This is a record of an interview with Lin Yingchuan, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,400 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 6, 2026.
Lin Yingchuan speaks:
". I am Lin Yingchuan. I was a performer during the Chen Dynasty in China. That era was filled with turmoil; the Southern Dynasties had undergone many changes, and by the time of the Chen Dynasty, the stability of the realm was always a question mark for the common people. The opposition between the Northern and Southern Dynasties remained unchanged, and everyone knew in their hearts that war would eventually erupt again. The peace we experienced was merely a fleeting prosperity.
A Name Born of Unity
I was born into the Lin family in the region of Yingchuan. In that area, there were very few people with the surname Lin, which made our clan all the more united. My father felt deeply about our situation in Yingchuan, so he named me Lin Yingchuan, hoping that as a descendant of the Lin family, I could truly integrate with the local community. My father held great expectations for me. From a young age, he cultivated me to be well-versed in poetry and literature, hoping that I would use my talent to distinguish myself, serve the country, or at least establish a foundation for survival in such chaotic times. Because of this, I developed a profound foundation in literature and various classics early on. However, as I delved deeper into these texts, I began to feel that life was far too dull—or perhaps, far too impermanent.
This realization led me to ponder: what positive impact could my literary talent actually have on human life, or on the people and the nation? This was the question that haunted me. As this question grew stronger day by day, our family migrated from Yingchuan to the south, surrendering to the Southern Dynasty. Feeling the impermanence of life in such a turbulent age, I abandoned my original path. Finally, I chose a different road—I chose to become an actor.
Life as a Performance
Every day, as I performed, I felt as if I were beginning to understand what life truly is: it is a play. The script we perform is not necessarily something we decide for ourselves. At that time, due to the wars, many people like our family had drifted from the north to the south, leaving their homes behind, and many lived in extreme hardship. Later, I wrote several plays that became very popular. Eventually, I opened a restaurant—a place where people could eat, drink, and listen to plays. Business was excellent. Many people had come south from Yingchuan, and not everyone could find a stable path in the Southern Dynasty. I used the restaurant as a base, allowing everyone to have at least a stable job. For those who truly could not survive, I provided financial support, especially for the children. I took special care of them; that was what I was able to do at the time.
In that life, I truly lived up to my name, Lin Yingchuan. In the Southern Chen Dynasty, I managed to unite our people from Yingchuan, and I extended help to those from the north who shared the same fate. After I died, I became a painted mask used for performances. I spent about a hundred years trapped within the space of that mask before I finally managed to emerge. Afterward, I wandered near the restaurant for what felt like an eternity. Who would have expected that fourteen hundred years would pass just like that?
The Golden Light of Deliverance
Recently, the sky was suddenly enveloped by a massive golden light. The heavens turned gold, and I was astonished as I looked up. I was quickly bathed in that golden light. It felt incredibly warm and comfortable, and I did not resist. Just like that, I naturally entered the light and arrived at the Western -Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.
While listening to the Dharma in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I, Lin Yingchuan, realized that life is truly like a play, like a dream, like an illusion. How does one choose the life one wants to perform? How does one avoid being a character pushed around by the plot? These were questions I had throughout my life. Now, having listened to the sutras explained by Practitioner Su, I have finally found the answer: it is called 'being able to master one's own destiny.' After hearing this, I felt such immense —such immense joy—that I could not help but kneel and kowtow to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. The Buddha’s teachings are truly vast and boundless.
A Value Worth Pursuing
Now, I sit on a lotus seat in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, listening to the sutras and chanting 'Namo Amituofo' very diligently every day. My goal is to be like Practitioner Su, to be able to master my own destiny, to never grow old, never get sick, and to be able to freely travel to and from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Only such a life is a truly valuable life. I cannot help but laugh at how fortunate I am to have encountered such a great Dharma, which has truly unraveled the mystery of a human life.
Buddhist education is truly too important for people. If the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre had not revealed the truth of life, no one would know that what truly matters is to seize this human body to practise. If one succeeds, one can be like Practitioner Su—free from aging, free from illness, and the spirit does not die. This is my goal now: to introduce the Buddhist education of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to more people. This is the life guidance that everyone needs. However, as a spirit, there is not much I can do, so I can only try my best to say everything in this interview, hoping to save as many as I can.
By being reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, one can avoid reincarnation and no longer have to repeat the same scripts. This is what I have learned while listening to the Dharma in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I hope that I, too, can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My mouth does not stop chanting 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo.' I am so grateful for the deliverance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.
Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su!
Namo Amituofo."
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