A Guardian Spirit's Perspective on Human Greed and Suffering

This is a record of an interview with Hu Jinrong, a spirit of the land in Northern Taiwan, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his observations over the past 1,500 years. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 21, 2021.

Hu Jinrong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the spirit of the land at a local temple near the home of Practitioner Su; I am one of the spirits of the land in Northern Taiwan. I am incredibly joyful to have been chosen for this. Over these years, I have heard so much about Practitioner Su, and I am truly happy to be interviewed today. I never imagined that I, a humble spirit of the land, could one day attain Buddhahood. I owe all of this to the help of Practitioner Su.

I am merely a spirit of the land, holding a minor divine office. I do not possess the vast capabilities of Practitioner Su, and in the future, I will still need Practitioner Su to guide me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am deeply grateful to have been brought here today and to witness the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, such a pure and excellent place of practice. I am filled with gratitude for this opportunity. I thank Namo Amituofo and I thank Practitioner Su, for I know how rare and precious this chance truly is. Looking at the state of the world today, one must truly seek to transcend it; only through liberation can one save oneself.

The Necessity of Liberation

I have listened to many of the sutras taught by Practitioner Su, and I have come to realise that 'liberation' is truly of the utmost importance. Especially now, how many people in this world are afflicted with illnesses of the heart? They harbour so much suffering within, unable to find a way out. If they could only know the path to liberation, they could save themselves, and they would also have the opportunity to save those who are like them. What a wonderful thing that would be! I truly hope that everyone will take action, come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and find their own direction toward liberation!

I am so thankful to be here today to share my story; it is no small feat to be able to do so! I am one thousand five hundred years old. I have lived on this land for fifteen centuries, and as I watch the changes that have taken place in Taiwan over these many years, my heart is filled with deep emotion. I only hope that everyone will realise the need to make a change, so that you do not end up in a state of regret—that would be such a tragedy!

A Witness to the Passage of Time

Fifteen hundred years ago, I was born on this very land. At that time, this was merely a mountainous region. There were not as many people living here as there are now, nor was there such convenient transportation. We lived simple, self-sufficient lives, never having any contact with the outside world. Back then, my father told me, 'In the future, this mountain forest will undergo great changes.' At first, I found it hard to believe, but now, seeing everything that has changed within these mountains, I realise that everything my father said was correct.

From a young age, I followed my father's side, and he taught me many things. I knew that my father was a very wise person. As a child, I often watched him resolve difficulties for others, and I knew he was no ordinary person. My father never needed to sleep; he only sat in meditation to rest. I was raised by my father, though I knew he had never fathered any children. He once told me that in the future, I would be needed to manage a piece of land, and that the prosperity of this land would require a good method of leadership and management. I am very grateful for the education my father gave me, as it has been of great use to me throughout my existence.

The Dangers of Greed and Recklessness

My father often taught me, 'To be a human, one must be down-to-earth. Only if you walk the straight path will you not fear that your body is crooked.' He also said, 'One must never be greedy, for a heart of greed will inevitably invite disaster.' Regarding this, over these many years, the northern region has suffered from floods several times. The source of these disasters stems from the greed and calculation within people's hearts. Everyone wishes to come to this great metropolitan area of Taipei to chase fame and profit, not knowing that a heart of greed has already invited great calamity. This is something one must know! It is better for people to be honest and live a peaceful life; do not try to obtain what you should not have, for you will not be able to bear the consequences.

I have learned so much from my father. He also told me, 'Humanity kills on a massive scale; how much blood and tears have accumulated in the space around us?' Every day and every night, countless livestock are processed into meat, transported in truckloads to the north, and sold in various shops. Has everyone seen the blood and tears left behind by these animals? This is an immense resentment, orbiting the very space where you all live together.

