The Hidden Stain of Selfishness

This is a record of an interview with Bu Guanfu, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life and his tragic passing in the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on December 14, 2025.

Bu Guanfu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Bu Guanfu. Once, I was a young man who travelled far across the ocean to study abroad. In those days, it was rare for a child to venture so far from home for an education. My family was quite well-off, and my ancestors were men of great virtue and high office; I was born into a family with a long history of ancestral merit. However, when the era of reform arrived, the policies of equality and openness proved unfavourable for my family back home. Our fortunes declined, and at the age of twenty, just after graduation, I followed my parents to Hong Kong to seek a living and begin a new life.

A Life of Promise and Ancestral Virtue

In the old society of Hong Kong during that time, I was willing to learn anything and do anything. Among the children of wealthy families, I was one of the few who could endure hardship and remain truly humble. Because of this, I was deeply loved and trusted by my employers. My mother was a devout Buddhist, and from a young age, she instilled in me the principles of Confucianism—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity. Later, she guided me to explore the sutras of Mahayana Buddhism. Under the influence of our family traditions and my mother’s patient guidance, I grew up quite well. Even as a young boy, I knew how to bring joy to my elders, and I maintained a heart of non-attachment toward the things I possessed. My mother taught me for years that 'to let go is to gain; to gain is to let go.' All these circumstances suggest that I was growing up with strong moral foundations and academic success. Yet, why did I ultimately end up meeting such a tragic, violent death? I had known the laws of karma and cause and effect since I was a child, and I held myself to very strict standards regarding my body, speech, and mind.

Looking back now, there is only one stain upon my heart: selfishness. But this single stain was enough to erase every effort I made to achieve success or help others. At that time, I did not even know what it meant to be selfish. Now, as I speak to you as a spirit who has arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, having endured the various trials of the human and spiritual realms, I have finally returned to the seat of Namo Amituofo. Only after listening to the teachings of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su did I realise how the selfishness I had hidden deep within myself for so many years had led me, step by step, toward my own destruction.

From Scientific Dreams to Corporate Ambition

When I reached the age of twenty-five, I was in the prime of my youth, full of spirit and ambition. However, a desperate phone call from home reached me while I was studying in the United Kingdom. I made the resolute decision to abandon all my research studies and my dreams of becoming a scientist to return home. I had been studying physics, but at that time, the country did not place much importance on research-based physics, and there was very little room for me to apply my skills. I knew that I was not someone unwilling to serve my country; my plan had been to study abroad for twenty years so that I could return and dedicate my life to the nation, ensuring they could truly make use of my expertise and experience. This was my first act of selfishness: I loved to plan everything for myself. Although I was not entirely unconcerned for others, whenever things did not go as I wished, there would always be a murmuring in my heart. I dared not complain openly, but those murmurs, buried deep within, were no different from the personality traits Practitioner Su often describes.

Later, after being tempered by society, I learned to humble myself. Through various practical experiences and constant learning, I opened up a new path in life. Step by step, I moved away from my dream of being a scientist and entered the world of entrepreneurship, which the real world demanded—though I focused on scientific products. I had a deep foundation in Confucianism and knew that the 'greed' for gain was something to be avoided, so I proceeded with caution, never daring to slacken in my moral conduct or my business. If you were to ask me if I had any desire to benefit the masses at that time, I suppose I did. But it was no longer at the forefront of my life; it was merely a skillful means to support my own business.

The Hidden Stain of Selfishness

To speak of this in detail is to feel a deep sense of shame. Once I placed my entrepreneurial career at the forefront of my life, my actions were inevitably and unconsciously prioritised for my own benefit. For instance, when competing with similar businesses, although I dared not use overt, ruthless tactics to grab excessive profits, my detailed plans would always include considerations of 'how I should establish my own footing' or 'how my company could perfect this plan.' This led to a series of self-serving calculations that expanded from small matters to large ones. The employees of my company, influenced by our collective karma, would also inadvertently generate negative influences in their interactions with one another. This was my second act of selfishness: the self-serving calculations in my heart extended infinitely, eventually reaching the entire company, the families of my employees, and everyone around us. This was the subtle, private selfishness of one man. If such a habit is cultivated and affects others, who can bear the weight of such karmic retribution?

