This is a record of an interview with the 120th Venerable, Buda, who lived approximately 1,800 years ago. He sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on March 30, 2019.
Venerable Buda speaks:
". I am Buda. I was born into a family of cloth dyers. From my earliest memories, I watched my mother busy herself from dawn until dusk, dyeing white fabrics into a myriad of colours. Her hands were always stained—black, blue, or deep crimson—from the dyes that were nearly impossible to wash away. The deeper the colour, the more stubborn the stain on her skin. She worked with such intensity, her hands often bearing the marks of her labour, yet she never complained, for she saw her work as a reflection of the human condition.
The Metaphor of the White Cloth
My mother was a master of her craft. She could produce any shade imaginable, a skill she honed over thirty years. Yet, she found profound wisdom in this work. She often compared a newborn child to a piece of pure, white cloth—clean, unstained, and pristine. As children grow, they are educated in different families and environments, eventually taking on the 'colour' of their surroundings. Just as white cloth turns black when dyed with ink or red when soaked in crimson, a person’s character is shaped by the influences they encounter. Some even become a chaotic mix of colours, losing their original purity entirely.
Because of this insight, my mother was exceptionally diligent in my upbringing. She lived in constant fear that I would be influenced by a negative environment and turn from a white cloth into a black one. She hoped that no matter how much I grew, I would remain as clean and white as I was at birth. To protect my purity, she kept me by her side constantly. She shielded me from knowing things I shouldn't and prevented me from picking up bad habits. If I ever acted out, she would immediately set aside her work to patiently guide me, determined to root out these innate afflictions while I was still young. No one else in our tribe raised their children this way; it took a tremendous amount of time, but my mother felt that since it concerned my entire life, no amount of effort was too much.
The Laughter of the Tribe
However, this made me the laughingstock of the other children. They mocked me as a useless child who only knew how to hide behind his mother’s skirts—a chick protected by a hen, destined never to grow up. My mother saw my distress and would sit beside me, saying, 'Look at those undyed white cloths. They are so clean, so pure. I only wish for you to be like them, untainted by the filth of this world.' I asked her, 'But Mother, why do you dye them then? Why not let them remain in their original purity?' She replied, 'Because people in this world need different colours to satisfy their inner preferences, and their eyes crave these colours to feed their visual desires.' I asked again, 'Can people not remain entirely white?' She said, 'Of course they can, but it requires education from a young age. Once a person is free of desire, their heart is like white cloth—without mixed colours, and without the craving to be dyed into something else.' Even then, I did not understand. Why should one cut off desire? Why not do as one pleases? If one ends up 'dyed black,' is that not fine, as long as one is happy?
A Secret Wish and the
My mother’s protection was rooted in a secret hope: that I would one day leave the household life to study the Dharma. But she kept this wish buried deep within her heart, for our tribe did not permit the practice of other religions. She had married into this tribe from afar and had to suppress her own faith to conform to local customs. When I expressed my confusion, she finally whispered her secret wish to me. I did not know what it meant to 'leave the household life,' nor had I ever heard of the Buddha. From that day on, she secretly introduced me to the Buddha’s teachings. I began to understand why she had worked so hard to protect me: she wanted me to become a pure monk, to recover my original nature and save sentient beings.
I had a deep karmic affinity with the Buddha. Once my mother introduced me to the sutras and stories of the Buddha, I treasured them like precious jewels. I was intoxicated by the Dharma and could not stop. My mother took me to observe our tribespeople. Although they worshipped local deities, their hearts were closed and miserable. No one lived with an open heart or true freedom. I asked, 'Why is everyone so miserable?' She explained, 'Because they have lost their direction in life. Look at the men: they marry, hunt, and work to support their families. The women marry, bear children, cook, and clean. Their lives are spent in this cycle. Though the early days of marriage are sweet, the pressure, worries, and conflicts that follow bring endless suffering. Even adapting to a new environment takes so much effort. When they grow old, sick, and frail, even if they have grandchildren to hold, they worry: "How much time do I have left? Will I see them grow up?" Their hearts are tied to their children and grandchildren—is that not suffering? If they fall ill and lie in bed, it is even worse. If their children are filial, they feel they are a burden; if not, they lament that their life’s hard work was for nothing. With so much suffering, how can the heart be happy?' I observed everyone around me and saw that she was right. Their hearts were helpless, tethered by emotion to their families. The deeper the attachment, the tighter the knot, and the less happy they were. I asked, 'How can we help them?' She simply said, 'Use your Wisdom to save them.'
The Call to Action
As there were no temples in our tribe, I practised diligently in secret at home. My Dharma appearance grew more dignified with each passing year. Neighbours would ask my mother, 'Why do we never see Buda?' She would simply reply, 'He is studying hard; he will come out when he is ready.' Everyone assumed I was studying for a government position. However, time did not wait for me to finish my seclusion. Disasters began to plague our tribe. Strange illnesses spread, marriages fell apart, and children became pawns in their parents' conflicts. Natural disasters caused widespread panic. My mother knocked on my door to tell me what was happening, but I had already spoken: 'Mother, I know. Though I have not stepped out for three years, I am aware of everything. Through the blessing of the Buddha’s power, I have regained this skill. It is time for me to leave this room, introduce the Dharma to our people, and seek the Buddha’s power to save them all.'
I began to teach. My appearance and dignity were enough to capture their hearts, and the people naturally believed in the inconceivable power of the Dharma. I taught them that only the Buddha could resolve their physical, mental, and spiritual suffering. These disasters were manifestations of the human heart; if people learned to change their hearts through the Buddha’s teachings, the disasters would naturally vanish. The tribe began to change. People started to care for public spaces, not just their own doorsteps. grew, and orphans were adopted. The noise of conflict was replaced by the sound of chanting Namo Amituofo. Years later, we built our first temple, and I became its first abbot. The Dharma spread, and household after household began to chant Namo Amituofo, seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
A Legacy of Deliverance
Today, I have returned from the Western Pure Land to the human world, not through a mother’s womb, but by entering the leg of Practitioner Su. Her mission to save the world is praised by all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I entered her leg to calm the spirits residing there, preventing them from causing further harm and helping to restore her energy so she could continue her work. Though she suffers immense pain, she endures it like a fire, carrying all beings through the flames to ensure their salvation. Her heart is truly selfless. She has gone further to deliver the entire galaxy, helping countless spirits leave the three lower realms. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for remaining in this world for the sake of all beings. I will do my utmost to support her, to spread the True Teachings, and to help all beings escape the sea of suffering. Namo Amituofo."
