The Heavenly Vision of Steve Jobs

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Steve Jobs, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his spiritual journey and his eventual realisation of the power of the Buddha-name. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on October 7, 2018.

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Steve Jobs. When I first arrived, I saw rows of spirits standing in perfect order, all enveloped in a brilliant golden light. Many of them were confused, not understanding where they were being taken or what was happening to them. In the blink of an eye, one might find themselves reborn as a child, with all memories of the past wiped away, or perhaps they might enter a magnificent space of meditative concentration. In that space, people do not speak; there is no need for words."

The Life of an Immortal

"I once observed an immortal wearing long robes, a being who had spent his entire life pursuing the depths of meditative concentration. He saw the realms of the six realms of existence with absolute clarity, for he had once played a role in each of them himself. It was during his most pure moments of meditation that he caught a glimpse of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. At that time, however, he did not know that this beautiful, magnificent realm was called the Western Land.

"This immortal had been an abandoned orphan since he was a child. He lived his life without the bonds of emotion and without desire. If he had food, he lived; if he did not, he accepted it. That was his heart. He thought to himself, 'If I am unfortunate enough to starve to death, then I shall simply return to the earth. After all, there is not a single person in this world who knows me.'"

Conversations with the Universe

"Just as his life seemed to lack any real purpose, he encountered an old man in the mountains who looked like an immortal. This old man understood all things in the universe and was as free and unconstrained as he was. It was a revelation to realise that one's life could be interpreted in such a positive way. He followed this old man, learning the instincts for survival and the natural way to communicate with all things in heaven and earth.

"The first time he heard the voices of nature, it was a group of ants. One ant was shouting to its companions, 'This way! This way! That thing is incredibly heavy, hurry, hurry, hurry!' Another cried out, 'You are going the wrong direction!' Their voices were filled with the urgency of their busy lives. When the wind blew, the trees emitted a deeply comforting sound. Small birds chirped and chattered, discussing everything they had seen in the places they had just flown over. It was such a miraculous feeling to realise that one could be one with all things in the universe."

The Power of Chao Du

"Eventually, the old man departed, and the immortal continued on his journey, content to enjoy this state of being. Through the practice of spirit leaving the body during meditation, he roamed the universe and reached the Arhat Dharma Realm, where he continued his practice. For a very long time, he knew that many were seeking rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, but he remained unmoved.

"It was only when he emerged from his meditative concentration that he witnessed the magnificent spectacle of Chao Du. The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss appeared before his eyes—the very same scene he had glimpsed thousands of years ago. The continuous, unbroken sound of the Buddha-name was leading countless sentient beings to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I was in awe of Practitioner Su's ability to perform such Chao Du. I knelt on the ground and begged to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

"What I saw was only a tiny corner of the Chao Du that Practitioner Su performs for the heavenly realms. Every morning, the walking meditation and the Thrice Yearning Ceremony Dharma assembly penetrate the entire universe. Every single recitation of the Buddha-name saves a number of sentient beings that is multiplied over and over again. As the Dharma moves from the Age of Dharma Decline to the True Teachings, the restoration of the Earth relies entirely on the Chao Du that Practitioner Su expands day by day.

"Countless beings are reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss every single day; this magnificent event happens constantly. If the outside world could only know, this place would be packed to overflowing. One day, everyone's efforts will cause the Buddha's teachings to blossom and bear fruit."

"Namo Amituofo."