Interview with Chua Lam (Renowned Hong Kong Writer, Food Critic, and Film Producer)

Synopsis: As one of the "Four Great Talents of Hong Kong," Chua Lam spent his life traversing the worlds of film, literature, and gastronomy. He was not only a key contributor to the golden age of Hong Kong cinema but also a legendary figure who brought Chinese culinary culture to the international stage. He was renowned for his life philosophy of "being carefree, transparent, and seizing the day," embodying the art of living happily and consciously, and becoming the most free-spirited symbol of Hong Kong's golden age.

Interview Chief Writer: Fa Ning

July 10, 2026

Chua Lam:

I am Chua Lam. I have been in the Western Land of Dharma Nature for over a month now. Does everyone still remember me?

In the last few decades of my life, I was a famous food critic. Everyone often watched my food programmes and drooled, while I ate large mouthfuls of various types of food, especially meat. All of this is still vivid in my mind today, and I also know that the impact this had on people was truly very bad.

Therefore, when I was in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I wept bitterly, looking at everything I had managed in the human world; there was not a single thing that was not creating karma. It can be said that many things I did were in the midst of creating karma without my own awareness. Because I did not know the teachings of the Dharma before, nor did I know about karmic retribution, I spent my whole life constantly creating karma.

Of course, everyone thought I was a good person, a carefree and happy person; however, behind all of this, the karma I created was immeasurable and boundless! This is truly so bitter, so bitter. I did not know suffering before, thinking that all of this was enjoying the good things in life. Now I know that all physical enjoyment and satisfaction in the human world must be exchanged for a great price.

I am considered a lucky person to be guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. If I did not have this opportunity, I would have to suffer retribution in hell for ten, a hundred, or a thousand years without being able to get out! Looking at the karma I created, and the immeasurable and boundless beings coming to seek revenge, it really shocked me and caused me great pain.

When I was in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I realised that I had done wrong before, so I have been trying hard to change my ways and have been repenting before the Buddha, hoping that one day I can achieve success in my practice sooner and help these beings so that they no longer suffer. To be bitter myself and also let others suffer with me—this is truly a great pain!

I am known as one of the Four Great Talents of Hong Kong, but I was born in Singapore and later settled in Hong Kong, where I began a series of developments in my life.

Decades ago, Hong Kong was in its golden age, with many excellent developments and many good things to do. For someone like me who loves to enjoy life and experience different novel and exciting things, Hong Kong was a very suitable place. At that time, mainland China was still before the reform and opening up, and society was very closed; there was not much room for development there. Hong Kong was the first choice for many people who wanted to display their talents, especially in the Chinese-speaking world; it was an open and democratic place.

I enjoyed my life here, eating what I wanted, doing what I wanted, and playing what I wanted. I can say that I tasted all kinds of lifestyles. Yet, I did not know that all of this had laid a huge foundation in my body, causing the beings within my body to awaken. They were hidden and did not come to seek revenge immediately because I still had blessings; they had no way to act against me.

However, the karma created by these many things cannot be repaid in a day or two; it is truly too bitter. I caused suffering to beings, and I only know now that I am bitter, and they are also bitter; this is suffering upon suffering. Without Buddhist education, who would know how to leave suffering behind?

When I was young, I studied abroad in Japan, so I am proficient in various languages. Besides Chinese and Cantonese, I can also speak fluent Japanese. There, I studied subjects related to film, and I also had my own unique insights and research in this area, which I did quite successfully.

Later, after I came to Hong Kong, I felt that it was a precious land where I could display my skills, so I joined Shaw Brothers, which was very famous at the time. As a film producer for forty years, I spent my time in film production work. In particular, many of the most famous Jackie Chan films were produced and handled by me personally. This is why I felt I had achieved great success, which also allowed me to earn immeasurable and boundless wealth, living a life without worry about food or clothing.

As life became better and better, my greed grew more and more. I wanted many things and wanted to enjoy everything, whether it was eating good food or living in good places, especially regarding women; it can be said that I was never short of women around me.

