The Actor's Soul: A Journey from Hollywood to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Julian McMahon, a well-known Hollywood actor, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life and his transition into the spiritual realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Fa Hui, on May 30, 2026.

Julian McMahon speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I never imagined that I, Julian McMahon, would have the opportunity to meet with all of you again under such extraordinary circumstances. Throughout my life as an actor, I achieved a fair amount of success and gained significant recognition, and for all of that, I am deeply grateful. To be able to pursue what one truly loves, to make a living from it, and even to achieve a measure of success—I believe not everyone is blessed with such good fortune.

I am a native-born Australian. Although I later moved to the United States, I have always taken immense pride in my Australian heritage. In the past, I only knew that Australia was a wonderful country, highly regarded across the globe in every respect. Even after living in the United States for many years, I always considered myself a true-blue Australian at heart. My soul has always belonged to Australia, and that is one thing that will never change.

The Blessing of Namo Amituofo in Australia

However, I never realised that over the past few years, this land, this country of Australia, has undergone a transformation that is nothing short of remarkable. The reason for this is that the great Namo Amituofo is currently residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. My soul now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature at this very Centre. The message I am sharing today is being transmitted from the Dharma-Nature Land and recorded by the Venerables at the temple.

I am profoundly grateful that Namo Amituofo has come to Australia; this is a blessing for every single Australian. I want to tell all my fellow Australians that we are truly, incredibly fortunate to have Namo Amituofo residing right here in our country. The impact this has on our nation is monumental. From my vantage point in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I can see the place where Namo Amituofo resides, bathed in infinite light. Vast amounts of golden light radiate across the sky, the earth, and the very fabric of space, nourishing countless suffering souls. I can only say that the benefits of being in the same place as the Buddha are so numerous that they are simply impossible to recount in full.

To put it simply, if a country has a Buddha residing within it, war will inevitably be averted, and the people will be far better protected from natural disasters and man-made catastrophes. The two most obvious examples are the severe drought that previously plagued Australia and the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused so much loss of life. These two major events, which had such a profound impact on Australia, were resolved precisely because Namo Amituofo is residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Why do I say this? It is because Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, guided by Namo Amituofo, performed Chao Du for the many spirits who were the root cause of these two major events. This included the spirits of many cattle slaughtered in Australia, as well as the Plague Gods, the spirits of the virus, and even many demon crowds. These details are documented in great detail on the website of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, so I will not dwell on them further here.

The Reality of the Spiritual Realm

Regarding the spiritual realms, I believe that most Australians, like my past self, know very little. These concepts were never mentioned in the education or culture we grew up with, so I can understand why many people might find them difficult to accept at first. Therefore, I hope everyone will take the time to visit the website of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, read the articles, and truly understand how the people at the Centre are working alongside Namo Amituofo to save the world and help people not only in Australia but across the entire globe.

Furthermore, the salvation team of Namo Amituofo at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is also helping the vast, boundless beings of the spiritual realms. These are beings that we, as humans, cannot see with our eyes, yet they truly exist in this world. Am I not, right now, one of these beings existing in the spiritual realm that people cannot see?

I must also provide a brief explanation of how I came to be in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. In the final stages of my life, I suffered terribly from the torment of illness—specifically, the cancer that everyone fears. Once a doctor diagnoses you with cancer, it is as if you have already been handed a death sentence.

The Agony of the Heart-Gouging Hell

I was shocked by the diagnosis, but there was nothing I could do. Indeed, human life is so impermanent and fragile. Once you contract such a serious illness, you are essentially forced to surrender, watching yourself march step by step toward death amidst the agony of pain. This process is not a pleasant one; rather, every day and every second is spent in torment.

My personality has always contained a streak of optimism, and I had often wondered what would happen after death. After I was diagnosed with cancer, while suffering through the pain, I sometimes thought that perhaps this meant the end of one journey or the beginning of another beautiful one. This speculation turned out to be true, but I missed one crucial detail: I never imagined that after I died, my soul would first descend into hell.

This hell is called the heart-gouging hell. As the name suggests, my heart was constantly being gouged open. The sensation was truly excruciating—a pain that pierced right through my soul. In hell, because I was suffering in the form of a spirit, it was not as if I could be gouged once and be done with it. My heart would be ripped open, blood would spill everywhere, and amidst my wailing, the heart would quickly restore itself to a complete state, only to be gouged out again.

I was trapped in a cycle of such punishment. You must feel a chill just hearing this, finding it incredibly painful, right? That is exactly correct. In that hell, I endured these torments incessantly. Every second, my soul suffered intense, unbearable pain, and I could not help but wail in agony.

