Interview with Wu Wenjun (Internationally Renowned Mathematician and Founder of Mechanical Theorem Proving)

Introduction: An internationally renowned mathematician, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and founder of mechanical theorem proving. He is internationally acclaimed in the field of algebraic topology for proposing the 'Wu characteristic class' and 'Wu formula'. In his later years, he pioneered the integration of traditional Chinese mathematical thought with computer technology, inventing the 'Wu method' for automated geometric theorem proving, becoming a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence automated reasoning. He was awarded the inaugural State Preeminent Science and Technology Award and the Shaw Prize in Mathematical Sciences, and is hailed as one of the most influential Chinese mathematicians of the 20th century.

Interview

Chief Writer: Venerable Fa Hui

August 9, 2026

Wu Wenjun:

I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their promise, which will allow me, Wu Wenjun, to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss from the Western Land of Dharma Nature when the conditions mature in the future.

At this very moment, I am on the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. In this pure, bright, and beautiful Buddha-land, I am enjoying the best of blessings. This transit station to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, established by Practitioner Su, is a turning point in my spiritual life.

After I left the human world, my spirit entered a space. This space contained many things familiar to me, including numerous mathematical formulas and research I had conducted in the past. They constantly bewildered me in this space, leaving me unable to escape from this false illusion. It was as if, because I still held too many attachments, my spirit was tightly bound to this space under the pull of karma; once I entered, I could not leave.

After entering this space, it took nearly nine years before I was able to come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre with the help of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I am immensely grateful to have such great blessings to be saved in this way at this moment, and to be able to become a member of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss in the future. Such an opportunity is truly difficult to encounter in millions of years.

As an internationally renowned mathematician and the founder of mechanical theorem proving, I have always had many innovations and breakthroughs in my field of expertise. When faced with problems, I have always analysed their essence to find the answers. Upholding this worldly habit, once I realised how fortunate I was, I further explored: Why was I able to receive the help of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su at this moment? What exactly is the reason? I deeply longed to know.

There seems to be a magical power on the Land of Dharma Nature. As soon as a thought arose, it seemed that the corresponding answer would naturally arise in my heart, and a voice would tell me the answer. I asked this voice with great respect and sincerity: 'Who exactly are you?'

This voice was very warm and full of power, compassionately telling me: 'Child, I am Namo Amituofo.'

At that moment, I, Wu Wenjun, was truly moved to tears. Although I was an atheist while alive and never believed in the existence of Buddhas, when I heard the voice of Namo Amituofo, I do not know why, but it felt as if I had returned to the arms of a father or the embrace of a mother. Upon hearing the Buddha's voice, my heart felt so at ease and stable, as if there were no more afflictions, nothing worth worrying about, and no further need to feel fear for anything.

My spirit, which had been lost and bewildered while wandering in the illusory space, seemed to be healed in an instant upon hearing the voice of Namo Amituofo. So, this is the effect of the Buddha's voice—it brings stability and peace to the hearts of those who hear it.

After hearing the Buddha's voice, I further asked Namo Amituofo: 'Compassionate Namo Amituofo, since I have arrived at this Western Land of Dharma Nature at this moment, there must be a mission for me. What exactly should I, Wu Wenjun, do here?'

The Buddha was very compassionate. He shone golden light in the sky of the Western Land of Dharma Nature, looked at me with a smile, and told me: 'Child, you only need to chant this: "Namo Amituofo".'

In that instant, I completely believed what the Buddha told me. From that moment on, I have never left this "Namo Amituofo". This is truly the most correct decision I have ever made in my life, because this Buddha-name is truly inconceivable. It allowed my spirit to grow stronger and stronger with each chant, and my spiritual consciousness to become clearer and clearer with each chant.

After listening to Practitioner Su's lectures on the lotus seat on the Land of Dharma Nature, I finally understood that my salvation this time was due to Practitioner Su, who, in order to bring Namo Amituofo to the forefront and to save more sentient beings, rescued many of us famous Chinese figures from various spaces and hells.

