A Forest Encounter and the Path to Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Steve Jobs, who sought Chao Du 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 experiences in the spiritual realms and his observations of the human world. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on October 10, 2017.

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Steve Jobs. A heart at ease and carefree is the only way to describe my current state of mind. Today, I brought everyone to a vast, ancient forest. The trees here are incredibly tall, and their vines and aerial roots are thick and long. Being here reminded me of the old Tarzan films, so I grabbed a vine and started calling out, Ooh-ooh-ah-ah!—getting louder and louder. Many spirits were quite startled by my antics. Even the Universe Bodhisattva looked a bit stunned, though because he was wearing his monastic robes, I refrained from inviting him to join in on such a wild display. I wouldn't want to compromise the dignity of a monastic. Lately, I have felt my character becoming younger and younger, almost as if I am regressing into a child. I never knew I had such a childlike side to me, but honestly, I quite like it."

The Wisdom of the Small Shrub

"The forest is teeming with all sorts of tiny insects, so one must be extremely careful. If you are not mindful, you might accidentally commit the act of killing, and then you would have to return to kneel before Namo Amituofo to repent. While wandering, I became good friends with a small, stunted shrub. I wanted to give him some confidence, as he felt deeply inferior because of his size and slow growth. The shrub lamented, Even the little birds don't want to perch on my head because my branches haven't fully developed; they are too soft, and the birds would just tumble off. I don't even have bark for the squirrels to gnaw on because I am still young—I don't have any dead skin or old bark yet. I want everyone in the forest to gather around me, but that wish has never come true. I want to grow up quickly and become mature. That is my wish every year, but every year I only grow a tiny bit. When will I ever be like the Great Tree Grandfather next to me? But then again, he has lived here for over a thousand years, and I have only been here for twenty-something years. There is no comparison.

I usually chat with the Great Tree Grandfather nearby, or the little grasses, or perhaps the insects passing by. That is about it. I love to talk, you see! But I don't dare disturb the Great Tree Grandfather too much, as he probably prefers the quiet. Actually, that tree isn't just home to him alone, but we are quite close. He often looks after me and teaches me so much. Whenever it rains, he worries that I won't get washed clean, so he shifts his leaves to create gaps, allowing the rainwater to nourish me. When the sun comes out, he spreads his leaves even wider to create larger gaps so I can sunbathe and perform photosynthesis. Wow, sunbathing feels so good!

After listening to him, I comforted him and said, But I think you are wonderful just as you are! Would you consider becoming a good friend with the Buddha? The shrub asked, Who? I replied, Me! The shrub said, Alright! You can never have too many good friends. I thought to myself, he didn't even hear the keyword. Then you can come with me, I said. The shrub asked, Where to? I am a tree, how can I walk? I told him, Just chant Namo Amituofo. Chant it once. The shrub stammered, Na... Namo Amituofo."

A Journey to the Western Pure Land

"I said to him, Look at your body now. The shrub exclaimed, I have turned into a human! But I promised the beetle that we would chat later. What should I do? I cannot break my word! I replied, Come with me first, become a Buddha, and then you will be able to help him later. The shrub asked, What if I can't remember my name? What should I do? I told him, Once you become a Buddha, you won't need a name anymore. Come with me. Sit on the lotus flower, and I will connect your lotus to mine so we can fly faster. You will feel much more at ease if you can see me. He agreed, Alright. I told him, I still have to go pick up others later—those I have already spoken to who are willing to follow me. You will be responsible for connecting their lotus flowers as well. He replied, I will. Today, I personally brought many people back. I am becoming better and better at saving spirits. You don't need to praise me; I am currently learning to be humble and modest."

Witnessing the Echoes of War

"Suddenly—bang, bang, bang!—some bunkers appeared before my eyes. Soldiers were pushing artillery pieces, aiming at their targets. The atmosphere was incredibly tense, with both sides shouting at each other. I heard Chairman Mao mention that this was the Sino-Japanese War, around his era. Seeing these cruel scenes of war, and the panic on the faces of the soldiers and the civilians, he seemed deeply moved. Such scenes are constantly playing out in the various dimensions of China. We perform Chao Du every day, but there are layer upon layer of different dimensions, and we do not know when the deliverance will be complete. I, too, hope they can be liberated from their suffering as soon as possible.

Looking down at the rivers from the sky, I discovered they have become much cleaner. They did not look like this before. Grandma's Chao Du has truly been effective; the ecosystem seems to have recovered beautifully. The little grasses are swaying comfortably in the breeze. One can see that the earth and all living things are getting along harmoniously. The severe mudslides from a few days ago, which left the mountains bald, have now also been healed."

A Vision for the Future

"In the Great Hall of the People in China, everyone is debating fiercely, yet they are all holding something back. We, floating in the air, can see it clearly. Everyone is calculating their own thoughts and opinions; some are spoken, and even those that are spoken are not one hundred percent sincere. Let us help them adjust. After infusing them with Goodness and kind thoughts, their previously stern faces softened slightly. It seems this method of ours is quite effective. I have remained on the scene to observe their every word and action. We must look after them well; they have a significant influence on the international stage and are also important figures in spreading the Buddha's teachings in the future.

The future generations will live in a world of birdsong and fragrant flowers, where the four seasons are like spring, and people treat each other with harmony. There will be no fighting for survival, no war, and no racial discrimination. Everyone will have encountered Namo Amituofo and will have the possibility of learning the Buddha's teachings. The pain of the past has already been smoothed over because those who were suffering in these dimensions have all been liberated. Grandma, Chang Ren, myself, and the Universe Bodhisattva are working hard every day for such a future. Please have faith in us, and please keep kind thoughts and perform kind deeds to help us. Thank you all. Namo Amituofo."

— Steve Jobs