The Burden of Beauty and the Path to Awakening

This is a record of an interview with Wei Jie, who sought Spiritual Deliverance 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 approximately 1,700 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on April 18, 2026.

Wei Jie speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. At this very moment, I am seated upon a lotus flower within the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This lotus is truly wondrous; it possesses a unique appearance from every angle, and it seems to be in a constant state of transformation. I often wonder, what is it that dictates these changes? I suspect that it shifts in harmony with the fluctuations of my own heart and mind. If that is indeed the case, then this lotus is truly inconceivable. In truth, everything I see and hear here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature is beyond words and beyond imagination. Yet, for the sake of allowing the world to recognise this genuine power of salvation—this single ray of light for the human world—I must attempt to express the magnificent dignity of this beautiful realm."

The Inconceivable Lotus of the Pure Land

"There are immeasurable and boundless lotus flowers here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Each one is distinct, yet in a sense, they are all identical. In this pure and luminous world, the Buddha-light shines upon all spirits twenty-four hours a day. Those who have a karmic affinity with the Buddha can even behold Namo Amituofo in the sky, radiating brilliant light and offering a compassionate smile. The auspicious characteristics of the Buddha are truly beyond description—so beautiful and pure that they naturally cause the desires, wandering thoughts, and even the evil thoughts within one's heart to fade away and retreat."

"Now that I reside in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I am free from the delusions and attachments of my past, and I no longer suffer from the worldly afflictions and pursuits that once defined me. Here, I feel that I can truly let go. I simply listen quietly to the sound of the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo' echoing through the air, and I find peace in chanting this name myself."

The True Meaning of Dignity

"People in the world always believed that my appearance was of the utmost beauty, but they did not know that those who have achieved success on the Buddha's path—and especially those who have realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood—possess a dignity and auspiciousness thousands, millions, or even billions of times greater than my own face. These are two entirely different states of existence that cannot be compared. One is a worldly beauty that causes the observer to feel joy, temptation, attachment, and even the desire for possession. In other words, those who saw my face did not gain any insight or reduce their afflictions; instead, they increased their greed and inner restlessness, making their minds even more clouded."

"Conversely, those who have achieved success on the Buddha's path, such as Practitioner Su here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, possess a dignity that does not incite attachment or greed. On the contrary, it inspires the observer to abandon desires, let go of discriminations and attachments, and brings a profound sense of stability to their body, mind, and spirit. It does not lead to confusion, but rather to increasing clarity. This is the fundamental difference between worldly beauty and the dignity of one who has transcended the world."

The Karma of a Beautiful Face

"Day after day, as I listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma while seated on my lotus, I feel my spirit becoming clearer with each passing moment. A sense of repentance naturally arises within me. I never imagined that my youthful beauty would attract so much curiosity and so many crowds, leading many to develop thoughts of greed and increasing their own attachments. Every thought and intention involved in that process was a form of negative karma. Because my appearance caused others to generate evil thoughts, and because I planted seeds in the context of the Buddha's teachings, the universal principles, the Truth, and the Right Way, I must now face the consequences. This is what is known as the laws of karma and cause and effect."

"When I was alive, I had no understanding of the Buddha's teachings. I never knew that the Dharma could be such a powerful force for stabilising the human heart, helping people leave suffering behind and gain happiness, and even elevating one's spirit to attain Buddhahood. This is truly the greatest treasure of both the world and the world beyond. I believe this great Dharma should be known by more people and passed down forever, so that future generations can, like me, hear the True Teachings of the Tathagata and receive real benefits."

A Legacy of Tragedy and Reflection

"From a young age, I was exceptionally handsome. My grandfather and everyone around me praised my extraordinary appearance. Even when I was a young man, crowds would gather in the streets just to catch a glimpse of me. At the time, people said my face was like white jade carved by heaven. This was the treatment I received from childhood, so I gradually became accustomed to the reactions my face provoked in others. I never realised that having such a face could actually harm others."

"If I were not here in the Land of Dharma Nature, listening to the Dharma and receiving this education, how could I have uncovered the truth? I now know that being good-looking is not necessarily a good thing. If one does not understand the underlying relationships and the laws of karma, it can become a great misfortune. It causes harm to others and becomes a heavy burden for oneself. This is my realisation now, as I can clearly see here that many people who crowded around to watch me were experiencing turbulent emotions. Because of these misguided and biased thoughts, they awakened the karmic creditors within their own bodies."

"It is a matter that makes me feel both regretful and amused, yet it is also deeply sorrowful—and it truly happened in my life. Now that I know the truth, I understand that everything in this world is like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, or a shadow. Any greed or attachment toward any person, matter, or object in this world is a severe pollution of the heart."

