A Millennium of Wandering: The Reflections of Emperor Renzong

This is a formal record of an interview conducted with Emperor Renzong, known in history as Zhao Zhen of the Song Dynasty. Having sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, he now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This testimony provides a profound look into his life approximately one thousand years ago, his long period of wandering in the spiritual realms, and his eventual salvation. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 1, 2026.

Emperor Renzong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhao Zhen, the man whom history remembers as Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. To be perfectly honest, even now, long after my physical passing, the title 'Renzong'—the Benevolent Ancestor—fills me with a profound sense of humility and trepidation. The character 'Ren' has, since ancient times, represented the highest of virtues. As the first emperor in history to be posthumously honoured with this title, I, Zhao Zhen, recognise that there were many aspects of my governance and personal conduct that required deeper reflection and scrutiny. I must express my immense gratitude for the good fortune I had during my reign. I was blessed with the support of many brilliant ministers and courageous generals, whose dedication allowed for the prosperity of the Northern Song Dynasty—an era that later generations have come to admire. Among them were the legendary Bao Zheng, the renowned General Di Qing, as well as Yan Shu, Ouyang Xiu, and Fan Zhongyan. They were all men of great capability, fiercely loyal to the nation and its people. They are the ministers to whom I, as their Emperor, owe the deepest debt of gratitude for their unwavering service."

A Legacy of Peace and Governance

"My life was, in many ways, quite remarkable. Compared to many other emperors, my reign was marked by stability, and the people lived in relative happiness and security. This, for me, was the greatest encouragement and the source of my deepest satisfaction. I held a deep aversion to war and never once initiated a conflict. Many at the time viewed me as overly timid or weak, but I did not mind their criticisms. I always preferred to resolve disputes through diplomatic agreements, even if it meant paying significant tributes annually. I believed it was a price worth paying. Money could purchase peace, spare the common people from the ravages of war, and prevent the exhaustion of the nation's resources. The near-conflict with Western Xia was resolved in exactly this manner.

Perhaps this is why later generations remember me as a benevolent ruler. I believe my greatest strength was that, despite being the sovereign of the realm, I lacked an overbearing or rigid personality. I was gentle by nature and disliked confrontation or heated debate. Those who served me found me approachable and accommodating; I did not cling to my own views, and I was willing to tolerate the perspectives and actions of others. I was not easily provoked to anger. My advisor, Bao Zheng, was famous for his iron-willed impartiality and his blunt, straightforward manner of speaking. He never feared that his honesty would offend me, and I made it my principle to listen and to be inclusive. As long as the fundamental boundaries of the state were not crossed, it was difficult for anyone to cause me significant distress."

The Limits of Earthly Power

"During my reign, I was aware of the six-character name 'Namo Amituofo', but I did not have the karmic conditions to encounter the true Dharma as it is taught here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. At that time, the Chan school was prevalent, and I had some exposure to it. I promoted the construction of temples and the support of the Sangha, and I read many sutras, but my connection to the Pure Land school had not yet matured. Therefore, I did not specifically practise the chanting of 'Namo Amituofo'. My studies and my approach to Buddhism were consistent with the prevailing trends of the time. The Dharma and the sutras provided me with a sense of inner stability.

Looking back, as the fourth emperor of the Song Dynasty, I believe I did not fail my people. They yearned for peace and a life free from the chaos of war, and I was able to provide one of the most precious eras of peace in Chinese history. My life, however, was not long. I passed away at the age of fifty-four due to illness. The people wept for me, and though I was not ready to depart, my body could no longer sustain me. I had not committed any great evils, and I was widely praised as a good emperor, so why did I fall ill in my middle years? Part of it was my own karma, but a larger part was the collective karma and causal conditions shared between myself and the people of the Song Dynasty. Our connection was profound, and once my work was finished, my time had come. My family line had a long history of illness, which was also a form of collective karma."

A Millennium in the Ghost Realm

"In the Western Dharma-Nature Land, as I look back, everything has become clear. The longevity of a good emperor is often deeply intertwined with the blessings of the people and the collective karma shared between them. In my later years, I was burdened by the trivialities of the inner palace, which was quite different from my early days of serving the people. My sense of responsibility toward the nation never wavered, but I admit I mismanaged the internal affairs of the palace. There were many injustices among the women of the harem, and I often found myself caught in the middle, unable to choose or resolve their constant infighting. Furthermore, the early deaths of my sons, who were unable to inherit the throne, left me in a state of constant anxiety and heartache. As my karma manifested, the seeds of my illness—particularly my heart conditions and the strokes I suffered—had already been sown.

My blessing as a sovereign was that I did not suffer a painful death. It was sudden; in an instant, I felt as though my entire body was frozen, and even the imperial physicians could do nothing. I simply passed away. What did I leave behind for future generations? Was it an era of peace, or was it ultimately just as fleeting? Nothing remains. We come and go in a hurry, and whether one is an emperor, a general, or a royal noble, no one can escape the reality of death. After I passed, I spent some time in the space of the imperial palace before drifting into the ghost realm, where I began a long, arduous existence. People in the ghost realm seem to retain their past temperaments and habits, and I was no exception. I lived quietly as a spirit, wandering through the spaces I once knew, including many corners of the Kaifeng city I had once governed. I do not know how long this state lasted. I only know that my world was grey and dim, much like the sorrow I felt before I died. I spent nearly a thousand years in that state of quiet, fading existence."

The Light of Deliverance

"Fortunately, the countless manifestations of Practitioner Su arrived in Kaifeng not long ago—the very place where I grew up, aged, and wandered as a spirit. My grey, dim world was suddenly illuminated. Many spirits who were still caught in their own routines were suddenly awakened, and some were so overwhelmed they began to weep. The Buddha, in His great compassion, comforted us, and with a single touch of Buddha-light, we were brought to this place, the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Here, I have seen familiar faces. Beyond my minister Fan Zhongyan, I have seen many from the palace, including the women of my court. They have all been led here by Practitioner Su through the Twelve Lights. We no longer have to suffer the pain of the cycle of rebirth!

We must truly come to know Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This experience is extraordinary. We can now chant the Buddha's name and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; we must chant more! I was once an emperor of the Song Dynasty, and I could have exerted great influence, but the impermanence and helplessness of the human world meant that after death, I was cut off from everyone. This is the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. It is natural. Since I have this rare opportunity to be interviewed, and since the beings in the Western Dharma-Nature Land and the spiritual realms can hear me, I wish to call upon my former family and subjects: you must come to know Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. It is rare to encounter a Buddha in the world; you must seize this magnificent karmic condition! I once learned only the superficial aspects of the Buddha's teachings, but now I must begin to listen to the sutras, perform prostrations, and chant the Buddha's name in earnest. I hope that one day I can recover my own high Wisdom and return to save the people of my time. Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are truly saving people, especially the Chinese people. The Chinese people are truly blessed! Namo Amituofo."