Unshakable Resolve: A Journey Through Time

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Zhengyun, 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, serving as one of the Venerables protecting Practitioner Su. This account reflects upon his life during the Five Dynasties period in China. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on June 22, 2018.

Venerable Zhengyun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the 448th Venerable, Zhengyun, also known as Zheng Yun. In my human life, I was born during the Five Dynasties period in China, a time of absolute chaos, political instability, and endless, brutal warfare. My birth name was Wang Sihan. It is difficult for those in modern times to truly comprehend the severity of that era; even securing a few mouthfuls of rice was a luxury beyond reach. When I was born, our family rice jar was completely empty. My mother later recounted that we only survived the initial weeks of my life because of the charity of a distant relative. I was the seventh child, the youngest of four girls and three boys. My mother had spent ten years of her life in a constant, exhausting cycle of pregnancy and childbirth. Her physical constitution was so fragile and depleted that shortly after bringing me into this world, she fell into a coma and passed away, leaving us seven children in the care of our father. Fortunately, the daughter of our neighbour had also recently given birth and was staying at her parents' home; she possessed enough milk to feed me, which is the only reason I did not perish from starvation."

A Childhood of Hardship and Emotional Isolation

"My foster mother loved me dearly, perhaps because I possessed a pair of large, bright eyes with phoenix-like corners that made me look quite spirited and well-featured even as an infant. However, my father always harboured a deep resentment, claiming that I was a 'life-taker'—that my mother had died because she had exhausted her final reserves of life force to bring me into the world. Because of this cruel label, while I was well-liked by people outside our home, I was frequently met with coldness and disdain within our own walls. My siblings were distant, and my father frequently poured cold water on my spirit, dismissing my presence as a burden. As a result, I often wandered outside, playing with neighbours or roaming the countryside alone to escape the suffocating and hostile atmosphere of my home."

"When I was about nine years old, I found myself wandering aimlessly into a deep, ancient forest. As I ventured further, a thick, white mist began to envelop me, obscuring the path. The weather had been beautiful, but suddenly, I felt an intense, biting cold that seemed to seep into my very bones. I felt as if I had lost control of my own body, drawn forward by an unseen, magnetic force until I reached the base of a massive, lush tree. There was a large stone beneath it, and feeling utterly exhausted by this strange journey, I sat down and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. When I awoke, it was pitch black. I was terrified! I had no idea what to do. It must have been the middle of the night, and the sounds of wild animals echoing through the darkness were absolutely hair-raising, filling my heart with a primal, overwhelming dread."

The Mysterious Encounter in the Forest

"As I looked around in a state of panic, I suddenly saw a fire flickering nearby. An adult was sitting there, calm and composed. I rushed over and nodded politely, my heart pounding. The man looked at me with a gaze that felt ancient and kind, saying, 'Sit down! It is cold; you do not want to catch a chill.' I let out a long, relieved breath and said, 'Thank you!' My shivering body finally began to warm up near the flames. He asked, 'How old are you?' I replied, 'Nine.' He then asked, 'Is your mother no longer in this world?' I was stunned by his perception. 'Yes, that is true! How did you know?' He replied, 'When you were sleeping just now, you were crying out, "Mother! Mother! Don't go!"' I told him she had died shortly after my birth. He warned me, 'You are lucky to be alive. If you had walked any further, you might not have made it out! At night, wild animals come out to hunt, and you are just a child—you would have no strength to fight them.' I trembled at his words. He continued to ask me questions while tending to the fire, and in his voice, I felt a genuine, deep concern that I had never experienced from my own father. I eventually drifted back to sleep. When I awoke, it was nearly dawn. The man was sitting in meditation with his eyes closed. As soon as I moved, he opened his eyes and said, 'Go home now.' He extinguished the fire and led me out of the forest. I knew the way from there and ran home, but I never knew when he had left my side."

