From Martial Arts Master to Spiritual Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Wang Chengsheng, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately one hundred years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 7, 2026.

Wang Chengsheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I, Wang Chengsheng, prostrate before the Great Compassionate Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su! Gratitude, endless gratitude! I am merely a rough man who understood only martial arts and national combat techniques, yet I have been granted the opportunity to participate in the salvation team and contribute to saving the world. I am currently residing in the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, listening daily to the chanting of the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo' and the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su.

The Illusion of a Lifetime

The philosophy of the Buddha's teachings is something I had never encountered in my past life. I never imagined that human life is, in fact, a dream—like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, or a shadow. It is truly lamentable that so many people exhaust their entire lives within their own fields of expertise. Whether through sacrifice, dedication, selfishness, or selflessness, they simply roll around in the mud of existence, honing what they can do, what they know, and what they see. As for me, Wang Chengsheng, I was a practitioner who spent my entire life exploring the meaning and value of my professional field—the national martial arts, known to the world as kung fu.

Martial arts accompanied me throughout my life. In the turbulent era of Chinese history during the transition from the Qing Dynasty to the early Republic, I served as a martial arts instructor and witnessed the shifting tides of the times. The government of the Republic of China established the highest official martial arts institution, calling upon experts from all over the country to gather in Jiangsu to serve as instructors. The government's high regard for martial arts reflected the volatility of the situation at the time, a period that staged countless joys, sorrows, and separations.

The Weight of Ancestral Legacy

I came from a family with a long-standing tradition in martial arts, and we were quite well-off. In those days, many who had the opportunity to learn true skills or achieve success in martial arts possessed specific lineages or master-disciple transmissions. This was essential, for these martial arts techniques, passed down from our ancestors generation after generation, contained the experiences gained by our predecessors at the cost of their own lives. They were the essence left behind after being polished by blood and tears, with all the dross removed.

Having the opportunity to learn a complete lineage was a great blessing for a seeker of martial arts, as such individuals often had a high chance of becoming true masters. At that time, I had specialties in spear techniques, staff techniques, and grappling. Because of the establishment of official martial arts institutions and government invitations, many famous masters gathered in Jiangsu. In that atmosphere, only truly practical martial arts could stand out, for it was an era when China was being invaded by foreign powers, and martial arts were seen as an important national treasure and a spiritual anchor for the masses.

The Path of War and Retribution

As war descended once again, many instructors joined the military to resist foreign enemies, and I, Wang Chengsheng, chose that same path. No one likes war, but a strong sense of national consciousness compelled me to step onto the battlefield without hesitation, dedicating my abilities to the military. I simplified many martial arts techniques into highly effective, lethal combat skills and taught them to my brothers in the army. After they mastered these techniques, their offensive power and survival rates on the battlefield increased significantly. At the time, I believed this was what I was supposed to do, never imagining that it would eventually lead me to fall into the hells.

I suffered in the hells for a very long time, spending eighty years there before finally emerging. As soon as I came out, my spirit became trapped inside a spear—the very weapon I had been most proud of during my life. I was unable to escape from that spear until recently, when Practitioner Su opened the space of China's five-thousand-year history, and I was finally saved.

The Truth of Cause and Effect

At this very moment, I am listening to the Dharma at the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The education of the Buddha's teachings has unveiled the true meaning of life, telling people how they should walk their path. It turns out that everything in this world is not worth pursuing. Whether it is martial arts or nationalistic fervor, they are all transient and illusory existences. No matter how tightly one grasps them, in the end, it is all nothing left. Regarding the fact that the spirit never dies, I had never heard of it while I was alive, nor did I know where I would go after death. I never thought that going to the battlefield to protect my home and country, and even teaching lethal techniques to the army, was contrary to human nature.

In truth, regarding the laws of karma and cause and effect, Chinese and Japanese are equal. If you kill someone, you must pay with your life, and even descend into the hells to suffer punishment. This is an immutable law of cause and effect. But in that chaotic era, I had never heard of such things. Now, looking back from the Land of Dharma Nature, I see that at that time, many people were controlled by other beings. Especially on the battlefield, both Chinese and Japanese were controlled by countless spirits. We were bloodshot with rage, our hearts filled with national righteousness or a sense of mission, or perhaps simply a desire to survive. Regardless of the motivation, we were all influenced by countless ghosts. It was truly terrifying! I cannot help but break into a cold sweat as I look back. Fortunately, I always maintained a sliver of compassion on the battlefield; if I could spare someone's life, I would choose to give them a way out. Now I know that all things are one; killing others is equivalent to killing oneself, and giving others a way to live is equivalent to giving oneself a way to live.

A Final Plea for Liberation

Listening to the principles of the Buddha's teachings here in the Land of Dharma Nature, I cannot help but weep. I never imagined that the Wang Chengsheng of the past was so miserable, yet I was completely unaware of it. Now that I have arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I am finally liberated. I have a deep desire to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I have heard Practitioner Su say that as long as one holds the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo', one can go there. I do not dare to relax for even a moment; I am holding tightly to this Buddha-name because I truly do not want to experience the cycle of rebirth ever again.

I am grateful for the compassion and the Ultimate Vow of Practitioner Su, which has enabled Namo Amituofo to come to this world and reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is a fact that can be clearly seen in the spiritual realms. The world is so full of suffering; it requires the true education of the Buddha's teachings. Only by understanding that the human body should be used to save the world can one solve the difficult problem of life. As long as one achieves success in practice like Practitioner Su, one can not only be free from aging, free from illness, and your spirit never dies, but one can also save countless suffering beings.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su! Namo Amituofo. Wang Chengsheng."