"In the Buddha's teachings, all these things must be thoroughly let go of so that the heart can return to its original state—a state of selflessness, no-self, and a Buddha-heart that lives purely for the sake of all beings. This is the compassion that Practitioner Su demonstrates every day and night through her work of Spiritual Deliverance in China. To achieve this, the most basic requirement is to see through and let go—to see through the vanity of the human world as an illusion, to see through the essence of the human world as suffering, and to let go of all people, matters, and objects in this world."

"In worldly terms, there is the concept of the 'red thread' that connects two people in marriage. But looking deeper, I now see that as long as one has not let go of a person, matter, or object, a thread of karma is formed between that thing and one's own spirit. No matter how much time passes or how many lifetimes go by, this thread will not break. In fact, the tension of this thread only grows stronger, making the pull between the two even more powerful. This is the truth of reincarnation that I see now, here in the Land of Dharma Nature, as a spirit possessing the natural supernatural powers of a spirit, combined with the blessings of Namo Amituofo."

"I was born in the Western Jin dynasty into a prominent family. My grandfather, Wei Guan, was a high-ranking official of the court. He had already served in the government during the war when the Wei state destroyed the Shu Han, and he was a key figure in pacifying the Shu state and suppressing military rebellions. The Wei family of Hedong was not only a family of officials but also a renowned family of calligraphers. My grandfather wrote with great skill, and I respected him from the bottom of my heart. However, when I was five years old, due to political turmoil, our entire family was executed. My grandfather, my father, and other descendants of the Wei family lost their lives in that upheaval."

"At that time, my brother Wei Zao and I were out seeking medical treatment and luckily escaped death. Facing the extreme tragedy of my family being wiped out and the shock of nearly losing my own life, I, as a young child, suffered a tremendous impact. My heart was filled with fear and anxiety. A family that could be considered one of the top noble families of the Western Jin dynasty had undergone such a massive transformation overnight. It made me wonder: what could be done to avoid such a situation? Or rather, what was I supposed to learn from such an event? This was a question that occupied the mind of a five-year-old who was already unusually intelligent."

"Ever since that event, my health began to decline. I did not know the reason, but I could clearly feel in my heart that the destruction of my family was the cause of my physical weakness."

"When I learned that my grandfather's former subordinate, Rong Hui, was a major participant in the massacre, and understood the history between him and my grandfather, it was as if I had been struck by a bolt of lightning or received a sudden awakening. I do not know why, but in the darkness, I understood that this was the answer I had been searching for."

"It turned out that my grandfather was extremely strict with his subordinates and could be said to be completely inflexible. Because of his upright character and his devotion to discipline and the rule of law, those who had been punished by him in the past found it difficult to balance their resentment and developed a desire for revenge. Rong Hui was one of them. After understanding the full story, I made a decision in my heart: I would absolutely never repeat my grandfather's mistakes."

"In my dealings with others, I decided not to adopt a harsh attitude, but rather to face them with a gentle heart. This became my life's motto: 'Be lenient to others, strict with oneself.' Therefore, I was extremely tolerant toward those around me, while demanding of myself that I never let my joy or anger show on my face. This life motto had a great deal to do with my later interest in 'Qingtan' (pure conversation) and metaphysics, because both of these fields do not involve discussing actual people or events, and certainly do not involve attacking them. Furthermore, this was the prevailing trend in the Western Jin dynasty, so I naturally immersed myself in it."

"Because of my interest in pure conversation and metaphysics, combined with the great changes I experienced from a young age, I developed a habit of deep reflection. So-called 'pure conversation' was a form of debate, but what we valued was not arguing, but a very rapid and elegant form of critical thinking. This was exactly what I was most skilled at, and because of this, I was often able to perform well in these discussions, which eventually earned me a good reputation."

Namo Amituofo.

After coming into contact with the Buddha’s teachings, I finally realised that life is not at all what I had imagined. What exactly is life? Ah, that is a profound question, and it truly scratched the itch in Wei Jie’s heart. I did not understand the answer to this question when I first arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, but as I listened to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, I gradually came to understand the answer.

The Truth About the Human Body

Wow, Wei Jie is absolutely filled with admiration for the Wisdom and compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su! It turns out that when I was alive, I always loved to think and research various problems in the human world, proposing theoretical solutions, never knowing that the most comprehensive and perfect theories were actually contained within the Buddhist sutras. This is something Wei Jie had never thought of, but it was also because my good roots and blessings were not yet sufficient during my lifetime, which prevented me from hearing the True Teachings. This is one of the manifestations of the Law of Cause, Condition, and Effect.