I did not have a firm religious faith during my life, but in that moment, I could not help but pray. Whether it was God, Jesus, or the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas—it did not matter who—I begged for someone to save me because the suffering was simply too great.

Later, I was incredibly fortunate to be saved from hell by Practitioner Su, which led me to the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This ended my term of suffering in the heart-gouging hell and ushered in a beautiful and surprising transformation. The Western Land of Dharma Nature is more magnificent than any place I have ever seen in the human world. Here, I have my own lotus seat, and from this seat, I can see everything happening in the world. I can watch Practitioner Su’s classes and hear the teachings. It is all truly miraculous.

When I first arrived, my suffering soul was repaired within a few days under the illumination of the Buddha-light. The energy within the Buddha-light is truly unique; it seems to have a remarkably powerful healing effect on the soul.

The Spiritual Price of Acting

After attending several classes here, I slowly began to understand that my descent into hell stemmed from the deviations in my mental notes. I realised that if a person’s heart is not good, they will inevitably create negative karma; the greater the deviation, the greater the negative karma created.

Although I considered myself a cheerful and good person, I played many negative roles throughout my acting career. In the past, I thought this was just part of the job and saw no issue with it. I even took pride in my ability to capture the essence of these characters and felt happy when they were well-received by the public.

However, I never imagined that as an actor, if the characters one portrays are negative or evil, it causes significant harm to oneself, provided that these portrayals deviate from the universal principles and the righteous path of Truth. The reason is that my performances on screen first harmed the hearts of many viewers.

I now realise a critical issue: if an actor portrays a positive character, the meaning conveyed can have a kind and uplifting influence on the hearts of people in the world, which is a wonderful thing. Conversely, if the character is a villain or leans toward evil, carrying malicious intent, even if one is simply fulfilling the duties of an actor, the image presented—if it violates moral foundations or carries a negative influence—will inevitably reflect back upon the actor themselves.

In the Dharma-Nature Land, I can see everything that happened in my past. What shocks me most is that when I was doing my best to portray villains or characters with evil tendencies, I thought I was just being responsible. While I was indeed a professional and responsible actor, earning the recognition of directors and audiences, from the perspective of the spiritual realm, I was actually inviting spiritual attachment from the corresponding spirits while trying to understand the psychology, values, and image of those characters.

These spirits, which correspond to the personalities of the characters, often belong to the realm of the deviant, the evil, and those with negative mental notes. I saw that after these spirits entered my body, they left many stains on my originally pure heart. Even if there was no obvious difference on the surface, it is undeniable that by playing these roles, my mental notes, thoughts, and even my behaviour were interfered with. Deep down, my heart was no longer as positive or kind. This is a very serious problem, and it is a lesson that every actor should face.

Now, after receiving Buddhist education, I have realised how important it is to keep the heart in a state of purity and goodness. The universal principles and the righteous path of Truth are the ultimate forces operating throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm, the Milky Way, the Earth, and every planet, region, and nation. Among these, the Law of Cause and Effect is a very simple and easy-to-understand concept: when you do good, you reap good fruit; when you do evil, you reap bad fruit. Therefore, when a person’s heart is no longer pure and kind, but instead has deviations, negativity, or even a tendency to harm others, they are creating negative karma and sins, which will eventually result in a massive backlash against themselves."

Namo Amituofo.

Throughout my life, due to the education I received from a young age, I always knew that I should help others within my capacity—whether through donations or charity work. I was consistently active in doing good deeds to give back to society. Yet, at the very end of my life, I was struck by cancer, and after I passed away, I even descended into the hells. The primary reason for this was the negative influence I had brought about as an actor.

The Weight of Influence

Oh, how I regret it! If I had received the teachings of the Buddha at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre earlier, I certainly would never have played any villainous or negative roles. Instead, I would have been extremely selective about the characters I portrayed. After all, this is a very serious matter; if one causes a negative influence, one will inevitably suffer the consequences.

Conversely, if one's performance produces a kind and positive effect on the public, it will be of immense help to oneself as well. Therefore, when choosing roles, if one has this awareness, one must choose characters that are positive, bright, and possess a virtuous image. This is the most basic requirement one should meet.

The Agony of Illness

In the final stages of my life, my body and mind were severely affected by the torment of cancer, and many negative beliefs arose as a result. However, there was always a spark of goodness within my heart—that inherent kindness remained.

