The Digital Pioneer’s Mission in the Void

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Steve Jobs, who sought deliverance through the Chao Du missions at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides at the Centre, assisting in the work of guiding beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects his experiences during a mission on October 11, 2017. Recorded by the disciple Shi Faxin.

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. A brilliant light streaked across the horizon. It was not a shooting star, nor was it some rare astronomical event; it was the magnificent and incomparable Chao Du team of the universe. As our team traversed the earth, even the smallest of our actions helped an unimaginable number of beings. There were countless layers of soil, and within them, the worms, ants, and various insects living their lives. When an earthworm wiggled its body and sought out new soil—that soil being its constant companion and partner—they moved through the earth just as fish swim gracefully through water. Once we brought them up and the Buddha-light swept over them, they still retained their habitual tendencies, twisting and turning their bodies. I could not help but smile as I watched from the side. This happens quite often; the beings being saved are so stunned by the sudden transformation that they have no idea what is happening. They are often left dazed and confused, but the strength of our Chao Du team lies in our speed and precision."

The Woman Trapped in the Void

"During our journey through the 'iceberg' realm, before the sea lions had transformed back into human form, I shook hands with one of them. There was a distinct smell of salted fish on him, which I am certain came from eating too much non-vegetarian food in his past life. He had not balanced his intake of aquatic plants and fish, which is why he carried that scent. We briefly discussed this before the team moved on rapidly. I had to keep pushing forward.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a woman crying. I looked in every direction, but I saw nothing. Where on earth was it coming from? I looked further into the distance and realised the sound was coming from within the space itself. I wondered if she needed help, but she was a woman, and her crying was so piercing and intense that I felt a bit intimidated. I moved forward and then retreated several times, hesitating. Heavens! It was infuriating—I was wasting time. I thought to myself, 'Forget it, just go and look. Be a man, Steve, who are you afraid of?' I approached the area and saw a woman sitting in front of a mirror, weeping incessantly. I gathered my courage and asked, 'What is the matter with you?' When she heard someone speaking, she thought it was the person she had been waiting for. She looked up with a smile, but the moment she saw it was me, she burst into even louder tears.

I asked, 'Why are you crying so much?' She replied quite fiercely, 'Can't you see I am waiting for my husband?' I said, 'You are so fierce; did your husband... run away?' I was being extremely careful with my words. She wailed, 'Wah!' and cried even more miserably. I thought to myself, 'I am done for. I have triggered her emotions; this is not compassionate.' So, I gathered my courage again and asked, 'Where did he go?' She sobbed, 'I drove him away. I accidentally laughed at him for being a poor boy, and in a fit of anger, he ran off and never came back.' I said, 'Well, that is your own problem, so what is there to cry about? In our era, women are often more capable than men. You could learn from them instead of just crying.' She asked, 'But I am suffering so much!' I replied, 'That is only because you choose to think that way.' Hearing my words, she seemed to doubt her own behaviour. She asked, 'Then what should I do now?' I said, 'Follow the Buddha. How about becoming a disciple of the Buddha?' She asked, 'Do I... do I have to shave my head? I love being beautiful.' I told her, 'You do not have to.' She asked, 'Then how do I go?' I pointed and said, 'Do you see all those people ahead moving towards the light?' She said, 'Yes, I do!' I instructed her, 'Chant Namo Amituofo, do not look back, and do not think about anything else.' She agreed, 'Okay.'"

A Lesson in Letting Go

"I walked away feeling relieved, but after thinking about it for a moment, I felt a bit uneasy. I looked back and saw she was still in the same spot. What was she doing? I flew back and said, 'Why haven't you left? If I hadn't turned back, you would have lost your chance to become a Buddha!' She replied, 'I was afraid my husband would come back to find me.' I said, 'He is not coming back! He has been gone for so long; you must let go!' She said, 'Alright then!' I urged her, 'I am watching you, hurry and move towards the light.' She looked at me with an expression of gratitude and finally left. I patted my chest, thinking, 'Thank goodness I didn't miss a Buddha.' I smiled and continued on my way. I took the opportunity to ensure that all the beings and Bodhisattvas in that space had successfully emerged. I have the least amount of skill, so I stay at the back to confirm that everything is in order.

Next, we flew over the Pacific Ocean and swooped down together! The entire hemisphere of the ocean began to churn and turn over. The creatures of the deep began to rise, and rise, and rise—an endless, boundless ascent. These marine creatures had never swum against the current before, and they found it quite novel, as they had never encountered such an experience. After they shed their 'clothes'—their physical forms—many turned out to be young men. Water activities were their favourite pastime, and they said they had long since become one with the water; they understood the nature of the ocean, which is why they had become part of it. Even the tiny insects in the crevices of the ocean trenches were brought out. They had lived there for a very long time, and I heard it was because they had created heavy karma, which is why they had been stuck in that dark, sunless place for so long. Naturally, I, Steve Jobs, had to ask for the details to warn everyone else.

The insect told me that in his past life, he was a big boss. In his business, he always exploited and oppressed his employees, leaving them unable to make a living, living in days without light, colour, or hope. Because of this, after the merchant died, he first fell into the hells and then suffered retribution as a bug in the ocean trench. He said that before he died, he had already lost his sight. Phew! It is a good thing I, Steve Jobs, never exploited my employees. There were also those deep-sea microorganisms who, because their mind-capacity was too small and they always looked down on others, also suffered their own retribution. The laws of karma and cause and effect act very quickly nowadays; humanity should really have an awakening."

The Joy of the Mission

"Flying on the clouds today was also very joyful, and I took the opportunity to bring them along with me. 'Let’s go, everyone! Let’s all go and become Buddhas.' It felt like playing a game. It turns out that saving beings is such a happy thing; no wonder Grandma is always so filled with Dharma-joy every day.

Today, I was also chasing animals, racing alongside them. I followed behind the fastest ostrich, panting and puffing, but I still could not keep up. As it ran, it transformed into a human—a black man. I have not run in a long time, and I was exhausted. I decided to use visualisation to speed things up. Watching them one by one return to their original forms made me very happy.

After the Chao Du mission ended today, I put my hands behind my back, whistled a tune, and returned to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to chant the sutras. Namo Amituofo."