A Final Confession from Venerable Master Chin Kung

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of the late Venerable Master Chin Kung, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his final realisations and his message to the world. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on July 29 and August 2, 2022.

Venerable Master Chin Kung speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. It is I, Chin Kung.

My physical body has passed away, and now, as a spirit without a body, I have been rescued by Practitioner Su from the midst of great peril and brought into the Western Dharma-Nature Land of this temple. I am not unfamiliar with this place. During my lifetime, my three souls were saved by Practitioner Su several times, and each time, I was placed in this quiet and peaceful Dharma-Nature Land.

The Mercy of the Buddha

When I was in the depths of agony, the Buddha-light shone upon me, and I was immediately brought into the temple. I knew then that I had been saved! My tears flowed like a river—tears of gratitude, of shame, and of deep repentance!

O compassionate Buddha! Thank you for not forgetting Chin Kung. You gave me a long period to turn back. You reminded my three souls in those final months that if I went to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to find the Buddha, the Buddha could still save me. Furthermore, I could save immeasurable and boundless beings who have karmic affinity, letting them know that the Buddha is at Hsiang Kuang, giving them the opportunity to be saved and enter the Western Pure Land.

A Burden of Sin and Regret

Buddha, this sinful body of mine is now actually able to sit upon a lotus seat in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. My tears of gratitude and shame have stopped and flowed, stopped and flowed again—I have lost count of how many times! Buddha, Chin Kung was not an obedient child, which is why I could not escape the universal principle and ended up covered in wounds.

Practitioner Su, I, this spirit without a body, thank you for saving me. Moreover, I previously instructed the Pure Land societies and the entire Pure Land system not to have any contact or connection with Practitioner Su, which caused Practitioner Su to suffer greatly. This was my failure to observe the truth; I was biased and acted out of selfishness. The decisions I made caused Practitioner Su to endure the coldness and warmth of human sentiment. I was not unaware of this; rather, I hardened my heart, choosing to act as if I had not seen or heard anything. It was truly foolish and ignorant! I offer my apologies to Practitioner Su now. We are no longer in a teacher-student relationship; we stand on equal footing, and in fact, Practitioner Su is even a step ahead.

A Sincere Plea for Forgiveness

I have failed Namo Amituofo, and I have failed the eleven ancestral masters and my two benevolent teachers—Master Zhangjia and Lay Practitioner Li Bingnan—who descended from the Western Pure Land to protect my body. At this moment, I kneel and repent; I truly repent!

Living such a good life here, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all the Venerables, lay practitioners, and volunteers who took care of me when I was ill. I have always disliked troubling others, yet I never expected that at the end of my life, I would cause everyone so much trouble!

Regarding Lay Practitioner Hu, besides gratitude, I also feel deep regret! I am grateful for her support over so many years; she never left my side and cared for me with meticulous attention. I knew this—I was very clear about it—yet I often dismissed it with a mere verbal 'thank you.' Now, kneeling before the Buddha, I truly express my gratitude and repentance to Lay Practitioner Hu! I am grateful for her companionship, support, and care over these many years. I repent because, regardless of the circumstances, I cannot shirk the responsibility for her needing dialysis; there must have been something inappropriate or improper in my actions that led to this retribution. In those final months, the Buddha mentioned many times that if I went to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to find the Buddha, the Buddha could save Lay Practitioner Hu, but I kept delaying and did not act. This was truly a grave sin! I only hope that Lay Practitioner Hu can learn of this now and take action to find the Buddha quickly! I hope it is not too late!

The Truth About Hsiang Kuang

Furthermore, to the global Pure Land societies and the Pure Land Learning College: I sincerely apologise to you all! Because of my selfishness, I covered up the fact that Namo Amituofo is at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I thought that by doing so, I could protect the Pure Land societies and the Pure Land Learning College, but I failed to consider how many chanting believers would have their path to rebirth in the Western Pure Land severed because of my silence. I knew, yet I did not speak—this is a sin upon a sin!

