The Final Composition: A Composer's Journey to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Liu Chia-chang, the legendary godfather of Chinese pop music, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life and his transition into the spiritual realm. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Shi Faru, on May 30, 2026.

Liu Chia-chang speaks:

"I never imagined that at the very end of this life, I would still have the opportunity to speak to everyone in a normal way. By 'normal,' I mean speaking with a clear, lucid mind and a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

At the end of my life, as many of you have seen in the news, you know that as a man of great talent, my final days were not as glorious as they were in my youth. I was ravaged by cancer and suffered immensely; my family life and my career both ended in emptiness. Even though I had achieved such brilliant success in my younger years, I was ultimately unable to maintain that glory until the very end. For many of my partners in the entertainment industry, the name 'Liu Chia-chang' might have symbolised something enviable, a goal that everyone dreamed of reaching. However, having walked this path to the end and experienced it all, my heart is actually filled with a profound sense of bewilderment.

The Illusion of Fame and the Reality of Suffering

I am not trying to belittle the achievements of the entertainment industry, but I must speak the truth: after working so hard in this field for so many years, I have befriended many talented people—brilliant lyricists, composers, and vocalists. Everyone had such magnificent achievements and their own dedicated fan bases, just as I did. But at the end of life, how many of them were truly by my side? How many were willing to support me during my most difficult times? And how many could offer spiritual support when my body was being tortured by the agony of illness? It is only at the very end of life that these truths emerge, appearing so stark and realistic.

Two years ago, when I passed away during my illness, it did not come as a surprise to anyone. Being plagued by sickness and knowing that I could leave this world at any moment—this was all within everyone's expectations. But the real question is: must a person really go through such a journey? Even if one was glorious in their youth, possessed great fame, and created countless songs—even if one was seen as a highly successful creative genius—one still has to endure the process of illness and suffer through all kinds of torments in life.

The Hidden World of Spirits

I ask myself: what is the meaning of this life? Was it for the sake of family, for a passionate romance, for a successful career, or for what? It is not that there are no answers in life, but rather that people are blinded by external achievements and superficial thoughts, unable to truly comprehend the essence of life. I am not qualified to judge others, because I, too, was once deceived by these superficial accomplishments.

Even after I passed away, I did not immediately step out of that space. I remained immersed in those glorious days before I fell ill. I kept believing that my talent had not faded due to aging and disease, and that I only needed more practice to create works that would fit the new era. But in truth, because of the torture of illness and the aging of my body, my physical strength could no longer bear the load, and the name 'Liu Chia-chang' slowly became disconnected from the times.

Although I enjoyed great fame in both China and Taiwan, and the entertainment industry respected me deeply, this also meant that I had certain requirements for my work—it was a sense of responsibility toward my life's profession. Even in the final moment before I passed away, I was still thinking about how to create poetry and music that could truly move people and possess a powerful, transformative influence. And so, at the very moment I drew my last breath, I entered this space.

A New World: The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

However, there is something you do not know: the human body is incredibly mysterious. Before I passed away, while I was suffering from the torture of illness, my soul was actually already being punished in the hells. Why did I go to hell? It is truly shameful to admit. As long as a person in this world competes for power and profit, thinks only of personal gain, or commits any act that harms others for their own benefit, they create what is known as negative karma. These negative karmas lead one to suffer in the hells. Although I had heard of the laws of karma and cause and effect while I was alive, I never contemplated them deeply. I did not realise that my physical illnesses were actually caused by the negative karma I had created myself, nor did I know that my spirit was already suffering in the hells. When I was near the end of my life, my 'true self' was still lingering in my body, locked in the space of my brain. After death, because my one thought was still on composing lyrics and music, wanting to create even better works, my spirit left my body and entered the space of songwriting.

Thinking about it now, this life is truly very sorrowful. Although it is hard for everyone to believe that someone with the status and career achievements of Liu Chia-chang could say the word 'sorrowful,' those who know me slightly know that while my life was smooth in terms of career, it was not necessarily so in other aspects. I do not need to mention the storms I weathered; those who know will understand. In this life, anything can happen, and those closest to you, those you trust the most, may not necessarily be there to support you.

