Life After the Calamity: A Message from Venerable Master Chin Kung
An Interview with the Spirit of Venerable Master Chin Kung
Recorded at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, October 4, 2022
This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Venerable Master Chin Kung, who now resides in the of the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account reflects upon his transition from the human world and his current state of being. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on October 4, 2022.
Venerable Master Chin Kung speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. Today, Namo Amituofo has given me the topic 'Life After the Calamity.' This theme is remarkably fitting for my own journey, and it is equally relevant to the hearts and minds of those currently living in the human world.
The Lingering Shadow of the Pandemic
Those who are still alive today must surely share a profound sense of realization. Think back to those recent days: the global pandemic brought such widespread panic, unease, anxiety, and defensiveness to the human heart. Nations even halted travel between one another. Only now are some routes beginning to open up again. It has been over two years, nearly three, has it not?
Countless lives have vanished because of this. These people might have been those around you, people you knew, or perhaps family members who passed away from old age or illness during this period. In any case, everyone currently remaining in the human world must feel as though they have survived a great catastrophe. To keep this breath of life, to be able to breathe, and to have survived until this very moment—it is truly no easy feat. This pandemic has touched upon such a vast, expansive range of layers. It is absolutely not limited to this single lifetime; it involves the laws of and cause and effect across the three periods of time. For everyone, this has been a deeply personal, visceral experience. In terms of the Buddha's teachings, this is also a very potent lesson in the laws of karma and cause and effect.
The Inescapable Laws of Karma
If you wish to know the causes from your past life, look at what you are experiencing in this life; if you wish to know the fruits of your future life, look at what you are doing in this life. This is what we call the laws of karma and cause and effect. Therefore, the harm brought to humanity by this pandemic—the physical suffering and the trauma to the human heart—varies in degree. Yet, all of this stems from causes created in the past. Please, do not complain. Everything you encounter now does not come from thin air; every single drop is a result of causes sown in the past!
I, too, departed from the human world during this period. This, too, was a —it certainly was. That I am able to be interviewed here now is also a result of karmic retribution. Of course, practitioners who possess the heavenly eye, knowing past lives, or reading minds can enter samadhi and see the causes and consequences of these events. How much they see does not necessarily need to be explained in full, as we should not burden the listeners with excessive speculation. Many things do not need to be pursued to the very root; when the time is right, you will naturally understand the causes and consequences of the entire matter. Although I stopped giving lectures and ceased involving myself in external affairs, ever since I ascended to the -Nature Land, many things I previously did not know have become naturally and spontaneously clear to me. For those still remaining in the human world, the events of the past two or three years must truly evoke a sense of having survived a great catastrophe, must they not?
A Second Chance at Life
And am I not the same? If it were not for the rescue by Practitioner Su, my spirit would certainly still be suffering in the hells right now. Therefore, I, too, am one of the beings who has survived a great catastrophe. Those who share this feeling should especially cherish every single minute and second of the present. Because you do not know when your life might end or where it might happen, you must seize every moment. This is what the Buddha's teachings mean by living in the present. Those who have experienced the aftermath of a great calamity should be the ones most deeply moved by the vitality of living in the present.
Our past actions—even after drinking Meng Po’s soup and forgetting the past—do not mean that everything has been wiped clean. If things were that convenient, everyone would be living their lives with smiles and laughter. Why, then, are some people still filled with sorrow and sighs, and why are hospitals overflowing with patients?
The Necessity of Buddhist Education
This is why the education provided by the Buddha's teachings is so vital, especially the education regarding the laws of karma and cause and effect. Modern education has neglected this aspect, which is precisely why so many problems have arisen—problems of the mind, , the family, and issues spanning society, nations, and even the entire globe. If there is an opportunity to popularize Buddhist education in schools—from kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school to higher education, including universities, master’s programs, and doctoral studies—it is essential. Throughout this entire process of learning, Buddhist education is needed because every stage of life has its own lessons to learn, and the and events encountered are different. It is not enough to simply learn a few things in kindergarten or primary school and think that understanding the basic principles is sufficient.
In my view, every level of schooling requires this, including specialized education at the university and postgraduate levels. Everyone is drilling down, researching, and exploring their own specialized fields. Within this process, there will inevitably be different experiences, realizations, and changes in body, mind, and spirit. It is even more necessary to have the strong, powerful education of the Buddha's teachings to guide these students, allowing them to understand the causes and consequences so they can face any situation, any person, or any academic problem before them. This is a deeper level of Buddhist education.
