This is a record of an interview with Hu Tongqing, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent spiritual journey. Recorded by the disciple Cao Rudi on June 4, 2017.
Cao Rudi speaks:
"After paying my respects to the Buddha ten times, I invite Mr. Hu Tongqing to describe his experience of attaining rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, so that the world may understand the truth. ."
Hu Tongqing speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. First, I must express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su for saving me from suffering and guiding me to the Western Pure Land. Many members of my family have also been personally led by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I do not know how to repay such kindness. The only thing I can do now is to speak to my daughter, Nini, and wake her up. It is truly either foolishness or madness to stand before a mountain of treasure and yet return empty-handed.
The Reality of the Afterlife
Nini, you do not know that after your father passed away, although you have been a great protector of the Buddha’s teachings in this life and possess the tremendous blessing of encountering the , the Buddhist services you performed were not received by me at all. It was only when I reached the underworld that I realised that not every Dharma service performed by every Venerable results in real benefits for those in the netherworld. Just like in the human world, the underworld has its own share of ruffians and scoundrels, only they lack physical bodies. The shops, clinics, and snack stalls you see in the human world exist there too. Every spirit walks the streets with a blank, grey expression.
Nini, your father was truly sent to the Western Dharma-Nature Land to listen to the sutras by Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and then sent to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss during the . Your mother was saved in the same way. We cannot personally repay the kindness of the Great Su; you must thank him on our behalf. You should know better than us how to do that. Nini, your health is failing. I can see that your soul is being attacked, which is why your complexion is poor and your strength is gone. It breaks my father’s heart. Practitioner Su says that we must repay the Buddha’s kindness, and that even the most painful past events should be shared if they can help others understand the Buddha’s teachings.
The Consequences of a Life of Calculation
You know that when Father married your mother, the prestige of your maternal grandfather gave my career a significant boost. I was tall and handsome, so naturally, there were many temptations, which caused your mother much stress and insecurity. In the past, I did not study the Buddha’s teachings, and I did not know that every single action I took would carry . It was only after I died and descended into hell that I realised it was too late. I had spent my life calculating for profit and using my wits to manipulate others. After death, I first fell into the Copper Pillar Hell because of my lust for women; the I created in business led me to the Heart-Gouging and Brain-Gouging Hells. It was absolutely terrifying. Nini, you must change your temper. Your father is a living example; do not repeat my mistakes. Your arrogance and pride prevent you from keeping trustworthy and capable people by your side. You are not young anymore; look back at the people and events of my past, and let them be a warning to you.
The of Practitioner Su
Practitioner Su is truly filial to the Venerable Master Chin Kung. He always tries every possible way to enable the Venerable Master to participate in inviting spirits for healing, and at the same time, he sees you, his great protector, looking as thin as a rail. Practitioner Su thought that if he could help restore your health, the Venerable Master would have the confidence to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, completely setting aside past grievances. 'A teacher for one day is a father for life' is what he says most often. It is because of this great mind-capacity that your parents were saved after we passed away, escaping hell to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. This is a living example. If you still do not believe it, then you are not the Nini I know who understands right from wrong. Who are you? I do not know.
The True Self and the Path Forward
The world is truly chaotic. After one's true self is attacked and possessed, one often does things that are beyond comprehension. With so much truth and falsehood intertwined, who is the real self? Nini, you have a good friend in Practitioner Su who has been waiting for you to reach out. It is one thing to be suspicious of others, but to be suspicious of Practitioner Su, whom you know—he is sincere, enthusiastic, and full of compassion. He sees only the interests of sentient beings and has no 'self'. I think I have said enough; I was so eager to talk to you that I forgot to introduce myself properly. They want to make this article public to help those in need, so I must introduce myself properly.
I am the son-in-law of the political elder Huang Shao-gu and the father of the talented Hong Kong lady Hu Nini. I have another title that might be even more prominent: I once served as the Chairman of Far Eastern Air Transport. My family wanted to operate an airline, but after we actually started, we found it was not what we thought; it is a highly professional industry, so I eventually sold all my shares to my brother-in-law, Huang Ren-zhong. However, the sins I committed along the way are my own to bear. This is why I suffered retribution in three different hells. Here, the Buddha hall has recently been exploring why people's three hun souls and seven po souls become ill and weak. Is it true that as people age, they must face aging, sickness, and death? Practitioner Su is a true practitioner, a person who has truly realised his true nature. He proves that studying the Buddha’s teachings can lead to a state where one does not age, get sick, or die. Aging is caused by excessive thinking, which attracts beings with similar habits and exhausts one's energy, making it easier for external spirits to invade. Looking back, everything is due to the negative causes I created in the past, which led to today's evil consequences. The pursue us not only throughout our many lives but also manifest in our dreams, reflecting our addictions and attachments. When the soul is scattered, it is the time of death. I was no different from anyone else. When I decided to let go of everything, it was when my physical health had already failed, and the damage to my three hun souls and seven po souls was inevitable.
I have not achieved anything glorious in this life. I only hope that, even though I am now in the Western Pure Land, I can still contribute a little to repay the Buddha’s kindness. Nini, Father is waiting for you to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to talk. Practitioner Su led us to the Western Pure Land; we must repay this kindness!"
Namo Amituofo.
This message was recorded by the disciple Cao Rudi.
