The Vow to Save All Beings

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Songde, who lived approximately 948 years ago. He sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his profound vow to save all beings. Recorded by the disciple Shi Fajing on March 3, 2019.

Venerable Songde speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the Venerable Songde. Looking back at my life nearly a millennium ago, I see a path paved with the grace of the Buddha and the lessons of my ancestors. My family was not wealthy, yet we were rich in the spirit of Generosity. I recall the sacks of provisions we would prepare for the local orphanage. My grandfather, in particular, was a man who lived for others. From his youth until his final days, he dedicated his life to relieving the poverty of the world. He never spent a penny on his own comforts; every ounce of his wealth was directed toward those in need. To him, this was the most meaningful way to spend a lifetime.

My grandmother passed away when she was still young, leaving my grandfather to raise six children on his own. My father was the eldest, and he grew up quickly, learning to assist my grandfather in caring for his younger siblings. Even though my grandfather was widowed before he turned thirty, he never remarried. He poured his entire heart into those six children, ensuring they never felt the void of a mother's absence. No matter how back-breaking his work was, he prioritised their well-being. He believed that a good education was the greatest inheritance he could provide. Even when we struggled to put food on the table, he insisted on teaching us to be upright and to never commit evil in this world. He would always find time to be present for us, and his strict yet loving guidance shaped us. My father and his siblings grew up witnessing his toil, and they spent their lives honouring him with deep gratitude.

The Seeds of Generosity

My father inherited the art of helping others directly from my grandfather. Despite our poverty, we never felt inferior; instead, we developed a profound understanding of the suffering inherent in human life. Every month, my grandfather would give my father and his five brothers a small allowance. It was a modest sum, but its purpose was not for us to spend on ourselves. It was a lesson in Generosity. He wanted us to use that money to perform good deeds, to learn how to expand our mind-capacity. He never forced us to give a specific amount; he left it to our own hearts to decide. My father, following my grandfather's example, was the only one who would donate his entire allowance. He wanted to set an example for his younger brothers, hoping to inspire them to cultivate their own fields of blessings.

Although my grandfather spent his life performing good deeds, it was only in his twilight years that he gained the blessings to encounter the Buddha’s teachings. By that time, my father had married, and my mother was pregnant with me. My father had originally hoped for a large family, but after he began to practise the Dharma, he decided that one child was enough. He felt that his time would be better spent on his spiritual practice.

The Clarity of Chanting

My father understood the gravity of raising a child, and he was meticulous in my education, grounding me in the Buddha’s teachings from my earliest years. I found my greatest joy in sitting quietly in the Buddha hall, gazing at the statue and chanting Namo Amituofo. As I chanted, each syllable entered my heart, purifying the chaotic thoughts that often plague the mind. The neighbours would often ask me, 'What books do you read? How is it that your mind is so sharp and your reactions so quick?' I would tell them, 'I do not read books. I only know how to chant Namo Amituofo. I place my heart within the Buddha-name, chanting each word slowly and clearly. I chant until my heart is empty, until I forget myself entirely. When there are no afflictions or messy thoughts, when the mind is free from the obstacles of delusions, the brain naturally becomes clear and responsive.' They would listen, but they simply could not believe that a single Buddha-name could grant one such intelligence and clarity. No matter how I explained it, they remained sceptical.

Their disbelief did not shake my faith in the Buddha. I continued to travel, introducing the Dharma to others and sharing the insights I had gained. Many who possessed good roots and blessings began to believe after hearing my words. They were often simple, impoverished farmers—people who lived frugal, honest lives and knew how to share their humble harvests with others. Once they shifted their life’s goal to chanting Namo Amituofo, focusing their entire being on Namo Amituofo, it took only a few years for some of them to truly see the Buddha and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Such tangible proof left our sceptical neighbours in absolute awe. Soon, more and more people in the village began to practise, and the magnificent Buddha’s teachings spread far and wide.

A Vow Amidst the Flames of War

When I reached the age of twenty, the Emperor issued a decree for conscription. My father was already elderly, so I took his place in the army. The nation was desperate to win the war and seize enemy territory. Having practised the Dharma, I knew deeply that all beings suffer and that killing is a grave transgression. Being forced to hold a sword and kill was a tremendous test of my faith. Even in the military camp, I would sit in meditation and chant, praying that the Buddha would not let beings continue to suffer. After every battle, the fields were littered with corpses and rivers ran red with blood. I wept for the suffering of all beings and begged for the Buddha’s compassion.

