The Burden of Power and the Path to Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Shigeru Yoshida, the former Prime Minister of Japan. Having sought deliverance through Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, he now resides within the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This testimony offers a profound reflection on his life, the heavy karmic price of political power, and his eventual salvation. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on February 14, 2026.

Shigeru Yoshida speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Since the moment I lost my physical body, I, Shigeru Yoshida, have felt that I am no longer the man I once was. After all, the name 'Shigeru Yoshida' represented everything tied to that physical form—my family relationships, my social standing, my wealth, my reputation, my status, my power, and all my worldly achievements. These elements combined to form the person known as Shigeru Yoshida. But the moment that physical body perished, all of those things simply vanished like smoke in the wind.

Is the Shigeru Yoshida who exists without a body still the same Shigeru Yoshida? No, that is not the case. I am merely the original master of that body—the spirit now accepting this interview. After I died, I fell into the hells to suffer retribution. This was the price I had to pay. If I could live my life over again, I would never choose to enter politics. From my current vantage point here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I can see the true end that awaits political figures. Regardless of how glorious they may appear while alive, their departure from this world is almost always a bleak and tragic affair. The pinnacle of power is the ultimate test for every subtle, hidden corner of human nature."

The Illusion of Identity and the Weight of Power

"Here, my spirit has become pure, and I find great peace in this state. In this spiritual form, I can look back at everything I did while serving as the Prime Minister of Japan. I have come to realise that every single action, no matter how small, is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect. Compared to the purity and Goodness I experience now, the Shigeru Yoshida of that time was filled with impurity and defilement. To use worldly language, the greater the power and influence one holds, the more that position becomes a magnet for conflict and strife.

A life of 'leisure and ease' is, of course, incompatible with the role of a Prime Minister. As more and more people placed their demands and expectations upon me, it became a rigorous test of my character, my integrity, and my moral foundations. Failing that test meant tasting the bitter fruits of karmic retribution. Can a person truly say they have lived a life with a clear conscience, never having committed a single wrong? I dare not make such a claim. Childhood is a crucial stage for character development, and once one enters the corporate world or government service, one assumes even greater responsibilities.

At the time, as Prime Minister, I used my diplomatic skills to lead Japan toward what I believed was a better future. However, good times do not last forever. When I stopped focusing on the suffering of the people and became obsessed with national development, many of my decisions began to deviate from the right path. A nation represents a vast collective, containing people from all walks of life. Some liked me, some hated me, some were grateful, and some harboured deep resentment. I admit that I made mistakes; that is only natural. But now, as I listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I know that even if such things are considered 'human nature' in the world, there is no leniency when it comes to the laws of karma."

The Reality of Karmic Retribution

"For a position as influential as the Prime Minister of Japan, my decisions affected the entire country, other nations, and every level of Japanese society. Now, as a spirit, I can see that every action I took had a karmic consequence. If a decision with massive influence was made in error, I can see now that the corresponding consequences began to manifest the very moment the decision was made. And so, my ultimate fate was to suffer retribution in the brain-gouging hell. Yes, the name says it all—in that hell, my spirit's brain was constantly being gouged open. Oh, the agony! It was excruciating. Then, it would return to its original state, only to be gouged open again, over and over, in an endless cycle. When would it end? I did not know. I simply wailed in that hell, without a moment of rest, enduring that extreme, unbearable torture. It was only when Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia lifted my spirit from that hell and placed me in his Buddha-land—the Western Dharma-Nature Land—that I was finally saved. Only then did I gain the opportunity to accept this interview today.

I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for this chance to share these words with the Japanese people. I want to tell them: 'Power' is not a game. While it may taste sweet in the world, it is an absolute poison when it comes to the laws of karma. Throughout history, countless emperors and leaders have been recorded in the history books, yet the destination of their spirits was almost always the hells. Why is this? I now understand that in this world, one must give in order to receive. Conversely, the opposite is also true: 'If you receive, you must provide a return.' There is no such thing as power that comes from nothing, and there is no such thing as karmic fruit that appears without a cause. When one holds the highest power in a nation, one must also provide a corresponding return to the people.

Most people in the world would say, 'Let history be the judge.' But in terms of the laws of karma, the truth is crystal clear. In truth, I did not know this either. As a Prime Minister or a leader, what kind of contribution or return must one give to the people to truly not be in their debt? Even while I was in hell, I did not know the answer. It was not just me; no one knew. Even if someone did know, they never shared this secret with the public. However, when I arrived in the Western Dharma-Nature Land and listened to the teachings of Practitioner Su, I finally understood. For a supreme leader, the only path is to introduce the Buddha’s teachings to everyone, allowing them to truly leave suffering behind and gain happiness, and even providing them the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Because once one reaches the Western Pure Land, everyone is free from suffering and enjoys ultimate joy; everyone can become a Buddha. There is no more pain, no more reincarnation, and naturally, no one would come to seek justice from me. In this sense, a national leader can actually do a great deal. If one does it well and can turn the entire nation into a 'Buddha-fied' country, that would be truly extraordinary."

A Message to the People of Japan

"This is what I want to tell the Japanese people. The pace of modern society is fast, pressure is high, and competition is fierce. The hearts of the people are no longer simple and pure. I see that the Japanese people generally live under immense pressure; this is not a healthy state. Yet, I also see that for the current Japan, this is indeed a helpless reality. But if people could accept the education of the Buddha’s teachings from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and pass on the practice of 'seeing the good, thinking the good, speaking the good, and doing the good' to the public, it would be transformative. More importantly, helping the public understand the laws of karma, the suffering of the cycle of rebirth, and the fact that through learning Buddhism, one can not grow old, not get sick, and the spirit does not die—this is the urgent medicine that the Japanese people need.

We must start with education and with changing the human heart. Fortunately, Practitioner Su has realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood, demonstrating the real benefits of practicing Buddhism. It is truly possible to keep the body from aging and falling ill. This is something the people of the world desperately need, because no matter how advanced Japan’s medical technology becomes, people still cannot escape the fate of aging, sickness, and death.

In the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I have truly seen the preciousness of the human body. Practitioner Su, with his countless manifestations, conducts large-scale Chao Du across various countries. Countless golden manifestations of Practitioner Su quickly cover the earth, the oceans, the high mountains, and even the clouds in the sky. Japan is one of the areas covered by Practitioner Su’s deliverance. I have seen many beings in the spirit realm in Japan, including ghost deities and demon crowds, all being delivered by Practitioner Su’s countless manifestations into the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It is as if Japan has become a little brighter in an instant. This is of immense help to Japan, because I can see that Japan is filled with all kinds of ghost deities, lonely wandering spirits, and even demons. Especially in places where pornography is rampant, there are many lust demons. All these spirits have been illuminated by the golden light and Buddha-light of Practitioner Su and have entered the Western Dharma-Nature Land, allowing the Japanese people to be free from much of the interference and control coming from the spiritual realms."

Deliverance and the Light of the Western Dharma-Nature Land

"I want to tell the Japanese people that I hope everyone can seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Only by reaching that place can all causal conditions be brought to a conclusion.

I am now a spirit residing in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I am here, peacefully bathing in the light of Namo Amituofo, listening to the 'Namo Amituofo' resounding in my ears. I feel as if I have returned to my hometown. Japan is famous for its clean mountains, rivers, and rural environments. Indeed, many people in the world love to travel to Japan, but that cannot be compared to this bright and beautiful world where I am now. The time I have spent listening to the Dharma on the lotus seat has not been long, yet it feels as though I have been here for a very long time.

I hope that I can do more to help the Japanese people. For now, I continue to purify myself and listen to the Dharma in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Namo Amituofo."