Governance, Karma, and the Path to True Peace

This is a record of an interview with Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, who sought spiritual guidance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his life of governance, the complexities of nation-building, and his profound realisation regarding the power of the Dharma. Recorded by the disciple Haipin on June 29, 2018.

Lee Kuan Yew speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore is a nation with limited land and a dense population. To secure a place for such a small country on the international stage was never an easy task. Throughout my years in office, I utilised various concepts I had acquired during my education in Western countries to govern the nation. Naturally, there were times when my strategies were high-pressure and strict; I am well aware that the people sometimes dared to be angry but dared not speak out. I also know that Western nations did not always approve of my past strategies, often criticising them for not providing enough freedom or democracy. However, these criticisms were of little concern to me. At the very least, Singapore now possesses a voice and significant weight on the international stage. This proves that my methods were not entirely misguided.

The Limitations of Secular Governance

Yet, looking back now, I see that there were better choices for governing a nation—choices that I did not fully grasp at the time. Those choices are the Buddha’s teachings and the laws of karma and cause and effect. When people manage themselves through their own spontaneous hearts, it is far more effective and sustainable than the obedience demanded by a military commander. Self-discipline and spontaneous action have always been the highest realms of management.

In these days, I have had the opportunity to listen to Practitioner Su’s lectures. I have been particularly moved by the 'Explanations of the Buddha’s Teachings'—a series of insights passed down by Namo Amituofo to educate the human heart. These teachings have touched me deeply, reaching into the very core of my being. Having spent my life in the West, I have developed a perspective that allows me to see both the past and the future with newfound clarity. Many things that were once obscured have now become transparent and understandable to me.

Western Education and the Universal Dharma

I am a man who was entirely Westernised. I received a Western education and lived a Western lifestyle. Although I did not adhere to any specific religious faith during my life, I have always believed that all religions possess the capacity to educate and refine the human heart. I have always believed that the power of Goodness plays a vital role in the stability of society. Singapore is a nation with a complex mix of ethnicities and religions, and throughout my tenure, I constantly struggled to find the middle path between the regulation and the liberation of religious belief.

If there were an opportunity to invite Practitioner Su to Singapore to propagate the Buddha’s teachings—to introduce what the true Buddha’s teachings are and to explain the practice of the Dharma—I believe it would allow people to rediscover the profound skills hidden within their own true self. I am certain that such an initiative would attract a significant number of young people who are eager to learn and grow.

The Search for Inner Peace

As we all know, in our busy, industrialised society, we are inundated with technological advancements and material products. Everyone is moving at a frantic pace, and the search for inner peace and stability has become a deep, collective longing for the majority of people. In such times, religion usually plays an incredibly important role. By listening to Practitioner Su’s lectures, I have come to understand that Namo Amituofo is telling the world that He is, in essence, a true educator. Namo Amituofo is teaching everyone how to educate their own hearts. When the heart changes—becoming pure and filled with Goodness—it leads to a transformation that spreads from the individual to the community, and eventually to the entire nation.

I believe that Singapore could experience a completely different future if it embraced these principles. I look forward to the arrival of such a karmic connection, and I hope that we can respectfully invite Practitioner Su to introduce the great Dharma of Namo Amituofo to Singapore. I, too, will be learning alongside everyone else.

I have now learned to chant the phrase: 'Namo Amituofo.' Namo Amituofo."