The Golden Spirit: From Wealth to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lin Haiyuan, who sought spiritual deliverance 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 long journey through various realms and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 3, 2023.

Lin Haiyuan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for the Causal Conditions I encountered today, which have granted me the precious opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the grace of the Buddha and to the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

I was once a very wealthy and influential man. In this life and in my past lives, I have always been blessed with great prosperity. I was naturally inclined toward charity and performed countless good deeds. I believe this is the primary reason why I was able to encounter Practitioner Su today.

The Golden Treasure with a Soul

Long ago, I was a golden ingot—a golden ingot with an extraordinary spirit. This golden ingot radiated light everywhere. It was not only incredibly precious but also possessed a magical, living consciousness. Many people scrambled and fought to possess me, but I was never foolish enough to stay in one place to be captured. I was always able to nimbly slip through their fingers. Only at the most critical moments would I choose to reveal my true power.

I possessed a nature that detested evil. I despised those who were greedy and dark-hearted. When they exhausted all their schemes to obtain me, I would turn the tables on them. I would make them suffer great losses, and in the end, they would still fail to possess me. I had a playful spirit and always enjoyed teasing such wicked people.

One day, a greedy rich man learned of my existence. He heard that this golden ingot could grant any wish, so he decided to steal me. He dispatched a team of his men to seize me, but I had already sensed their arrival and quickly escaped their encirclement. I even drew a large golden pig's head in the sky to mock their foolishness.

A Deity of Wealth and Benevolence

I was not a selfish golden ingot. I knew that the power I possessed could help others. Therefore, I chose to seek out those in need. I transformed into a beam of golden light, travelling through the streets and alleys of the city until I arrived at a poverty-stricken village. The people there lived in hardship, suffering from hunger and cold.

I melted myself into a golden rain and descended upon the village. In an instant, everyone in the village became wealthy, and their problems of food and clothing were solved. The villagers were moved to tears, unaware that all of this came from the kindness of a golden ingot.

That time, I helped the people, and I felt a tremendous surge of power flow into my body. I gradually became brighter and more dazzling. I transformed into a Deity of Wealth, a god worshipped by many. I enjoyed one hundred and three years of life as a deity, bringing endless wealth and blessings to the human world.

During this time, I witnessed the good deeds and kind thoughts of many people. I helped countless individuals in difficulty, bringing them happiness and prosperity. I also observed the cycle of cause and effect—that good deeds bring good rewards and evil deeds bring evil retribution—and I deeply understood the importance of accumulating merit through virtuous actions.

The Fragility of Life and the Cycle of Rebirth

However, time does not stand still. One hundred and three years passed, my divine status ended, and I was reincarnated as a human once again. This time, I became a wealthy and noble gentleman. I was born with an air of distinction, but I did not become arrogant or conceited because of it. I maintained my kind and generous nature, continuing to perform good deeds and give alms. I donated funds to build schools and stockpiled many medicinal herbs to save lives, helping many impoverished people improve their living conditions. My life was filled with good deeds and love, and I knew this was the result of the karma I had accumulated in my previous lives.

Yet, life is fragile. At the end of my life, I fell ill and passed away. I knew this was because the karmic retribution from my past lives had manifested. Although I had great blessings and enjoyed endless wealth, I also had the karma brought from previous lifetimes that needed to be repaid. Merit and demerit cannot simply cancel each other out.

After my death, my spirit left my body and entered the next cycle of rebirth. This time, I was named Lin Haiyuan.

A Life of Service and the Path to Liberation

I was born into a wealthy and prominent family. Our status was illustrious, and wealth flowed in abundantly; I was even wealthier and held a higher position than in my previous life. I did not become proud or complacent because of my wealth. On the contrary, I continued to carry on the heart of kindness from my past lives, using most of my wealth for charitable causes. I established schools and built medical clinics, helping countless people in need.

I loved helping others. My life was filled with happiness and satisfaction because I understood that only by sincerely helping others and allowing them to be liberated from suffering can one achieve liberation oneself.

My life eventually came to a complete and perfect end, and my spirit prepared to welcome the next cycle of rebirth. But this time, I did not head toward the path of reincarnation; I arrived in the underworld.

In the underworld, it is difficult to know how much time has passed. The King of Hell assigned me many tasks, and I did my best to complete them one by one. Until one day, I finally met Practitioner Su, a person of infinite Wisdom. He explained to us the great roots and foundations of practice. Because of my good deeds and generosity in past lives, the laws of karma and cause and effect brought about our meeting.

Practitioner Su’s explanation of the sutras allowed us to understand many truths about life. Everyone longed for liberation, and today, I have finally encountered this opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the grace of the Buddha and to the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Lin Haiyuan, with palms joined.