I consider myself one of the luckier ones. Although my spirit entered a space after death and was like entering a maze, unable to wake up, it was indeed much better than the other deceased who entered hell to suffer punishment.

After listening to sutras and hear the Dharma, I finally understood that the reason we Chinese deceased suffered so much after death was because we could not master our own thoughts. Because we could not master our own hearts, we could not master the destination of our spirits. This is because the destination of every person after death is actually determined by their final thought while alive. If one cannot control one's own thoughts, how can one control the destination of one's spirit?

If a single thought of hatred arises, that is entering hell; if there is a single thought of confusion, how can one have a good destination for one's spirit after death?

Buddha is very compassionate. Namo Amituofo came to this world to help countless suffering people become the true masters of their own thoughts, the true masters of their own hearts, so they are no longer bound by their own impermanent hearts, but instead teach their own impermanent hearts to become pure and good.

The best way to do this is to chant "Namo Amituofo".

This "Namo Amituofo" is the best teaching material prepared by Namo Amituofo for people. It contains all the wisdom and virtues of Namo Amituofo, as well as the compassion and supreme vows of Namo Amituofo—all within this Buddha-name "Namo Amituofo". All the wonderful truths that Namo Amituofo wants to teach sentient beings are contained within this Buddha-name.

If everyone can deeply believe in this "Namo Amituofo" and chant this "Namo Amituofo" in every thought, it is actually allowing oneself and the countless karmic creditors and cellular spirits within one's body to accept and learn the best teaching material in the vastness of the Dharma Realm. If one can learn it well, one can also attain Buddhahood just like Namo Amituofo.

Why can we reincarnated beings also become Buddhas? Because each of us is originally a Buddha who came to the world to save sentient beings; we inherently possess the same Buddha-nature as Namo Amituofo.

In fact, what is called Buddha-power is also self-power. Although the Pure Land's two-power Dharma Gate is labelled as such, it is actually a "skillful means" that allows everyone to gradually realise the Buddha-power inherent in their own nature during the process of chanting "Namo Amituofo".

Because this "Namo Amituofo" is the cause of Buddhahood and also the result of Buddhahood. When chanting the Buddha's name, it is actually the moment of becoming a Buddha. If one can have "Namo Amituofo" in every thought, then one can naturally realise the Tathagata Buddha-fruit inherent in one's own nature.

Namo Amituofo has come to this world to help people in the world attain the true benefits of being free from aging, sickness, and death, and to ensure the spirit never dies.

What is the reason for aging, sickness, and death? The Buddha's teachings reveal the truth to us: all problems are caused by people's thoughts and perceptions. Because the true self is originally pure and without thought.

Why is it that when we were children, we were so simple and kind, with no delusions or messy thoughts in our hearts; yet as we grew up, there were more and more complex thoughts and mental notes in our hearts?

The reason is that children have not received the Buddha's teachings and do not understand the Universal Principles, Truth, and the Right Path. In the process of growing up, when thoughts go against the Truth, it gradually awakens the countless karmic creditors and restless spirits within the body, causing this increasingly restless heart to constantly have every thought and intention, unable to stop thinking and analysing, making the heart suffer so much, and making the spirit suffer so much.

If every child could receive the True Teachings of the Tathagata when they were young, it would not lead to deviations in thoughts and behaviour, nor would it awaken the karmic creditors within the body. When karmic creditors seek revenge, the child's three hun souls and seven po souls will gradually be pulled out of the body.

How many children have already become puppets of karmic creditors and demon crowds while they are still young?

I, Wu Wenjun, clearly see on the Land of Dharma Nature that in this era of rapid technological development and declining moral foundations, too many children have already had their bodies become tools controlled by karmic creditors and demon crowds. This is a very tragic fact.