The Role of the Teacher
Teachers—the faculty—are extremely important. This is also a talent pool that Buddhist education needs to cultivate. Such teachers should be as pure as possible. If they possess the attainment of practice, that is even better; they can point out the students' problems in a single sentence, leading them to a sudden Aha! moment, preventing them from going astray and guiding them onto the righteous path. This is of immense help to the nation, society, and even the students themselves and their families. Currently, many problems arise because children are too clever, but adults lack the ability to guide them, leading them to think in skewed ways and make mistakes. The ones who suffer are the children themselves; it is very painful!
Therefore, to everyone at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I sincerely hope that in such an excellent environment, you can learn the Buddha's teachings thoroughly, not just at the superficial level of words. The benefit of this is that you can understand many things. After purification, once your own attainment is achieved, or even if you see your true nature, you will be able to enter the world to save beings, or stay here to help those who come seeking the Dharma. Even a single word, a single glance, or a single gesture can give the other person a profound shock—something you cannot see elsewhere. This is the attitude and confidence that the fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre should possess, especially the monks and nuns; you have an even greater advantage in purifying yourselves.
Overcoming Inner Obstacles
Currently, there are some whose inner problems cannot be overcome. This is because the foundation of their lives before entering the Buddha's gate was not well-laid, which is why these problems are occurring now. But that does not matter, because it is rare for someone to be so fortunate as to receive Buddhist education from a young age and believe in the Buddha until now. Everyone has their own problems because we all have karmic bodies. Of course, some have come here due to their vows, but they have also been polluted. However, in such cases, purification is faster. Everyone here has come carrying karma, even the monks and nuns. You must never lose heart or confidence when encountering tests; instead, you must face them with full confidence. Namo Amituofo is here, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju is here, and Practitioner Su is here. They are not ordinary figures. Your problems are clear at a glance in their eyes. They will certainly tell everyone, and they have already told everyone. What follows is how much you can do yourself, whether you have the confidence, and whether you are willing to change. Change! If problems arise again, it does not matter; continue to change. This is how purification is built. It is not as if one single event will allow you to see your true nature—it is possible, but that is for those with sharp roots. Everyone should not consider themselves to be of sharp roots; you must practise step-by-step, down-to-earth, until you see your true nature. This will let you know how many purification processes one must go through to see one's true nature.
Therefore, everyone must hold a heart of great gratitude, because the world outside this place is living through the days of surviving a great catastrophe, while the fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre does not need to worry about the problems brought by the pandemic. Just focus your attention on your own purification and diligent practice. You must be very, very grateful! If you can live every minute and second with the mindset of having survived a great catastrophe, I believe that person will see their true nature.
The Path to
After seeing your true nature, you will know how to handle many problems yourself. You will be able to be autonomous and naturally be able to help the people around you and the beings connected to you by karmic affinity. If you have not seen your true nature, you still have problems at any time and are someone who needs to be helped. This is a process. What is your mindset when receiving help? Do you want to be helped by others for your entire life to survive and reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, or do you want to constantly strive and practise diligently? The main thing is to change your ways, change your personality, and finally be able to see your original face before your parents gave birth to you. This depends on your own vows.
I, too, am a member of those who survived a great catastrophe. This calamity was the calamity of the hells. It truly was a calamity, and it was extremely painful. Yet, I am the luckiest prisoner; I was rescued by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su shortly after I entered. That period was truly unbearable; it felt as if centuries had passed. Therefore, I am also one of those who survived a great catastrophe. I understand, so I cherish it especially, especially much. I frankly reveal myself before everyone. I no longer worry about whether I am what people call an ancestral master or an eminent monk. I am grateful for these titles; it is because everyone is reluctant to let me go and is affirming me. In my lifetime, to be honest, I really thought I was one of them. This is called arrogance. It was not until I died, entered the hells, and was subsequently rescued that I realized I did not have the qualifications to be listed among the ancestral masters and eminent monks; otherwise, I should have gone directly to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This indicates that there were great deficiencies and that I had committed great transgressions, which is why I entered the hells.
The Importance of Every Thought
The Buddha's teachings are the teachings of the heart. These transgressions might not have been visible to those around me while I was alive, but as soon as a thought arises in your heart—as long as a wrong, bad, evil, or selfish thought appears in your heart—you have created karma. Even if it lasts for an instant, a second, a minute, an hour, a day, or two days—these are considered short. Some people hold these thoughts for even longer, for a year or two, or even a lifetime. Some even turn these thoughts into actions that harm others and harm themselves. This is all karma, the karma that follows you throughout your many lives.
