The Inevitable Path of Sickness and Death

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Lee Kuan Yew, 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 transition from the human realm. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on June 5, 2018.

Lee Kuan Yew speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lee Kuan Yew. When I look into the mirror now, I see the deep, indelible marks that the passage of time has left upon my face. The young, vibrant man I once was has, in the blink of an eye, transformed into an elderly man surrounded by children and grandchildren. My back is hunched, my teeth are loose and failing, and my entire body is riddled with ailments. When the pains were minor, I simply endured them, but when they became severe, I had no choice but to lie upon a hospital bed.

The Loss of Control in the Final Days

Once you are pushed into that hospital bed, you are no longer the master of your own fate. One moment you are being pricked by needles, the next you are undergoing endless examinations. You are tormented back and forth, and when you look into the mirror again, you find yourself wondering: 'Is this really me?' The distortion of my own face terrified me. Even the most basic abilities of daily life began to decline rapidly, until eventually, I could do nothing at all. To be pushed out in a wheelchair just to sit in the sun became the most beautiful moment of my day.

The Burden of Attachment

My body withered day by day, and I had no idea where the hope for life lay. That final, gasping breath was held onto only because I desperately wanted to continue living—there were still so many affairs I could not let go of, and so many family members I could not bear to leave behind. This is the path that every human must walk: the inevitable road of sickness and death. It is a profound suffering, and no matter how powerful or wealthy one may be, no one can escape the agony of illness and the terror of death.

Deliverance from the Cycle of Suffering

The suffering of the body and the suffering of the heart—these attachments became the heavy chains that bound me as a wandering soul in the ghost realm. Practitioner Su, who is also my benefactor, waved his great sleeves and dissolved all this suffering. Every day, Practitioner Su transforms his limited life into the Infinite Life and Infinite Light of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the great, compassionate power of Chao Du. Namo Amituofo."