The Illusion of Longing and the Path to Purity

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Lee Kuan Yew, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his observations in the Western Pure Land and his own journey toward spiritual clarity. This session was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on August 21, 2018.

Lee Kuan Yew speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, I wish to recount a true story that I witnessed within the Western Pure Land. In that magnificent realm, I observed an elderly woman who had already attained the form of a great being. Despite her elevated state, her heart remained entangled with the complex emotions of the human world. She found it impossible to let go of the attachments she cherished most deeply during her life on Earth. Although she lived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—a place of such profound joy—she was not entirely free.

Whenever she recalled a specific emotional memory from her past, her appearance would shift to reflect her former human face. As she dwelled on these thoughts, her expression would become unnatural, darkening or flushing with strange colours. She was entirely unaware of this transformation. In the space where she resided, a peculiar type of grass began to grow day by day. It is called 'Longing Grass.' Every time she thought of her family and the affections of her past, a blade of this grass would sprout from her very being. These plants grew with startling vigour, quickly filling her entire courtyard. The grass grew and changed in direct response to the movements of her heart. It carried within it a natural, sorrowful sense of homesickness. I watched her many times, trapped in that space, unable to move beyond it. Yet, whenever she heard the sound of the Buddha’s name and her heart became clear and bright, these strange, illusory scenes would vanish in an instant. It was a truly miraculous sight, and I felt compelled to share this with the world."

The Illusion of Attachment

"One day, I saw these strange grasses growing in abundance once more, but this time, the woman was nowhere to be seen. The grass grew taller and taller, eventually surpassing the height of a person. It was a truly shocking sight. As this thought arose in my mind, I recalled the teaching of the Buddha: 'All obstacles arise from the manifestation of illusions.' The moment this thought took hold, I saw the scene before me begin to fade away. I found her curled up amidst the thicket of grass. I watched as she suddenly jumped to her feet, shook her entire body, and looked at me with joy. She asked, 'Was it you who told me that all of this was merely an illusory obstacle?'

It was a profound moment of realisation. In the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, everything is manifested through the power of one's own mental notes. It was a truly wondrous experience, and we both laughed. She expressed deep shame for the defilements that had lingered in her heart. She made a vow to go before the Buddha to sever these emotional attachments. When she finally stood before the Buddha, I saw her heart become radiant, and her countenance became incredibly dignified. She vowed to cut off the roots of her emotional attachments. As she held to her vow, her heart became increasingly pure. From that point on, she never again allowed herself to dwell on anything from the human world. She had truly become a being of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Her lotus pedestal shone with a brilliant, incomparable light. She told me that this is the true nature of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss: all environments are manifested by the state of one's mind. When the heart is pure and clear, all manifestations are naturally peaceful and dignified."

The Responsibility of Buddhahood

"She also remarked that the human world is essentially the same as the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in its potential, but because of the various distortions and impurities of the human mind, the world appears as a defiled land. In truth, as long as the heart is pure and cool, every place can be just as purified and magnificent as the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. She shared her experiences and the Causal Conditions that led her to this point. She affirmed to me, 'Becoming a Buddha is one's own business, and it is something that one is fully capable of achieving.'

Her words left me feeling deeply ashamed, for I, too, still harbour attachments to my children in the human world. My own heart still feels like a defiled land. However, I will not give up. I will continue to practise diligently, to refine myself, and to change. I am deeply grateful for this manifestation and for the teaching it provided. In the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, every moment is a magnificent and dignified teaching from Namo Amituofo. I am filled with boundless gratitude. Namo Amituofo."

"Namo Amituofo."