Reflections from the Western Pure Land: The Transformation of Deng Xiaoping

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Deng Xiaoping, former Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his journey to the Pure Land, approximately thirty years after his passing. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 19, 2026.

Deng Xiaoping speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Being called upon by Practitioner Su today has left me, Deng Xiaoping, feeling both honoured and surprised here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I never imagined that after so many years, I would be called upon once again to be interviewed by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This came so suddenly, yet it fills me with such joy. I finally have the opportunity to share the words that have been weighing on my heart with my fellow countrymen."

"I, Deng Xiaoping, have always been a pragmatic man, so I speak in pragmatic terms. However, the pragmatism I held as a national leader and the pragmatism I now hold here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss are vastly different!"

The Pragmatism of the Past

"In the past, my approach to national policy—especially during my later years when I implemented the Reform and Opening-up policies—was driven by money. Everyone remembers my famous saying: 'It doesn't matter if a cat is black or white, so long as it catches mice, it is a good cat.' This illustrates that I was a person who focused solely on the result, not the process. Whatever you were doing, as long as it brought benefits to the country and increased the money in your pocket—and the country's pocket—it was a good thing."

"Forgive me for being so blunt. I have been purifying myself here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss for many years now. Yet, when I look back at my past, I still speak my mind directly, just as I did when I was alive. This is also so that everyone remembers who I, Deng Xiaoping, was. Of course, these decades of purification in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss have been magnificent. They have greatly elevated my spirit, allowing me to see everything more clearly. I can now understand the human heart and the state of a person's spirit."

A New Definition of Pragmatism

"Today, for me here in the West, the word 'pragmatic' means to be honest—to honestly follow the teachings of Namo Amituofo and to honestly chant the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo.' This is my current concept of pragmatism. Without honesty, one cannot achieve anything. On the path of practice, I have discovered that for every bit of the Buddha's words I take in, I receive a corresponding benefit. If I listen to ten parts of the Buddha's teachings, I receive ten parts of the benefit. This is truly how it is for me here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Every word the Buddha speaks, when I listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma, I take it to heart. When the Buddha says, 'Chant one Buddha's name to the end,' I do my best to tell myself that I must achieve this. Every word and every sentence the Buddha speaks, I honestly and humbly accept, not daring to have my own opinions or thoughts."

Walking through this journey step by step, under the purification of the Buddha’s teachings, I have finally truly realised where I went wrong—and it was a grave, monumental mistake! I gambled away the wisdom-life, the sense of Goodness, and the happiness of generation after generation of Chinese people. I gambled away the very values of countless generations. This is a suffering that seems to have no end, because one generation influences the next. Where does it all end? I cannot say for sure. But having listened to the Buddha’s teachings for this past month in the hells, my entire being has truly been enlightened!

Here, I will recount in detail exactly what I did wrong. I will certainly confess everything honestly.

The Arrogance of a Fallen Leader

During this month, I gradually let go of my arrogant posture. I reflected deeply on my past and realised that I had been far too arrogant. After Practitioner Su brought me up, I did not even offer a word of gratitude. I just stared at Practitioner Su with that same stiff expression, completely indifferent. I assumed that it was only natural for me to be saved, believing that I had done such great things that I should be revered and placed on a pedestal. Ha! That was a massive, terrible mistake! For a person laden with sins to treat Practitioner Su—the one who pulled me out of the hells—with such an attitude, that was truly a sin, a grave sin indeed! I, Deng Xiaoping, have reflected on my faults more than once. Only after truly coming to know Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su did I realise the extent of my previous arrogance and rudeness. It was only after I became clear-headed that I felt such deep remorse.

Deng Xiaoping sincerely says 'sorry' to Practitioner Su here; my attitude back then was truly atrocious. Therefore, I now believe that the month you brought me back to the hells was, for me, a matter of pure gratitude. At the time, I could not have imagined it, but that month had a profound impact on me. The suffering of that month allowed me to be reborn. In the midst of that suffering, I understood many truths, and the Buddha remained by my side, teaching me. This is truly because the Buddha is so compassionate; He does not abandon any being who is still willing to change their ways.

The Buddha’s Clear Insight

Although my attitude was truly terrible at the time, deep down, there was still a tiny spark of desire to understand where I had gone wrong and how I could make amends for my mistakes. I could not save face; I did not want to admit that I wanted to know these things, but the Buddha was certainly clear and bright about what was in my heart. The Buddha knew I had this desire to understand my faults, which is why He taught me again and again.

Regardless of anything else, I must apologise to Practitioner Su. Deng Xiaoping sincerely says 'I am sorry' to Practitioner Su here! As for any impact I may have caused you... you surely did not feel it, but regardless, this is something I must apologise to you for.