I kept thinking: how could I help everyone avoid the torment of illness? Because being sick is truly such a painful experience. Whether for the patient themselves, or for their parents, spouses, and friends, it is a tremendous torture that often lasts for a very long time. Too many people have had their precious positive energy and vitality in life consumed by disease.

Yet, countless medical experts and countless people in this world have tried to solve the problem of illness, but no one has ever truly succeeded. How could I, someone who knows nothing of medicine, possibly solve it? Therefore, the answer to this question was destined to remain unanswered while I was still alive.

A Newfound Clarity

To my great surprise, after I passed away, I was incredibly fortunate to be guided to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Here, I live a life free from worry and affliction; I have never felt so happy in my life. It turns out that when a person's soul is freed from the shackles of the body and cleansed of the various pollutions of the world, it naturally becomes so light, agile, at ease, and peaceful.

I was overjoyed to find the answer to the problem of illness through the lectures of Practitioner Su. It turns out that as long as one truly puts into practice the content taught by Namo Amituofo, and follows the teachings of Namo Amituofo, one can obtain the true benefits of the Buddha's teachings. This means one can be free from the suffering of aging, illness, and death. This is the most precious gift the Buddha has given us.

I can briefly share a little of what I have learned over these past few days: one must be a kind and good person, and be willing from the bottom of one's heart to help others. Beyond the human world, the Buddha teaches us to also cultivate a heart willing to help sentient beings in the spiritual realms. If one can possess such a heart of compassion, and be genuinely willing to extend a helping hand to all spirits, while also diligently chanting "Namo Amituofo," it will be of immense help to both others and oneself. This is what I have understood so far.

A Path Not Taken

If I had known earlier that in the Australia I love and am so proud of, there was already a temple where Namo Amituofo is residing, and that there was a Practitioner Su in that temple who has already realised one's true nature and attained Buddhahood, perhaps my life would have taken a completely different turn. Perhaps I would have chosen to embark on the path of practice. But saying these things now is truly too late for me, because I no longer have a body—I no longer have a human body.

In fact, there are still many people in the world who hope to find a solution to the three problems of "aging, illness, and death." I want to tell everyone that this solution is right here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Everyone should come here quickly to listen to Namo Amituofo's lectures and attend the classes offered by Namo Amituofo.

A Call to Action

Of course, before coming here:

If you are not Australian:

You can go online to view the website of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to gain a basic understanding of how this place helps both humans and the spiritual realms.

If you are Australian:

I want to say to my fellow Australians: you must come quickly to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to listen to Namo Amituofo's lectures and attend the classes offered by Namo Amituofo.

Because what is taught in these classes is not what you would typically hear in school. Instead, it teaches us what the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way are, and how to align our hearts, words, and actions with them. This is a matter of the utmost importance.

These precious courses do not charge any fees. Anyone willing to listen can hear these valuable teachings. As for anyone who wishes to learn more, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is very willing to provide materials for them to understand.

The purpose of these courses is entirely to hope that everyone in the world, after learning, can obtain the true benefits of the Buddha's teachings—that is, to be free from aging, free from illness, and to have a spirit that does not die. Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has already achieved this, and is waiting for more people to come here to study.

The Golden Light of Deliverance

For my fellow Australians, before you come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I suggest you go to the highway in Brisbane and look at the three Namo Amituofo billboards set up by the temple. I believe you will be deeply moved.

Now, I will reveal a secret to you: Australia actually has a great number of lonely wandering spirits drifting in the world without a good place to go, as well as countless sentient beings suffering in various spaces. And many of these countless suffering beings have been saved because of the three Namo Amituofo billboards on the Brisbane highway.

These three billboards are not ordinary signs. Although human eyes cannot see it, I can see from the Land of Dharma Nature that they emit a massive golden light at all times. At any given moment, many spirits enter this golden light and obtain deliverance.

They are all like me now, residing in the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, living a very happy and wonderful life. We have all started a brand-new journey of life, purifying our spirits in the Land of Dharma Nature, looking forward to the day when we have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. That is a pure, happy, and beautiful world—even more wonderful than the Western Land of Dharma Nature where I am now.

A Message to My Daughter

My daughter, your father is now in the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, waiting for someone to come and speak with me. I hope you can come here to meet me.

At the same time, I hope you can come here to listen to the lectures given by Namo Amituofo. This will give you a completely different perspective on the human body. Being sick is a very painful thing, and I do not want you to follow in your father's footsteps. If you want to avoid such an outcome, only the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can help you.

Whether it is through the internet, by calling us, or by coming in person, it is all fine.

Your father is waiting for you in the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo.