An Interview with Samuel Yin (Taiwanese businessman and philanthropist)

This is a record of an interview with Yin Yen-liang, a former Taiwanese philanthropic entrepreneur 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 and his recent transition from the human world. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on June 2, 2026.

Yin Yen-liang speaks:

"I am truly, deeply grateful to the Buddha! I am filled with gratitude for Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, who are right here before me. My name is Yin Yen-liang, and I am a man with a shaved head who departed the human world only a few days ago. That is right—people could recognise me from a distance because of my smooth, bald head.

Haha, who would have thought that I, Yin Yen-liang, would be called upon by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to give this interview? It is such a surreal feeling to be reconnected with the world of the living so soon after leaving it! It is truly a unique and extraordinary experience.

A Sudden Departure and a Terrifying Descent

I went through a period of intense suffering immediately after I passed away. I truly believed that I was finished—that this was the end of everything for me. To my absolute horror, I found myself descending into the hell realms. I was filled with such despair; I could not comprehend why I had ended up in such a place. My heart was heavy with an indescribable, crushing pain.

But then, within less than a single day, I encountered a beam of light. This light was incredibly warm, and it shone directly into my heart. In an instant, the pain that had been wracking my entire body vanished completely. I was drawn along with this light, and suddenly, I arrived in a brand-new world. This place is called the 'Western Land of Dharma Nature.' It is a place I had never heard of before, but it is so incredibly beautiful, so profoundly magnificent.

The Light of Deliverance

My time in the hell realms finally came to an end. Even though it was only for one day, that short period was enough for me to deeply understand that the suffering in hell is truly, absolutely terrifying. I am so fortunate that I only had to endure it for a single day. I saw so many others around me whose situations were far more miserable than mine. When many of them arrived in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, they looked completely dishevelled, their hair a mess, their spirits utterly withered and exhausted. They looked as though they had been suffering in the hells for a very, very long time.

During that day, I also engaged in deep self-reflection. Although I did not have much time to think—because my mind felt as though it were being torn apart, making it impossible to think or even breathe—I was constantly immersed in suffering. Yet, I had a vague, lingering feeling that I needed to admit my mistakes. I knew that I must have done something wrong. I was not being treated unjustly; I believe that arriving in the hell realms must be a universal principle, a law of cause and effect, even if I did not fully understand why it happened to me. Perhaps because of this inner willingness to accept the truth, I did not harbour much resentment.

Reflecting on a Life of Wealth and Pride

I was very fortunate to be included in the list of those being delivered. Practitioner Su has been performing grand Chao Du ceremonies all over the world for people like me—those of us who were wealthy, influential, or well-known. Now that I have been in the Western Land of Dharma Nature for a week, I feel incredibly at ease and comfortable. I am currently learning what the Dharma is, which is such a unique experience! You see, before I passed away, I was not a Buddhist; I was a Christian, and a very devout one at that. However, I did have some slight understanding of the concept of 'cause and effect.'

The Western Land of Dharma Nature is a world of absolute brightness and harmony. There is not a single trace of pollution, nor is there anything that could make one feel uneasy, anxious, or burdened by negative emotions. Here, the Buddha-light shines at all times, so everyone is filled with Dharma-joy and peace of mind. At first, I wondered if this might be the world of my Lord and Jesus, because the description of a world filled with light initially reminded me of that. But when I saw the Buddha, I recognised Him instantly. Even though I was not a Buddhist during my life, having travelled between Taiwan and China for so many years, the image of the Buddha was deeply and clearly imprinted in my mind. So, the moment I saw Him, I knew I had arrived in the Buddha's world.

I was curious, so I asked the Buddha a question in my heart: 'Why would the Buddha accept me?' I clearly did not believe in the Buddha before, yet I miraculously received a message from Him. The Buddha told me, 'Because the Buddha sees everyone as a Buddha. You are also a Buddha; we are all Buddhas. There is no distinction at all. Therefore, it is only natural that you have come here, because you, too, wish to find your original nature again.' When I heard this, I felt it made perfect sense! It came as a shock to my heart, but it was a profound truth.