Thinking about this now is very painful and also very shameful. I once proudly told everyone in many of the programmes I hosted that I had dated fifty or sixty girlfriends. Honestly, this is true! Fifty or sixty might even be a small number, because I was very promiscuous, dating one girlfriend after another.

Although in everyone's eyes I was not bad to them, nor was I a vulgar person, because of my status and position, I could always attract many immeasurable and boundless women to come and build a relationship with me voluntarily, or if there was a girl I wanted, I could get her easily.

So, that is indeed how I acted when I was young. In this life, the karma created because of women was immeasurable and boundless, not to mention the various kinds of karma I created while still rolling in it, without my own knowledge. Fortunately, I later walked the path of marriage, and I dared not have any thoughts about other women anymore. So, after I got married, I was only loyal to my wife; I did not flirt with others, nor did I dare to touch other women.

This is everything I did before marriage; thinking about it is truly unbearable to look back on. In my life, besides producing films, eating good food, and running my own various programmes, the verbal karma created in the process was also not insignificant.

Because in making these highly entertaining programmes, the things that I and a few good friends said were all nonsense. At that time, several of us were always together making programmes; for example, the most famous superstars at the time, such as Leslie Cheung, Chow Yun-fat, and Brigitte Lin, were all there. We would drink, smoke, and talk about nonsense on the programme.

Everything we discussed in the programme was about the various enjoyments of the adult world—drinking, making money, playing with women—it can be said that we spoke without any scruples, and it was widely circulated, allowing many people to see our programmes and gain great entertainment value. We thought we could win everyone's laughter and let everyone laugh heartily after their busy lives; this was our achievement and our glory.

Sadly, we did not know that the karma created in the process was immeasurable and boundless!

Because everything we talked about seriously violated the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, it caused every person who watched our programme to grow many bad values and bad personalities in their hearts, fueling people's greed and various afflictions. Among these, besides the karma of killing, verbal karma, and the karma of adultery, we also covered people's hearts with layers of pollution because we spoke many things that should not have been said without any scruples.

Therefore, I did not know that in this life, the spirits in my body were actually walking back and forth in different hells, suffering retribution. This is something I did not discover or know within my limited human body.

When I arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, looking back at all this, I realised that I had always been suffering retribution in hell. Whether it was the "heart-gouging hell," "copper pillar hell," "gut-gouging hell," "tongue-ripping hell," or countless other hells, I had all set foot in them. Speaking of this is truly unbearable!

I relied on my innate blessings to barely hold on until I was over eighty years old before leaving the human world. But living long is not a good thing, because the longer I lived, the deeper the karma I created. I did not know it, but I kept rolling in this overlapping karma, causing my body, mind, and spirit to suffer tremendous torment. It was just that this body thought it was enjoyment, not knowing that the soul and spirits had long been suffering retribution in various different hells.

I was quite rich in this life, and I could get everything I wanted. In my later years, I actively managed various food programmes, leading everyone to travel to different places to enjoy food, much of which was based on meat, which is why I went to the "gut-gouging hell" to suffer retribution. I actively promoted these delicacies and lived a happy life. Besides travelling, I would taste food, or enjoy various visual stimuli.

Later, after my wife left the human world, although I was heartbroken, I quickly adjusted my mood, sold my assets, and lived another kind of enjoyable life. I always thought that "seizing the day" was a goal everyone should have in life, so I always took good care of my body and let my body feel very happy and pleasurable, spending every moment in pleasure, not knowing that all of this had stained my spirit with huge blemishes. My spirit suffered great bitter retribution in hell. Besides the "gut-gouging hell," I also went to many other hells, rolling back and forth in suffering, which caused my whole body to be rotten and unbearable.

Oh, to be honest, looking back now, let this interview be my confession!

After arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature and receiving Buddhist education, I suddenly had an "Aha!" moment, realising that all of this was within the laws of karma and cause and effect. No wonder I would go to hell to suffer so much bitter retribution. I did not know it before, nor did I know why I went to hell, thinking that everything I managed was a matter of course, and thinking that I did not harm the lives of others, so I would not have to suffer bitter results.

