This interview features the spirit of Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. Having transcended his former life, he now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This testimony was recorded on September 5, 2017, by Venerable HaiZe.
Steve Jobs speaks:
". Today has been another experience that has truly broadened my horizons! There are so many, so many demon crowds—or rather, Bodhisattvas of the Demon Realm—arriving here. Hearing them arrive, I can hear their laughter—ha! ha! ha! ha! It is a sound of pure . When I hear it, I cannot help but laugh along with them. It is the sound of adults letting go of the hatred they held in their hearts; it is the innocent, playful, and delightful laughter of children. It turns out that sincere laughter is incredibly infectious. Isn't it said that human nature is fundamentally Good? It seems that the achievements of Changren in the Demon Realm were not gained in vain; they appear to have come here to surrender—to surrender to the light.
The Nature of Sincerity
In truth, at the deepest level of every person's heart, there is a natural inclination toward brightness and naturalness. People need to be guided, and they are capable of accepting guidance, but they are also able to discern whether the other person is sincere. Do they have true repenting? That is a natural feeling, a natural vibration. The sincerity of Practitioner Su is so natural. It is only by truly thinking of others that one can touch the hearts of Changren and these demon-Bodhisattvas. This is not something that can be bought with money, nor is it something that can be achieved through clever debate or eloquence. This is what modern people lack the most, and therefore, it is the and love they need the most.
The interactions and care between people have been replaced by busyness, calculation, and discriminations. This is the price modern people pay for the pursuit of material enjoyment and satisfaction. They sink deeper and deeper, unable to extricate themselves. They even need to use various forms of stimulation to fill the emptiness in their hearts. That is why we see the emergence of mobile phones, communication systems, long-distance video conferencing, and the dazzling array of functions on computers—all of which replace the opportunity for face-to-face human communication. When people feel depressed, troubled, or down, they turn to electronic hardware products that do not get angry and can be controlled at will.
The Digital Trap
These devices allow a person to live in an environment they have built themselves—an artificial, controllable environment that satisfies their physical and mental needs. This is a universal phenomenon in humanity today. It is a manifestation of a spiritual crisis, yet people are powerless to jump out of this vicious cycle. In fact, it should be said that people are willing to be controlled and operated in this way. They spend large sums of money to buy the newest, fastest products, and they seek to satisfy their needs through the various functions of these products. But if you look at it from the other side, the reality is this: at this moment, they are being controlled and operated by the product designers! Alas! These various phenomena only make people's vision of life narrower and narrower. They become more stubborn, more self-centred, and their ego-attachment and biased views become so strong that they cannot extricate themselves. This causes the originally kind nature of many humans to be polluted.
All of these things are operations that the Demon Realm is good at using and loves to see. I, Steve Jobs, cannot escape the blame; I was the one who started it all. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I was one of the demon crowds, or perhaps even a Demon King. Practitioner Su, all of this goes against what the Buddha’s teachings have taught us. It turns out that purification is what humanity needs most right now. What should be done? The demon-Bodhisattvas all know to turn back and return to the Buddha’s gate, but people are trapped in a crisis without even knowing it, sinking deeper and deeper."
A Moment of Clarity
"Suddenly, I fell into deep thought, forgetting that it was still the time for morning walking meditation. I saw Changren very busily greeting people on one side, while pointing the way for the demon-Bodhisattvas to head toward the front, toward the position of Namo Amituofo in the Western Land. I had to act quickly. I hurriedly pulled back my wandering thoughts and used my mental note, along with hand gestures, to guide the many, many beings—too many to distinguish—forward! Forward! At the same time, I had to keep chanting, 'Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo...' Some heard it and followed along, chanting, 'Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo.' Yes! Yes! That is it! That is it!
There was an endless stream of people. There were so many of them. Oh! At this moment, they were no longer humans, but souls without bodies, or beings submerged in space, needing to be saved and brought out! And the place they were returning to was the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the only true way to save them from suffering, to help them leave suffering behind and gain happiness!"
The Power of Transformation
"Every single day, there are so many beings who need to be saved. There are so many, so many, boundless and endless, batch after batch! The demon-Bodhisattvas were the protagonists today. They came with their families, seemingly calling out to their friends, one after another, one by one. They came from all directions, in all shapes and sizes. However, everyone I saw today had already changed into white clothes or long robes, or their hair was neatly groomed. Some even manifested the appearance of monastics. Everyone already knew how to dress. Practitioner Su, this is also one of your spiritual purification education methods for the demon-Bodhisattvas—to gather their thoughts back in, making everyone look much more harmonious and gentle. It turns out that the aura emitted from the heart is the most natural and lasting. This is the power of 'Appearance arises from the mind.'
Practitioner Su, thank you! Your individual strength is one of inclusion! It is the power of your mind-capacity! It is selflessness! It is what allows the Demon Realm to undergo such a great change. At the same time, it also reduces some of the harm caused to humanity by the Apple products I created. Now, I can more deeply appreciate the great compassion of Namo Amituofo, who leads so many suffering beings to a place where they can go—a place that is such a beautiful Buddha-land. Infinite gratitude! Namo Amituofo."