Do you have to receive the retribution? Of course, you do. Even if it is for an instant, a split second, or a second, do you have to receive the retribution? Yes! To you, although it is an instant, a split second, or a second, in the vastness of space, it is crystal clear. How can you hide from it? Regarding the laws of karma and cause and effect, never harbor any wishful thinking. Therefore, the more awareness one has, the more one can discover that one's thoughts are wrong, that one has spoken wrongly, or acted wrongly, and the faster one can stop it. Of course, the severity and urgency of the retribution vary, depending on how long you have held onto this bad thought. The longer it lasts, the heavier the harm, and naturally, the more profound the retribution you receive yourself. Therefore, the phrase give rise to all and achieve the fruit of is extremely important. If you truly have no evil thoughts, if you truly have no thoughts arising—or even if they do, they are all good—only then is it possible to see your true nature.
A Peaceful Existence
I am currently in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It is very safe here; there is no threat of aging, sickness, or death, and I am living very peacefully. To say peaceful, it is not entirely peaceful; I still have things I cannot let go of, but it is much better than before. I am living a very calm, tranquil, safe, and bright life. As for my mindset, thanks to the reminder from the compassionate Namo Amituofo today, I must face my current position and situation with the mindset of having survived a great catastrophe. It is very appropriate. I no longer have a physical body now. This spirit is much more at ease than when I had a body; it is much purer. My perspective on things and my way of speaking are much more casual than before. I have no more attachments; it should have been like this all along.
If you believe that what I have said has credibility, is a good reference, and is worth listening to and paying attention to, those who believe and act upon it will bring themselves immense benefits of the Dharma. I believe that those who believe in what I say and those who do not are divided. I advise everyone: you should believe my words, because I have not gained any benefit from you. My words will not bring me any affirmation; I do not need it. This is not the human world. In the human world, such things might happen, but I do not need them at all now. The words I speak now are the truth. You must listen to the truth. If there are those who find it unpleasant to hear and therefore refuse to listen, then I can do nothing about it; that is each person's own karmic affinity and destiny.
The Treasure of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
For those who listen, at the very least, your heart will be much cleaner; you will have received purification. And there is nothing better than being able to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to find Namo Amituofo. You can treat your illnesses, be provided with food and shelter, resolve conflicts and perform for beings, and listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma. You can hear the Great Dharma and understand the reality of the universe, the Truth, and the righteous path. Such good things can only be found at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. In the entire universe, the Saha world, and on Earth, there is only this one place. It is truly so. Entering here is like entering a treasure mountain; it depends on whether you know how to dig and learn. If you can apply what you learn to yourself and take it with you, you are the smartest person. If you can return fully loaded from the treasure mountain, then congratulations to you! What is meant by returning fully loaded is seeing your true nature—saving yourself, saving beings, and even saving your family members, and returning to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It would be a great pity to return empty-handed. What is meant by returning empty-handed is that you entered and accepted the education here equally with everyone else, listened to the sutras and heard the Dharma, but you did not take it to heart, could not change, or only changed a little and not completely. Therefore, although you resolved a few karmic debts, you are still within the cycle of aging, sickness, death, and karma. You will still encounter the things you should encounter, and you will still receive the retribution you should receive. Leaving here empty-handed, you will enter the cycle of rebirth just the same, without entering the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Legacy of Practitioner Su
Looking at the current state of affairs, only Practitioner Su can save souls that have not returned to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, because he has the and thus has the ability to lead these souls to chant the Buddha's name and return to the West. But no matter what, Practitioner Su will be eighty in two years. He still has a physical body, and there is always a time limit. If he is no longer here, then we must see if there is a successor who has seen their true nature to inherit this, learn this ability, and continue to pass it on. In this way, as long as there is someone with the Dharma Body who has seen their true nature, there is hope for everyone to chant the Buddha's name and return to the West. If it stops here, if Practitioner Su is no longer here, and no one else has seen their true nature to continue the inheritance and take over the Buddha's work, then everyone will go back into the cycle of rebirth. This lifetime will have passed just like that. For the fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, this would be a great pity! Then, perhaps, there will be no more opportunities to encounter such Dharma assemblies for Chao Du, such teachings, and such lectures on the sutras.