The Environmental Toll of Modernity

With the emission of exhaust gases and the decline in air quality due to environmental pollution, everyone wants to drive luxury cars, wants convenient lives, or desires comfortable living circles. The use of electricity, air conditioning, and technology—all of these cause interference and impact the environment. Many living beings can no longer live normally because of this. Furthermore, human brainwaves are being controlled in invisible ways; this is something everyone must know.

Industrial production is expanding everywhere. Some regions have been designated as heavy industrial zones. Such industrial development also causes significant interference to the environment. This is something everyone must be aware of.

The mindset of modern people is often: 'If we cannot develop these things, how are we to live? Just like if we don't work hard to make money, how can we support ourselves?' This viewpoint has indeed become the primary pursuit of all humanity for the sake of fame, profit, and life. It is just for survival, to be competitive, but because of this, the hearts of all humanity have changed. Has everyone noticed this?

The Crisis of the Human Heart

Why do social incidents—random killings, suicides, parricide, rape, abortion, domestic violence, child abuse, fraud, robbery, and so on—occur so frequently in society today? And what about the psychological problems people face: depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, autism, antisocial personality, borderline personality, and so on? How do these come about? Almost ninety percent of people are uneasy in their hearts, living in an environment of pressure, tension, and competition. Even if they constantly pursue convenience, quality of life, or travel, shopping, and entertainment to relieve the pressure within and satisfy their desires, these things still cannot fill the dissatisfaction and emptiness in their hearts. Why have people become like this?

Walking through the streets and alleys, one can see that the heart of every person is suffering. They worry about their lives—how can they be happy? Life should not end this way. I hope that everyone can find the value and meaning of life again, and not forget that the true goal is to be liberated and to attain real happiness, all for the sake of pursuing the life of this one existence.

I see it very clearly from here: how much people waste the essence of their lives for the sake of living! Especially when I look at the entertainment industry, I see many people pursuing high-end luxury, creating many false images in front of the screen, making their lives no longer authentic. They live as if they are in an illusory dream all day long, pursuing unrealistic fantasies. How painful is such a life? I think only their own hearts know.

You do not have to live this way; these are choices that humans make themselves. As long as you can live a peaceful and honest life, you do not actually need to strive for these things. Life should be used for more meaningful purposes, just like Practitioner Su, who sacrifices himself to save others. Life can be very valuable, rather than being spent in these illusory lives.

The Call for Change and Repentance

Looking at the current state of the world, the karmic retribution brought about by these environments—the changes in seasons, droughts, or environmental pollution—are all caused by human life and the pursuit of desires. If everyone knew how to exercise some restraint, to live a life that is 'just enough,' and not want more, then their own lives would not have to be so arduously pursued. They would be able to truly experience the freedom and enjoyment of life, and their hearts would be at peace, dwelling in stability.

The Collective Karma of the social environment has now become a major problem, affecting everyone. If you do not know how to adjust and change, this situation will continue, and even greater changes will occur. Everyone must know that if there is no environment, the things you pursue cannot exist. If your own life is threatened, then once life is gone, nothing else will exist.

I hope everyone will know to change, especially to 'change the heart.' I have seen this in so many people; the biggest problem is that the heart has become bad. Thinking bad thoughts, seeing things in a bad way, and planning bad things—this makes one's heart bad, and it also affects the entire magnetic field, creating negative problems.

There are many problems in society today that need to be solved. The teachings of Practitioner Su can truly help everyone. The sutras taught by Practitioner Su can regulate the heart, nourish the heart, and teach everyone to find themselves again. Modern society has taught everyone poorly; you must know how to transcend and break through. For this macro-environment to change, it still requires every person to make some effort so that we can break through the problems that cause these impacts together.

Gratitude for Practitioner Su

I am very grateful that I was able to meet Practitioner Su. Over these years, I have seen the problems appearing in society and the environment. Actually, the help I can provide is limited, because seeing these changes in the human heart, I am powerless to stop them. Furthermore, seeing the changes in the entire environment, I am even less capable of helping. Because these are all karmic retributions of Collective Karma, with causes and effects, I cannot interfere at all. I can only do my best to protect this land. But when I see more and more situations arising on this land, my heart is also very distressed. I only do my best to continue protecting all the people and living beings on this land, regardless of whether they are good or bad; good people and bad people are all people of this land.