Now, sitting on my lotus seat, I have finally understood that the human body is meant for repaying debts. This answer was truly unexpected, but what I have seen and heard in the Dharma-Nature Land proves that this answer is real and not false. It turns out that within every person's body, there are immeasurable and boundless sentient beings; these beings are the very ones to whom one owes debts. Obtaining a human body and embarking on the path of practice provides the opportunity to repay these debts; this is the essence of the human body. Therefore, one could say that life is suffering. If one knows of this suffering and understands the need to practice, one can leave suffering behind and be free from it. This is the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings.

The Power of the Buddha-Name

The Pure Land Dharma Gate teaches us to chant the name "Namo Amituofo." By doing so, we can receive the support of the supreme meritorious power of Amitabha Buddha and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It also allows us to use the meritorious power of this Buddha-name to help other beings find liberation. This is something that truly amazed Wei Jie. It is so simple, direct, and easy to practise. Amitabha Buddha is truly so great and compassionate to have created the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, allowing everyone to no longer suffer in this bright and beautiful world, and giving us the opportunity to realise our true nature and attain Buddhahood.

Amitabha Buddha has placed all of His merits into the six-character name "Namo Amituofo." As long as those who chant it do so with a sincere heart for the sake of all beings, they have the opportunity to receive the Buddha’s blessings and possess the same supreme, equal merits as Amitabha Buddha. Having the chance to encounter such a Great Dharma, Wei Jie deeply feels that I am a very fortunate spirit. Not only did I meet Practitioner Su during a Chao Du ceremony in China, who led me to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, but I am also able to learn and come into contact with such a path to ultimate liberation. This fills Wei Jie’s heart with gratitude and joy.

The Trap of Intellectualism

During my lifetime, because I studied metaphysics and enjoyed engaging in philosophical discussions, I developed a habit of constant thinking and analysis. Now, after coming into contact with the Buddha’s teachings, I understand that everything in the world never needed to be thought about. The answer is already complete and perfect within everyone’s original self-nature and Buddha-nature. One never needs to look outward; as long as one finds the true self and develops the inherent abilities of the self-nature, the answers to all questions will naturally manifest.

Ah, it is a pity that Wei Jie understood these principles far too late. I did not know that one never needs to pursue answers, but rather that they naturally emerge in the heart when the body, heart, and spirit are in a state of purification.

When I was alive, I always loved to think: I thought while sitting, I thought while eating, and I thought while walking. Thinking seemed to become the second most important thing in Wei Jie’s life, right after breathing.

A Mother’s Warning

Actually, when I was still alive, my mother seemed to understand the disadvantages of such constant thinking. Therefore, she was not happy when I engaged in debates with others and often forbade me from doing so. Yet, on many occasions, I could not help but engage in intellectual discourse with others. This was truly a habit hidden deep in my bones; I naturally wanted to do it, so my mother could do nothing about it, though she constantly admonished me: "Do not engage in too much debate and philosophical discussion with others." It is a pity that Wei Jie did not take these words to heart at the time. If I had listened to her, perhaps I would not have fallen ill and died after staying up all night discussing metaphysics with others.

Perhaps my mother had already realised that "thinking" would attract attached spirits and awaken the karmic creditors within the body. Or perhaps, because her knowledge was not yet fully thorough, she only knew that it had great disadvantages and could only forcibly forbid me from continuing such behaviour.

Thinking about it now, perhaps it was because my mother had embarked on the path of practice in a past life and possessed a certain sensitivity, allowing her to use her innate psychic abilities to perceive the evils of such intellectual discussions. But these were truths that Wei Jie could not know at the time. Thus, in the end, I died in the very thing I loved most: philosophical discussion, analysis, and metaphysics. This must be said to be a funny yet tragic affair.

The Reality of Spiritual Attachment

Now, the education of the Buddha’s teachings has unveiled the truth, allowing me to clearly see and understand that a person’s thoughts and even their reasoning have such powerful force. This force can attract immeasurable, countless external spirits into a person’s body; this is what is known as "spiritual attachment." Among these thoughts, if there is any selfishness for one’s own sake, they all belong to evil thoughts. Such thinking will attract countless cells within the body and karmic creditors to manifest, leading to all kinds of physical and mental abnormalities, and even disease.

Therefore, coming to the Western Land of Dharma Nature has truly given this child, who loved to think and seek answers, so many surprises. All my questions could be answered through the Buddha’s teachings, which is something I never expected, yet it succeeded because of the vastness of the Dharma. Even more wonderfully, after I received the answers, I began to understand that the answers to these questions are not actually important. What is truly important is to let go of this "doubtful heart," which is to let go of this restless heart. It turns out that when the heart is stable, calm, and without the slightest doubt, the answers to all questions are naturally clear, yet one could also say that one knows nothing at all. This is truly indescribable, and this is not the theoretical "wonder" that Wei Jie discussed when talking about metaphysics in the human world, but a true, wonderful awakening that arises from within the heart. Haha! Perhaps this is what the Buddha’s teachings call the "taste of the Dharma." If that is the case, then Wei Jie, having only tasted a little of the Dharma, is already filled with indescribable joy and cannot stop.