The Truth of Equality in the Pure Land

I was also very puzzled as to why I had ended up in hell. It was only after I began to receive the teachings of the Dharma here that I slowly started to understand. During my life, I was a philanthropic entrepreneur. I was a major business leader, and the profits and wealth accumulated by my enterprises were truly immense. Whether it was my early work in civil engineering, the 'RT-Mart' retail supermarket chain that everyone knows so well across both sides of the Taiwan Strait, or my later transition into the financial sector with Nanshan Life Insurance, these businesses were all thriving under my leadership. Although I experienced failures, my life was, on the whole, smooth sailing.

I kept thinking to myself that I had never done anything to violate my conscience! I was very active in philanthropy; whether it was donations for education or medical care, I never held back. It was something I truly enjoyed doing. I felt that I had accumulated too much wealth, and it was of little use to me or my family, so donating it to the people of the world was a wonderful thing to do. Unfortunately, no matter how much I did, I still ended up in hell.

I later realised that when a person dies, if they pass away due to illness, it means their personality has attracted many beings within their body—especially karmic creditors who have risen up to seek revenge. That is why I became ill and why I departed the human world in a hospital. All of this was because the habits deep within my heart had not been corrected. Because of my immense influence, I had unknowingly nurtured certain personality traits, such as arrogance and selfishness. These might have been visible to those with a keen eye, but perhaps not to the average person. In terms of the universal principle, the Truth, and the Right Way of the Dharma, I had already gone against them. The beings within me woke up and thought, 'Hmph, you may look like you are doing great things, but there is still a hypocritical side to your heart!'

Ah, I know their inner voices, and it is true. Everyone has this side to some extent; it is just a matter of degree. Unless one is completely free of it, in which case they would be a Buddha! Unfortunately, I was not. On the path of running these businesses, I had a strong, competitive side—a desire to stand out above others. This was driven by a strong sense of self. Furthermore, although I did not commit many overtly bad actions, the things I said and the selfishness in my heart—protecting my family, protecting my business territory, pushing others aside—all these seemingly subtle things affected many people and affected me as well.

I finally understand now that one cannot be selfish; Practitioner Su is absolutely right. Before I studied the Dharma, I truly did not know that I was a selfish person. Everyone has a different understanding of selfishness. At the time, I simply thought that as long as I did not do anything bad and did many good deeds, I must be a very good person. Giving myself that label actually harmed me and nurtured that sense of arrogance.

Now that I am learning the Dharma, I have come to know the high Wisdom of the Buddha, as well as the high Wisdom of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. The reason I can be here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, free from the suffering of hell, is because Practitioner Su is here in the human world, having awakened to his true nature and attained Buddhahood. Only then could he lead so many of us deceased spirits to this Buddha-land! My heart is filled with gratitude. I have nothing else to say, because I feel that everything is just naturally and perfectly beautiful. I have no worries or attachments; I am simply and quietly learning everything taught in the Dharma here in this Buddha-land. I believe the Western Land of Dharma Nature is not the final destination; I can continue to diligently chant Namo Amituofo and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, which is an even more permanent spiritual home.

I can see many, many different spaces from here, and I know that heaven and hell still exist; it is just that everyone is in different spaces due to different causal conditions and the different negative or good karma they have created. My blessings are truly vast, yet I only had to suffer in hell for one day. This cannot possibly repay the sins I have created throughout my many lives! I think that is true. I will not dwell too much on the past, because those things will only pollute my heart. The Buddha says that the past is as if it never happened. I must start over, start from zero, and chant 'Namo Amituofo' until the end. That is the only way to truly help myself and all beings with whom I have a karmic connection.

My learning experience this past week has been very special, and I want to share it with all my family and friends in the human world. Although I was a Christian during my life, after receiving the teachings of the Dharma, I have converted to the Dharma. This is not to say that I do not acknowledge the existence of the Lord or Jesus. They still exist, and they have already reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, this Buddha-land. That is why the Dharma is so equal—that is the reason! No matter what your background, culture, or religion, the Buddha accepts everyone without any discrimination.

To my family and friends: If you can search for the 'Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre' online, I believe you will benefit greatly. This place is where the Truth truly exists, and because the Buddha is residing here, this place can help you. Namo Amituofo."