I am grateful for the Chao Du that Practitioner Su has performed for this land. I have felt it all, and I have also seen the silent dedication and efforts of Practitioner Su. I am truly moved, and I have always wanted to have this opportunity to express my gratitude to Practitioner Su. I have never seen such a compassionate and great person. Every time Practitioner Su appears, he always takes away endless beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, there are still too many beings in the space waiting to be saved. If there could be more people in this world like Practitioner Su who save the world, then this world could truly gradually turn toward goodness and slowly become better.

The Reality of Cause and Effect

The environment of the world can still be saved, especially Taiwan, which is a treasure island with sufficient blessings. As long as everyone is willing to change, even if they only put in a little bit of effort, the energy gathered together will be quite significant and capable of transforming the power of Collective Karma. The fact that this karmic force exists in the world today is also a reminder to the world that the laws of karma and cause and effect are real. Do not disbelieve in cause and effect; it is not that cause and effect do not bring retribution, it is just that you have not felt it yet. I often see many beings being brought to the underworld for interrogation every day—those who spoke wrongly during the day and caused negative impacts on society, those who fought for power and profit, and those whose thoughts and behaviours were wrong. In the past, these interrogations only took place at night, but now I often see practitioners from the underworld coming to handle matters during the day; they often notify me. After people go to the underworld, they suffer all kinds of pain and torture; but after they rise again, they forget everything and continue to create karma, not knowing how to repent. What is terrifying is that this is the karmic retribution that appears on one's own body, and it cannot be stopped.

Everyone must know that you are already receiving retribution. Do not eat non-vegetarian food anymore, because consuming the meat of these animals has already brought a great deal of interference and impact to humanity. Furthermore, the spirits of these animals are also covering the environment and have never left; this forms an interference to humanity and also affects the entire climate. Many people will say, 'Doesn't everyone eat meat?' But in recent years, in order to supply everyone's endless appetite, the livestock industry has used growth hormones or biotechnological methods to increase production quantity and speed. These extra lives created just for the needs of humans—how much change does this cause to the environment? Even if biologists can evaluate it, what they cannot calculate is the invisible change. What kind of changes are these lives that you consume undergoing? Everyone should be awakened! If you really do not change now, it will be too late.

A Final Plea

The problems of the environment, climate, and the human heart are all in a state of emergency. You must know how to change, you must save yourself, and you must also know how to save others. This society needs a positive driving force, and everyone should know that it must start with you and me. Practitioner Su is truly a saviour who has made a great vow. Regarding the current drought situation in Taiwan, Practitioner Su has also been working very hard to perform Chao Du, but the root cause is still that everyone must know how to change. Here, I also hope that everyone can know how to change and join the mission of saving the world.

To be able to contribute to the world, only then will your own life be more meaningful. The power of Practitioner Su is extraordinary. If everyone knows how to follow Practitioner Su in practice, your own life will be able to attain liberation, and you will be able to find the original power of life, exert your own strength, and do your best in this lifetime.

Life is very precious. If it is used to pursue things that are not real, then it is a great pity. You must know how to awaken. If you do not wake up yourself, then no one can save you. Thank you for the compassionate power of Practitioner Su. With endless gratitude, Hu Jinrong represents all beings in bowing to thank the Buddha's grace and bowing to thank Practitioner Su. Hu Jinrong is also willing to join the mission of saving the world, together with Namo Amituofo to save the world. I am grateful that Namo Amituofo does not abandon a single person.

Namo Amituofo.

Hu Jinrong

Memorial Tablet: For the endless beings and those connected by karmic affinity in the Northern Taiwan region, countless in number, seeking Spiritual Deliverance. Representative: Hu Jinrong (Buddha assists in purification, restoration, and peace of heart).

Entering the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."