Because I was an atheist before, I did not believe in any religion, nor did I believe in where I would go after death. I thought that when people died, that was the end of it, not knowing that karma would follow closely.

I had also known about Buddhism, or rather the teachings of the Dharma, but I thought that all of this was a formal expression and did not put the teachings of the Dharma in my heart. I was unwilling to understand or face the matter of cause and effect, thinking that all of this was absurd. Or sometimes I would only accept the parts I wanted to know, and for other parts that were more relevant to me, I was unwilling to touch or understand them. This is also the operation of karma itself, which made me create a lot of sins in this life, and I did not know right from wrong.

But I now have such great blessings that I can come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, receiving the guidance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I am truly too grateful, too grateful! Words cannot express my gratitude. Without Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, I would not know how long I would have to spend in hell, and I would not have the opportunity to explain this repentance in my heart to everyone.

Now, through Practitioner Su guiding us from all over China, including celebrities from Hong Kong, to come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature from all over the world. And because I just left the human world last year, I have such great blessings to be guided up.

In the end, without the great heart, great vow, and Wisdom of the Buddha or Bodhisattva, many of us would still be suffering in hell! This is an indisputable fact, and I hope to encourage everyone together.

Now that I have come to the "Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia," I was suddenly dumbfounded! I only then realised that Buddhist education is real, and there are already people in the human world who have become awakened beings and have such great development.

This left me dumbfounded! In my world, there was never any of this, but suddenly, because of Buddhist education, my life underwent a tremendous change, and I could even witness all of this happening while in the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are too compassionate! So this is what the heart of a Buddha or Bodhisattva is like; I understand it now. It turns out that when this heart is wholeheartedly for beings, without the "self," it can be so pure, light-transmitting, bright, and perfect. This makes me feel Dharma-joy, and I also yearn for such a day when I can have the same mind-capacity as the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and can achieve having no "self," only being for beings.

After Practitioner Su became a Buddha in Taiwan, because of the vows made and the beings saved, his body bore great pain on behalf of the beings. Because he attracted many attacks from different spiritual realms or demon crowds, although Practitioner Su's body was often attacked, it did not affect Practitioner Su's various daily operations at all. I had never heard of such a thing before. This is the power of the Buddha’s heart without a "self"!

No matter how Practitioner Su is attacked—it can be said that his whole body from head to toe was attacked by demon crowds until he was covered in wounds—he can still firmly act for beings. Such a Buddha-heart and Buddha-vow is something we should all learn!

Sometimes I am truly very emotional that someone like me, who created so many sins, still has the blessings to come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Then I must be actively diligent; I cannot let down the great compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, and their compassionate heart for so many of us beings.

Practitioner Su is guiding not only celebrities from our Chinese regions but also celebrities from all over the world, including those from some small Middle Eastern countries. Such a great heart and great vow is truly unprecedented and will likely remain unmatched. Of course, I also sincerely hope that the disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre will follow in Practitioner Su's footsteps and achieve success soon, so that they can continue to pass on this Buddha-heart and Buddha-vow in the human world.

I now know that Practitioner Su is actively looking for celebrities or consortiums to build the Namo Amitabha Buddhist Hall and the headquarters of the Pure Land School. All of this is for the sake of future generations; with such a place and the support of a consortium, Practitioner Su can rest assured in nurturing many children, allowing them to live peacefully in this precious land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. By practising in a pure, enclosed environment, they can avoid the various pollutions of the world, making it possible for them to awaken to their true nature and attain Buddhahood. All of this is Practitioner Su's painstaking effort, which we ordinary people may not necessarily understand.

However, now that I know about this, I hope even more to do my small part to report it to everyone. I hope my report will allow everyone to believe that Namo Amituofo is truly here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, leading people from all over the world toward a state where they do not grow old, do not get sick, and the spirit never dies, leading them toward Buddhist education, and leading them toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

This is a very wonderful thing; there is no pain or illness here, and there is a Buddha to invite spirits for Chao Du. If you have relatives who have left the human world, they can also obtain deliverance and Chao Du here. Through the ability of the monastics at the temple to communicate with the spiritual realms, such a thing is unique in the whole world. After the Chao Du, one can even receive a letter and a visit from the family; how could such a thing be possible if Namo Amituofo had not come to the human world, and if Practitioner Su did not have the great heart and great vow to save beings extensively?

