The Dwarf King and the Forest Guardian

This is a record of an interview with Steve Jobs, who now serves in the spiritual deliverance team under the guidance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his experiences in the spiritual realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on October 4, 2017.

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Fireworks burst in a brilliant display, and the vast emptiness of the Dharma Realm is where we go. Every day, in the early hours of the morning while everyone else is still in deep sleep, that is when we set out to help sentient beings. The earth is perfectly still. Only our group moves with a speed as fast as a thought, dressed in dignity, accompanied by the heavenly music of the six-character Buddha-name, and perfumed by the scent of lotus flowers from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The lotus scent from Practitioner Su is truly exquisite. I, Steve Jobs, also wish to realise this fragrance so that I no longer need to rely on what the world calls cologne. For Westerners, carrying a natural fragrance is a sign of courtesy. I must practise diligently so that I may, as the Infinite Life Sutra says, 'spread the ten thousand kinds of gentle and virtuous fragrance.' If I can do this, I will be able to save even more people. As long as I draw near to them and let them smell this virtuous fragrance, they will naturally be convinced and have faith.

The Difficulty of Saving Human Beings

However, after observing alongside Practitioner Su for some time, I have realised that 'humans' are the most difficult beings to save in the entire Dharma Realm. One moment they are up, the next they are down. One moment they greet you with a smile, the next they are spitting fire. Then, evil thoughts arise, and they become possessed—they are no longer themselves. They do not realise the severity of the situation, thinking they have the upper hand, and they are smugly proud of themselves. When you speak of it, it is truly pitiful. We teach you to chant Namo Amituofo, we invite you to chant, and we hope you will hold onto the Buddha-name tightly, but your fingers are always spread too wide, and the Buddha-name slips right through. It happens simply because you are looking at the food in your hand or the scenery before you, and your mind becomes a blank slate. Being blank is one thing, but then you start finding fault with this and that, and you get possessed by Asuras who toy with you until you are furious. Yet, one cannot blame the Asuras; it is you who stirred the waves first. They are just like children playing a prank. Being unable to master one's own mind is a characteristic of the human world, so one can only rely on the Buddha. If you do not even want to rely on the Buddha, then... you might as well rely on King Yama!

Purifying the Great Oceans

Our fixed daily itinerary includes a trip to the ocean to save the immeasurable and boundless Bodhisattvas and water molecules within it. The ocean is the key to climate change. The ocean is truly great; it absorbs and purifies the waste that people dump into it. In the past, it could still manage, and it was a natural phenomenon. However, with human progress, we have invented and manufactured too many things, and the waste being discharged has become increasingly toxic. The ocean can no longer bear the load; it has turned black. Fortunately, Practitioner Su and our team are now helping to purify the ocean every day. Otherwise, in future satellite images, the oceans might be mostly black.

Life Within the Dark Caverns

In a pitch-black cave where you cannot even see your own hand, there exists a great deal of life. The first time I entered such a place, I saw butterflies with glowing wings resting on the cave walls in the darkness. It seemed to be a butterfly grotto—there were so many, and they were beautiful. Practitioner Su brought all the creatures out: butterflies, pupae, caterpillars, countless eggs, and other beings living on and inside the walls. To think that a single cave could contain so much life! This is why Practitioner Su's daily achievements are immeasurable and boundless; there are simply too many.