A Life Defined by Stubbornness

My personality at the time was my greatest flaw—unwilling to submit and unwilling to admit defeat. This was a very prominent trait that ran through my entire life. From my student days until I became a national leader, I carried this same flaw. If I believed something was right, I would push straight ahead with it; I had an extremely strong sense of self. Everyone should be able to see from my facial features that I was a person of such strong character, right? This remained true even after I suffered through illness and old age. Although I lived a long life, the physical suffering and pain never ceased. My karmic creditors had found me long ago; my two souls and five spirits had already left me, most of them suffering in the hells, leaving me with a constant sense of discomfort throughout my body. But relying on my strong willpower and intense personality, I kept suppressing them, hoping to make it all disappear. I only wanted to focus on the affairs of the nation. While it sounds grand, in reality, this strong personality of mine truly pushed the Chinese people toward another peak of suffering!

I once thought that compared to Mao Zedong, I was a very excellent leader. Because I did not walk the path he took that went wrong, I helped him correct many of the political mistakes he had committed, allowing his past errors to be compensated for, and allowing the pain lost by the people to be corrected and rectified. From every aspect, I thought I was truly remarkable. Deep down in my heart, I really thought this way. The competitive heart I had since childhood, the heart of arrogance, and the heart of intense tyranny caused me to spend my entire life suffering in both body and mind, yet I was completely unaware of it. And when I applied all these personality traits to the policies of the nation and the world, it naturally caused a lot of trouble for everyone.

The Invisible Bomb of Policy

However, this was not actually visible at the time. The trouble and suffering I created for the Chinese people were, in fact, an invisible bomb. At the time, it only appeared intermittently, but the massive impact it truly had on the Chinese people is something I have only realised in the last dozen years or so, as I look back at China from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It turns out that this impact is long-lasting, drawn-out, and has no end in sight. I only saw the tip of the iceberg at the time and did not feel there was any major problem; I felt that everything was only natural. But looking at it now, I was truly, terribly wrong!

When I first took on the great responsibility of the Chinese political stage, China was in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. After years and years of various denunciations and the corruption of the Cultural Revolution, people were living in great pain; it was a period when the sense of distrust in society was extremely high. A home did not feel like a home, and the country did not feel like a country. People no longer had the deep sentiments and gratitude that ancient people had for their country and family; their hearts were filled with fragmentation and insecurity.

I took on the heavy responsibility of Chinese politics at this time. What I had been thinking about all along was how to let people have enough to eat. Because for so many years, due to the Cultural Revolution and the denunciations, the nation's economy had stagnated for a long time, leaving our country far behind other nations. Whether in economy, diplomacy, medical care, education, or other important matters, we were far too behind others. This pained the Deng Xiaoping of that time deeply. What pained me was why the nation had reached such a state because of Mao Zedong's erroneous policies, and why so many people had submitted to such policies of his.

The Double-Edged Sword of Reform

Regardless, I gritted my teeth and began a series of earth-shattering reforms for China. These reforms could be said to have had both merits and demerits—there were great merits, but there were also great demerits. The first thing I did was to restore the college entrance examination, allowing China's education to return to the right track. Later, in many economic reforms, I let the nation slowly move toward privatisation—that is, in various aspects, whether in medical care, housing, or other fields, allowing people to begin to have autonomous rights, and to be free to conduct various transactions and trades in the economic market. Step by step, especially by opening up coastal cities at the time, I allowed foreign capital to enter in large numbers, or established special economic zones, allowing people to have more space for economic activity.

Every one of these policies had the ultimate goal of earning more money. Although this sounds like a realistic problem—people need to be fed to survive and to live a good, moderately prosperous life—the means I adopted were merely focused on letting people obtain more money, while ignoring too many other things. All the economic development I focused on was, on the surface and in society, very stable and beautiful. China moved from being a third-rate, backward country to slowly walking onto the world stage, visible to all. This seemed to be the true rise of China. The true opening of the economy made many people at the time rate Deng Xiaoping very highly. These various things also fueled my arrogance.

The Neglect of the Human Heart

But I ignored too much of the imbalance and suffering caused by the long-term suppression policies of the Cultural Revolution and the denunciations in people's hearts. I did not realise this point because I was too pragmatic and realistic—so pragmatic that everything was only seen through the lens of the economy, only looking at immediate benefits and the amount of money, while ignoring too many defects in the human heart and the suffering of the human heart. My iron-fisted ruthlessness was just like my own actions during the Huaihai Campaign—I would stop at nothing to achieve my goals.

