This is a record of an interview with Venerable Jingtian, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life during the Cultural Revolution in China. Recorded by the chief writer, Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian, on June 16, 2017.
Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "I offer ten bows to the Buddha and respectfully invite Venerable Jingtian to speak. , in His great , created the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Through the compassionate Chao Du performed by Practitioner Su, you were guided to this sacred realm. Please share the Causal Conditions that brought you to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and describe your journey to rebirth. Namo Amituofo."
Venerable Jingtian speaks: "Namo Amituofo. I am Jingtian. I was born into the turbulent era of the Cultural Revolution. Life in those days was defined by extreme hardship and suffering. I witnessed the heart-wrenching destruction of our sacred temples, the burning of ancient Confucian texts, and the systematic erasure of our history. My heart was filled with profound sorrow and indignation. Seeing the impermanence of life and the fragility of our nation, I resolved to become a monastic to propagate the Buddha’s teachings, determined to escape the cycle of reincarnation in this Five Turbidities and Evil World."
A Life of Diligence Amidst Chaos
"After taking the monastic vows, I practised with intense diligence. I dedicated my life to helping the civilians who had been devastated by the Cultural Revolution. I lived a life of extreme frugality, enduring hardship and setting an example for my disciples. I taught them that all sentient beings—even the smallest ants—possess life and . I warned them never to harm these small creatures, instead performing refuge ceremonies for them so they might shed their lowly forms and be reborn in better realms. I lived by the principle of leading through action, encouraging my disciples to cherish their and cultivate both merit and wisdom.
Despite the constant threat of arrest, I remained steadfast in my mission to propagate the Buddha’s teachings. I travelled everywhere, lecturing on the sutras and dedicating my entire life to the continuation of the Buddha’s wisdom. I wanted the to endure forever. My practice reached a high level, and I even attained the ability to see into my past lives. When followers came to me in distress, I would help them overcome their obstacles, always urging them to cultivate merit and wisdom and to dedicate their efforts to their ."
The Hidden Fire of Resentment
"I believed that I had foreseen the time of my death and was prepared for the end. However, at the very last moment, my spiritual obstacles manifested. My karmic creditors interfered, and because I allowed a single thought of anger to arise, I failed to achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. That flicker of resentment pulled me down into the Gut-Wrenching Hell. The pain was absolutely unbearable! It was beyond anything I could have imagined. Suddenly, I heard a voice calling out, 'Shi Jingtian, where are you?' Following a brilliant light, I arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and saw a lay practitioner radiating light—this was Practitioner Su. She asked me, 'Are you Shi Jingtian?'
I answered that I was. She invited me to the Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to listen to the teachings. Only then did I realise that although I had spent my entire life propagating the Dharma and lecturing on the sutras, I had never truly taught people how to change their hearts. No matter how many good deeds one performs or how much merit one accumulates, if one does not change their inner habits and purify their mind, they cannot achieve rebirth. During the Cultural Revolution, I harboured deep resentment toward the Red Guards for destroying our sacred texts and relics. While I appeared unmoved on the outside, my heart was a raging sea of fury. I knew that a practitioner should not harbour hatred, but this 'nameless fire' in my heart could not be extinguished."
The Descent into Hell
"In my dreams, I often fought against the Red Guards. My soul was fragmented, and I was constantly haunted by these visions. Because I feared the Dharma would be extinguished, I secretly continued to transmit the teachings, risking imprisonment. In my dreams, I saw the Red Guards burning everything, and I was hunted by them for protecting the sutras. This happened many times, and my spirit was slowly being drained. In my later years, I urged lay practitioners to accumulate merit, but I failed to teach them how to truly transform their habits from the depths of their hearts. If one’s mind is not pure and good, and even a trace of resentment remains, the will manifest at the moment of death. No matter how high your level of practice, if that final thought is not pure, you cannot be reborn. I am the perfect example of this.
At the moment of my death, my karmic creditors manifested as the very Red Guards I despised most. They appeared before me, triggering that deep-seated anger, and I was cast into hell. Why did I fall so far? Because during those dark years, to protect the villagers and myself, I had secretly killed many Red Guards. I was swift and precise, and I hid the evidence perfectly. No one knew of this, but it remained buried in my heart. At the moment of my death, this surfaced to seek retribution. I was not reborn; I was dragged into hell to pay my debts. You reap what you sow. Even though those Red Guards committed heinous acts, the lives I took still required repayment."
A Message to the World
"I am eternally grateful to Practitioner Su. If not for your compassion in rescuing me from hell and using the to guide my spirit to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I would still be suffering in the depths of hell today. Thank you, Practitioner Su, for your boundless compassion. Only a true practitioner can deliver sentient beings to the Western Pure Land. Your great heart and great vows have opened up space without boundaries to save immeasurable sentient beings. Many monastics who were suffering in hell have received your grace and have been sent to the Western Pure Land. A true practitioner is like Namo Amituofo manifested in the world.
I hope this testimony is published on the internet. I want my fellow countrymen in mainland China to know: the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is real, and Practitioner Su is truly here to save the world. It is all true. Namo Amituofo."
Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Venerable Jingtian, for accepting this interview."
