioner Su's Chao Du work is something I deeply admire. Her compassion is such that she cannot bear to leave any spirit behind. It is like a fishing net; if a small fish accidentally slips through the mesh, Practitioner Su will immediately turn back to bring it home."

"Every day, while staying by Practitioner Su's side, I not only help her recover from her leg injury but also learn from her. I listen to her lectures and learn from her compassionate conduct. In this Five Turbidities and Evil World, people will only avoid being misled by illusions if they follow the Buddha. If one wishes to walk the path to rebirth in the Western Pure Land, one must strive tirelessly to follow the teachings. Practitioner Su's heart is filled with sorrow for the suffering of worldly people—suffering caused by their attachments and their inability to let go and wake up. She urges them day after day, yet it is still difficult for the world to truly understand. The Buddha is compassionate; in this age of the Dharma’s decline, he has come to this world through the vow of Practitioner Su to deliver sentient beings. I pray that all beings in the sea of suffering may hear the Buddha's voice, understand that the matter of life and death is paramount, let go of their attachments to this world, and chant Namo Amituofo to seek rebirth in the West. The path of delivering beings requires the fourfold assembly to share the same heart, the same vows, and the same actions, gathering our strength to make the Buddha’s teachings flourish even more."

"Namo Amituofo."