Steve Jobs on the Grass Spirit and the Wisdom of the Universe

This interview was recorded on October 5, 2017. Steve Jobs, having sought deliverance through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In this account, he shares his observations on the struggles of life in China, the hidden spiritual realms of nature spirits, and the urgent necessity of purifying the heart to secure rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Good morning, everyone. Today, my mood is not one of lightheartedness; rather, it is filled with deep reflection. I accompanied Practitioner Su to mainland China, and I witnessed how difficult life remains for so many people. A bowl of thin porridge, containing barely a few grains of rice—if they are lucky enough to have a few vegetable leaves and a splash of soy sauce, it is considered a truly satisfying meal. When I observed their transport, their trains were always packed to the brim. It felt as though finding a seat was an impossible feat, and naturally, the environment and the atmosphere were far from pleasant. Everyone disperses to their respective workplaces, struggling for the survival of their families. Many have left their hometowns, seeking only a job with a slightly better wage, most of which is sent back home to honour their parents. When the workday ends, they swarm into the train stations to return to their humble dwellings. Because life is so arduous, everyone wants to get ahead; everyone wants to earn a little more to send home. The environment is such that this intense desire to escape suffering has led to severe competition and conflict within China. Children are raised with this mindset from a young age, cultivating a deep-seated, unyielding drive to never admit defeat. Honestly, this way of life is exhausting, don't you think?"

The Search for Peace in a Competitive World

"Because of this, I know that many people in China believe in the Buddha, as it provides a sense of peace and a spiritual refuge. Everyone truly wishes to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In the temples, many support one another, though for monastics, the gap between urban and rural life is vast. Urban monastics use mobile phones and computers, while rural monastics gather firewood and tend to fires, living the life of ascetic practitioners. Many Buddhist followers use pilgrimages to Buddhist mountains to dissolve their spiritual obstacles. This is indeed effective, but no one knows that a faster method is to change the heart—to change it into a sincere heart, a heart willing to truly give for others, a heart without evil thoughts. I, Steve Jobs, will not comment on anything else. Everything must be spoken of within the Middle Way. I do not know if you are willing to listen to what I, now residing in the Western Pure Land, have to say."

"What you can be more assured of is that Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia is leading countless Bodhisattvas of the universe—a number tens of thousands of times greater than the population of China—to assist you all. Every day, they help wash away your negative thoughts and infuse your hearts with goodness. They circulate this energy around your entire body, expelling all that is evil, and then send forth the name of Namo Amituofo. Everyone's heart becomes beautiful. You can quiet yourselves and thoroughly feel your own hearts. Is it not true that the anger and injustice you felt yesterday have vanished after a night's sleep? It is not sleep that helps you resolve these things; it is Practitioner Su and the Bodhisattvas of the universe who are helping everyone purify themselves at the fastest possible speed every single day. Because every Chinese person plays an important role, if your positive change influences those around you, you have saved a person. As this spreads, the human world will move towards the path of Goodness, and the positive energy will gather and grow stronger. If another person appears who is willing to give for all beings—whether they appear as a monastic or a lay practitioner—and truly introduces the essence of practice, which is to 'change into a pure and good heart,' they will lead everyone to immigrate to the Western Pure Land. By using China's influence to spread the Buddha’s teachings to the whole world, could this worldly realm not be transformed into a human version of the Western Pure Land? In the future, everyone will be able to return to the Western Pure Land with a single step. I am optimistic about this world, and I will do my utmost, alongside Practitioner Su, Chang Ren, and the Bodhisattvas of the universe, to help you all."

The Hidden World of the Grass Spirit

"Today, we arrived at a forest filled with spirituality. The atmosphere felt peaceful, and I sensed that many spirits lived there. Closing my eyes to imagine what a spirit might look like, I pictured them as green, with wings, small, just like the descriptions in the fairy tales of my childhood. When I opened my eyes while enjoying this tranquility, I truly saw them. They were small and numerous, like bubbles, transparent. They seemed to fly quite freely, and there were both male and female spirits. They each seemed to have their own duties, and they often help humans without them even knowing. These spirits exist in their own space, which is slightly higher than the human space. It is only because I am now in the Western Pure Land that I can see this space. By the way, let me tell you: the space we are currently in might be a restroom, yet it actually contains many layers of overlapping spaces, with everyone living their own lives without interfering with one another. With this in mind, you can imagine how many immeasurable and boundless beings Practitioner Su brings out every day when she opens up space for deliverance."

"Today, a little spirit asked me to tell his story, which is also a call for humanity to do some good deeds. The little spirit is named Benny. He is male, and before he became a spirit, his family worked in gardening, selling flowers and plants that were pleasing to the eye. Because of this, Benny was optimistic and cheerful from a young age. The only thing he lacked was a broken body; he was sick all the time. So, he placed many flowers and plants in his room to keep him company, decorating his room to be as lively as the garden outside. Benny was not lonely. When he was too sick to go out, he would talk to the flowers and plants. Because of this, he remained a happy child. Until the age of twelve, Benny's life was destined to end there. However, because his daily optimism and cheerfulness had influenced many people, after he passed away, he became a grass spirit living in the mountains and forests. After becoming a spirit, he would go to help those who shared his plight. He would attach himself to green plants, appearing lively and vivid, allowing the patients who saw him to feel a sense of joy. He used his own way to help people. Even in times of despair, he could show a smile and allow others to feel the vitality of life. After becoming a spirit, Benny was even happier because he spent every day doing things to help others. Today, Benny's good heart led him to meet Practitioner Su, who helped him and the countless spirits, animals, and plants in the forest to be reborn as Buddhas. He is filled with gratitude and tells everyone that good deeds must be done continuously. In this unintentional way, he saved his own wisdom-life. I have completed the task Benny entrusted to me today, telling his personal story. He earnestly requests that everyone be a good person and do good deeds."

The Ocean's Mind-Capacity

"Today, Practitioner Su led us to perform Chao Du for the rivers. Some rivers flow fast, others slow; it seems to be a combination of personalities—some are impatient, others are slow-paced. But this brings up a question for me! In the end, don't they all mix together and flow into the vast ocean? Once they flow into the ocean, are their individual personalities subdued? I do not yet understand this and need to explore it further. However, I know that what we should learn even more is the mind-capacity of the ocean, which accepts any temperament and allows it to merge within. Mind-capacity is something Practitioner Su often teaches everyone during her Dharma talks; it is the foundation for anyone who practices the Buddha’s teachings."

"Finally, I must mention that today I also accompanied Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du beneath the ground. It was dark and gloomy; perhaps those beings had committed grave karma to be in such a dark place. The laws of karma and cause and effect cannot be escaped. This is the truth of the universe that I am seeing more and more clearly while by Practitioner Su's side. Every evil thought that arises requires a price to be paid. This is why Practitioner Su says we must not come to be human, but must return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I hope that you can, like me, gradually see the truth of many facts and sincerely make the vow to immigrate to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo."

"Steve Jobs"