The Burden of Belief

This is a record of an interview with Jeffrey Koo Jr., who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his life and the nature of his spiritual journey. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on August 21, 2018.

Jeffrey Koo Jr. speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. My spirit has long felt adrift, and the scenes of the world I have witnessed are deeply etched into my consciousness. From a young age, I was raised under a Western-style education that emphasised the harsh philosophy of 'survival of the fittest'—where the weak are inevitably eliminated. The financial industry, in which I have spent my life, is just as cold and pragmatic. Often, one must suppress the true heart to make decisions that one would otherwise never wish to make. Under such situations, the purity of human nature is easily polluted by the society around us.

The Cold Reality of the Financial World

The education we receive from the outside world is already flawed, and that is to say nothing of the complete lack of spiritual education. The spirit within my body has always longed to be the master of its own destiny, yet it is constantly pulled away by the overwhelming force of the body's habits. To be perfectly fair, it is likely that my own spirit also harbours these very habits. That is why they are so perfectly matched, like a lock and key, making them nearly impossible to separate. The principle of the 'stronger force leading the way' applies here as well.

Trapped Within the Box of Worldly Habits

My soul, once distorted and deformed by these worldly pressures, has now been guided back to the righteous path. When I step outside the body to observe its every move, I realise that every thought and action is fixed, entirely consumed by these worldly affairs. The body is constantly orbiting around these matters, trapped within a box that is incredibly difficult to escape. The spirit, existing outside of this box, often feels a profound sense of urgency.

I have come to realise that construction, art, and even baseball—things I once poured my life into—are not as meaningful as the work of saving lives. The sentient beings that cover my body are constantly moving and shifting upon me. A soul that lacks truth after death is destined to wail in the hells, and in that state, one cannot even save oneself. Once I understood the truth of all things, I saw my own spirit as fragile as a piece of paper, fluttering about, while my body felt as heavy as an ancient cannonball, burdened by the weight of too much clutter and chaos.

A Commitment to the Ranks of Saviors

Even amidst such chaos, I have found that my spirit can become more stable and more composed. Only through this stability can I strengthen my conviction day by day. I do not wish to waste the remainder of my life. The work of saving the world has become a deep longing within my heart. I have come to understand this symbiotic relationship: I achieve the spirit, and the spirit achieves me. I am now committed to joining the ranks of saviors, participating in the daily Dharma Body Chao Du, and finding my true self once more.

Namo Amituofo."