Education is a very important subject for a nation. The education children receive from a young age lays the foundation for their values, cultural views, and so on for their entire lives. But the education that I, Deng Xiaoping, promoted at the time completely pushed students toward a mindset of competition upon competition, struggle upon struggle. I placed too much emphasis on the development of academic subjects and the policy that the college entrance exam determines life and death, while ignoring too many moral norms, character education, and issues of the heart and nature that everyone should understand. This is also what Practitioner Su has repeatedly emphasised: why the appearance of Deng Xiaoping caused the Chinese people to become so selfish and indifferent, thinking only of themselves in everything.

At the time when the Chinese people most needed moral education and most needed spiritual healing, I vigorously pushed the nation to the edge of economic expansion. It was completely a matter of making people have no other reliance and no other direction to speak of, other than loving money. People at that time were in great need of a leader to lead them out of the darkness and pain in their hearts. But what I did was force them into a corner, where everyone had to get rich, and the nation had to become greatly wealthy. It did not matter who started getting rich first; the nation had to get rich quickly so that everyone could live a good life. This sounds completely correct, but I ignored the most important thing, which was also caused by the flaws in my character. Because of the toughness of my own personality, everything was profit-oriented, and this very practical profit was money.

"Consequently, I forced the people to grow up in an environment defined by intense comparison, struggle, and competition. This social mindset became the norm, passed down from one generation to the next. As parents and guardians navigated society with this mentality, everyone—suddenly transitioning from a system of public ownership to private ownership—began to worry about the amount of money in their pockets. As a result, people strove to maximize their personal interests at any cost, doing many things in secret, thinking that neither heaven nor earth would know. But in truth, the laws of karma and cause and effect are inescapable."

The Poison of Profit-Driven Living

"During that period in China, many issues emerged, such as toxic food products and the cutting of corners in production. This happened because people were acting entirely according to the money-oriented philosophy I had promoted. In the rush to get rich quickly, this intense mindset of comparison and struggle grew, and everyone forgot the wisdom taught by our ancestors. They only hoped for their own families to live better, rather than looking out for the people of all China. The policy of 'letting some people get rich first' caused those who were struggling to put food on the table to become envious and jealous, and the spirit of unity that once existed was gone forever. Under such a powerful and distorted mentality, everyone’s thoughts were consumed by securing their own family's survival and wealth. The breakdown of various relationships within families and society, as well as the moral decay and corruption, all stemmed from this."

"Looking back now, Deng Xiaoping sees that China has moved past the decades of my governance. Over this half-century, the Chinese people have made decent progress in education and development, generation after generation. Yet, in terms of character, the heavy shackles in people's hearts—the personality traits and insecurity caused by a profound sense of distrust—have left the majority of Chinese people living in unease, fear, and anxiety."

The 'Double-Faced' Reality

"Today, in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I can see people's hearts very clearly. I can understand the various good and bad aspects of their psychology and the true causes and consequences behind them. Seeing this truly fills me with terror! The 'self-centered' heart within every individual is so incredibly powerful. This might sound common, but it is deeply rooted in the hearts of a vast majority of Chinese people. Furthermore, I noticed a second trait that shocked me: looking across the population, Chinese people psychologically tend to naturally split their personalities in two."

"What do I mean by this? It is what society commonly recognizes as being 'two-faced.' Long-term insecurity and political suppression have deprived the Chinese people of a space to express their inner emotions and thoughts. The prolonged periods of struggle sessions also caused immense psychological insecurity, even creating rifts between family members. This pervasive sense of insecurity is rooted in people's hearts, forcing them to survive in this world by protecting themselves at all costs."

"The 'two-faced' nature I speak of refers to people who have long been accustomed to wearing a mask, acting one way on the outside and another on the inside. Psychologically, they may have much they want to say, but due to various factors, they swallow all their suffering. Under policies lacking compassion and tolerance, people bury all their pain deep within, unable to speak, because those who voice their struggles are seen as weak and are generally not met with tolerance or understanding. This leaves people of all ages with a bitter taste of suffering that cannot be spoken."

The Mask of Self-Protection

"Yet, to protect their strong sense of self-esteem and their intense desire to be on equal footing with others, the exterior they present to the world is quite different. Everyone tries to show their best side. Some do it for pride, to live more gloriously; others do it simply out of inferiority, to please others or to find a small measure of comfort for their own sense of security. Thus, there is a stark contrast between their outward appearance and their inner state. This dissonance causes many people across China to live long-term within self-imposed constraints, suppressing themselves without even realizing it. This suffering can actually be seen in the eyes of many; that look of panic and unease seems to still be very prevalent today."

"Seeing this, I, Deng Xiaoping, realized that the karmic conditions and the causes and effects of these events are truly inseparable from me. At the very moment when the people of China most needed support and a compassionate leader to speak for them, I used the slogan of economic development to impose immense pressure and suppression upon them in every aspect. This was true in politics, in the economy, and even in culture. I made it impossible for too many people to return to their true, original selves in any aspect of their lives. In other words, I suppressed the most original, kindest side of everyone, forcing them to trigger the dark side of their hearts—the side of endless competition, struggle, and selfishness."

