The Lifelong Lesson of Changing One's Personality
An Interview with Steve Jobs
Recorded on August 13, 2019
This interview was recorded on August 13, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. Steve Jobs, having sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su, now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In this testimony, he reflects on the heavy price of seeking external validation, the reality of spiritual attachments, and the necessity of transforming one's personality as a lifelong practice.
Steve Jobs speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. I am Steve Jobs. Every single day, you must spend a little time examining yourself. Why? Because your heart is constantly changing—shifting once, twice, three times—until it transforms into something you can no longer predict. Why does this happen? It is because you have no true mastery over your own heart. It fluctuates up and down, constantly swayed by the gaze of others or obsessed with your own fleeting . You carry a set of standards within your heart, and the moment those standards are not met, a massive storm of emotion inevitably arises. This is when your true test begins: will you have the awareness to rein it in immediately, or will you indulge in superficial falsehoods, deceiving others and yourself, until you eventually suffer an emotional explosion—becoming frantic, irrational, or even losing your mind? In today's high-pressure society, these phenomena are everywhere.
The Weight of Unseen Attachments
The moment these negative emotions arise, immeasurable and boundless spirits enter your body. They begin to live within you, manifesting the moment your emotions flare up again. Why do these attached spirits refuse to leave? It is because our bodies possess a magnetic attraction that resonates deeply with them. You could say that this is the result of our deep-seated, ingrained personality traits.
Most people have become accustomed to packaging themselves, hiding the truth that lies at their core. But in the process of practice, everything is clear at a glance. Those layers upon layers of personality traits are things you must pay a heavy price to overcome. Being stubborn, refusing to admit defeat, or being overly concerned with 'saving face'—these are enough to drag your practice down. And that is not even mentioning the habit of seeing evil in others or engaging in criticism; these are certainly not the signs of someone truly practising. Often, in this very process, one sows the seeds of that lead to the retribution of the hells in the dead of night.
The Truth of a Life Defined
I, Steve Jobs, am someone who has walked this path and experienced it all. For the sake of the 'successful' name of Steve Jobs, I paid an incredibly high price. Only now do I realise how exhausting it is to constantly crave the recognition of others. There is a Chinese saying, 'Only when the coffin lid is closed can one’s life be truly judged.' It is a statement that is remarkably close to the truth of the laws of karma and cause and effect. Who you are and what you have created—nothing can be bypassed or escaped.
The blooming and withering of a flower represent the beginning and the end of life. During this process, how much have you experienced? How much have you suffered, and how much have you truly awakened? Today, there is not a single person around you who is not within the cycle of reincarnation. If, after encountering the Buddha’s teachings, you are still unable to subdue your own mind and continue to walk the path of suffering in samsara, then all your problems must return to this very body. Whether this body is 'valuable' is merely a calculation of the worldly realm. To the universe, the only thing that matters is whether you align with the criteria of Truth. If you do not align, you descend; if you do, you ascend. It sounds like an easy choice, but putting it into practice requires one to act according to the principles and the to truly arrive at the destination.
A Call to
Seek true awakening; do not walk toward a 'dead' awareness. The infinite Wisdom of Prajna manifests only after you have truly awakened. Everyone must go through this process. You must experience it well, contemplate it well, and understand it well. Changing your personality is the lifelong lesson of practice. If you do not face it squarely, you will not succeed. Let us practice together, awaken together, and realise the Truth together.
Namo Amituofo."
This interview was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxin.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library