The Hat Diva's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the late singer Feng Fei-fei, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and the karmic causes of her passing. Recorded by the disciples Li Jiaxian and Lai Boya.

Disciple Li Jiaxian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. We respectfully invite Ms. Feng Fei-fei to speak. Through the compassionate heart of Practitioner Su, Ms. Feng Fei-fei was invited to the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to listen to the Dharma, and was subsequently guided to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. To repay the grace of the Buddha and to help the world better understand the Western Pure Land and Namo Amituofo, we invite Ms. Feng Fei-fei to explain the process of her rebirth at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo."

Feng Fei-fei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Hello! I am Feng Fei-fei. Almost everyone from the generations of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s knows me. I am the 'Hat Diva.' Among female singers in Taiwan, besides myself, there was also Teresa Teng. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, there were very few people who did not know us. Today, I am very honoured to be able to accept this interview and share the process of how I went to the West. I would like to introduce this to everyone here.

The Splendour of the Western Pure Land

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has performed Chao Du for many famous singers and performers from our entertainment industry, and I am one of them. My singing career could be considered smooth sailing. When I performed on stage, I always liked to wear various hats to match my outfits. When I sang, I did not like to stand quietly in one place; I liked to sway my body and touch my hat. My signature move was to touch my hat and bow to the audience. My fans loved to imitate this gesture. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who loved my voice and supported me when I was in the human world, allowing my records to sell so well. If it were not for your support, there would be no Feng Fei-fei today.

Although I am no longer in this world, many people still miss me and often sing the songs that were once so popular. I would also like to thank these listeners from here. After I passed away, my spirit arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where Practitioner Su compassionately guided me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am here now, living a wonderful life. I would also like to introduce the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to you all. It is a magnificent place—a place where all the superior beings gather. There is no mixing of good and evil, no fighting, and no afflictions; that is why it is called the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Everyone can go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. As long as your final thought is to chant 'Namo Amituofo,' everyone can become a Buddha. I am sharing this good news with everyone because I am one of the beneficiaries. Namo Amituofo."

Disciple Li Jiaxian: "May I ask Ms. Feng Fei-fei, at what age did you start to become ill? And how was your spirit captured?"

The Weight of Fame and Hidden Illness

Feng Fei-fei: "It was around the age of forty-two. At that time, I decided to get married and temporarily retire from the singing scene. I thought that I was getting a bit older, and I wanted to settle down, have a home, and have a child to enjoy the happiness of family life. Heaven was very kind to me and sent me a lovely child. I loved my home, my husband, and my child, but deep down, I often felt a sense of instability. I was often uneasy, found it hard to fall asleep in the middle of the night, and frequently dreamed of my glorious singing career. This dream appeared in my mind so often, and I did not know why. After having this dream, I often felt pain and discomfort in my heart. I thought perhaps I was just missing my past singing career and the love the audience had for me, so I did not pay much attention to it, thinking it was just a case of 'what you think about during the day, you dream about at night.' At that time, three of my seven souls had already been captured. Just like that, days passed, my child grew up day by day, and I wanted to make a comeback.

This comeback period was not as smooth as I had imagined. I was not as popular as I used to be, and I felt a sense of loneliness. Pressure followed one after another. My management company helped me take on many variety shows, and I tried my best to cooperate with the performances. I do not know if it was because the pressure was too great, but I often could not sleep at night and felt pain in my chest. I often had to rely on sleeping pills to fall asleep. In my dreams, I would often see myself in a concert hall with thousands of people, hearing the sound of applause. It was at this time that my other two souls were also captured.

At that time, I often felt a tightness and pain in my chest. Later, when I returned to a hospital in Hong Kong, I learned that I had lung adenocarcinoma and began treatment. My condition was not known to the outside world. I wanted to dedicate my remaining limited life to the stage, performing as much as I could to forget my pain. Unfortunately, my condition worsened again, and I eventually died of lung adenocarcinoma. After I died, my spirit often wandered around my home because I could not bear to leave my son.

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre invites spirits, and many of these entertainers have benefited. When they were inviting spirits, someone mentioned my name. There was a Practitioner Su there who was very compassionate; she guided my spirit into the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Later, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, Practitioner Su compassionately guided me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am here to express my gratitude to Practitioner Su. If it were not for your compassionate heart, I, Feng Fei-fei, would never have been able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, my spirit is no longer drifting without a destination. Thank you, Practitioner Su, and thank you to the fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo."

Disciple Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo! Thank you, Ms. Feng Fei-fei, for accepting this interview. Looking back, how many lifetimes ago did the karmic creditors find you?"

A Past Life of Intrigue

Feng Fei-fei: "It was about seven lifetimes ago. I was a maid to a consort in the palace. Because I was sharp and very good at reading people, in order to protect my master from the unknown dark struggles and power plays within the palace, I secretly harmed many other consorts and palace maids. I bribed the eunuchs in the palace to harm countless consorts and maids.

My master trusted me and gave me many of the ornaments she loved. At that time, I was also young and beautiful. One day, I sat in front of the mirror, combed my hair, and inserted the hairpins my master had given me. Looking at my own appearance in the mirror, I felt that I was also naturally beautiful and should not be a palace maid for my whole life. Bad thoughts arose in my heart. Whenever the Emperor came to my master's place, I would dress up beautifully and try every possible way to get close to the Emperor and serve him, letting the Emperor notice me. I hoped that one day I could also become a woman by the Emperor's side, and I tried every means to get close to him.

Perhaps Heaven heard my prayers, and finally, the Emperor noticed me. Once, when the Emperor came to visit my master, because my master was ill and could not get out of bed, I took the opportunity to serve the Emperor carefully and won his favour. Just like that, I became the Emperor's woman. Later, when my master found out that I had used schemes to get close to the Emperor, she did not understand me, spoke harshly to me, and even made threats, wanting to kill me. To protect myself, I took the initiative and secretly poisoned my master's food. After becoming the Emperor's woman, I also harmed many people in order to fight for power and consolidate my position. It was this lifetime that caught up with me; it caused a lesion in my lungs to take revenge on me, giving me cancer.

Seeing this now, I know I deserved my fate. I would like to apologise to those I harmed. May the Buddha's compassion save those whom I, in my ignorance, harmed for the sake of power and profit. Namo Amituofo."

This interview message was recorded by Buddhist disciples Li Jiaxian and Lai Boya.