I see all of this clearly and plainly now, and I also hope to give the people of the human world an answer: everyone can be saved! Do not fear death, do not fear aging, sickness, and death; as long as you sincerely follow the Buddha and get to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, you can be saved! This is true and not false!

Although your personality may be difficult to adjust or understand, or perhaps you are already old and sick, even if pain occupies your entire body, there is no need to fear, because you will not die! As long as you know and are willing to believe in the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, you will understand that the fact that the spirit never dies is real! Just like me, although my spirit once suffered in hell, after being guided up by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, I can still have the opportunity for rebirth.

Let go of everything from the past for now, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss sooner. By practising there, you can eventually attain Buddhahood, and all your past karmic obstacles can cease to exist. It is that simple; follow Namo Amituofo wholeheartedly, chant Namo Amituofo all the way, and everyone has such an opportunity.

The most important good news is that you can now get to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This matter must be vigorously promoted so that people all over China and Hong Kong know of the existence of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, and so that everyone's heart can be at peace. Do not worry about aging, sickness, and painful death in the future, because when the Buddha is in the world, as long as you are willing to come and support the Chao Du, you can obtain the opportunity for rebirth.

Everyone must certainly accumulate merit to have such blessings, which is how the Chao Du funds for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are generated. To build future structures, and to allow the Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, and the fourfold assembly of the temple to settle here and strive to save the world—this is the wish of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Today, Practitioner Su has this great heart and great vow to expand the temple, all for the sake of future people and children. Bringing Namo Amituofo to the forefront, when everyone comes to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to sincerely pay homage to the Buddha, only then is the Buddha's gate truly wide open, and only then can we welcome immeasurable and boundless suffering beings.

If someone like me, who has such heavy sins, still has the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, then everyone should not worry that you lack the qualifications or blessings. As long as you are willing to believe in the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and believe that Namo Amituofo is here to save beings, you are a person with blessings!

I believe that my influence as Chua Lam is still quite significant. Throughout Hong Kong and even the Chinese-speaking world, almost everyone knows me, Chua Lam. As one of the four great talents of Hong Kong, I have also been actively involved in major food programmes in my later years. Those who have seen me will know—even if you do not remember my name, you will remember my appearance! My appearance is quite recognisable.

While you remember my appearance, you must also remember that I have now begun to learn the Buddha's teachings; this is the most important point of all! Let me tell you honestly: without Buddhist education, we are truly nothing. We will continue to revolve in the six realms of rebirth, suffering the torture of extreme pain.

Now that Namo Amituofo has truly come to the human world, everyone should cherish it all the more. Follow the Buddha's footsteps closely, step by step, and you can achieve a state where you do not grow old, do not get sick, and the spirit never dies, and you can also help more people achieve the same goal. This is what I, Chua Lam, want to vigorously promote to everyone now.

I have encountered such a wonderful thing, and I want to share it with everyone. Especially in Hong Kong, there are many consortiums, and everyone is living a life of birth, aging, sickness, and death. Just like the celebrities Practitioner Su has guided up, many are wealthy people, yet they still have to suffer extreme torture and suffer retribution in hell after death; why suffer like this?

I urge everyone to get to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. If you can sponsor the construction of the Namo Amitabha Buddhist Hall and the headquarters of the Pure Land School, your blessings will be truly immense, enough to last for many lifetimes!

Having Namo Amituofo come to the human world is a precious, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you are willing to seize this opportunity, cultivate merit extensively, and plant seeds of blessings, then you will never have to worry about food or clothing in this life and for many lives to come. Most importantly, do not linger in the human world; be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss sooner, and leave suffering behind to gain happiness sooner—this is the ultimate goal in life. Everyone must more actively and vigorously join the salvation team of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre!

Gratitude to the compassion of Amitabha Buddha, and gratitude to the compassion of Practitioner Su. That is all from Chua Lam today.

Namo Amituofo

Chua Lam