Beyond the Illusion of Perfection

This is a record of an interview with Steve Jobs, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his spiritual realisation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on June 27, 2019.

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Steve Jobs. It is a rare and precious opportunity to encounter a Great Teacher of Goodness. Looking back, it was my own arrogance that initially hindered my progress. This self-satisfaction was something I had cultivated deeply within the secular world. The structure of society is often like this; we do not realise that the gradual formation of our personality can cause us such profound harm. We may achieve what appears to be a perfect success, yet it is not something that everyone truly envies, because beneath that facade lie too many regrets. Behind a life that seems perfect on the surface, there are actually countless imperfections. Life is always accompanied by regrets."

The Illusion of Perfection

"The gaps and deficiencies in our lives must be compensated for elsewhere. In the world, there are so many realities chasing us, forcing us to run. The secular world is always obsessed with the final result, yet people do not understand that the result does not end with death. The true question is: where should one go after death? I will not speak of where the people I knew in my life have gone; I will speak only of where I myself should go. This is not a question to be sought only at the very end of one's life.

All the sentient beings existing within the universe are just like the person you are now—you possess a body, and then you do not. Once you become a spirit, where will you be scattered? Into which realm, and into which body? Will you be reborn in the animal realm with enough blessings to be pampered by humans, or will you fall into the lonely, desolate ghost realm? Or perhaps you might become a celestial being in the heavenly realm enjoying blessings, or maybe you will seek to obtain a human body once again, only to taste the various sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and the pain of separation. I have looked upon the millions of species in this world, and yet, I still wanted to throw myself back into that cycle."

The Cycle of Rebirth

"A human life lasts only for one lifetime. Among our many hopes and desires, there are so many times when things do not go as we wish. The Buddha’s teachings are like a poor man discovering a treasure; they unlock the mystery of life and death. To die and then be reborn, to realise the state of no-self—life is like a play, and we are constantly switching roles. We must truly break free from this. The key to life is held firmly in your own hands. If you can grasp the thought of ending this illusion, there is only one way: the sacred name of Namo Amituofo. It is magnificent and inconceivable."

The Path to Liberation

"You must remove all the threads of your afflictions and the obstacles within your heart. As long as you encounter the Buddha, what lies before your eyes is a vast expanse of light. Believe that you can attain the righteous path in this very lifetime. Do not let your mind wander with other thoughts. Put down your opinions, your concepts, and your desires. Focus your heart entirely on chanting, focus your practice entirely on one path, and you will find liberation on the righteous path. Namo Amituofo."