At this moment, I am raising these points in the hope that people in the world can awaken. I hope that all parents, and even all children, can quickly connect with Namo Amituofo.

Only Namo Amituofo can help everyone find their lost three hun souls and seven po souls. Only by accepting the Buddha's teachings can one truly protect one's own soul. If one's soul is no longer complete, the body will suffer. Because the process of aging, sickness, and death of the body begins precisely because the three hun souls and seven po souls within the body are no longer complete.

Buddha came to the world to help every child clearly understand what the Universal Principles, Truth, and the Right Path are. There is no "self" in the Truth, nor is there any selfishness. If one still talks about any feelings of the body, talks about this heart and any emotions within it, or one's own stance, views, and concepts, one is actually already going against the Truth.

Going against the Truth inevitably means paying the price of spiritual suffering. If everyone could know this concept, they would understand that in one's life, one must firmly keep the word "Goodness" in one's heart. Because only with goodness in the heart, and the power of kindness, can one prevent oneself from becoming a puppet controlled by karmic creditors and demon crowds.

If one knows how to keep one's heart forever on this Buddha-name "Namo Amituofo", one can naturally and thoroughly stay away from the control of karmic creditors and demon crowds.

How to become the true master of one's own body? It is actually to thoroughly find back the goodness and pure nature inherent in one's heart, which is the Buddha-nature that everyone inherently possesses, the same as Namo Amituofo.

Buddha came to the world to help countless children realise their inherent Buddha-nature and find their true self. If one can attain Buddhahood, it means that oneself and the countless cells and spirits within one's body will attain Buddhahood together. That would mean being able to, like Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, perform Chao Du for immeasurable and boundless suffering beings in the human world. That would be the blessing of all beings.

I, Wu Wenjun, am on the Western Land of Dharma Nature at this moment, witnessing the vastness and magnificence of the Buddha's teachings every day.

Practitioner Su is so compassionate, working tirelessly every day to perform spiritual healing for the fourfold assembly of the temple. I see a massive number of earthly beings being invited out from the bodies of the fourfold assembly. It turns out that there are so many beings within everyone's body; some are karmic creditors, and others are demon crowds. A vast number of spirits exist within this tiny body. If it were not for the majestic power and affinity of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, there would be no way for these beings to have the opportunity to escape and be saved.

Spiritual healing is indeed a supreme Dharma Gate never seen before in the world. This Dharma Gate heals the heart of every being. Why are karmic creditors full of hatred, or demon crowds with strong personalities and fierce tempers, willing to leave the body after Practitioner Su performs the invitation of spirits? It is actually due to the virtue of Practitioner Su himself.

What exactly is virtue? From ancient times to the present, there have been many sayings. From the teachings of our Chinese ancestors, the importance of moral foundations has already been expressed. In Practitioner Su, we can understand what is called virtue in a very clear way.

It turns out that what is called virtue is actually the Universal Principles, Truth, and the Right Path. A truly virtuous person should manifest compassion and tolerance, and have a broad mind. He never takes the evil of all beings to heart; he can clearly see the goodness of all beings. Regardless of what beings do or what kind of reaction they have, Practitioner Su never lets it weigh on his heart, because in Practitioner Su's heart, every being is truly a Buddha.

After Practitioner Su became an awakened being, he truly connected his heart with the hearts of all sentient beings. Because when one achieves Buddhahood through awakening, what is realised is not only one's own inherent self-nature, but also the self-nature inherent in all the countless spirits throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm. It turns out that the act of becoming a Buddha is to realise that one is originally a Buddha, and at the same time, to realise that all sentient beings are originally Buddhas. When one truly evolves their Body-Mind-Spirit and practises diligently, one truly realises this truth: that there is not a single being in the vastness of the Dharma Realm who is not a Buddha; every one of them is truly a Buddha. When one sees all sentient beings as Buddhas, that is naturally the moment one attains Buddhahood.