Just as our army was preparing to invade the enemy city, we were struck by a massive, mysterious sandstorm. Neither the soldiers nor the horses could open their eyes or move forward. I chanted incessantly, pleading with the Buddha to prevent the war from escalating. I knew this storm was a manifestation of the Buddha’s compassion. Suddenly, news arrived: the Emperor had ordered a ceasefire. A peace agreement had been reached. I returned home safely, and my father’s heart was finally at peace. I told him, 'This war ended only through the grace of the Buddha. While in the camp, I made a great vow: if the war could be stopped and the people spared from such persecution, I would renounce the world to become a monk. I would dedicate my life to saving all beings.' My vow was sincere, and the miraculous ceasefire was a testament to the inconceivable response of the Buddha.

The Journey to the Dharma

After bidding farewell to my parents, I set off immediately. The suffering of beings is so immense that there is no time to delay. The Buddha guided me with compassion throughout the journey. Even when I encountered karmic creditors who tried to bind and block my path, the Buddha manifested as an old man to rescue me, allowing me to continue toward the temple. I chanted Namo Amituofo without pause, feeling the presence of countless beings around me. I used this Buddha-name to save the immeasurable and boundless beings seeking deliverance. Though I had not yet officially become a monk, my heart had already seen through the illusions of the world. Despite the pain in my feet, I pressed forward, my determination unshaken by any obstacle. I had only one goal: to reach the temple and begin my true practice.

It took over a month to reach the monastery. This journey was a profound lesson in itself. Everywhere I looked, I saw the suffering of beings. Every step I took only strengthened my resolve to renounce the world and dedicate my life to the Dharma. My heart was set; there was no turning back.

The Path of True Practice

During my time at the temple, my master was strict, and I accepted his teachings with a humble heart. Every day, I followed his instructions exactly, never allowing a second or third thought to arise. I was single-minded, following the teachings without deviation. The practice required me to overcome various physical obstacles, as well as the habits and natural laziness inherent in the human body. These were constant tests of my vow. I wished for all beings to leave suffering behind, and no matter what I felt, I was determined to purify these obstacles through perseverance. After decades of practice, I finally achieved success. I travelled to spread the Dharma, teaching beings to 'do no evil and perform all good deeds.' Wherever the Buddha’s teachings reached, the hearts of the people turned from defilement to purity, from evil to Goodness. They realised that to leave suffering behind, one must chant the Buddha’s name and transform the heart, so that they may be reborn in the Western Pure Land.

I am deeply grateful to my father for educating me in the Dharma from a young age; it allowed me to see the suffering of the world when I was only five or six years old. Knowing the value of the Dharma, I grasped every moment to chant. In my final years, when my health began to decline, I knew it was my karmic creditors coming to collect. I repented with a sincere heart, and despite the physical pain, I worked even harder to save beings. At the final moment of my life, I was grateful for the Buddha’s compassionate guidance, and with a firm heart, I returned to the Western Pure Land.

A Message for the Modern Age

In the twenty-first century, technology is advanced and information is everywhere, yet it has become incredibly difficult to keep the Buddha-name pure in one’s heart. Today, the Dharma is in decline, and apart from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, one can hardly find a place that is pure and flawless. Beings cannot find liberation through the teachings; even if they chant the Buddha-name ten thousand times, they still cannot be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Practitioner Su knows the suffering of these beings well. With a heart of compassion, he saves them, taking on their suffering and walking the path step by step, truly practising and truly acting, until he attains the Dharma Body to save all spirits.

Human beings are deeply attached to their stubborn views. Their afflictions and intellectual obstacles deeply pollute their pure hearts. Even when the true Buddha arrives, it is difficult to save them because they do not believe and their personalities are hard to tame. Yet, even so, Practitioner Su remains committed to saving them. I have done my utmost to help Practitioner Su recover from his leg injuries, hoping that he may walk with strength and continue to save all beings with great power. I am filled with gratitude for Practitioner Su’s compassionate actions. Namo Amituofo."