At the time, I believed that as long as what I did—the products I researched—did no harm to society, and as long as I treated my subordinates, employees, and members of society with kindness and respect, that was enough. I felt I had lived up to the teachings of my former teachers and my mother. However, I now know clearly that my understanding of Mahayana Buddhism at that time was limited to rote memorisation and reading; I had not truly implemented it from the heart. Therefore, the thoughts that crossed my mind were always centred on benefiting myself and my company, while benefiting others was merely an activity I engaged in when I had surplus resources. These signs all indicate that I was no different from an ordinary person who had never had the opportunity to study Confucian classics or Mahayana Buddhism in depth. This was precisely the moment I turned my back on the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way."

Guanfu began to find a clear direction for his spiritual life. Throughout the entire Hong Kong region, I wandered, chanting, "Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo." Wherever I went, the mental note of this sacred name spread with me. I witnessed firsthand the profound transformation that this single phrase, "Namo Amituofo," brought to both the human world and the spiritual realms. The most significant change was the profound sense of peace it instilled in the hearts of people, as well as in the restless, agitated minds of the beings in the spiritual realms. No matter where I drifted, this phrase, "Namo Amituofo," always brought a force of change—sometimes great, sometimes small—to all the beings around me. It could change a single thought, a word, or a small action. It was a shift from evil to Goodness, a transformation from suffering to light. I was absolutely stunned! "Namo Amituofo" is truly, truly magnificent!

The Power of the Buddha-Name in Hong Kong

These various encounters along the way eventually led me, after a long period of time, to the Tai Po district in the northern part of Hong Kong. Upon entering the Tai Po district, I continued to do the same thing, chanting "Namo Amituofo" over and over, bringing the power of the Buddha-name to the spiritual realms of that area. In truth, the spiritual realms are not lacking in souls who recognize and deeply believe in Namo Amituofo. Each of them acts as a messenger for Namo Amituofo, performing meaningful deeds for the sake of spiritual life.

On the day the fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district, the spiritual realms had already sensed a premonition of the event. Because of this, the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo had already begun to spread locally. Yet, the fire occurred nonetheless. The laws of karma and cause and effect are precise and unfailing; every individual has their own karmic retribution and destiny to face. Holding onto a heart of compassion, wanting to save both people and spirits, I lingered at the scene of the fire, loudly chanting, "Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo." My own spirit had once been so helpless and lost; I knew that these injured souls must be suffering even more agonizingly than I had ever endured.

The Tragedy at Wang Fuk Court

This time, something happened that was beyond what any ordinary person could imagine: Amitabha Buddha truly arrived at the scene! He came back and forth countless times, accompanied by Practitioner Su from the human world. They radiated immense light, a light that permeated every corner of the Wang Fuk Court and the surrounding areas. Everyone could not help but dance with joy—at last, we had seen the light! The desolation and sorrow that had originally filled the scene of the fire were instantly transformed into gentle breezes and fragrant scents. Under the illumination of that light, the spirits regained a new life, and each of them was instantly transported to the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. After the Buddha-light had appeared several times, during one of its profound descents, I, along with many other spirits and ghost deities from the surrounding areas, stepped boldly into the light and arrived at the true Buddha-land—the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

The Arrival of Light and Deliverance

Through this series of twists and turns, after experiencing countless ups and downs, I finally arrived at the Buddha-land described in the sutras. It was not yet the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss itself, but rather another Buddha-land of the true self that one reaches before entering the Western Land. To my astonishment, the creator of this place was a lay practitioner in a human body, known to everyone as Practitioner Su, or Sister Su, or Grandma Su. This world was established under the Buddha's blessings of Amitabha Buddha. I, Bu Guanfu, am filled with gratitude and overflowing joy. My identity has undergone a massive transformation, yet my heart to help others remains unchanged. Only now is this happiness truly complete; a truly new life has begun. Both Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su act not for themselves, but for the sake of all beings. Through listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, I finally understood: even the slightest trace of self-interest is selfishness, and it is all controlled by the ego, violating the Truth and the righteous path. I have completely turned back, letting go of all the good and bad I accumulated over the past century. From this moment on, the cause and effect of good and evil are turned over, and there is only one thing left to do: chant one Buddha's name to the end.

A New Life in the Buddha-Land

Namo Amituofo is the great Teacher of my life as a disciple. I vow to follow the Buddha to save the world, never failing the deep Buddhist affinity I planted long ago, nor the Namo Amituofo I chanted during the most painful period of my spiritual life. Namo Amituofo has saved me, the disciple Bu Guanfu, and has saved countless lives in the human world and the spiritual realms. Now, with Practitioner Su responding to the needs of the world, there is hope for a monumental change in this worldly realm. This time, I will certainly give my all, following the Buddha to participate in the Ultimate Vow to save the world.

Namo Amituofo.

Bu Guanfu