, my name is Hirotaka Kawai. Perhaps you are not so familiar with my name, but when mentioning the piano series produced by our family, I believe you will not be unfamiliar—that is the KAWAI piano. Anyone who has learned the piano or has some understanding of music should have heard of it.
I am the third-generation head of the family. In other words, my grandfather built this empire many years ago, and my father carried forward the KAWAI piano. When it came to me, I also worked hard to improve research and development and promotional work, allowing KAWAI to truly step onto the world stage, making it a favourite among many young pianists. This is a brief account of my life.
I am not a person who is good at expressing myself, but my understanding of music is very profound. Previously, I did not know how to play the piano, but I was very keen on attending concerts and appreciating the sounds produced by various pianos. I gained some insights from them and was often moved by the peace and brought by these musical notes.
Today, Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia called my name and asked me to speak. Looking back now, this still requires some courage for someone like me who is not usually good with words.
Now, having been in the Western Land of Nature for these few weeks, I feel an unprecedented joy. In the past, no matter how much I loved music or how deep my attainments in music were, they could not compare to the music I hear now in the Western Land of Dharma Nature—it is a sound I have never heard before, making my heart so joyful, peaceful, and stable; it is truly a wonderful experience beyond words.
The six-character name "Namo Amituofo" is so melodious when chanted. I cannot help but think that even if I were to interpret this piece with my piano, I fear it could not compare to the sound of "Namo Amituofo" that flows naturally in the air of the Western Land of Dharma Nature, or even the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Here, I have learned that the Buddha represents the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. I have also learned that only by following the Buddha can one avoid bias and live in the world according to moral foundations.
Why did I suddenly change the subject from pianos to the Buddha? Because I want to tell everyone that I now deeply realise that all learning or experience in the world has its limitations. In the Buddha’s teachings, because the Buddha possesses perfect Wisdom and self-nature, He can discern the essence of all things. In terms of music, we only play these instruments in ways that modern human technology allows. But in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, the word "music" is the musical sound of the six-character name "Namo Amituofo." It flows out naturally and is possessed by the instinct of -nature. Therefore, the music that spreads out cannot be compared to music played by any instrument in the human world. This is why I am so happy in the Western Land of Dharma Nature!
The melodious six-character name "Namo Amituofo" here allows everyone who comes to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, or beings from anywhere, who originally carried restless or painful , to receive the purification of Buddha-light and the energy of the Buddha-name upon arriving in this Buddha-land. Everyone quickly returns to a pure state, and everyone’s face is filled with smiles.
This is because the Buddha possesses perfect Wisdom and self-nature, and everything that flows out is what everyone feels in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Whether it is the lotus under everyone’s seat, the Buddha-light covering the top of one's head, or the sound of the Buddha-name coming to one's ears, all are perfected by the great of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Everything that flows out naturally does not need anyone to deliberately create it with their brain or thoughts. These natural things are so perfect, which makes me, Hirotaka Kawai, truly grateful and moved! I never expected that I would encounter such a good thing happening today.
Why was I able to come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature? Let me tell you, a few weeks ago, I was actually still suffering from very painful punishment in hell, unable to leave that painful space. It was the Buddha who saved me; it was the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su that saved my painful soul and gave me the opportunity to be reborn. I spent more than two years in hell, and the taste of it was truly unbearable.
The hell I went to is called the "heart-gouging hell." As the name suggests, it is having my heart gouged out. I do not need to repeat this kind of thing; in any case, it was very painful, very painful! I really do not know why I went to hell. I spent my whole life studying in the world of pianos, living a very happy and enjoyable life.
However, there were many times when I was relatively nervous or was completing some things with a heart that was quite restless. Especially when I launched many new products or technologies, it triggered a backlash from many people at the time. At that time, many people held considerable doubts and opinions about the new piano models developed by me and my team, as well as our practice of using new materials to make pianos. Many people who loved pianos did not approve of these innovations.
In addition, at that time, I set up factories all over the world (especially in Southeast Asia) and moved part of the production resources of the Japanese headquarters to those factories. For people who have always been attached to "Made in Japan," this was really hard to accept, and I was also full of worries amidst the many criticisms at that time.
In order to prove that my research and development were on the right path, that I had not deviated from the essence of the piano, and that I had not caused the quality of my pianos to decline, I tried every possible way to show the unique and non-negative side of my pianos on many international stages. These bits and pieces made my heart covered with a layer of dust. Because I always wanted to prove that everything I did was correct. Hearing many negative evaluations, I and the entire team fell into negative emotions.
After these bits and pieces accumulated for a long time, my heart became polluted. It was not like the simple and enthusiastic heart I had when I studied pianos before, but added a heart that wanted to express and prove myself. This strong heart led me to slowly create the cause of hell, and then I really came to hell to suffer the retribution.
Alas, we people living in the world do not know that hell is real, and that one can attract the cause of going to hell because of one's own thoughts and feelings. I used to think that if hell really existed, it would only be for those who killed others, affected the safety of others' lives, caused national turmoil, and committed monstrous negative .
As a big shot in the piano world, I never did anything bad in my life; I just had some personal habits that I did not change, and I was prone to anger. Although I was very kind and compassionate to my employees and many people who loved music, my heart was always at odds with myself. When some things happened, I always thought about how to solve them well, how to let our pianos return to the international stage, and not to suffer these unjust grievances. So, thinking and thinking, the feelings of injustice and dissatisfaction accumulated, and it became this energy, which made me create the cause of hell.
