Turning Back from the Abyss

This is a record of an interview with the 472nd Venerable, Mukong, who lived approximately 1,850 years ago. He sought to be saved at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on February 19, 2019.

Venerable Mukong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mukong. In my youth, I was the son of a wealthy family. My parents indulged me from childhood, allowing me to live exactly as I pleased. From the age of thirteen, I frequented pleasure houses, drowning myself in the fleeting sensations of romance. No woman could escape my grasp, for I had inherited my mother's handsome features and learned my father's silver-tongued flattery. The inheritance left by my grandfather was more than enough to sustain my father and me for two lifetimes. My life was a vast, aimless void; 'freedom' was the only thing I truly craved. I felt fortunate to be born into such wealth, which allowed me to do whatever I desired. I had played every game known to men of my time. By the age of twenty-three, I felt a profound sense of boredom with life—I could no longer find any thrill that made me feel truly alive. The other spoiled youths I surrounded myself with were the same, constantly seeking amusement. Many called us 'prodigal sons,' but I did not care. I continued to live as I pleased, following my own whims without regard for anyone else.

The Fall from Grace

My parents had originally hoped I would be a source of filial support in their old age, but once I became addicted to gambling, they knew there was no hope left. The family fortune began to vanish into the gambling dens. We went from ten houses down to the very last one we lived in, and even that was soon to be seized. My parents, not wanting to be dragged down by my ruin, moved to a quiet, secluded place to retire. They did not tell me where they had gone, simply to prevent me from begging them for more money. Eventually, I was left with nothing but the clothes on my back. When I wandered the streets begging for food, no one would offer me a morsel. People mocked and ridiculed me, laughing at what a useless, pathetic child I had become.

Having never known a day of hardship, living like a beggar felt like being trapped in a living hell. Unable to endure it any longer, I threw myself into a great river, determined to end my life. But in that very instant, I was pulled from the water by a man of my own age. He said to me, 'Dying is not so easy. You must do some good for the world before you go.' I did not recognise him at first, but he was a boy I had bullied throughout my childhood simply because his family was poor. Despite the insults I had heaped upon him, he held no grudge. Instead, he saved me, hoping to help me find the strength to save other beings alongside him.

A Lesson in Equality

He brought me to his home—a dilapidated, crumbling shack with only the most basic furniture. Much of it was discarded junk he had salvaged, yet he maintained it with such care. I looked around, and the old Mukong would have sneered, 'Is this a place for a human to live?' But having wandered as a beggar for so long, those thoughts were gone. I felt only shame for my ignorance—for never understanding the suffering of the poor, for indulging in my own pleasure, and for bullying the weak. I felt a deep sense of remorse. Seeing him wipe the table clean just to offer me a seat, I said, 'Stop cleaning. I am no guest of honour, nor am I anyone of importance. You don't need to do this for me.' He looked at me and replied, 'I treat everyone who enters my home this way. It is no different because it is you. Even if a beggar came to my door, I would clean the table for him. My mother taught me this from childhood: to treat everyone with equality, without distinction of high or low.'

I sat in the chair, feeling utterly dejected, wondering if there was any hope left for my life. He told me, 'Do not underestimate yourself. You can wield great power to help others.' I looked at him and asked, 'I bullied you so cruelly in the past. Do you not hate me at all?' He smiled and said, 'My mother told me that if I ever had the chance to meet you again, the first thing I should do is thank you.' I was stunned. 'Thank me?' I asked. He replied, 'I do not remember what you did to me, but I know that I grew because of you. You made me realise the suffering of life, which led me to make a great vow to help all beings. My mother felt pain seeing me suffer, but when she saw me crawl out of the mud with all my might, using this body to help others, she felt it was all worth it. She raised me with the hope that I would repay the Buddha's kindness. I do not study the Buddha's teachings for myself, nor just for my mother, but for the sake of thousands upon thousands of beings.' I had never seen anyone live for others, willing to sacrifice their entire life to save people. A surge of strength ignited within me, and I resolved to learn alongside him.