Returning to the Temple of Gratitude

"My family had been frantic because I had been gone all night. When I told them what happened, I was scolded for wandering off, but from that day on, I changed. I became a different person, taking on the chores my mother would have done—washing clothes, cooking, and chopping wood. I became obedient, but I was not happy. One day, during a torrential downpour, someone knocked on our door. When I opened it, I was shocked to see the man who had saved me in the forest! I beamed with a rare smile and instinctively hugged him, as if I had found my saviour. He sensed my silent plea for help, patted my head, and asked if I wanted to go with him. I nodded. He offered my father a significant amount of silver, promising to take me away and care for me properly. My father, seeing the money, finally agreed. I packed my simple belongings, and once the rain stopped, I set off with him. He told me to call him 'Uncle Meng'."

"Uncle Meng was a lay practitioner who travelled everywhere in search of the Truth. We eventually arrived at a temple called 'Huai En Temple'—the Temple of Gratitude. Although it was small, it was a serene and ancient place. I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity. Without thinking, I walked toward a specific room. My mind was flooded with the knowledge that this room had always been the quarters of the resident abbot. A monk saw me standing there and asked, 'Namo Amituofo, little Bodhisattva, why are you standing here?' I replied naturally, 'This is the room where the abbot resides.' The monk was startled and asked how I knew. I told him, 'It feels so familiar. I do not know why, but it just came to my mind.'"

A Vow to Repay a Past Life Debt

"He asked me to wait in the guest room after paying respects in the main hall. When I entered the hall, I looked at the statues and said, 'In the centre is Namo Amituofo, and on either side stand Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.' I was shocked by my own words, as I had never heard these names before. Suddenly, I saw a vision of myself as an old monk, standing before the Buddha, leading disciples and lay practitioners in chanting. In that moment, I had an 'Aha!' moment. I began to chant, 'Na-mo-A-mi-tuo-fo,' with a powerful, resonant voice, the exact tone of the old monk I had seen. The monks in the temple were stunned, and one exclaimed, 'Master!' because that specific chanting tone was unique to the former abbot. Uncle Meng watched this with a knowing look and simply said, 'Stay here.'"

"I suddenly understood everything. In my previous life, I was the abbot of this temple. At seventy, I had been a diligent practitioner, chanting Namo Amituofo without ceasing, and I had known the time of my passing. However, at the very moment of my rebirth, a single thought flashed through my mind: I had come down from the Western Pure Land to save a benefactor, and that mission was not yet complete! Because of that one attachment, I missed my chance to return to the West. I had been reborn as the seventh child of that very benefactor—my current father. In a life many centuries ago, he had sacrificed his life to save me, and I had vowed to return to save him from the cycle of rebirth. I was now his son, but how could I save him? I knew there was only one path: I had to become a monk, regain my former skills, and then lead him back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Fulfillment of a Sacred Vow

"Time seemed to stand still as I reconnected with the temple. I became the youngest novice, and Uncle Meng also took the vows, receiving the Dharma name 'Shi Yiren'. I eventually grew into a formal monastic, named Zhengyun. I practised diligently, keeping the Buddha's name in my heart at all times, until I attained the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi. Only then was I truly unshakable. I returned home to my father, who was now an old man with difficulty walking. I told him our history, and though he was surprised, he listened. I began to counsel him to chant Namo Amituofo, describing the magnificence of the Western Pure Land. He eventually began to chant and follow a vegetarian diet. Years later, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by the sound of chanting and the fragrance of lotus flowers, received by the Buddha!"

"After my father's passing, I returned to the temple to lead others in chanting and teaching the Dharma. At the age of thirty, I knew my time had come. One week before my passing, I saw the Buddha-light illuminating everything. I let go of all worldly attachments and returned to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, my vow fulfilled! Uncle Meng, Shi Yiren, is none other than Practitioner Su. It was his presence and support that allowed my life as Zhengyun to be complete. I am honoured to be one of the Venerables protecting Practitioner Su, participating in the sacred work of Chao Du, spreading the name of Namo Amituofo and the Buddha-light throughout the galaxy, piercing through space to create infinite Dharma affinity. Gratitude to Namo Amituofo! Gratitude to Practitioner Su! Namo Amituofo."