Alas, this is also something I brought upon myself! I did not understand Buddhist education before, and I understood even less about what the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way are, so one step was wrong, and every step was wrong. Many times, I unknowingly created these sins. This is why when I was in my seventies, my body began to go downhill, and finally, I left the human world because of an illness. Practitioner Su said that when a person gets sick, it is because they have violated the Universal Principle. I think I did too. Being sick is very painful, and the path of aging, sickness, and death is inherently bitter. Although I have experienced a long time of glory and satisfaction, the bits and pieces in it still made me unable to truly walk out, and there was still a tense side in my heart that the world did not know about.
Now I also want to advise everyone, whether it is my peers, the musicians I know, or all Japanese people, and even people all over the world, that you can see the heart-felt words we express in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and you must understand: you are still in the human world, and you still have this body to use. I hope that everything we say can help you change your habits. Everything in the world passes very quickly; nothing is real. Do not hold on tightly to everything; you should know how to let go. Only by letting go can you learn the essence of the Buddha’s teachings, and only then can you truly put down everything that holds on to tightly.
I, Hirotaka Kawai, finally understand now. I will not dwell on everything from the past, because the Western Land of Dharma Nature is truly a wonderful world. I have no afflictions here; I just want to chant "Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo." I am humming the tune of "Namo Amituofo" here in a musical way. I hum very happily, and the six-character name "Namo Amituofo" ripples in my heart at all times. Now my heart is very peaceful, without the restlessness or injustice of the past, and everything has been let go. I just want to tell the world that they must come to learn the true Buddha’s teachings. Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are very compassionate in reminding the world and giving the world this bright path. Especially since Practitioner Su came to the world, he has used his human body to such a great extent to save so many beings, which is something I never thought of.
Now I truly understand these principles, and I would like to take this opportunity to tell all my Japanese compatriots this good news: everyone is actually not a big evil person, and everyone is working diligently on things they are interested in. It is just that life ends in nothing left, and one must pay for the negative karma one has created by going to different places.
I hope everyone will not follow my old path; hell is really bitter! If you can learn the Buddha’s teachings and achieve , like Practitioner Su, you can help many people. I don't know if there have been any awakened beings in Japan before? I don't know. But there is definitely no one with the skills of Practitioner Su. If everyone can take advantage of the fact that there is still this living Buddha in the human world, and visit the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to learn the spirit of Practitioner Su, maybe we can have a second or third Practitioner Su to continue leading the world to the Right Way.
There are many, many suffering beings, and an immeasurable number of Japanese people who have been saved after death because the Buddha is in the world. Although people in the world cannot see it with their physical eyes, do not underestimate the power of . Especially since the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia has two "Namo Amituofo" billboards in Japan. These two billboards are very magical. While shining, they can attract the attention of many spirit realm beings, allowing them to go to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to receive Chao Du. I can see it very clearly here. In Japan, these two "Namo Amituofo" billboards are located in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, and near Narita Airport. So far, these two billboards have attracted tens of millions of Japanese ghosts and demon crowds to go to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to receive Chao Du. Without the Buddha in the world, there would not be so many opportunities for beings to be saved. So, are the billboards very important? I think so, they are really too important, too important!
I lived in my own world all my life, enjoying all the beauty brought by music and pianos, but I never knew that there was such a vast world outside my world, and that is the Buddha’s world!
Because the Buddha has already achieved awakening, what can be seen in the Buddha’s world is true perfection, immeasurable and boundless, without any restrictions or obstacles. So, the Buddha’s eyes are open; that is the principle. Because the Buddha can see the existence of all beings, and can also clearly understand where each being is in the six realms of existence or the ten directions at this very moment. That is why when people call out to the Buddha, the Buddha can really come to people’s side to give help. Although people cannot see it, as long as this heart is in sync with the Buddha-heart, one can still receive the blessing of the Buddha’s power.
Now that I have left the human world, my son is the fourth-generation helmsman of the family. I also want to advise my son that if we are in the piano industry and can continue to gain more wealth on this path, we must give back to society. Practitioner Su often says: "Take from society, and give back to society." That is the principle.
The reason why Practitioner Su can achieve awakening in the human world today is also because his mind-capacity is very broad, without any calculation. Practitioner Su believes that as long as it is something he possesses, he will share it with everyone, without distinction. As long as it can help others achieve awakening, Practitioner Su has no complaints even if he makes the greatest sacrifices. Just like there are so many demon crowds attacking Practitioner Su day and night, but he gets a sentence from Practitioner Su: "I have earned it." And Practitioner Su quickly leads these beings to the Western Land of Dharma Nature.
During the , many beings, whether spirit realm beings or demon crowds, entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature. I felt deeply moved, for I had never seen creatures with such unique and distinct appearances, especially the demon crowds. Yet, after each of them arrived in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, their demonic forms were shed, replaced by new, pure, and white bodies.
This is the skillful means provided to everyone by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, known as the Pure Land school's Buddha-name chanting method. Among us Japanese, there are a small number of people who believe in the Buddha and the Pure Land school, but not one person has truly learned the Buddha’s teachings, applying Buddhist education in their daily lives to achieve the effect of "remove defilements and attain purity." Oh, it is truly a bit shameful to say!
Given our reverence for the Buddha’s teachings, if anyone could come into contact with the true Buddhist education from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, I believe it would certainly be of help to everyone. Now, I, Kawai Hirotaka, here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, with a heart full of gratitude, urge my son and my descendants to always remember these words I have just spoken.
Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su, gratitude to everyone!