This Buddha’s teaching is indeed very profound and magnificent, allowing those who study Buddhism to receive such magnificent benefits. However, these immeasurable and boundless benefits of the Buddha’s teachings can actually be obtained simply by putting in the work within one's own heart.

Chanting the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo" to the end—such a skill cannot be learned without a true vow of compassion. Why is it that one can persistently chant this Namo Amituofo in every moment? It is precisely because one no longer pursues the false things of this world and is willing to let go of one's body, mind, and world, solely to save all boundless suffering sentient beings after attaining Buddhahood.

Compassion is indeed the most remarkable power in the world, because all good deeds arise from compassion. As long as there is a single thought of compassion and goodness, it actually allows one to have the possibility of connecting with Namo Amituofo. As long as there is still a thought of goodness in a child's heart, the Buddha will hold onto the child and help them return to the right path.

Now, Namo Amituofo has come to this world to save the countless children who have good thoughts in their hearts, giving everyone the opportunity to return to the broad path of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

The core of Buddha’s education is the Universal Principle, and the practice method taught is to chant this "Namo Amituofo," which is a form of spiritual education. While it may seem like a simple method, when unfolded, it is an immeasurable and boundless Dharma Gate.

This Namo Amituofo is the total holding of all goodness; the Pure Land Dharma Gate is the destination where all paths converge. Such a magnificent Great Dharma is waiting for the people of the Earth at this time to receive it together.

Namo Amituofo

To the countless young students in China now, I, Wu Wenjun, want to tell you all that you should choose to manage your own spirit and elevate your own spirit, rather than continuing to manage this illusory body.

If, in the process of growing and learning, you believe that you must learn any knowledge or any skill, I will not deny you for that. But please think carefully: in the process of learning this knowledge and these skills, is there any fluctuation in your heart? Does your body have various sensations?

If, in the process of schooling, for the sake of survival in this world, or for any other reason, you must pay the price of every thought and intention, or the price of contemplation, then I, Wu Wenjun, want to tell you that it is truly not worth it. Because what you have learned and what you wanted, it seems like you have gained something, but it is equivalent to casting aside the treasure of your own inherent self-nature, which is truly a loss that outweighs the gain.

Please, people of China, you must see clearly that the knowledge, skills, and experience of the world are not inherent in our spirit; they are used by this body. Our immortal spirit already possesses immeasurable and boundless wisdom and virtues within it. If we mistakenly treat the body as our core, that is truly letting the guest usurp the host. The true master should be one's own soul, which can also be called one's heart. Our soul and this body have only had a brief encounter in the long cycle of reincarnation; that is all.

Coming to this world, what people truly need to do is actually very simple: it is "yielding" and "giving." If you have something, give it to others without holding back; whatever you are about to obtain, whether it is fame, wealth, status, power, etc., give it all to others, or step back and do not get involved in it.

If one can do this, one can actually maintain the pure and good spiritual state one had as an infant. That is our true nature, and it is also the Buddha-nature that everyone possesses.

Studying Buddhism is actually about everyone being able to return to the most natural state. That is the state when one first came into this world—without any thoughts or intentions, without contemplation, without people one cannot help but think about, and without things one must do. Everything is so free and at ease, operating within the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. How can one return to one's inherent purity and goodness? It turns out that as long as you make a vow to become a Buddha, make a vow to save the world, and chant "Namo Amituofo," you can find back your original, pure, and flawless good self.

I hope every Chinese person can find back their Buddha-nature. I hope every Chinese person can shout in their heart: "I am a Buddha, I am a Buddha who has come to the world to help sentient beings." The future of China can be a land of purity and goodness, a great land of goodness in the world, as long as everyone can accept the Buddha’s education from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, such a goal will surely have a chance to be achieved.

Everyone is born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, every household chants Namo Amituofo,

Promoting the inherent power of purity and goodness, saving oneself and saving others boundlessly,

Returning together to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, following the Buddha to appear in the world to save all spirits.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Wu Wenjun