Wandering the Four Seas to Save Those with Karmic Affinity

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Tanbadiya, who sought deliverance 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 approximately 1,797 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on June 19, 2018.

Venerable Tanbadiya speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Tanbadiya. I was born in India in the year 221 AD, which is 1,797 years ago from your current time. I was born into a Brahmin family, the third child and the only son, with three older sisters and three younger sisters. From my earliest childhood, I was showered with the affection and indulgence of my parents and sisters. I was blessed with a tall, sturdy, and handsome appearance, which made me the pride of our household. Naturally, this led to a certain arrogance in my character, though I was intelligent and always had teachers available to answer my questions. It seemed as though my days passed by in a natural, effortless flow. Our home was constantly filled with high-ranking officials and nobility; I truly did not know the meaning of suffering.

A Mysterious Healing and the Forest Dream

One day, a new servant named Ah Gang came to our home. The old servant had fallen ill and returned home to recuperate, so his son, Ah Gang, took his place. In our household, there was a strict distance between the servants and the family. The servants would only clean the living rooms and bedrooms when we were absent. Our home was kept spotless, and the servants would finish their work in the blink of an eye while we were dining. I barely remembered the faces of the servants, but because Ah Gang was young and diligent, and had cleaned my room, I remembered his name.

When I was ten years old, I was suddenly struck by a severe stomach pain. I took several medicines, but none were effective. My father hurriedly summoned the royal physician, but after examinations and questioning, he could not find the cause. Even after taking several prescriptions, I remained in agony, rolling on my bed in pain. In his desperation, my father asked the household and the steward if anyone could help the young master, but there was no response. Eventually, exhausted by the pain, I fell into a deep sleep. In a hazy, dreamlike state, I found myself in a forest. Within the woods stood a wooden hut, with light streaming from the window. Upon entering, I saw the entire room glowing. An old woman was there, chanting something with a smile on her face. When she saw me, she opened the door, gestured for me to approach, and patted my head while saying, 'Compassion Blessing.' When I woke up, my stomach pain had vanished. It was such a miraculous dream! I told my parents, and although they were astonished, they were overjoyed. A condition that had defied all medical efforts had been cured by a dream. They felt it must have some deep meaning, but they could not fathom what it was, and so the matter passed.

The Arrival of the Benefactor

One day, an unknown old woman arrived at our gate, insisting on seeing the young master. Naturally, she was blocked at the entrance, but my father, who happened to be leaving and returning to retrieve a document, saw her and asked, 'Why do you wish to see the young master?' She replied, 'I am the young master's benefactor,' and proceeded to recount the dream. My father was shocked! Only four people in the entire household knew of that dream: myself, my parents, and the steward. Could she truly be the old woman from the dream? We felt we must thank her properly. We invited her inside, offered her the finest refreshments, and called for me. I remembered her kind face clearly. I thanked her happily and asked my father if I could invite her to teach me the art of healing, as she had cured my excruciating pain with just a few words and a touch. My father pondered for a moment, nodded, and invited the old woman to stay in our home. She quickly earned the respect of everyone in the house, for whenever anyone felt unwell, she would use the same method to alleviate or cure their ailments.

The old woman first taught me the meaning of Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving, and the practice of Generosity. She taught me to chant Namo Amituofo and instructed me in meditation, specifically to visualise Namo Amituofo emitting light while continuously chanting the Buddha-name. A year or two passed. During this time, I avoided going out as much as possible, living in a separate area with the old woman. Our family provided for all our needs, so I could keep my heart settled on the Buddha-name. Gradually, my every move and word shed its childishness.

Witnessing the Truth of Samsara

Two years later, the old woman decided to take me out. After informing my father, we left the city. Outside the city walls lived people of a much humbler status. I was shocked to see an elderly beggar groaning helplessly on the ground; I had never seen such suffering in my life! As we walked further, I saw a woman with dishevelled hair, carrying a baby on her back and holding a crying infant in her arms. I was stunned again—how difficult it was to survive! Further on, I saw an elderly couple in rags, digging into the earth, hungrily searching for food. I immediately took out the bread I had in my pocket—which the steward had insisted I carry in case I got hungry—and gave it to them. When we returned home, I could not contain my grief and asked the old woman, 'Why must they live such lives?' She replied, 'It is an inescapable fate.' I asked, 'Why is their fate like this?' She answered, 'It is the truth of the six realms of rebirth.' I asked, 'What are the six realms?' She replied, 'The hells, hungry ghosts, animals, the human realm, the heavenly realm, and the asura realm.' I asked, 'Since we are all in the human realm, why is there such a vast difference?' She explained, 'Within the human realm, there are also six realms. Your good fortune and comfortable life are like the heavenly realm within the human world, while what you saw today is like the human hell or the realm of hungry ghosts.' I asked, 'Can we help them?' She replied, 'We can. But you must achieve success in your practice, attain Buddhahood, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land.' She then introduced me to the magnificence and dignity of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I secretly vowed to myself: I will be reborn in the Western Pure Land. I asked, 'What is the Buddha's path?' She replied, 'To save oneself and others, to awaken oneself and others, to be free from worry and affliction, and to possess only freedom, joy, and liberation through rebirth in the Western Pure Land.'

The Vow and the Journey of Deliverance

I begged the old woman to teach me so that I could succeed in my practice, attain Buddhahood, save myself and others, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land. From that day on, our lives changed. We became silent and spoke little, and we did not allow ourselves to fall into drowsiness. Our hearts held no other thoughts, only Namo Amituofo. By immersing ourselves in the Buddha-name, we found peace of mind and sought only the Buddha's path and rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I practised diligently, never letting the Buddha-name leave my heart, mouth, or mind, 24/7. I felt filled with energy, and even with little sleep at night, I never felt tired. I then told my father that I wished to leave home to pursue my studies, with Ah Gang accompanying me to take care of my needs. I was fifteen years old at the time.

Along the way, if we encountered those who were starving, we offered them food. If we met the sick, I would do as the old woman had taught me: I would touch their heads, chant Namo Amituofo with a compassionate blessing, and visualise the energy of the Buddha-name pouring into their bodies. Often, their pain would be alleviated or improved. If we met those who were resentful or dissatisfied, I would explain the relationship between the six realms of rebirth and their fate, and I would counsel everyone I met to chant Namo Amituofo and make the vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. From that day on, I never returned home. Ah Gang and I never married. We walked the ends of the earth with the Buddha-name in our hearts, saving those with whom we had karmic affinity. We were filled with Dharma joy, and no worldly matter could disturb us. Twenty years later, at the age of thirty-five, while resting under a tree and chanting, I smelled the fragrance of lotus flowers and saw the Buddha-light shining everywhere. Namo Amituofo manifested before me. With no attachments in my heart, feeling cool and at ease, I followed the Buddha and was reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Identity of the Benefactor

Before I left home, the old woman, my benefactor, had left behind a simple note, after which she vanished without a trace. The note read: 'Wander the four seas, save those with karmic affinity, and propagate Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land.' That benefactor, the old woman, was none other than the current Practitioner Su. It is because of this magnificent causal condition that I have descended to protect this place and repay her kindness! Thank you, Namo Amituofo! Thank you, Practitioner Su!"

This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo.