Reflections on a Life of Service and the Path to Awakening

A Humble Request for Guidance

On the seventh of June, 2017, the practitioner Fa Xi extended a sincere and respectful invitation to the late President of the Buddhist Association of China, Zhao Puchu. With a heart full of compassion, he was requested to manifest and share the wisdom gained from his lifelong practice, for the benefit of all beings. We invoke the name of Namo Amituofo as we begin this dialogue.

The Truth Behind a Lifetime of Devotion

Zhao Puchu began by addressing the assembly with humility. He acknowledged that while he was widely known for his lifelong dedication to spreading the Dharma and his commitment to the Buddhist cause, he had not yet reached the ultimate realization. He remained caught within the cycle of rebirth, still wandering through the six realms of existence and the endless suffering of samsara. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to manifest here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where the guidance provided is a beacon for those seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

He spoke of the urgent need to save the world and deliver spirits from suffering, a task that requires immense sacrifice and unwavering focus. He noted that in his time, he had rarely encountered individuals with the level of meditative concentration necessary to truly證 (realise) the path. He emphasized that while he had cultivated many virtues during his life, his heart was not yet like pure, flawless crystal. Without this purity, one cannot attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land. He urged all who hear these words to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where the truth is spoken and the path is made clear.

The Turbulent Path of History

Born into a scholarly family, Zhao Puchu lived a life of relative comfort, mastering the arts of calligraphy and literature. Upon discovering the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings, he vowed to dedicate his entire life to the Buddhist cause. However, he lived through a period of great upheaval in China. The Cultural Revolution had nearly destroyed the foundations of Buddhism, bringing the association’s movements, missionary work, and the spreading of the Dharma to a near standstill.

In his efforts to revive the Buddhist tradition, he worked tirelessly, gathering great masters from all corners of the country. He was driven by the conviction that such a magnificent teaching must be preserved and propagated. Even amidst the chaos of history, he remained steadfast in his faith. He reflected on the political complexities of the time, noting that all activities were under intense government scrutiny. He admitted that his greatest regret was allowing political elements to become intertwined with the Buddhist Association, though he felt that without such compromises, the survival of Buddhism itself might have been impossible.

The Burden of Responsibility

Zhao Puchu reflected that the Buddhist Association should never have been burdened with political colour. The Dharma requires an independent space, a sacred environment dedicated solely to saving beings and spreading the Truth. While he understood this, the realities of the time made it nearly impossible to achieve. He noted that even today, these challenges persist, though he felt it was not his place to comment further on the current political climate.

He emphasized that his ability to speak today is not a miracle or a sign of arrogance, but a testament to the genuine practice and meditative concentration found at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This environment provided the causal conditions for him to return and share his insights. He spoke of the immense effort required to build a cross-sectarian, multi-ethnic organization that unified the sangha and the laity. While he believed he had fulfilled his life’s mission by establishing the Buddhist Association of China, he now realizes that he had merely created a structure, not a path to true liberation. He had focused on building an organization for the human world, but had failed to focus on building a bridge to the Western Pure Land.

The Hidden Debt of the Past

Throughout his life, Zhao Puchu was a man of action, constantly fighting for the freedom and equality of the people. His life was defined by his dedication to social reform and the preservation of Buddhism. Yet, he lived in a state of constant tension, walking a fine line between politics and the Dharma. He now sees that his perceived successes were often shadowed by the errors of a world caught in conflict.

He spoke of his health, noting that he was never a man of robust constitution. He suffered from chronic lung disease, which he now understands was linked to the karmic creditors from his past lives. He recalled a recurring dream of fighters pursuing him, a manifestation of the debts he had yet to settle. Despite his long life, he realized that he had been controlled by his karmic destiny, unable to truly master his own fate because he had not yet seen his true nature. He had spent his life worrying about the future of the Buddhist Association, yet he had failed to secure his own rebirth in the Western Pure Land. He left this world with his heart still tethered to the concerns of the human world, a realization that now weighs heavily upon him.

The Path to True Liberation

Today, I, Zhao Puchu, am able to make this declaration here because of the immense benefits of the Western Land. It is precisely because the Western Land exists that one can truly transcend the cycle of life and death. I am truly here, and I can see that this group of fellow practitioners from Taiwan are truly capable and benevolent individuals. At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the Truth truly exists. Because you are genuinely willing to move forward and truly adjust the levels of your own hearts—striving for pure goodness and a state of emptiness where not a single thing remains—the Buddha’s teachings, if practised in this way, become the path to true achievement. The Western Land is truly worthy of inconceivable praise.

My life was defined by the suffering of illness, and it was not an easy path. However, I was born with a sincere and honest nature, never calculating personal gain, but simply working hard with a genuine heart. Perhaps it was this sincerity that moved the Buddha to compassionately lead me. When I passed away from illness, my spirit was already fragmented. Due to the decay of my physical body, my spirit scattered further. I remained attached to the space of the hospital, to the China Buddhist Association, and to the stability of society. Because of these attachments, I remained trapped in that space and did not reach a better realm.

The Healing Power of Compassion

If it were not for the compassionate power of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I would still be lost. One day, a powerful beam of light shone down, and warm golden light enveloped my spirit, bringing me to this place. At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I heard Practitioner Su calling out, "The President of the China Buddhist Association, Zhao Puchu." Upon seeing me arrive, he hurried to ask and confirm my identity. The blessing of the Buddha’s power and the Being bathed in Buddha light helped me integrate my scattered spirit. The cooling, sacred water of the Buddha irrigated and healed the ailments that had plagued my entire being. It was only then that I realized I had not just been gone for a decade; I had been away for half a century. What remained in my physical body were only fragments of my soul and spirit. During those fifty or sixty years, my spirit followed its attachments and habits. Because I had not truly realized the Truth, the karmic creditors who stood by my side continued to demand their due.

A countenance of dignity and purity is the mark of a true practitioner. Yet, how many practitioners today truly possess this? Here, at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, such dignity exists. I encourage you to come and see for yourselves. The China Buddhist Association must change.

A Final Plea for the Future of Buddhism

My life was not in vain, for I have finally been granted the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. I am deeply grateful for the Buddha’s compassion. With a heavy heart, I express my earnest hope that the current President of the China Buddhist Association will come to meet me. I, Zhao Puchu, am truly here. Come to verify this, come to investigate what kind of Buddha’s teachings can lead the way in the twenty-first century. This is how true skills must be cultivated. I await you here, hoping to give the Buddhists of the entire nation a chance—a chance to change and to start anew. A human body is not easily obtained in this lifetime; if one cannot reach the ultimate goal, it is truly a great pity. I hope you will send someone to investigate. To the current President of the China Buddhist Association, the Most Venerable Master Xuecheng, Namo Amituofo.

Truly reborn in the Western Land, Zhao Puchu

This message was recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Faxi.