The previous ban on Practitioner Su—Su Yue'e, Practitioner Su—is now completely lifted. Everyone should draw close to Practitioner Su, for Practitioner Su is the greatest achievement of my sixty years of lecturing on the sutras: she has awakened, realised the Dharma Body, and with countless manifestations, has saved immeasurable beings from the underworld, guiding them into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss or the celestial realms. This is the achievement of the Pure Land school in the modern era. Because Practitioner Su is one with deep good roots and blessings, a holy being who has descended from the Western Pure Land, everyone should respect, draw close to, and learn from her. Do not block her, slander her, or create karma. I hope it is not too late!

A Final Message to Practitioner Su

Although my body is no longer in the human world, you should still remember the sincerity and earnestness with which I lectured on the sutras. If you truly remember me, please believe what is written here. Every word comes from the bottom of my heart—these are my heartfelt words!

Practitioner Su, I have never addressed you so directly before; I always called you 'Lay Practitioner Su.' In truth, I had long discovered your abilities, but based on the mentality of a teacher—partly out of cherishing talent and partly out of jealousy—I harboured very subtle mental notes that I was unwilling to face. That is why I delayed until now, hurting everyone. 'Why did Namo Amituofo choose Lay Practitioner Su instead of me?' This was the question deep in my heart. Now, everything is clearly presented before me. Practitioner Su can no longer be described by the phrase 'the student surpasses the teacher.' You are a being who has returned, a Buddha from the Western Pure Land who has vowed to descend to save beings. In my heart, I actually knew, but I deceived myself: 'Since no one else knows, if I do not speak, no one will know.' Such a mentality was truly inexcusable; it blocked the path to the Western Pure Land for so many who chant the Buddha's name!

In fact, many years ago, I publicly announced that Lay Practitioner Su had guided Venerable Wufan to the Western Pure Land. I knew then that this was real; Practitioner Su already possessed this ability at that time, but I suppressed it. This, too, was an act of foolishness on my part.

I am ashamed that I only dared to speak these words after my death. My heart was indeed polluted by fame and profit; what purity could I have had? I had no realisation of my true nature! My sixty years of lecturing were merely 'wielding an axe before the master.' Fortunately, I had the support of vast numbers of believers, and I spent this life amidst suffering, joy, worry, and happiness.

Practitioner Su, I only hope that the spreading of the Pure Land teachings throughout the Dharma Realm, the void, and the human world can begin with you. This place where you are is connected to Namo Amituofo; it is a precious land for spreading the Pure Land teachings and is the hope of the Pure Land. I hope that the Pure Land societies and the Pure Land Learning College can have substantive learning and exchanges with Practitioner Su. In this, I hope for the assistance of Venerable Wudao. We are all good disciples of Namo Amituofo, all working hard to spread the Pure Land teachings. Previously, I created divisions between 'self' and 'other,' but now I only hope for harmony. Let us work together to pass on the Pure Land teachings, awaken, and guide beings to the Western Pure Land! Namo Amituofo.

The ashamed old monk, Shi Chin Kung, bows with palms together.

A Final Reflection

My tears flow again. How many past events are too painful to look back upon! The days that caused Practitioner Su such bitterness now surface before my eyes, and the pain in my heart surges once more. For the sake of my own fame and profit, I should not have covered up the truth. A little bit of jealous selfishness led me to blockade the entire Pure Land system, excluding Practitioner Su and ensuring she would never again enter the Pure Land system.

Speaking of this, I shed tears of repentance once more. Only as a spirit without a body do I realise that after sixty years of lecturing, a single subtle selfish thought committed such a great sin, severing the wisdom-life of sentient beings and preventing Namo Amituofo from being brought to the forefront. My karmic retribution is truly heavy!

I hope the Pure Land societies and the Pure Land Learning College can emulate Practitioner Su's vow to save the world and come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to see Namo Amituofo and meet with me, Master Chin Kung.

Shi Chin Kung bows with palms together.

Grateful for the compassionate blessing of the Buddha's power. Namo Amituofo."