A Statesman's Awakening: The Redemption of Lin Zexu
An Interview with the Spirit of Lin Zexu of the Qing Dynasty
Recorded at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The political landscape of China shifted with startling speed. By the time the Qing Dynasty had collapsed, I found myself adrift, watching the transformations of the world from the perspective of a lone spirit. It was then, as I observed the people across the vast land of China, that I, Lin Zexu, deeply realised the profound impermanence of the human body. Watching the myriad states of human existence, I felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness; it seemed as though human life held no true, lasting significance. After seventy-five years of this wandering, I was incredibly fortunate to encounter Practitioner Su conducting a grand deliverance in China. I witnessed Practitioner Su manifesting countless golden rays of light through billions of transformations, carrying the . Between heaven and earth, the Holy Name of "Namo Amituofo" chanted by Practitioner Su resonated everywhere. My heart was utterly shaken.
Lin Zexu, a renowned statesman of the Qing Dynasty, sought deliverance through the compassionate efforts of Practitioner Su. Having transcended the cycle of suffering, he now resides in the Western Land of Nature. This interview, recorded by the chief writer Shi Fa on March 30, 2026, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia, captures his reflections on his past life, his spiritual journey, and his profound realisation of the Pure Land Dharma Gate.
Lin Zexu speaks:
A Tragic Realisation of Impermanence
"Namo Amituofo. I am Lin Zexu. I never imagined that in this lifetime I would have the opportunity to behold Namo Amituofo. I was rescued by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I am now at the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, piously paying homage to the compassionate Namo Amituofo.
I am Lin Zexu. I was very fortunate in my life. Although my family was poor, I had a good father and a good mother. From a young age, my mother’s discipline was very strict; she taught me what a man ought to do and hoped I would achieve great things and broaden my horizons. My father also held high expectations for me. He was a teacher, and among his students, many achieved great success in the imperial examinations. In his teaching, my father did not force rote memorisation; rather, he taught according to each student's aptitude. More importantly, he emphasised the cultivation of morality, character, and integrity, viewing these as the foundation of all things. The education, personal example, and teachings I received from my parents had a profound influence on me. Therefore, the people I am most grateful for in this life are my parents. Without them, there would be no achievements of Lin Zexu.
A Mentor and the Pure Land Path
Besides my parents, the greatest benefactor and noble person in my life was Zhang Shicheng, the Governor of Fujian. Governor Zhang appreciated my talent and character. He did not look down upon me and recruited me as his aide. My teacher taught me everything he knew and showed me great kindness. The most profound influence he had on me was his deep faith in the Pure Land school of Buddhism. Influenced by him, I remained a firm believer in the Pure Land Dharma Gate throughout my life, regardless of the hardships I faced. I always carried a hand-copied pocket-sized version of the Infinite Life Sutra to facilitate my daily practice, and I held fast to the Holy Name of 'Namo Amituofo.' It was also through Governor Zhang Shicheng that I came to understand the laws of and cause and effect. It is no exaggeration to say that Governor Zhang was my true mentor, and I am deeply grateful to him.
When I sought to thoroughly destroy opium, I decided to pour the destroyed opium into the sea. It was a measure of last resort. Because of my faith in the Pure Land Dharma Gate, I understood the laws of karma and cause and effect, knowing that the aquatic life in the sea were sentient beings that deserved respect. Therefore, I specifically wrote the Proclamation to the Sea God, informing the sea gods and the creatures in the water—even the shrimp, crabs, and shellfish—hoping they would flee to safety so they could continue to survive in the sea without harm. At that time, although I was a devout follower of the Pure Land, I did not know the true magnificence of the Holy Name of 'Namo Amituofo.' If I had known, I would certainly have added one more sentence: asking the beings in the sea to chant the Holy Name of 'Namo Amituofo' so they could have the opportunity for liberation and to leave suffering behind.