A Legacy of Hidden Danger

"Only now do I realize that while each of my policies seemed to be for the good of the people and the long-term development of the country, they invisibly ignited the darkness within them, allowing this darkness to be passed down from generation to generation with no end in sight. This was truly a massive mistake I committed, yet I was completely unaware of it at the time. I truly thought I had done everything for the best, never imagining that I had planted such a massive time bomb in the hearts of the majority of the people."

"At that time, China's population was vast, and resources were far from sufficient to support everyone in living a good life. In such circumstances, the suppression in people's hearts was not just about wanting to live better; it was often a desperate hope to prevent themselves and their families from falling into an endless abyss. This 'abyss' meant that if people could not exert their utmost effort to maintain their economic competitiveness or their performance in various areas, and if they lost their livelihood while social support was insufficient to provide security, they would have no way out. They could only pin their hopes on one thing: 'money,' to compensate for all their suffering."

"Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, including all the policies I strongly pushed, we often heavily suppressed the culture and religion of the Chinese people—especially the moral foundations that could soothe people's inner worlds or provide spiritual sustenance. Everyone was expected to obey orders; there was only the Party, only the State, and nothing else. Even the most basic moral education was suppressed, leaving people with no support in their hearts. When even basic survival could not be guaranteed, people could only rely on money to obtain satisfaction for their Body-Mind-Spirit. The most fatal aspect of this was depriving the Chinese people of religion, especially the education of the Buddha’s teachings."

The Destruction of the Spirit

"Long ago, before the Cultural Revolution, I participated in many, many movements—the Anti-Rightist Campaign and various movements to strike at religious culture. The so-called Anti-Rightist Campaign was about opposing the rise of intellectuals because I feared they would threaten the Party's supreme power. Consequently, I personally crushed many young people who held dreams for the country and the people, as well as capable individuals who wanted to contribute to the nation. I drove them to the lowest levels of society, forcing them into manual labor and lives worse than death."

"Another aspect, which the Communist Party has always believed in, is the suppression of religion. Religion cannot exist because we in the Communist Party often position the Party as the people's only spiritual reliance, hoping that the Party is the one and only thing in people's hearts, and that everything else should be abandoned. Therefore, under intense suppression, the Buddha’s teachings disappeared completely or were hidden in the deepest depths, unable to emerge. This left many people without support; whether economic or spiritual, everything was suddenly shattered. The karmic retribution for destroying the Buddha’s teachings in such a way is unimaginable."

"Therefore, when people were destitute and had nothing, they could only look to the Party for a little comfort. It was against this background that I pushed people into a world where survival depended solely on money. Because of my pragmatism, everyone followed my values. Without money, one had nothing; everything was a failure. When success and failure were defined entirely by the amount of money one possessed, the moral foundations in people's hearts completely collapsed."

"The price I, Deng Xiaoping, must pay for this is truly great, because I was so, so wrong. My cold-bloodedness throughout my life—that is, my lack of compassion—was a fatal injury as the leader of a nation. A leader of a nation should take compassion as the foundation; this has been the law for thousands of years in China, which is the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. As a ruler, to lack a compassionate heart—let alone other moral values—meant that people could only live under oppression. So, many people, while being oppressed, were not only unaware of it but also highly praised all of my thoughts, believing that everything I said was the absolute truth. Why, in the end, was this the case? Namo Amituofo."

"This occurred because, once I had stirred up the darkest aspects of the human heart, the people became entirely subservient to me, engraving the law of 'money above all else' into their very souls. I then implemented a series of sweeping reforms, leading many to regard me as if I were a god. It was as if I had allowed them to taste the 'benefits' of wealth—the notion that money is omnipotent—and then proceeded to force-feed them even more riches. Is this not what a 'kind father' would do? This is why, even to this day, many still believe that my policies were correct and that the path I set was the only one China should have taken. Of course, this is a reality born from the collective karma that I shared with the people.

However, I, Deng Xiaoping, must bear a heavy burden of responsibility. I see it clearly now, and I deeply repent for all the karma I have created. Now, in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I am forced to look back and dissect the truth of it all. To be honest, it was difficult to accept at first; I had not truly engaged in such profound reflection or observed the hearts of the Chinese people with such clarity for a long time. But as a resident of the Western Land, this has become an effortless task. Now that I have truly observed the situation—looking past the superficial developments—it is a sight that breaks my heart! I know I was wrong. I know that the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way cannot be violated. I violated them profoundly, and in doing so, I led the vast population of China down this same path. This is the reason for the hidden, gnawing pain in people's hearts today. They may feel a fleeting sense of physical pleasure, but their spiritual nature has been completely covered up, leading them to create immeasurable and boundless sins.