Of course, the most important thing is that I now listen to the Buddha and very sincerely chant "Namo Amituofo." I have heard that all the principles of the Buddha’s teachings and the mysteries of all Dharmas are contained within this Buddha-name. I now treat this Buddha-name like a precious treasure! How could a wise person encounter something so good and let it slip away? Therefore, regarding the practice of chanting the Buddha’s name, Wei Jie, sitting here on my lotus seat, does not dare to slacken in the slightest.

A Life Cut Short

Returning to the point, it turns out that after the tragedy that wiped out my family when I was five years old, my health became worse and worse because, after experiencing such a great change, a child’s heart was no longer pure and secretly harboured "restlessness" and "doubt." These two things happened to be very powerful elements of my karma from past kalpas. When there was restlessness and doubt in my heart again, it awakened the karmic creditors within my body. This is what Wei Jie saw with my own eyes in the Dharma-Nature Land. After the age of five, under the influence of my karmic creditors and due to my deep-seated habits, I began to love thinking, analysing, and solving problems.

In my current state as a spirit, I can see that time. Every time I thought, countless sentient beings would enter my body. This is not an exaggeration; there were truly so many. I do not know how the human body could contain so many spirits; it is unimaginable, but it was truly like that. From childhood, Wei Jie thought incessantly every day, continuously attracting a large number of external spirits into my body. I can see that originally, in this lifetime, besides my peerless, handsome appearance, I should have had a robust physique. But because I developed the habit of thinking from a young age, and with the "help" of my karmic creditors, my body became weak and prone to illness.

At the end of my life, I had an all-night conversation with an elder who admired me. Because I was too focused on thinking throughout the process, it consumed too much of my vital energy. In reality, it was the accumulation of attached spirits over many years finally reaching a point where my body could no longer bear it. Therefore, from that day on, I fell ill. It might not have looked like a serious illness, but it just would not get better. Finally, at the age of twenty-seven, my vital energy was completely drained by the attached spirits, ending my short life.

Perhaps because I was extremely tolerant of others throughout my life and never showed my emotions on my face, after I died and became a spirit in the ghost realm, my spiritual quality was much higher than most other ghosts. For about 1,700 years, I wandered on the land of China. When I saw people with kind hearts, I would give them help, which meant guiding the good thoughts in their hearts to sprout further. Besides that, I could not do much, but I discovered that if a person has good thoughts in their heart, even if it is just a tiny bit of goodness, it can have a very great effect on improving their life. Perhaps they cannot perceive it at the time, but Wei Jie, in the ghost realm, could observe the difference.

Perhaps because doing good deeds brings good rewards, recently, when Practitioner Su was performing Chao Du in China, I saw Practitioner Su bringing forth the great light of Amitabha Buddha—such a huge golden light, truly so bright. I entered the light and came to the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, thus beginning my new life of learning the Buddha’s teachings.

Regarding the fact that thinking attracts attached spirits and awakens karmic creditors, leading to the vital energy of the human body being sucked away—simply put, thinking causes a person to lack energy. I, Wei Jie, have proven this with the experience of my own life.

Namo Amituofo.

The Power of Thoughtlessness

"When I observed Practitioner Su performing Chao Du in China from the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I witnessed that he was exactly as he described: he truly possessed no thoughts—not even a single one. There was only the continuous, unbroken chanting of the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo'. Practitioner Su's energy is inexhaustible and boundless. Listening to his teachings, I have come to understand that this is because he is constantly chanting the Buddha's name and performing Chao Du for sentient beings. This fills my heart with such deep longing; such skills are truly magnificent and beyond compare.

When Practitioner Su's countless billions of manifestations transformed into a densely packed, golden rain of light that showered across the entirety of China, the whole country seemed to transform into a radiant sphere of golden light. Within this sphere, countless sentient beings obtained deliverance, including many demon crowds. So many spirits, just like me, entered the golden light with immense joy and arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature. At this very moment, they are sitting on lotus seats just like me, listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma.

A Path for All

At this moment, I, Wei Jie, sincerely hope that the Buddhist education provided by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can be known to the world. The great Dharma taught by Amitabha Buddha truly encompasses the answers to all of life's problems. It only awaits those who are connected by karmic affinity to listen to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks online, or to come to the temple in person to seek the Dharma. That is how one gains the opportunity to receive such magnificent benefits of the Dharma.

I will conclude my sharing here today. I am grateful to Amitabha Buddha and to Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Wei Jie"