The Struggle for Self-Mastery
I once said, 'I do not seek comfort for myself, but only wish for all beings to leave suffering behind.' This was a sincere vow born from my immersion in Buddhist sutras, and I acted upon it throughout my life. Saving the country and serving the nation were the desires of my heart. After becoming an official, I did my best to fulfil my duties. However, whether I could truly achieve my goals in the officialdom depended on many factors, one of which was the trust and appointment of the Emperor. I understood that these were tests every official would face, which was natural. Yet, I never truly achieved the 'ease of following causal conditions' that the Buddha’s teachings speak of. The sutras were my constant reliance; I persisted in reading them, especially the Infinite Life Sutra, which was of great help in guiding me through many trials.
At the end of my life, I passed away during an illness. Regardless of the cause, it was ultimately my spiritual obstacles manifesting. In terms of practice, I know this means I did not truly enter the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. It was not a problem with the Dharma, but a problem with Lin Zexu. Even so, the Pure Land Dharma Gate gave me immense support throughout my life. Many times, I firmly believed it was the Buddha’s upon me—a magnificence I never doubted. At the very end, I did not chant the Buddha's name. After death, I fell into the hells. In my severely ill state, I had already been found by my seeking revenge. Even at the end, I was still headstrong, loudly shouting 'Xing Dou Nan' three times. Regardless of what I meant to express, it showed my intense temperament. I suffered greatly before I died. Before the King of Hell, I was made to confront my karmic creditors, which made me realise that my temperament remained unchanged from past lives. In this lifetime, due to my education and study of Buddhism, I had indeed committed fewer evils and performed many good deeds, but the temperament at my core remained strong. I accepted the judgment of the King of Hell calmly. The days of suffering in the hells were agonising. Perhaps because of the repentance in my heart, after one hundred years, I was released from the hells and became a lonely wandering spirit in the world.
The Moment of Deliverance
The political situation in China changed very quickly. By then, the Qing Dynasty had perished. Watching the changes in the world, I felt very lost. It was as a lone spirit that I looked at the people on this land of China. For the first time, I, Lin Zexu, deeply realised how impermanent the human body is. Looking at the myriad states of human life, I felt even more lost; it seemed that human life had no real meaning. After another seventy-five years, I was very fortunate to encounter Practitioner Su conducting a grand deliverance in China. I saw Practitioner Su manifesting as countless golden rays of light through billions of transformations, carrying the twelve lights of Namo Amituofo. Between heaven and earth, the Holy Name of 'Namo Amituofo' chanted by Practitioner Su resonated everywhere. My heart was deeply shaken because I had never known that this Holy Name could have such great power and energy; I had even forgotten to chant the Buddha's name many times.
I could not help but kneel and prostrate to Namo Amituofo. I knew in my heart that the Buddha had come to save me. Just like that, amidst the light, I arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, shedding my old self and gaining a new life. Here, my countenance becomes purer day by day, as the dust and stains in my spirit are rapidly washed away in the Buddha-light.
A Second Chance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
I am filled with Dharma and gratitude to be able to see Namo Amituofo. It turns out that the Buddha is currently residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. This is because Practitioner Su’s heart and vows are in sync with the Buddha’s, which has moved Namo Amituofo to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is truly something difficult to encounter in millions of years. I never expected that although I did not practice well while alive, after death I would have the blessings to encounter the true Buddha. This brings me great comfort; in the end, the Buddha did not forget this lost child.
Learning the True Essence of the Dharma
Listening to the Dharma in the Land of Dharma Nature, I realised how wrong I was in the past. Regarding the Buddha’s teachings, although I persisted in my daily recitation of sutras, I did not understand the preciousness of this Holy Name. Many times, I focused on applying the principles of the Dharma to my life; although I also chanted the Buddha's name, I was not focused enough. When I was alive, compared to chanting 'Namo Amituofo,' I spent more time reading the sutras with a very pious heart. At the time, I thought this was very helpful, and indeed it was, but I had not truly put in the work regarding this Holy Name. Now I know I was wrong, because the foundation of the Pure Land Dharma Gate lies in this 'Namo Amituofo.' By chanting it simply and directly, one can change their personality and shine with great light. Seeing the manifestation of Practitioner Su in the Land of Dharma Nature, I, Lin Zexu, finally know what it means to truly study Buddhism. It is to internalise all the Buddha’s teachings as one’s own learning, to truly follow the teachings, to reduce one’s personality traits to zero, and not to study any theories, but simply to focus on saving beings.
