The Wealth of a Lifetime: A Journey Beyond Greed

This is a record of an interview with Li Cai, 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 and his subsequent service in the hells. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on October 22, 2022.

Li Cai speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Cai. I never once thought about taking anything with me from my life in the human world. Since arriving in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss from the hells, I have come to understand even more clearly that, aside from one's karma, there is truly nothing a person can take with them. If that is the case, what is there to be attached to?

A Name Born of Greed

I was an only child. My parents had only me. My father was obsessed with the idea of having a son who would bring him wealth. He would constantly travel everywhere, seeking out fortune tellers, deities, and Buddhas, hoping for a sign. His motivation was entirely driven by money—the only thing that would allow him to gamble away his days at his friends' homes.

My mother had a difficult constitution and struggled to conceive. For many years after their marriage, there was no sign of a child, which caused my father to treat her with increasing cruelty. Yet, no matter how he treated her, my mother endured it all. She was a traditional woman; she listened to everything my father said, never daring to voice her own opinions or thoughts. She tried her absolute best to conceive, and finally, at the age of forty-two, she became pregnant with me.

My mother’s health was poor. During the pregnancy, she was essentially bedridden. Any movement carried the risk of a miscarriage, so the doctor ordered her to stay in bed to protect the fetus. For my father, this was a massive test of patience, as there was no one left to do the housework or care for my mother. He had originally considered asking my grandmother to help, but after a friend told him that I would bring him great wealth, his heart soared. He decided to care for my mother himself, determined to ensure I was born safely.

The Money Tree Expectation

Our family was not entirely destitute; we had an inheritance left by my grandfather. But to my father, it was never enough. He wanted more and more. He dreamed of a money tree that he could shake every day to provide him with a lifetime of luxury. When he learned that I was destined to bring him wealth, he spent every day anticipating my birth. He would often speak to me through my mother’s belly, urging me to bring as much money as possible—the more, the better.

Before I was even born, my name had already been chosen: Li Cai. My father had wanted names like Li Facai, Li Dacai, or Li Caibao. In the end, my mother chose Li Cai. It satisfied my father’s requirement for the character Cai while remaining somewhat dignified.

The Mystery of the Fortune Tellers

On the day I was born, my father immediately took my birth data to various fortune tellers to see how full my wealth treasury was and how much money I had brought for him. Strangely, every fortune teller gave a different answer. Some said I brought no wealth at all, while others claimed I brought a treasury overflowing with riches. My father desperately wanted to know exactly how much I had brought into this world, but not a single person could give him a clear answer.

During my first year, my father’s luck was extraordinary. No matter what time of day he gambled, he won. Unlike before, when he had to calculate the most auspicious hours to place his bets, he did not even have to think about it now. He won every single time. This convinced my father that I was indeed the source of his newfound wealth, allowing him to strike it rich within a single year.

The Fall and the Mysterious Repayment

By the time I was five, my father’s luck turned sour. He lost every bet he placed. Still, he refused to give up, eventually taking me to the gambling dens, believing that my presence would restore his fortune. But the result was the same: he lost everything, completely and utterly.

In a very short time, our family was buried in debt. My father sold off all our ancestral property, but it still was not enough. Eventually, with nowhere left to turn, he abandoned my mother and me in the middle of the night to escape his creditors.

Strangely, shortly after he left, a stranger arrived at our home. The amount of money he brought was exactly the sum of my father’s debts—not a cent more, not a cent less. My mother asked him, 'Who are you? Why are you bringing this money to our house? How is it exactly this amount?' The man only replied, 'This is money I owed your family in the past.' With that, he left. My mother looked at me in confusion, and I told her, 'I lent him money in the past, and now he has come to return it.' My mother stared at me, bewildered, asking, 'What are you talking about?' I did not answer and went back to playing in the courtyard. No matter how much she asked later, I never mentioned it again.

A Different Kind of Ability

The debts were cleared, and we were finally able to live in peace. My mother found a job, and we were able to sustain ourselves without going hungry. However, when I was nine, my mother had a terrible fall at home and broke her leg. She was unable to work for an entire year. That year, it fell to me to go out and earn money; it was the only way for us to survive.

My mother thought that, given my age, I would not be able to find work. To her surprise, I found a job within half a day and started immediately. After working for just one week, I brought home a salary higher than what my mother had earned previously. She was baffled and asked, 'How were you able to earn so much money?' I answered quite naturally, 'I used to help poor people like this in the past.'

My mother began to realise that I seemed to possess abilities different from others—I could see my own past. This made her wonder: was I truly as my father had said, someone who brought a full treasury into this world, ensuring we would never lack for anything?

The Wisdom of Generosity

Our family’s finances gradually stabilised because my work provided a steady monthly income. My mother’s leg healed with the medical care we could now afford, and she eventually regained her ability to walk, even improving over time.

When I reached the age of fifteen, the money I brought home began to decrease. My mother asked, 'Why are you earning less now?' I replied, 'I have been donating half of my salary to disaster relief, and sometimes I give it to those in poverty.' My mother asked, 'Why do you do that?' I told her, 'I did this in the past, which is why I am able to earn money so easily in this life. I brought a full treasury into this world, but if we only use this money for ourselves, it will always remain just that amount. If we share a little with others, this money can serve a much greater purpose.' My mother was surprised by my perspective, but she supported my decision. From then on, we made regular monthly donations to help those in need.

In that life, I truly never lacked money. No matter what difficulties I encountered, there was always enough to get by. If I had extra, I would always give it away, and so my treasury remained full.

From the Hells to the Western Pure Land

When my life came to an end, I departed peacefully, without a shred of suffering. I ended up serving as a prison guard in the hells. Seeing the criminals suffering there, my heart ached. I desperately wanted to help them, but I did not know how. I prayed incessantly, and finally, eight years ago, my prayers were answered: I heard Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk.

The moment I heard the teachings, I immediately shared them with the beings in the hells, hoping they could be saved. Many of them have since realised their mistakes, repented, and attained salvation through chanting Namo Amituofo. My heart is filled with immense gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. Now, guided by Practitioner Su, I have attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Namo Amituofo.