The Weight of My Responsibility

This report is my confession regarding the evolution of the Chinese heart, a process in which I was inextricably involved. I know this in my heart, and I sincerely repent for all these errors. Although my ability to act from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is limited, I hope that this letter of repentance—this sincere apology to all the people of China—will be held in your hearts. Know that your former leader is now a resident of the Western Land, yet I have not forgotten the sins I committed, nor have I forgotten those who once followed me. I understand the pain and suffering in your hearts, and I am striving to provide you with answers, compensation, and guidance on how to navigate the road ahead. This is the question that weighs heavily on the hearts of so many Chinese people.

The path ahead can be incredibly broad, or it can be suffocatingly narrow; it depends entirely on the state of one's heart. My heart was corrupted at the time, and so I led the people of China into a state where their hearts also became corrupted. What I mean by 'corrupted' is selfishness, the obsession with self-protection, the profit-oriented mindset, and the belief that money is supreme. These concepts are the very definition of corruption. These evils, once unleashed by my policies, cannot be undone; no matter how much I say, it is of little use now.

A Heart Transformed in the Western Land

Yet, at this very moment, the Chinese people should feel fortunate. Even if, on the surface, it seems as though nothing special is happening in China, from my perspective as a resident of the Western Land looking through the eyes of the spiritual realm, I can see the truth clearly. In the spiritual realms, countless beings—perhaps your ancestors, your forebears, and many others with whom you share a karmic affinity—have obtained true deliverance because of the fact that Namo Amituofo has descended to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.

This is possible because Practitioner Su, a lay practitioner from Taiwan, has spent her life practicing Mahayana Buddhism with absolute sincerity and diligence. She has truly attained the state of being free from aging, free from illness, and where the spirit does not die, allowing her to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss at will. Practitioner Su has realised her true nature and attained Buddhahood. Therefore, not only can she guide beings to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, but she can also help perform Chao Du for immeasurable and boundless beings, guiding them to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This is something that can be accomplished with the support and guidance of Namo Amituofo.

The Hidden Truth of the Spiritual Realm

It was through this magnificent Causal Condition fourteen years ago that I was guided by Namo Amituofo to be reborn in the Western Land, which led to my interview at the Fragrant Light chamber. At the time, I was utterly astonished: how could a Buddha come to this world to save us? I did not even have a concept of what a Buddha was.

But having lived as a resident of the Western Land for so long, I have truly felt the Buddha’s compassion—a compassion I could never have imagined in all my years. Because my character was once the exact opposite of the Buddha’s, I had completely forgotten all Goodness. But when my own good roots were re-awakened in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I wept in agony, knowing how truly wrong I had been and how incredibly fortunate I was to have been given the opportunity for deliverance. That a person like me, who had committed such grave sins, could have such an opportunity is truly an arrangement of Causal Conditions—it is the compassion of the Buddha.

Because I had created such vast karma, yet had also performed great acts of Goodness in many past lives, I earned the blessings and the karmic affinity to be reborn in the Western Land and to speak these words to you today. Consequently, there are many people I can influence. I believe that my words, spoken from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, can still touch the hearts of many Chinese people, letting them know the sincere hope of their old leader. I have truly transformed from a man driven entirely by profit into a resident of the Western Land who possesses the same compassionate heart as the Buddha.

A Gift of True Education

I sincerely hope that the people of China can magnify the word 'Goodness' and expand their capacity to think of others. Too many things are suppressed in your hearts, and you are unable to be your true selves. Why not try to relax and let go of it all? Life is truly too bitter—the suffering of impermanence and the various unpredictable hardships. Are you not already suffering while living in the midst of it all?

My happiness now, in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, is due to the Buddha’s compassion and the teachings of the Buddha’s teachings. I wish to use these same truths to speak to my fellow countrymen: every one of you is a Buddha, possessing the same Buddha-nature as Namo Amituofo. It is only because you are currently caught in the cycle of samsara that all this beauty has been covered up. Your current suffering is not your true nature; it is simply because you have not been able to receive true Buddhist education or understand the operation of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. This has caused you to attract karmic creditors and demon crowds into your bodies, controlling your Body, Speech, and Mind, and controlling your very existence. This suffering is a state of being unable to control one's own destiny, just as I, Deng Xiaoping, was in the past.

Breaking free from the shackles of the physical body has allowed me to understand my own state of mind at that time. Everything I did was, in a sense, under control, yet I was completely unaware of it. I had no connection with the spiritual realms and did not know of their existence. Thus, I lived my entire life under control, and I forced the ideologies I championed onto others, leading them down the same path.