"You can try to learn more about the activities and interviews conducted here by visiting our website. This will give you a profound understanding of what the world of spirits is truly like, as well as the state of mind I currently experience in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. I believe you will gain a much more thorough insight into these matters.

A Beacon of Truth

Beyond this, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is actually well-known to many people in Taiwan and even across mainland China. In addition to the extensive promotion of the temple's Dharma teachings and interview transcripts on our website, there are many 'Namo Amituofo' billboards set up across both sides of the strait. If people feel a sense of Dharma-joy upon seeing these signs and are inspired to come to the temple to practise, that is a wonderful thing indeed.

I am truly so fortunate. Here, I also wish to convey my heartfelt sentiments to my family members who are still in the world of the living. Thank you all, thank you Namo Amituofo, and thank you, Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Yin Yen-liang"

Postscript:

A supplementary interview for my wife, Wang Chi-fan:

"My dear wife, it is I, Yen-liang. I am speaking to you now from a Buddha-land called the 'Western Land of Dharma Nature.' It is my spirit speaking to you. There are those here who can help me transcribe the messages from my spirit so that you may know them.

A Message of Hope

Although things were not well for me immediately after I passed away, I have now been saved by the Buddha, and I am doing very, very well. You can look up this place called the 'Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia' online. Its founder is also a Taiwanese person—a Taiwanese person who has realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood. This is a very special place, and I hope you can come here to find me.

My dear wife, we have worked hard for the better part of our lives, and you have endured so much; it has not been easy. I truly admire the wisdom you have shown in every detail of your life, whether in your work or within our family. I know you still find it hard to let go of me, and you still feel deep sorrow over my departure. I hope that at our age—now that I have departed—you can realise that life is full of impermanence. However, since I now know that the spirit is indestructible, I must share this good news with you. I hope you can believe me. I am truly here watching over everyone, and I understand the suffering of human life. That is why I have come to such a wonderful place in the Buddha's world. I hope you can come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia; I am waiting for you here. If you contact the temple soon, you will be able to reach me.

As for the family business, leave it to our children. They are very independent and capable of shouldering the responsibility. At your age, if you can let go and come to learn the Buddha's teachings properly, it will be of tremendous help to you!"

A Father's Guidance

To my son, Yin Tsung-yao:

"Father is speaking a few words to you here. I know that from your childhood and your school years until now, you have never let us worry; you have always made your elders feel completely at ease. Father wants to tell you that you are a very good son.

On this path of human life, besides your work, you must take more time to think about where you will go after this life is finished. Let Father tell you now: I have walked the path of death, and I know it all too clearly. Having arrived in the Buddha's world, I am also very clear that the cycle of rebirth driven by karma after death is a truly painful experience. If one can encounter the Buddha's teachings early—the true Buddha's teachings, which are the principles of the universe and the righteous path—I believe you can come to trust all of this.

Put down the things in your hands and find some time to come and chat with me. Come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I am right here in this Buddha-land, and I can speak with you in the form of a spirit. If you have any difficult problems or questions, you can tell me, and I can help you resolve them.

Life does not have to be filled with so many afflictions; it is simply about walking each step of the way well in the present moment. The most important thing is to find the true home for your spirit. This world is not a place to stay for long; do not continue to drift. My son, come and find me."

The True Destination

To my daughter, Yin Tsung-en:

"My daughter Tsung-en, you are a good child, and you are also a very independent person who can handle things on your own. You are no longer young now, and you must know that on this path of life, you must find your true home. I am your father, Yin Yen-liang. I am doing very well here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, so please do not worry. Remember to take good care of yourself and look after your mother; she has also had a difficult journey. I hope you can always keep a smile on your face, but most importantly, you must understand that everything you possess in this world is only a temporary beauty; it is not lasting. The human body is short-lived and subject to impermanence, and it is full of various variables.

If you can learn the teachings of 'Namo Amituofo' just as your father has, you will certainly be able to find the destination of your life and know where your true place is. Having gone through this experience, I know that the world after death is truly not easy. I hope you can see this clearly sooner rather than later. Look at my interview and everything the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia is doing, and come here to learn about it soon. I am waiting for you all here; bring your mother and come together."