Cherishing the Dharma Jewels
All phenomena arise from causal conditions and cease due to causal conditions. To have the opportunity to encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre at this time, such Dharma affinity, is too magnificent! This affinity will not exist forever; there will be a time when it stops, unless someone makes a vow to continue this affinity. Only then will the Dharma affinity between the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, Practitioner Su, and everyone else continue. At the very least, many Dharma Jewels have already been left behind! These Dharma Jewels are extremely precious; everyone must know how to cherish them! Oh, sometimes I feel heartbroken when I see these Dharma Jewels just left there. The fourfold assembly must know how to cherish them. If it were me, I would treat them as treasures, just like Practitioner Su does. He knows they are treasures, and I feel that everyone should learn from him, because these are life-saving and can be passed on! What I have left in the human world is also a Dharma Jewel for people; it is the continuation of the Buddha's teachings. However, these Dharma Jewels of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are not just a continuation; they are a new, real reality—a newly developed field. Most importantly, these are real and not made up out of thin air. Only in this way can they solve and improve the problems everyone is currently facing. This requires everyone to continue to promote them so that more people can know about them and receive the benefits of this Dharma. This is a new field. To be able to discover a real field that has long existed but was not discovered by predecessors, allowing everyone to benefit—this is not an easy thing! My ability is only to give lectures, to continue to pass on what the ancestral masters left behind; that is the work of the ancestral masters.
A New Frontier of Reality
What exists in the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is different. It is the real reality of the universe, but our predecessors did not specifically discover it, nor did they have the environment, manpower, and conditions like the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to record and document them, and then continue to pass them down, allowing later students to know and learn without interruption. After they have acquired such conditions and abilities, they can then discover and unearth more of the universe's reality. This is called passing it down from generation to generation. Only then is it a substantial contribution to the Buddha's teachings. To possess such conditions and abilities is not easy! One must be able to overcome many obstacles and slanders, face them with perseverance, shoulder this responsibility, and cut through the thorns before one to continue moving forward. That is a Buddha; only a Buddha has such a great heart, great vows, and great ! If it were not a Buddha, he would not have such strong perseverance to face these obstacles. Especially the demon crowds; these demon crowds are a great obstacle to the progress of the Buddha's teachings, and yet Practitioner Su is actually able to subdue demonic enemies and obtain the subtle Dharma. All the Dharma Jewels he has left behind are called the subtle Dharma.
This subtle Dharma is unknown to people in the world, and they do not understand it. This cannot be blamed on everyone, but you must keep them well. As long as everyone has the opportunity to hear, believe, accept, and act upon them, you can receive the benefits of this subtle Dharma, and then go on to develop even more subtle realities of the universe. Whether it is opening up space, the space of a second, Dharma Body Chao Du, or countless manifestations—these are parts that, in the past, the ancestral masters had not yet developed, and they had not used these methods to discover many real truths. Therefore, this is called the inheritance of the Buddha's teachings. Whatever Practitioner Su does, whatever he leaves behind, these later students must accept, learn well, and cherish. These are precious. Continue to pass them on. Everyone must hold a heart of gratitude, cherish and protect these Dharma Jewels, and even more so, must not ruin your own body. As long as there is a breath of life, you must do things for the Buddha's teachings.
Following the Righteous Path
I am following in the footsteps of the ancestral masters who came before me. At the very least, I will not go astray or walk the wrong path, and I teach everyone the same. I have spoken, and they have listened and acted accordingly. Practitioner Su listens; only then could he lay a deep foundation, know the method of seeing one's true nature, and honestly practise it to find one's true self. Only then can one manifest one's innate abilities, rely on one's own strength, have new discoveries, and further develop one's own abilities to discover the reality, truth, and righteous path of the universe. Of course, all of this is moving forward step-by-step under the guidance of Namo Amituofo and Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. Seeing one's true nature is also the result of his honest listening.
Alright, that is all for today. Namo Amituofo.
Venerable Chin Kung, with folded palms.
At the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia."
More from Master Chin Kung
A Message of Repentance from Venerable Master Chin Kung
Venerable Master Chin Kung, speaking from the Western Dharma-Nature Land, reflects on his past misunderstandings regarding Practitioner Su and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. He urges his disciples to recognise the presence of Namo Amituofo in Australia and to seek the path of true deliverance.
A Final Request from Venerable Master Chin Kung
In this profound testimonial, the spirit of the late Venerable Master Chin Kung reaches out from the Western Dharma-Nature Land to address his successor, Venerable Wudao. He offers a heartfelt confession regarding his past dismissal of Practitioner Su and reveals the truth of Namo Amituofo’s presence at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
A Final Plea from Venerable Master Chin Kung
In this profound testimonial, the spirit of the late Venerable Master Chin Kung reaches out to his disciple, Venerable Wudao, to share the truth of his journey after death, his repentance, and his urgent call to recognise the presence of Namo Amituofo at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
A Message from Beyond: The Truth of Hsiang Kuang
Venerable Master Chin Kung, speaking from the Western Land of Dharma Nature, shares a profound message with Lay Practitioner Hu Xiaolin regarding the reality of Namo Amituofo's presence at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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