And now, I should still be in that space. The reason I am able to speak to everyone here through these words is not because I have been resurrected. This is truly miraculous. I hope everyone will be patient, set aside your prejudices and subjective views, and listen to me carefully.

The Gathering of Souls

After I passed away, my spirit was actually in that space. At that time, I did not clearly understand that I had already died. I was constantly conceiving lyrics and music that could be popular and have a powerful influence in that 'songwriting space.' Suddenly, I heard someone calling my name. Following the sound of my name and a burst of golden light, I was pulled out of that dim songwriting studio and entered an extremely bright world.

In this world—I call it a world because it is truly vast and boundless—I cannot see the end. When I look up at the sky, I cannot see its highest point; it seems to extend infinitely in all directions. I was sitting on a lotus flower, which was slightly larger than me and very soft. At first, I did not understand how I had suddenly arrived here from my studio. I was very confused. As I slowly began to understand, I realised that this was a Buddhist temple. It is a temple located in Goombungee, Queensland, Australia, called the 'Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.'

I did not understand why I had come here, but after listening to the Dharma talks for several days, I slowly understood that this is a temple managed and overseen by Namo Amituofo. The most important work of this temple is to help deceased spirits like me come here to learn. You may not understand why this is done, but in fact, there are many famous people who entered this temple at the same time as I did, including prominent figures from Taiwan, the United States, China, Singapore, Malaysia, as well as the Middle East, Europe, and many other countries. Even top billionaires have entered this world together.

In this bright world, watching everyone arrive from all over, I realised that these were all people who had passed away across the globe. Just like me, they were saved and brought to this world as a 'spirit.' In the temple, I observed everything quietly. Most of these deceased people were pulled up from the hells, just as many parts of my soul were suffering in the hells; my 'true self' had been locked in the songwriting space and could not escape. The three hun souls and seven po souls of the spirit were in a state of fragmentation.

The golden light is the Buddha-light of Namo Amituofo. Under the illumination of this Buddha-light, my three hun souls and seven po souls were reunited and brought together to this bright world. I learned here that this is the 'Western Land of Dharma Nature.' This Western Land of Dharma Nature was created by Namo Amituofo and a Taiwanese person named Practitioner Su. This spiritual world exists within the space of the temple, but it does not interfere with the people in the temple; it is a concept of a parallel space. When I first arrived here, I did not quite understand what I was supposed to do, and there was no place for me to display my talents. I just sat quietly on the lotus seat, listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks.

On Fridays, there is the 'Thrice Yearning Ceremony,' and I also participated in this grand Buddhist event. This event was truly vast and magnificent, unlike any scene I had ever seen in the human world. Even the largest temples or the grandest banquet halls in China could not compare to the scale of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony.

I use the word 'magnificent' to describe it because the number of attendees—or more accurately, the number of spirits attending—was simply too many. There were spirits from even brighter worlds, which is what Buddhism calls the Bodhisattvas in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Each of them was incredibly tall, pure, and bright, emitting a dazzling golden light. They looked very pure and dignified, inspiring awe in one's heart. There were also spirits from different spaces in all directions who had come to the temple seeking help. There were also spirits from the dark worlds, known here as 'demon crowds,' some of whom came to obstruct the temple's ceremonies. And there were spirits related to us celebrities who had been pulled up; most of them were people we had harmed, or even spirits with whom we had formed relationships in our very distant past. They all gathered at the temple.

It was then that I finally understood that all the difficulties I encountered at the end of my life, including family problems, physical illnesses, and cancer, were all being manipulated by these spirits who held hatred and resentment toward me. They were all crowding onto my body, affecting my physical form, causing me and my family to be at odds, and making us focus on each other's flaws.

