This is a record of an interview with Gu Dongsong, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now serves as a Wind God and reflects upon his life and transformation. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Disciple Shi Hailiang, on March 15, 2021.
Gu Dongsong speaks:
". I am Gu Dongsong, a native of Linzi, Shandong. In my hometown, people are generally quite tall; both men and women tend to have impressive height. I was the exception—a short boy, though not a dwarf. My parents were both tall, and my mother would often comfort me, saying, 'Dongsong, you are not short! Your height is simply concentrated in your wisdom. Compared to other children, you are much brighter.' My father would then add, 'Our Gu family’s future glory rests on your shoulders, Dongsong. You are our only son, the sole bearer of our lineage.'
The Burden of Being Different
By the time I was five, I realised I was significantly shorter than my peers. I became a target for their mockery. They even composed a cruel little rhyme about me: 'Dongsong, Dongsong, little winter melon, named for the pine but shaped like a melon; the pine is tall and strong, but Dongsong is short and small.' Whenever they sang this, I would look up at the heavens and ask, 'Oh Heaven, why have you made me so short?' I dared not speak these words to my parents, fearing it would cause them pain.
Time marched on, and at six years old, I began attending the private school. One day, while walking down the main street with my mother, we encountered my childhood playmates. They immediately began their taunting song again. My mother gripped my small hand tightly and quickened our pace to leave the scene. Once we were out of sight, she composed herself, acting as if nothing had happened. In that moment, I understood that she knew exactly how I felt. I looked up at her with a smile and said, 'Mother, I will study hard at school.' We shared a deep, silent connection; she knew I had received the love behind her hidden heartache.
A Teacher’s
The master at the private school was a kind, elderly gentleman with a face full of benevolence. From the moment I arrived, he showed me special care. He would call me over constantly: 'Dongsong, come here, let me explain this character to you. Dongsong, come here, write this again for me.' I felt his genuine dedication. Even when I made mistakes, he taught me with endless patience until I truly understood.
Because the master valued and cherished me, the other students stopped mocking me. My learning speed surpassed everyone else's, and I possessed the ability to draw inferences from a single instance. The master became increasingly enthusiastic in his teaching. When other students struggled, I would explain things in a way that our peers could easily grasp, and without realising it, I became the master's assistant. Among my peers, I was the quickest to learn and the most capable of absorbing knowledge.
Gratitude and Growth
Back home, my parents were always concerned about my progress. After a year of schooling, they were finally at ease with my attitude toward learning. When I turned twelve, they decided to offer a generous gift to the master to express our gratitude for his years of guidance. On his sixtieth birthday, they prepared a substantial gift containing money and other offerings, and we set out to visit him. It took us two hours to reach his home. I realised then that the master walked this long distance to the school every day, rain or shine, for our sake. A deep sense of gratitude took root in my heart.
I felt so fortunate to have encountered such a good man. When we arrived, the master and his wife were waiting at the gate. The master laughed and said to my parents, 'Oh, Dongsong’s parents, you are too kind! How did you hear about my sixtieth birthday? Did a friend tell you?' My father respectfully replied, 'Master, your friend who runs the stationery shop on the main street told us. We are grateful to him for letting us know, and we thank you for all you have done.'
After we shared a meal, the master's wife suggested, 'You should buy some traditional medicine for Dongsong. It should help with what he needs right now.' My parents followed her advice, purchasing herbal supplements that I took morning and night. The first time I drank it, I vomited everything—it was far too bitter, and I detested the taste. However, my parents had taught me to be obedient, and I listened. They supplemented my diet for a full year. When they felt the results were not yet apparent, we stopped. Over that year, I consumed over three hundred doses of growth medicine. Three years later, I had grown taller than both my parents! I was overjoyed. Throughout those three years, the master watched me grow and shared in my happiness.
The Illusion of Form
In my twenties, I suddenly realised how much time I had wasted worrying about my height, allowing the mockery of others to disturb my heart. Now that I was tall, my confidence had returned. Yet, in truth, I understood clearly that once the breath of life ceases, whether one is tall or short is of no consequence.
When I reached the age of thirty, my parents spoke to me solemnly: 'Child, today is a special day. Since the day you were born, we have planted a pine tree at the temple. Let us go today to pay our respects to the abbot.' We went to the temple, and the monks showed me the pine tree that had been growing for thirty years. My parents said, 'Dongsong, look at this tree. It has grown alongside you since your birth.' I looked at the tree, and the tree spirit smiled at me. My parents asked, 'Son, do you see this pine tree, standing straight and tall, waiting for people to admire it? Do you wish to take a wife in this life?' I answered without hesitation, 'I will not marry. From the moment I was born, I knew my destiny was different from that of ordinary people.' My parents did not object; they fully respected my choice.
The abbot said to me, 'Dongsong, one cannot judge a person by their appearance. Years ago, people saw you before you had grown; now you are tall and strong. Let me show you a hundred-year-old pine tree.' After seeing the hundred-year-old tree, I compared it to the thirty-year-old one. The difference was immense. The hundred-year-old pine possessed a different aura—a majestic strength, with branches and leaves that seemed to shimmer with light. The abbot remarked, 'This is merely the growth of a plant. If we speak of the wisdom gained through practice, that is truly extraordinary! It cannot be measured by any language or quantity.' I nodded repeatedly. I could see that this abbot possessed deep meditative concentration, and I silently decided that I would dedicate myself to protecting this temple.
A Divine Calling
That night, I lay awake, gazing at the moonlight, seeking to understand the Truth. After I finally fell into a fitful sleep, the Wind God, the Thunder God, and the Lightning God appeared before me. They shouted, 'Wind God, it is time to rise! The Jade Emperor has summoned us. We must return to the Heavenly Court immediately!' In my hazy state, I saw my spirit rise. I stood before them; as a Wind God, my spirit was exceptionally clear. We returned together to the Heavenly Court to pay homage to the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor declared, 'This is a critical moment. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia is truly acting in accordance with Universal Principles to save the world. Namo Amituofo abides there, and Practitioner Su is using -Body Visualisation Deliverance to save sentient beings. They have succeeded in calling for rain. We must prepare the rainfall and coordinate the Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning Gods to assist them. Those who succeed in bringing rain shall listen to the Dharma, receive an interview, and be sent to the Western Pure Land.' After the Jade Emperor finished speaking, we bowed with palms together and respectfully departed.
When I awoke, I could no longer deny my identity as a Wind God. In my daily life, I could sense the strength and direction of the wind at any moment. Even before I slept, I could hear the conversations of lesser wind spirits, though I had previously dismissed them as mere whispers in the wind. Now, I understood my mission. The next day, I told my parents with , 'I can finally bring glory to the Gu family. I am returning to the Heavenly Court; the Jade Emperor has summoned me to assist the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia with rainmaking, to help bring Namo Amituofo to the forefront, and to join Practitioner Su’s salvation team.' My parents were supportive.
Joining the Salvation Team
I returned to the Heavenly Court to await orders, and later, I arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I listened to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks. When Practitioner Su performed the Dharma-Body Visualisation, we—the Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning Gods—followed him. As we chanted the Buddha-name, even while Practitioner Su was delivering the Dharma, his led us all in circling the globe, continuously chanting.
Rain began to fall in abundance. It was a weather pattern that would bring rain for several days. The Jade Emperor summoned the Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning Gods from all corners to be ready to provide whatever Practitioner Su required. As the rain fell, I, Gu Dongsong, applied my wind power, and the Rain God partnered with me to ensure the rain fell beautifully and appropriately. The rainfall intensified, satisfying the needs of the earth. I had successfully joined the salvation team of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I am filled with gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su.