The Path of Diligent Practice

From that day on, I followed him everywhere. He taught me patiently, as I had never done a day of manual labour in my life. Whether it was chopping wood, husking rice, cooking, or carrying water and farming, I learned from the very beginning. He also took me to perform acts of kindness—something I had never done in my life. Some people still recognised me and would whisper to him, 'Is that the famous prodigal son?' He would tell them, 'No, he is not a prodigal son; he is a kind person who knows how to help others.' I looked at him in astonishment. I never imagined that in his eyes, I could be considered a kind person.

His sincerity moved me, and his compassion influenced me. The seeds of goodness and compassion within my own heart were slowly awakened. I studied his every word and action, and eventually, I began following him to the temple to listen to the sutras. I loved listening to the teachings; they were things I had never heard before. The master at the temple saw that we were both capable of cultivation and decided to accept us both as students. My companion was filled with gratitude, as entering the temple was not easy—it required passing many tests. We knelt and thanked the master for his grace.

I had enjoyed twenty years of luxury, but only then did I begin to understand the true suffering of life. In the temple, I insisted on taking suffering as my teacher, using various ascetic practices to temper myself and eradicate the bad habits I had cultivated over those twenty years. For an ordinary person, such training would be unbearable, but I learned to let go of the body's sensations. As long as there is no 'self,' there is no suffering. I pushed my body to its limit, wanting to use it to its maximum potential to help sentient beings.

Transformation and Rebirth

During those twenty years of practice, I was more diligent than anyone else. I knew I had to repent for my past and that my defilements were deep. Only by constantly washing my impure body with the Buddha's teachings could I reclaim my original, pure nature. Thus, I practised with unceasing diligence. Every effort I made benefited not only other beings but, most of all, myself. It was as if I had been reborn. My face became compassionate and gentle, my conduct dignified and awe-inspiring, and my presence brought peace to others' hearts. Most importantly, my wisdom grew. I understood the suffering of birth and death and used my compassion and wisdom to help others leave suffering behind.

High in the mountains, a waterfall rushes from the heights to the depths. As it flows downstream, the current slows until it reaches a state of balanced flow. I would sit on a great rock in meditation; the force of the waterfall did not disturb the stillness within my heart. The rapidly flowing water was quite different from the immovable Meditation within me.

Beyond meditation, I travelled far and wide to save beings. One day, while begging for alms at a remote house, I unexpectedly encountered my elderly parents. They did not recognise me, but to repay their kindness in raising me, I guided them to learn the Buddha's teachings. My transformation left them in awe of the Dharma, and they were grateful that Namo Amituofo did not abandon me, granting me a chance at a new life.

In this life, my companion and I each strove on the Buddha's path, every step taken to save beings, until our bodies could no longer move. Only when the Buddha appeared before me did I realise it was time to go home. With no attachments, I recited the Buddha-name and achieved rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Plea for Compassion

Now, I assist Practitioner Su by entering her legs. Even as Practitioner Su bears the suffering of beings and endures the pain in her legs, she continues to move forward to save them. Human beings are difficult to save; all those who refuse to resolve their grievances seek justice, and Practitioner Su's legs are constantly under attack by these spirits, coming like a tidal wave. Though I and the other Venerables assist with all our might, we cannot fully overcome the thousand-year-old hatred in the hearts of these beings. We continue to do our best to ensure Practitioner Su does not suffer deeper harm. No one can truly know the suffering Practitioner Su endures. Yet, she maintains an unretreating heart, forging ahead with courage. She truly lets go of the 'self' for the sake of others, using the Buddha-heart to save the world. I hope that all who aspire to save beings will learn from Practitioner Su's great compassion, giving their all for others rather than seeking their own comfort and safety. In this age of the Dharma’s decline, we must all work together to save beings; only then can we exert the power needed to transform karma. I hold the deepest respect and gratitude for Practitioner Su. Thank you, Practitioner Su, for your great compassion. Namo Amituofo."