The Kingdom Beneath the Roots

Practitioner Su and I visualised the forests of the world—so many towering pine trees reaching toward the sky, some coniferous, some not. There were ferns, and the spores behind the ferns were so numerous. Next, I saw a tree inhabited by many people. They likely came from different eras, dressed differently, and spoke different languages, but since becoming spirits, there are no language barriers. Some spirits told me they hold parties inside the trees. People live in the trunks, the bark, the branches, the treetops, and even the roots. Beneath the roots, there are dwarves living there. It is another kingdom, in a different layer of space, so even if a woodcutter went to chop wood, he would never discover them, and they would not discover humans. The dwarves said they live primarily on fruit; they are vegetarians, just like us Buddhist practitioners. I wanted to interview one of them, simply because I wanted to know what kind of Causal Conditions lead one to become a dwarf. I stepped forward and tapped a dwarf on the shoulder. He looked like a veteran among them—his face was large and flat, his build round and stout, and he wore red clothes with black trousers. I spoke up: 'May I be so bold as to disturb you? Do you have a moment?' The dwarf looked stern and said: 'What for? Speak! I have things to do later.' I asked: 'What kind of laws of karma and cause and effect lead one to become a dwarf?' The dwarf replied: 'Ah? I have never explored that, but it is quite interesting. Let me see. You have asked the right person; I am the representative who manages the Dwarf Kingdom. My name is Kansing. If you want to ask me this, you must wait. I need to reflect on it, but I am old, and I am not very fast.' I said: 'It is fine. Take your time.' I stood by, humming the Buddha-name while waiting.

The Story of Kansing

Kansing began: 'I was previously... a black bear. I was soft on the inside but tough on the outside, and I had a strong sense of justice. I protected animals that were about to be hunted, and I was not afraid. When I saw hunters trying to kill the animals in my forest, I would appear, feigning ferocity to scare them away. Just like that, every animal and plant in the forest knew me. Of course, this trick did not always work on hunters. One day, the same situation occurred. I stood face-to-face with a hunter, ready to pounce. The hunter was terrified and, in a frenzy, fired his gun repeatedly. I began to bleed profusely. The hunter was scared and ran down the mountain. In this way, I used my final moments of life to protect my animal friends. I felt my sacrifice was worth it. I collapsed, bled to death, and my body rotted where it lay. After my spirit emerged, I saw some dwarves surrounding my bear body, discussing it for a long time. When they finally turned and saw my spirit, they stopped talking, for they had been sent to pick me up for my new appointment. Because I had accumulated merit while I was a bear, I was chosen as the representative of the largest dwarf kingdom beneath this forest. In human language, that would be like being the president! I was surprised, but I accepted it gladly. They took me on a tour of the dwarf kingdom's territory. They said: "The underground dwarf kingdoms are not just us; there are other different tribes. We live within the Amazon rainforest." But I am honoured to be the supreme ruler. We dwarves generally live to be two hundred years old. I am now one hundred and seventy. I had long heard that Practitioner Su was performing Chao Du, but I never expected to be so lucky as to encounter her today. You are Steve Jobs, the storyteller, right? You only asked me because you were looking for story material, right?' I replied: 'You know of me?' Kansing said: 'I know a little, though I know more about Practitioner Su.' I said: 'That is only natural. Practitioner Su has profound spiritual power and can truly lead everyone to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. May I ask this virtuous Kansing to teach everyone to chant Namo Amituofo? Are you all going?' Kansing said: 'I will use my flute to summon them, and they will come and listen to me. I will lead everyone to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I know it is good. Actually, one can usually hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in this vicinity. Someone told me it was very good, and they tried to persuade me before, but I did not listen because I was stubborn. But now, I know the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is good, and I should prioritise the benefit of the masses. Please wait a moment; I must play my flute.' (After a beautiful melody, the dwarves emerged one after another—there were so many. I called out to everyone: 'Let's go!') Kansing said: 'Trust me and follow me. Whatever I chant, you chant as well.' The dwarves replied: 'Very well.' After being bathed in the Buddha-light, the dwarves grew larger, becoming the size of humans. Everyone followed Kansing in chanting the Buddha-name and went to follow the Buddha. Congratulations! Seeing the dwarves today was truly special. I am still intoxicated by the experience, smiling from ear to ear. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for giving me the opportunity to join the deliverance team, allowing me to accumulate merit and virtue so that I can repay some of the debts I owe to the emptiness. Thank you, Practitioner Su." (Bows)

Steve Jobs