A Merchant's Perspective on Spiritual Wealth

This is a record of an interview with Wu Fushan, a former wealthy merchant 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 life during the transition from the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on April 11, 2026.

Wu Fushan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for this interview today, and I am truly honoured to have been called upon by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I am currently a spirit residing in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Though I no longer possess a human body, the fact that I can still contribute something to the human world is a profound honour.

I am Wu Fushan, and in my past life, I was a wealthy merchant. During the Republic of China era—a time of great internal and external turmoil—I travelled extensively across the length and breadth of the country. In those days, resources were scarce, and in many regions, the people lived in absolute misery. I lived through the final years of the Qing Dynasty and the chaotic transition into the Republic. As a merchant, my status gradually declined as the nation fell into disarray. I eventually passed away in a state of deep melancholy and was trapped in the void of space for a long time. It was only when Practitioner Su conducted the great Chao Du for China that my spirit was saved, finally granting me the opportunity for rebirth."

A Life of Commerce and the Path to Deliverance

"Practitioner Su has tasked us with the mission of 'finding financial support for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.' Let me tell you, this is by no means a simple task! As a former merchant myself, I can tell you that if I were alive today in a prosperous and peaceful era—a time without the ravages of war—I would be more than willing to donate the majority of my wealth to a charitable organisation that I felt was trustworthy and reliable.

The Wu Fushan of that time was indeed a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings. Given that, donating surplus wealth to a Buddhist organisation would have been an effortless decision. I believe many wealthy individuals are just like me; once they have achieved material success and are well-fed and comfortable, they naturally begin to seek spiritual sustenance and a direction for their lives. The Buddha’s teachings can truly provide the guidance and support that people are searching for.

After listening to the report from the previous speaker, Chen Tingli, I found his insights to be excellent. The individuals he identified and the directions he suggested are indeed feasible paths, especially within the context of Australia. If Practitioner Su wishes for me to speak on this matter today, I would like to offer an extension of the perspective provided by Chen Tingli."

The Search for Meaning Among the Wealthy

"He mentioned religious organisations like Fo Guang Shan. Beyond them, there are many similar groups that are quite famous in Australia, such as Tzu Chi or the Chung Tai Chan Monastery. One direction worth noting is that these groups originate from the island of Taiwan. This is because Taiwan does not have the same restrictions on the Dharma as mainland China, which has allowed many religious groups to find ample space for development and survival. Consequently, many people seek out groups that resonate with their own spiritual frequency. As long as they hear teachings that bring them joy and provide practical help in their daily lives, they will place their trust in those organisations.

However, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is different. The path that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre follows is fundamentally on a different track. Many Buddhist groups, as the name implies, promote Buddhism as a form of religious education, but this education often remains at the level of daily living or stays on a very superficial, coarse level. They fail to truly lead people to the realm where they can resolve the cycle of birth and death and transcend the three realms. They rarely teach the fact that one must truly begin by changing one's own heart.

For any Buddhist group, chanting Namo Amituofo is the most fundamental way to resolve the cycle of birth and death. Yet, many groups may fill people's heads with many theories, but from beginning to end, they never truly bring the name of Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to the forefront. Their sects may differ, but if they cannot truly lead people to liberation and rebirth in the Western Pure Land, then discussing all those theories is ultimately in vain."

Why Other Buddhist Groups Fall Short

"Many wealthy donors are not unaware of this truth; they simply have not had the opportunity to encounter a profound Dharma education like that of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. That is why they temporarily settle for the best Buddhist groups they can currently accept. Furthermore, when the masters they admire begin to show signs of illness or old age, it inevitably causes them to have doubts, or even to lose their faith entirely. Therefore, looking around, there are not many wealthy donors who are truly, wholeheartedly committed to supporting those other Buddhist groups.

In many cases, these donors are driven by fame and profit. To put it bluntly, because these Buddhist groups are famous, the donors they attract are naturally those who hope to inflate their own reputations. They hope that by joining these groups and serving them, they will be perceived by others as having high social status and moral awareness. Thus, they naturally gravitate toward such groups, rather than acting out of a sincere desire to help all beings leave suffering and gain happiness. This phenomenon is extremely common, yet it is also a very tragic state of affairs. The path taken by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is absolutely not like this!

Under the leadership of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has always taken the ultimate goal to be leading everyone to awaken their true nature, to be free from aging and illness, to realise that the spirit never dies, and to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Throughout his life, Practitioner Su has not sought fame or profit; he only asks that everyone be steady and grounded, chanting one Buddha's name to the end. He gives lectures and presides over Dharma assemblies daily for long hours without showing any fatigue. This shows that Practitioner Su is truly working in a down-to-earth manner. Even when the demon crowds attack fiercely, and even when there are many obstacles during the Chao Du, Practitioner Su continues to move forward directly, never retreating. This is the most fundamental, world-saving direction of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

The Strategic Importance of Taiwan

"Because there are so few wealthy donors who possess the same frequency and characteristics as the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, they have been unable to enter the Centre. This is also a matter of individual good roots, blessings, and Causal Conditions. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that there are indeed donors who resonate with the Centre. Therefore, I, Wu Fushan, believe that to truly attract such donors, we must first start with the island of Taiwan, rather than looking elsewhere.

Practitioner Su himself comes from Taiwan, so it is more likely that donors whose values align with the world-saving philosophy of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre will be found there. The people of Taiwan are naturally simple, kind, and many have a background in Mahayana Buddhism. Whether they are wealthy donors or ordinary people, while they may not have deep faith in the Buddha’s teachings, they are not opposed to them either. Furthermore, because they live in a society with a well-developed economy, people have begun to explore the growth of their spiritual lives. Many are willing to spend large sums of money to explore this area, yet they have never found the true direction.

This reminds me of Venerable Hailiang, who was once at the temple. He had been searching for spiritual direction for many years without success. Finally, he met Practitioner Su and followed him wholeheartedly, because he knew at a glance that the Buddhist education Practitioner Su provides is truly connected to the heart of Namo Amituofo and can truly lead people to resolve the cycle of birth and death and transcend the three realms. I believe that there are many people like Venerable Hailiang in Taiwan, and many of them are among the wealthy class."

A Path Forward for the Centre

"To give a broad direction, I suggest that Taiwan should be the primary consideration for seeking financial support. Breaking into the Taiwanese market is not difficult; the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can conduct extensive promotion there. Whether through media, the internet, or personal introductions, these are all very important. If a journalist from Taiwan were willing to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for an interview and then return to Taiwan to report on it extensively, that would be a very feasible starting point.

I believe that because Taiwanese people are so enthusiastic about media, they explore the world through it and can gain much inspiration from it. Therefore, I think the first step could be to reach out to various levels of society in Taiwan, especially targeting wealthy individuals over the age of forty. Many of these people have already reached a stable, successful stage in life, but their health is beginning to decline, and they often feel anxious and without support in their lives. Although they live lives free from material worry, their hearts are extremely empty. The most sincere and simple Buddhist education of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can touch their hearts at this very moment, allowing them to further understand what the true Buddha’s teachings are.

If Practitioner Su knows any wealthy donors in Taiwan, that would be the best-case scenario. If he could communicate with them face-to-face and sincerely hope that they do something for Buddhist education, I believe that with the Buddha's blessings, it would certainly be a success.

I have provided these initial, simple directions for everyone. If Practitioner Su needs me to provide further, more in-depth opinions, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you. Namo Amituofo."

Wu Fushan