Now, as a resident of the Western Land, fourteen years of purification have made me fully understand the importance of Buddhist education. I want to offer a deep apology to my fellow Chinese countrymen. I sincerely repent for all the sins I committed in the past and the suffering I caused to your Body-Mind-Spirit. I know I must bear this sin, but I also wish to bring you a brand-new gift: the Buddhist education of Namo Amituofo. This education has completely healed and taught me; it is an education that can make one's life complete.

China possesses a rich culture and heritage spanning five thousand years, in which Buddhist education has played a vital role. Throughout the dynasties, whether they were officials, merchants, or farmers, many held the Buddha’s teachings as their faith. The reason the Buddha’s teachings were able to spread in China and flourish so brilliantly is that the Chinese people possess the good roots to accept them, especially the Mahayana Buddhism philosophy of self-liberation and helping others. This is because the Goodness and compassion at the core of the Chinese heart have always existed. Through generations, no matter how many wars, how much suffering, or how many famines were endured, this seed of Goodness in the hearts of the people never vanished. Looking across the world, only China has been able to preserve the Buddha’s teachings so perfectly for thousands of years, passing them down from generation to generation. Even India, the birthplace of the Buddha’s teachings, could not achieve this. This proves that the Chinese people have a very deep Buddhist affinity and very profound good roots. Please, do not disregard this Buddhist affinity and these good roots; since they exist, they will be passed down and continue indefinitely.

The suffering of Body-Mind-Spirit that you endure today is also the karma that the Chinese people must bear. It is a suffering born from a collective, massive whirlpool of karma. Yet, the Buddha’s teachings are once again rising in the world. After many years of silence, Namo Amituofo has come to the human world. Although He does not reside in China—because the Dharma affinity of the Chinese people has not yet reached its most mature stage—Namo Amituofo currently abides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, and through many channels, He can propagate this magnificent Dharma to the people of China. Namo Amituofo."

Practitioner Su often says, "I want to save China! I want to save China!" This is not merely a catchphrase; it is a Great Vow deeply rooted in Practitioner Su's heart. The reason this vow is frequently spoken and can be realised within mainland China is that Practitioner Su truly understands the suffering within the hearts of the Chinese people, while also recognising the good roots and Buddhist affinity that still exist deep within them. Therefore, saving China is both necessary and inevitable. With the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre established in Australia, bringing the Buddha’s teachings to the entire world, China is undoubtedly one of the most important nations.

A Deep Understanding of the Chinese Soul

In his younger years, Practitioner Su travelled through cities and towns across China, gaining a profound understanding of the hearts of the Chinese people. Even then, Practitioner Su already possessed supernatural abilities such as reading minds and knowing past lives; he could see through people’s past and present lives and peer directly into their hearts. More importantly, he could perceive all the changes and suffering within the spiritual world. Therefore, among all the people in the world, Practitioner Su is the one who understands the Chinese people best! You may wonder how this awakened being, who came from Taiwan and later settled in Australia, can truly understand the Chinese people so well. It is actually quite simple: the Buddha is omniscient and omnipotent. With the Chinese people’s good roots, blessings, and Causal Conditions now ripe, the Buddha will certainly come to China to save the Chinese people.

Looking at the current situation, the fact that I, Deng Xiaoping, have seen in the Western Land all the Chao Du work that Practitioner Su has conducted in mainland China perfectly illustrates this point. Although it has not yet become widespread, and the number of Chinese people who know about the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is still very small, all of this is in the process of paving the way. Practitioner Su has walked step by step to this day, gathering such vast merits and Dharma-wealth to perform such extensive Chao Du for mainland China, all while enduring the immense physical pain of attacks from demon crowds—all because of this heart that wishes to save China.

A Connection Across Lifetimes

Furthermore, if you look at Practitioner Su’s biography, you will surely know that he has been reborn on Chinese soil more than once. He has lived many lifetimes on this land, often as an eminent monk or a high-ranking official or ruler. With such lofty status, he must have forged a very deep Dharma affinity with the people here! Therefore, now that Practitioner Su has returned to the human world, he certainly considers saving China to be a matter of the utmost importance.

Please do not worry; the Buddha has come to this world and will not forget the Chinese people. As long as there is still this sense of Goodness in the hearts of the Chinese people, and they are willing to recite this Buddha-name, willing to let go of their physical attachments and the deep-seated stubbornness and selfishness within their hearts, and willing to accept Buddhist education with the most expansive heart, then they will certainly be able to induce Namo Amituofo to enter China with even greater power. Although there are various policy restrictions at this time and the propagation of the Buddha’s teachings may sound very difficult, all of this is merely a change within the Causal Conditions. The changes in Causal Conditions come and go quickly. Do not take these things to heart; such is the nature of cause and effect. This is because of the negative karma created by the Chinese people, and this karma must be repaid—there will certainly come a day of reckoning. When this karma gradually draws to a conclusion, that will be the time when the Chinese people can freely and openly accept Buddhist education with the greatest of hearts. Please wait patiently, observe the changes over these next few years, and everything will surely take a turn for the better.

