Governing with the Dharma

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Lee Kuan Yew, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects his insights on governance and the Dharma. Recorded by the disciple Haipin on September 11, 2018.

Lee Kuan Yew speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Hsien Loong, you might think your father is speaking nonsense, but everything I am about to tell you is profoundly real. It is happening every single day. I have been following Practitioner Su in the morning Chao Du sessions. The paths we travel are vast—from the depths of the various strange and terrifying hells to the reaches of the universe beyond the stars, throughout the entire Dharma realm of emptiness. Everything can be saved. I know this might sound difficult for you to grasp, especially since you and I both received a Western education, which often makes one’s connection to and faith in the Buddha’s teachings relatively weak."

The Reality of the Dharma Realm

"The website of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia contains a wealth of interview transcripts and books. This is an excellent opportunity for you to learn about this place. I urge you to set aside a few dozen minutes to look through them carefully and gain an understanding. Only then will you realise the importance of this unique Buddha-land, which is truly one of a kind in this world. You will discover how many world-renowned figures, and even historical figures from the past, have passed through this place to leave suffering behind and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The True Welfare of the People

"The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a place where one is forever free from the cycle of rebirth in the six realms of rebirth. It is a place without illness, without death, where one is nourished by the joy of meditation, and where every wish is fulfilled. It is truly magnificent. In this world, human affairs are nothing more than the struggle for power and profit—the pursuit of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep, driven by greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt. The Buddha’s teachings are vast and profound; thousands of years ago, they already saw through all of this and admonished future generations. If one wishes to escape the six realms of rebirth in this Saha world, one cannot become a Buddha without severing these greedy desires."

A Father's Regret and a New Vision

"Hsien Loong, I was once exactly where you are now. Driven by a sense of responsibility, I always hoped to use my own strength to secure the greatest welfare for the people. But only now do I realise that what truly brings welfare to the people is the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings and the ability to help people forever escape the six realms of rebirth. If I could start over and make a new choice, I would want to govern the country with the Dharma. Only in this way could I bring the people a life that is truly and eternally free from illness and death. You might think I have become too obsessed, but when you truly understand the greatness of Namo Amituofo and the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings, I believe you will share my view. This is not an exaggeration at all."

A Call to My Son

"My son, put down the trivial matters at hand. Take the time to look at what the website has to say. Once you have truly used your heart to understand, I believe you will set aside everything else and come to talk to me. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, this is a natural and expected thing. I trust your judgment, and I am waiting for you. Namo Amituofo."