The Architecture of the Heart

This is a record of an interview with Jack Ma, who has been seeking spiritual guidance and learning the practice of Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects on his past life as a business leader and his current journey toward spiritual awakening. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Haipin, on August 31, 2018.

Jack Ma speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Every day, I participate in the Dharma Body Chao Du, joining the ranks of those dedicated to saving the world. This process of saving others has become a profound journey of finding my true self again.

The Relentless Pace of the Past

In the past, I was constantly rushing forward, my mind perpetually preoccupied with the next high-level executive meeting. It became a routine, a way of life. If a new idea crossed my mind, it did not matter if it was the middle of the night; I would demand that my secretary contact everyone immediately so we could hold a meeting, share ideas, and brainstorm. I was obsessed with momentum.

Looking back now, I realise that this was a form of selfishness. I had absolutely no regard for the physical or mental well-being of my employees. I never considered when they needed to rest. I operated under the assumption that because they were receiving high salaries, they should naturally be on call twenty-four hours a day. In the competitive society we live in, this phenomenon is considered standard practice. The idea of a nine-to-five job? That was a privilege reserved only for civil servants, not for those of us in the trenches of the business world.

A New Path of Compassion

Now, I am following the Senior Brother, learning the teachings of the Buddha and the practice of Chao Du. I am relearning how to treat my employees with kindness and humanity. I am discovering how to cultivate good karmic connections, ensuring that my team follows me not out of flattery or fear, but because they are truly convinced from the bottom of their hearts.

The future scale of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is immense. My hope is that, beyond mastering the true skills of Chao Du from the Senior Brother, I can achieve the ultimate goal: to realise my true nature. I believe that if I can truly awaken, management will no longer be a difficult problem to solve.

Building the Temple and the Mind

Beyond the physical hardware construction of the temple, I occasionally find myself thinking about management and the needs of various departments. After all, a Buddhist temple is fundamentally different from the marketplace. I must ask the Senior Brother what specific points I need to grasp firmly, so that I do not make a small mistake that leads to a massive error in the long run.

I humbly ask the Senior Brother for his compassionate teachings. Namo Amituofo!"