A Call to Believe

I, Deng Xiaoping, believe this firmly because, after so many years of ups and downs, the good roots of the Chinese people remain very deep. As long as these good roots exist, everything else is just a matter of time. The reason I, Deng Xiaoping, dare to speak these words with such confidence here is that I am speaking entirely under the blessing of the Buddha. Now, if my fellow Chinese compatriots are fortunate enough to see this letter, please, everyone, you must believe in the Buddha and believe in everything the Buddha is doing now that He has come to this world.

Many Chinese people today cannot truly believe in the Buddha. This is not your original state, but rather the result of various controls and layers of suppression. In particular, the ideologies that I and many other leaders instilled in you generation after generation have kept you living in a state of long-term distrust, unable to break free. Now that I, Deng Xiaoping, have broken free, I want to tell you all: you must break free as well. Only then can you believe in all of this, and only then will you have a real opportunity for liberation.

The Truth Beyond Ideology

Moreover, everything taught by the Buddha’s teachings is not the kind of superstition that the Party has instilled in you. So-called superstition is what leads people further and further away from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, making it impossible for you to remain clear-headed and causing you to create negative karma—that is what superstition truly brings. However, if you look at this interview with a sincere heart, or if you take a look at everything the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has done over the years, if you have that sincerity, you will surely be able to see that the Buddha has truly come to this world. There is no one more compassionate than the Buddha, who can perform such extensive Chao Du and such magnificent acts of saving beings. Only the Buddha is capable of this; ordinary people simply cannot reach such heights.

If you can see through this and clearly recognise the Buddha’s compassion, you will certainly find it much easier to accept Buddhist education. I urge you all, no matter what—regardless of whether you currently believe what I, Deng Xiaoping, am saying—to at least open the website of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. By any means necessary, try to open the website and take a look at all the teachings the Buddha has provided for you. Everything is designed to help you attain true peace of mind, meditative concentration, and genuine Dharma-joy and satisfaction. Is this not exactly what you are lacking at this very moment? Calm your hearts and read a few of the Buddha’s teachings; calm your hearts and listen to the future life of the Teacher, Practitioner Xia Lianju, who is known to everyone as the Great Master Xuanzang. These two masters appeared in different eras to demonstrate to all our Chinese compatriots that the true transmission of Buddhist education is here. You must believe in the Buddha and believe in the Teacher.

The Path to True Peace

Every word spoken here by the Buddha and the Teacher can melt your hardened hearts, stimulate the good nature deep within you, and help you move toward true peace and satisfaction. Is that not the case? The Buddha’s teachings are actually very simple; do not view them as overly complicated. The main thing is this human heart. If your hearts can attain true stability and a sense of security, and if you no longer chase after the various desires and satisfactions of the external world, no longer becoming addicted to them, you will surely be able to see things more clearly and thoroughly. I, Deng Xiaoping, am in this state in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I have attained true clarity of spirit and a refreshed heart. But you do not have to wait until you arrive in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to have the same state of mind as I do!

Now that Namo Amituofo has come to this world, it is to bring the Western Land to you and to bring the Buddha’s teachings to you. When the Buddha was at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the many teachings from the Buddha and the Teacher each week were directed straight at the hearts of the Chinese people—hearts that are in urgent need of salvation and repair. Every word and every sentence can awaken the Buddha-nature within you, allowing you to more easily distinguish between demon crowds and karmic creditors, thereby distancing yourselves from these negative thoughts and ideas, and achieving true liberation.

All of this takes time. After all, your hearts have suffered for a long time, and even your parents' and grandparents' generations have passed down this suffering. But do not be discouraged. If you wish to end this suffering with your own generation so that the next generation can live a good life, then you must believe in the Buddha and bring the Buddha’s teachings to China. Do not worry, no matter how many obstacles and barriers you encounter; all of this is part of the unfolding of karmic conditions and the causes and effects. The more you do, perhaps the sooner this collective karma can be resolved. If beings can be moved by the teachings of the Buddha sooner, then there will surely come a day when the Chinese people can openly and righteously propagate the Buddha’s teachings. I, Deng Xiaoping, am filled with gratitude, knowing deeply that this can certainly be done. Therefore, here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I am working hard at this very moment to report this to you all.

The Light of Buddhist Education

We must vigorously promote the Buddhist education of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, because the hearts of the Chinese people have merely had their inherent goodness covered up, not truly lost. The purity and Goodness in the Buddha’s teachings are exactly the "calming pill" that people need most right now. People’s hearts are scattered and uneasy; the suffering of the body and mind, as well as the suffering of the soul that does not know where to go, can all find true comfort and liberation through every word and every soothing act of the Buddha.