However, now that I am free from the interference of these spirits, I am speaking these facts to everyone in a relatively healthy state of body, mind, and spirit. At this moment, I am also surprised to find that I no longer feel so troubled by all that I experienced at the end of my life; in fact, I feel somewhat indifferent about it. But at the time, I truly felt a great deal of resentment and injustice.

I never thought that all of this came from the interference of many spirits. They were inside my own body—in my head, eyes, mouth, and internal organs. They not only controlled my gaze and how I looked at people, but also controlled my thoughts, every word I spoke, and the functioning of my internal organs. These actions were all presented under the collective control of numerous spirit bodies."

Namo Amituofo.

"So, those who knew me well would notice that as I aged, my personality, my reactions, and the things I said gradually shifted. This was because the spirits controlling me changed throughout different periods of my life. Many people dismissed this as mere aging, but in truth, it was the result of being controlled.

Here in the Dharma-Nature Land, having nothing else to do, I have been diligently listening to the sutras. In fact, I never had any aversion to Buddhist scriptures; after all, when I was alive, any material, subject, or field served as inspiration for my songwriting. One must absorb information broadly to ensure their lyrics do not become one-sided. Navigating the entertainment industry requires one to be tactful and build extensive connections; there is no room for exclusivity. I was a Christian, but I believed that any religion that encourages Goodness is a good religion. Yet, after I passed away, I did not think to call upon Christ for help; I was already too severely controlled. Interestingly, it was the Buddha of Buddhism who saved me after death. This must surely come as a surprise to everyone. However, it is a fact that I was saved by the Buddha, and I must tell you all exactly how it happened.

The Reality of the Spiritual Realms

After I passed away, I entered many different spaces. No one came to save me, and no one told me that I had died. If Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su had not come to perform Chao Du for us famous people, we would never have had the opportunity to escape those spaces. Now that I have been rescued and brought to the Dharma-Nature Land, I can truly see a magnificent, towering Buddha standing before my eyes. Namo Amituofo is incredibly compassionate, constantly bathing us spirits from all over the world in soft, warm Buddha-light. Our souls—originally wounded, resentful, indignant, fragile, anxious, and fearful—have gradually become warm and substantial under the illumination and care of the Buddha-light. We feel more confident, and our hearts are much more at peace.

As I sit on my lotus seat, continuously bathed in the Buddha-light, I am increasingly able to see the true essence of my life. For most of my life, I existed within these spaces. The process of composing music essentially meant entering a space of lyrics and melody, where numerous beings provided me with inspiration. That is why I was able to create such classic, popular works. I also knew which singer was suited for which piece, helping them achieve instant fame or ensuring a song would become a timeless classic. But for me, this came with a price: I had to enter those spaces, and after death, I remained trapped within them, unable to leave.

The True Goal of Life

Having said this, does everyone now understand the question I raised earlier: What is the meaning and goal of a human life? In these short few decades, despite having seemingly brilliant achievements, what did that brilliance actually represent for me? To be envied by others, to receive applause, to stand under the stage lights—what was all of that for?

In my later years, I could not hold onto my family, my career, or even my own body. Walking the final leg of life alone was truly heart-wrenching. The old friends, the family, and the glory of the past were all gone; besides loneliness, there was only more loneliness. Perhaps this solitude is an excellent environment for a songwriter, but when it comes to the torment of illness, one can no longer speak of it so nonchalantly.

Therefore, the true answer to life's goal should be to achieve 'spiritual elevation.' This is the answer I only understood after coming to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and arriving at the Dharma-Nature Land. Why is spiritual elevation the truth of life? Because the body is extremely fleeting. What is truly eternal and will always be with you is this spirit. Only by elevating the spirituality of this spirit can one truly make progress in life; otherwise, one has simply wasted a precious existence.

The Path to Deliverance

While in possession of a human body, this spirit can accomplish great things; it can help others and assist many beings in the spiritual realms. Why is helping beings in the spiritual realms so important? Because most people are like I was—after death, they are trapped in spiritual spaces, unable to leave, and even more are suffering in the hells. Even after enduring those sufferings, there is still what is called reincarnation, which means continuing to drift into different spaces.

