The Illusion of Fame: A Testimony from Park Yong-ha

This is a record of an interview with the late Korean actor Park Yong-ha, who sought Chao Du 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 life and the karmic causes that led to his transition. Recorded by the chief writer, Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian, with data assistance from Lay Practitioner Lai Boya, on June 14, 2017.

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian speaks:

"I offer my ten bows to the Buddha and respectfully invite the Korean actor, Mr. Park Yong-ha. Through the accumulation of causal conditions, Practitioner Su has compassionately delivered Mr. Park to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I ask him to explain the circumstances that brought him to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and the process of his rebirth. May this help the world understand that the Buddha’s teachings transcend all national borders. As long as one truly believes in Namo Amituofo, everyone can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo."

Park Yong-ha speaks:

"Hello! I am Park Yong-ha. I am deeply grateful to the Taiwanese compatriots who have loved and supported me. It is a great honour to greet everyone here. I am a person of tremendous blessing, as Practitioner Su was able to save me from the scene of my passing and bring me to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. After listening to the Dharma in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I finally understood that whether it is fame or wealth, everything in this world is merely an external object. Everything we love is just a false appearance—an illusion. When the end comes, we cannot take anything with us. We only carry the weight of all the negative karma we created while alive.

The Illusion of Worldly Success

I had the good fortune not to suffer retribution in hell. My spirit was trapped at the scene of my death, repeatedly re-enacting that final moment. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for her love and care for us Korean entertainers and for her appreciation of the dramas I performed. Because of this opportunity to be saved, and after listening to the Dharma and being guided by Practitioner Su during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, I was led to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is truly magnificent. There is no fighting, no competition, no comparison, and no backstabbing. Everyone there is a noble being gathered in one place. The environment of the Western Pure Land—the flowers, the trees, the lotus fragrance wafting everywhere, and the sound of the flowing water—is so refreshing and soothing to the heart. This Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is simply too wonderful, too perfect. It allows one to be completely free from worry. I am truly grateful to Practitioner Su for her care, and I am grateful to the fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, as well as to all the people in Taiwan and Southeast Asia who have supported me, Park Yong-ha."

A Path Driven by Expectation

"Because of my father, I entered the entertainment industry. I was tall and handsome, which helped me secure the role of the second male lead. After becoming popular through 'Winter Sonata,' I was welcomed across Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and Japan. As my fame grew, my heart was filled with a desperate longing to be a massive success in my own country. I hoped to become the first male lead. I had too many expectations and extravagant desires, which often led to a deep sense of imbalance within me. I felt that my appearance and my abilities were not inferior to the first male lead, so why could I not be the first choice? Perhaps it was this internal resentment, combined with unpleasantness with my management agency, that caused me such distress.

I kept many unhappy things hidden deep in my heart, never speaking of them. This led to a great deal of inner turmoil. I tried to use alcohol to numb myself and forget the unpleasantness. I would drink until I was completely intoxicated. In that hazy state, I fell into an illusory realm where I imagined myself riding a white horse, galloping wildly across a vast grassland, trying to liberate myself. I held a telephone cord, imagining it was a horse whip. I was galloping on a fast horse, and when I grew tired, I simply wanted to tether the horse to rest and hang up the whip. I do not even know how, in that confused state, I ended up hanging my head and passing away. Looking back at the negative karma I created in my past lives, my karmic creditors found me when I was feeling low and drowning my sorrows in alcohol. In that muddled state, they made me feel as if I were in a dream, leading me down a path of no return."

The Roots of Jealousy

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. May I ask, Mr. Park Yong-ha, with whom did you form a grudge in your past lives that led your karmic creditors to seek you out?"

Park Yong-ha: "It was about seven lifetimes ago, during the early Ming Dynasty in China. From a young age, I followed my mother to a theatre troupe, helping with the laundry and cleaning. I was a cute child with a sweet tongue. Growing up in that environment, I watched the uncles and aunts practicing and training their voices backstage. Through constant exposure, I began to imitate them. Although I was young, I was clever and had a strong ability to learn. I memorised the plays they practiced, and soon I became a member of the troupe. As I grew up, I became a lead actor and was quite popular for a time. But as the saying goes, 'the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves in front,' and there were newcomers who were more popular than me. Jealousy took root in my heart. I played a dirty trick behind the scenes, poisoning the tea of a younger actor. This caused him to become depressed and unable to perform. Because of this, he lost his livelihood and eventually took his own life. This time, when I encountered setbacks and felt low, he took the opportunity to strike, creating that illusion and leading me down that path of no return. I sincerely repent to my karmic creditors here. I was ignorant in the past and caused you harm for the sake of my own fame and fortune. I beg Practitioner Su to compassionately lead all my karmic creditors to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful for the Buddha’s compassion in leading me. Namo Amituofo."

The Seeds of Past Generosity

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. May I ask, Mr. Park Yong-ha, what blessings did you cultivate in your past lives that allowed you to be so popular in Southeast Asia and Japan in this lifetime?"

Park Yong-ha: "About three lifetimes ago, my family was moderately well-off. My father worked hard to support the family, and my mother loved needlework. I was a young girl then. My mother taught me carefully, and I became very skilled with my hands. I helped my mother make many handicrafts to sell at the market, which were quite popular. Although our family was not extremely wealthy, my mother had a heart of great compassion. Most of the money we earned was donated to temples. When she saw that our neighbours were poor, she would teach me to sew cotton-padded jackets to distribute to those in need so they could survive the harsh winter. After I grew up, I married into a family where my mother-in-law was also a compassionate person who studied the Buddha’s teachings. I was very lucky; both my mother-in-law and my mother were kind people, so my heart of Goodness was not interrupted. I used my remaining money to help those in poverty. This is the blessing I accumulated in my past lives. That I was fortunate enough to be popular and loved by so many people in this lifetime is all due to these causal conditions. I also have a connection with Practitioner Su; the temple I donated to in the past is the very same temple she leads today. That I have the good fortune to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to be reborn today is also due to the blessings I accumulated in my past lives. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Mr. Park Yong-ha, for accepting this interview."

Namo Amituofo.