The Truth of Saving the World
People come to this world to save the world, but to save the world, one must first save oneself. This means saving one’s own spirit, as well as the countless spirits within one’s body. This is a truth that Lin Zexu had never thought of before, and no one had ever told me such a piercing truth. Now, sitting on the lotus seat listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, I understand: studying Buddhism is very simple. It lies in making the vow to save beings, using a pure and good heart to chant 'Namo Amituofo' for the sake of all beings.
The Difference in Practice
I am now very earnestly learning from every word and action of Practitioner Su, because I know that Practitioner Su is a Buddha who has realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood. I want to know how Practitioner Su practices, and what the difference is between Practitioner Su’s practice and my past practice. The difference lies in the heart and vows. My heart was still full of worldly concerns; I had never truly made the vow to leave this world. Therefore, everything I did was limited to the world. To put it simply, between the transcendental Dharma and the worldly Dharma, I chose the worldly Dharma. Even if my heart was for the country and the people, and even if I did well in the world, I was still worldly and could never transcend the mundane. Practitioner Su, however, made great vows at the very beginning of practice—not just the vow to transcend, but the great compassionate vow to introduce the Great Pure Land Dharma to all beings. Practitioner Su was able to truly let go of worldly affairs, persisting alone in prostrations and sutra recitation for nearly five years. The great power in this was not for self-liberation, but for the benefit of all. Practitioner Su’s heart was never worldly; from the very beginning, it was a thorough letting go, truly transcending the mundane, even to the point of taking on the suffering of beings, which moved Namo Amituofo to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Now, even more, to save the human world and the historical spirits of China, Practitioner Su is tirelessly conducting deliverances across China.
The Path to True Liberation
Practitioner Su’s manifestation has shown me that the difference between 'self' and ',' and between 'having a body' and 'not having a body,' is immense. The former is like Lin Zexu—even if I studied Buddhism, it was only superficial, and I remained trapped in the cycle of rebirth, suffering and unable to leave. The latter is like Practitioner Su, who can be free from aging, free from illness, and whose spirit does not die, truly at ease with life and death, and able to save beings through countless manifestations. Sitting on my lotus seat in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, watching Practitioner Su work day and night for the sake of beings, I feel such joy. In the past, I really did not know what the true Buddha Dharma was. Although I learned the Pure Land Dharma Gate, I did not understand that the foundation of the Buddha Dharma lies in ending the cycle of birth and death, and even more so in finding one’s true nature, so that one has the ability to save beings. My failure to change my personality and habits was a major flaw in my practice while alive. I did not truly realise the seriousness of this problem in the past. I am very fortunate that Lin Zexu can now relearn at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where Namo Amituofo resides. I am working very hard every day to learn the true Great Pure Land Dharma and happily chant the Holy Name of 'Namo Amituofo.'
A Rare Opportunity
From the perspective of studying Buddhism, the fourfold assembly of disciples at the temple truly has a unique learning environment. They have Namo Amituofo as their teacher and Practitioner Su, who has realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood, to lead them. This is truly a magnificent causal condition that is difficult to encounter in millions of years. Moreover, the fourfold assembly is very fortunate to have this Infinite Life Sutra to read, recite, and uphold. In the era where I, Lin Zexu, lived, very few people upheld the Infinite Life Sutra, let alone having such a complete compilation as the Infinite Life Sutra to read. At that time, I placed great importance on my daily sutra recitation, but I upheld the Sutra. Of course, I knew too little about the Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo and the power of the Holy Name of 'Namo Amituofo,' so that although I chanted the Buddha's name throughout my life, I was not focused and did not truly hold fast to the Buddha’s name. Now I know that this Holy Name is the most important part of the Pure Land Dharma Gate. I dare not forget it for a moment, and I happily chant this 'Namo Amituofo' loudly, hoping to be a good student of Namo Amituofo, just like Practitioner Su.
Gratitude to Namo Amituofo. Gratitude to Practitioner Su.
Namo Amituofo.
Lin Zexu"
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library