When will it ever end? In truth, no one has the answer. To be precise, no one has the means to end it all. One only continues to suffer, experiencing this incredibly painful process. Even if there are brief moments of happiness and gain, the time spent in loss and pain is far longer. Thus, the truth I understood in the Dharma-Nature Land is this: only by studying the Buddha’s teachings is there a greater chance to walk out of this predicament. The core spirit of Buddhist education is actually 'benefiting others without benefiting oneself.' It is about helping people in a way that is selfless, which is very similar to the Christian spirit of helping others and counseling them toward Goodness. But from my current understanding, the Buddha’s teachings are even more profound. They deeply expound upon the truth of the spiritual world, pointing out the details of being kind to others and benefiting them, as well as how to specifically achieve this.

Most people today cannot truly let go of the self, so many acts of charity or methods that sound effective often devolve into mere slogans, lacking actual execution. Namo Amituofo’s Buddhist education is precisely the truly effective method.

A Message to My Peers

Based on my own experience as a suffering spirit drifting in those spaces, it was precisely because Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su followed the Buddha’s teachings and the universal principle that I was brought to the Dharma-Nature Land. This allowed me to stop suffering in those spaces and stopped my punishment in the hells.

Now I understand: the Buddha saved me because He hopes I can save more people. This is the true meaning of life. Although I no longer have a body, if I can use my influence as Liu Chia-chang to let more people know about Namo Amituofo and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, I can help them find an opportunity to escape their painful lives and find a new, meaningful goal. This is the reason why the Buddha arranged for me to accept this interview and speak the truth.

If you are not yet familiar with the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, you can search for these keywords online. The information about this temple on the internet is very comprehensive, including videos of Dharma talks and many interview transcripts. Just like this article, the content comes from the true words of many spirits. These spirits were once human, and after passing away, they were left as spirits until they were saved by the Buddha to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Only then could they communicate through 'spirit-to-spirit' methods, allowing the Venerables to record their messages.

If you are still half-believing and half-doubting about the information online, there are actually many billboards for the temple in China and Taiwan:

In Taiwan: There are many billboards on the highways. Those who are connected by karmic affinity might want to take note. If you see a Buddha dressed in red with golden light atop His head, that is Namo Amituofo, who is the Abbot of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.

In various parts of China: If you have the chance to see the same billboards, please also take note.

This is the true situation of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre spreading the Dharma globally. If you happen to read this interview—whether you are my fan or a colleague from the entertainment industry with whom I have worked—if you wish to speak with me again or want to better understand this series of events after my passing, you are all welcome to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to find me. I am always here waiting for you.

As for my family, there was indeed a lot of confusion at that time, and I was unable to say goodbye to you properly. But all of that is in the past. Although I am still Liu Chia-chang, I am a Liu Chia-chang whose spirituality has been elevated. Compared to the Liu Chia-chang of the past, who was controlled by karmic creditors and unable to be the master of his own actions, I am different now. I am now an independent and complete spirit, and I can invite you and interact with you in a friendly manner. If you are willing to let go of the past and not hold onto old grievances, you are welcome to come to the temple to see me. I would be very happy to meet with you.

Do not have any worries; you may come whenever you wish. Everything in life has passed, and there is no need to be overly entangled. Once a person is dead, what is there left to argue about? It is truly unnecessary. Anyone who knew Liu Chia-chang and wishes to have a word with me is welcome to come.

I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for saving me and bringing me to the Dharma-Nature Land, and for giving me this opportunity to speak with everyone. Thank you all; the legendary career of Liu Chia-chang ends here. Please do not feel too sad for me. Life is a journey one must take, but in truth, my spirit has not died. I am in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, a high-level, clean, and bright spiritual world, living very freely without illness, suffering, or sorrow. Although I no longer compose music or write lyrics, I have learned the most important concepts and goals in life.

You are all welcome to come and discuss these matters with me further. Thank you all. Namo Amituofo.

Liu Chia-chang"