The Integrity of an Official Across Six Centuries

This is a record of an interview with Lu Mu, also known as Lu Xiwen, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately six hundred years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on March 1, 2026.

Lu Mu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lu Mu, also known as Lu Xiwen. I was born during the Ming Dynasty. In those days, my name was known throughout the land for my unwavering integrity and upright character. From the very beginning of my career as an official, I refused to bow to the powerful. I spoke my mind plainly and did not hesitate to impeach those who abused their authority. In the political culture of that time, many who were honest chose to remain silent to protect themselves. They retreated in the face of a treacherous environment. There were too few martyrs, and far too many who were skilled at playing the political game. During my youth, while I was still studying, I vowed to become an official who would have no regrets in his heart. I wanted to be able to advise the Emperor for the good of the nation and to govern the people with fairness and justice. I am deeply grateful to the Grand Secretary Yang Rong; I know that he provided me with support on more than one occasion."

A Life of Uncompromising Integrity

"For many years, I dedicated myself entirely to fulfilling my duties. Integrity was the hallmark of my life. I believed that to be an official, one must perform one's duties to the best of one's ability. To truly achieve this, one must be free of all personal bias. I dared not covet wealth, nor did I accept any money that was not rightfully mine. In fact, any surplus funds I had, after providing for my family's basic needs, I distributed among the common people. Though it was not much, it served to uphold my character. The words 'upright and incorruptible' are not merely empty phrases; they must be lived out through one's actions. I knew that only by living this way could I remain truly impartial and fearless. I taught my son the same principles. Life in this world is inherently full of suffering, as there are so many compromises one must make and so many unavoidable hardships one must face. It is better to keep one's heart comfortable and at ease."

"I served the Ming Dynasty for my entire life, and my conscience is clear. I truly lived up to the word 'integrity.' In my local administration, I did my utmost for the people. I can say without hesitation that I have no regrets. I do not claim that my rigid style was always correct—perhaps I lacked flexibility and tact at times. I do not claim to have been a perfect official, but regarding my own heart, I can responsibly say that I took good care of it. I lived by these principles throughout my life. Although my strict style and rigorous enforcement of the law sometimes brought pressure upon me, my heart remained entirely at peace, feeling incredibly light."

Six Centuries in the Void

"After a lifetime of service, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have done something for the people and to have shared the burdens of the Emperor. In the end, I passed away from exhaustion. After death, I entered a space—a realm where I continued to perform official duties. I remained in this state for six hundred years. It was only recently that a massive golden light shone forth, and I heard the words 'Namo Amituofo.' That was how I was brought out of that space and sent to the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia."

"Standing here in the Dharma-Nature Land, I am filled with sighs. I never imagined that this is what happens after death. If not for the compassion of Practitioner Su, who opened the space I was trapped in, I do not know how many more years I would have spent there. Listening to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks, I have gradually come to understand that everything in the world is illusory and impermanent—truly like a dream, a bubble, or a shadow. Take my life as Lu Xiwen, for example: I was incorruptible and upright, but where are those achievements now that I am dead? It turns out that death is not the end. The spirit continues to face various encounters and destinies. Unless one reaches the Western Pure Land, there is no end to this cycle."

The Power of Deliverance

"Witnessing the magnificent scale of Practitioner Su's deliverance of beings in China, I am truly filled with admiration. I never knew that a human body could manifest such power. It was like a downpour—the entire land of China was bathed in golden light. Countless souls, who like me had been trapped in these spaces, were saved. I do not know the exact number, only that it was immeasurable and boundless, and all of them entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature."

"Years ago, in my efforts to combat a locust plague, I exhausted myself until I finally succumbed to death. Seeing the aftermath of that plague now, I realise it created many such spaces. It is truly terrifying. Now, many of those souls have been saved through Practitioner Su's deliverance; it is their great fortune."

A New Path of Practice

"Many people do not understand the nature of these spaces. If the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre had not revealed these truths, people would have no opportunity to understand them. I have the utmost respect for the massive statue of Namo Amituofo standing above the temple. I have heard Practitioner Su explain that it is because Namo Amituofo is here that we, the immeasurable and boundless suffering beings of China, have the chance to be saved. This makes me want to kneel and pay homage to the compassionate Namo Amituofo. Practitioner Su also said that every one of us spirits can become a Buddha in the Western Pure Land, as long as we chant 'Namo Amituofo.' Therefore, I am now chanting the Buddha's name and listening to the Dharma. Although I did not walk this path of practice while I was alive, it is not too late to start now. I hope to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and perhaps one day, I will return to this world to save others."

"Lu Xiwen is grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su."

"Namo Amituofo."