This is just like the current Chinese government’s efforts to revive traditional cultural education, which actually shows that all education of Goodness and virtue is already known to the world. People know its preciousness and rarity, and they know how much strength, Wisdom, and peace of mind the excellent character education of our ancestors can bring. Traditional Chinese cultural education is like this, and Buddhist education is even more so. Compared to traditional cultural education, the purity and Goodness spoken of in Buddhist education go a step further, pointing directly to the level of people’s hearts and spirits. This wounded heart and spirit now needs the purest irrigation of Buddhist education to attain true comfort, allowing people to no longer be controlled and to truly walk out and become autonomous.

Furthermore, Buddhist education can bring you education and growth regarding the spiritual realm, which is something no other education can achieve. People do not understand their own spirits, yet they have always had a desire to unlock their hearts; this has been the case since ancient times. If you can know that what Buddhist education brings you is the true benefit of not growing old, not getting sick, and your spirit never dying, and that all of this has already been verified in the human world, then those who have the affinity to see and understand a little of what Practitioner Su has done will know that the Buddha’s teachings are truly the mystery of "technology within technology."

"This matter spreading from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, blossoming in the hearts of our vast fellow countrymen—this is a very real possibility. I, Deng Xiaoping, firmly believe in this. My own experience is proof: from a man who had not a shred of affinity for the Buddha’s teachings, to someone who spent a month enduring the trials of the hells, only to begin listening to the Dharma sounds of the Buddha, to recognise the Buddha, and finally, to be guided to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—these years of purification have taught me deeply: only the purest, most Good heart can help the most suffering, most painful, and most evil heart."

The Inherent Goodness of the Human Heart

"The human heart is inherently good; the Buddha has never abandoned a single being. Regarding all evil, the Buddha sees it merely as a phase within the Causal Conditions. I believe that the Goodness within everyone's heart can be awakened. This deep-seated good roots of the Chinese people have never been extinguished from beginning to end. It is a light that remains, even if it is currently dimmed by the shadows of the world."

Peeling Back the Layers of Pollution

"This is what I, Deng Xiaoping, can see when I look at people's hearts today. I can see the heart on many levels. Just as I saw before that people's hearts had rotted and become incredibly selfish, at this moment, I can also see the deeper side of people's hearts—that side of Goodness, that side of compassion. It is merely covered up by layers upon layers of habit and social pollution. All this covering is temporary; it can be reversed. I, Deng Xiaoping, watch all of this, and I see it clearly. Think about it—if the heart were truly beyond saving, would the Buddha still be here? Would the Dharma still be accessible? It is because there is hope that we are here to speak to you."

The Only Path to True Transformation

"Today, I have used a long passage to explain the heart of the Chinese people to you all. From the heart that once made me weep bitterly to the heart that now sees hope, it is actually the same heart from beginning to end; that heart has never changed. It is just that what I want to say now is to peel back these layers and dissect this heart for you to hear, so that you may understand the principle in the Buddha’s teachings that everything is based on the heart. If you change this heart, your Body-Mind-Spirit can all be transformed and elevated. You must believe this. Truly, only the Buddhist education brought to you by Namo Amituofo truly abides at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has the means to guide you to truly walk out and look at this heart, to teach you to open your heart, to let go, and to gradually remove the pollution upon your heart."

A Message from the Western Land

"When you gradually recover your clarity and Goodness, then the Chinese people will surely be saved! My fellow countrymen, I want to bring you these words. They are the wisdom brought to me by over a decade of bone-deep Buddhist education, and they are the profound experience of an old man who has risen from the Avici Hell. This is completely different from the 'me' of the past. Although I am still a clever man who can analyse things for you, I have been a resident of the Western Land for fourteen years now. At this moment, my heart is peaceful and harmonious, and I hope to chant 'Namo Amituofo' until the very end. All the purity and Goodness have echoed in my heart for these years. I truly want to dissect this heart and show it to you, so you can feel the joy and satisfaction, the Dharma joy within it. This is the true benefits of the Dharma brought to you by Namo Amituofo and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I hope you can all benefit from it."

A Mirror for the Future

"Having finished these words for my vast fellow countrymen, my heart feels much more settled. Under the constant empowerment of Namo Amituofo, I have honestly finished speaking these words, and I hope they will be of help to the growth of your Body-Mind-Spirit. The most gratitude goes to the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Without the Buddha's compassion, there would be no such words from Deng Xiaoping today. This life, which has undergone a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn—my suffering and my current Dharma joy—I hope can serve as a mirror for you all. You must believe in the Buddha. Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su have truly come to this world to save you and help you."

"Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su, gratitude to everyone, and gratitude to my fellow countrymen."

"Namo Amituofo."

"Deng Xiaoping"