The Past Life of a Modern Tycoon

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Mr. Koo Chung-ling, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account reflects upon his life as a monastic approximately 1,300 years ago, as well as his current spiritual state. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on February 23, 2018.

Dharma Master Shi Faxin speaks:

"Yesterday, when we interviewed the spirit of Mr. Koo regarding the monastics of the White Horse Temple, he had not yet reached the Western Pure Land. Today, we ask Mr. Koo Chung-ling: in which past life did you attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land? Namo Amituofo."

Koo Chung-ling speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. That was a lifetime that occurred fifteen incarnations ago. It was over thirteen hundred years ago, during a golden age of the Buddha’s teachings. My mother was a woman of noble birth, yet she found herself pregnant in secret. To hide this scandal, my family had me sent away the very night I was born, leaving me at the gates of a temple. I grew up without a father or mother, never knowing my true origins. Because I had known nothing else since birth, I did not feel particularly inferior. My master was very affectionate toward me, and my fellow monastics were like brothers. Even as a small child, I was quite unique; I could be active, yet I could also be perfectly still.

The Path of Stillness

When I was quiet, I would imitate the way my seniors sat in meditation. At first, I was merely mimicking their outward appearance, but as I truly began to practise, I found I could settle my mind instantly. My fellow monastics were delighted to see me sitting with such composure. During those moments of deep meditation, I would see magnificent realms, and just as I felt the urge to step into them, I would remember my master’s instructions. As I grew older, around the age of fifteen, my master took me and several other brothers to another temple to transmit the Dharma. It was a long journey that required us to travel across many rivers and mountains.

My master taught us not to speak too much on the road, but to focus only on purity, and he taught us to chant this phrase: Namo Amituofo. The purity was inconceivable; it felt as though I could sense the vibrations of every person and object around me. While crossing a river, we encountered a father and his son. The father was rowing the boat with all his might, while the young boy, dressed in rags, was responsible for greeting and guiding the passengers. Seeing this at such a young age, my heart was filled with deep compassion. It was clear they were living a life of immense hardship. My master used the suffering of this father and son as a lesson for us disciples. He knew that I, despite my youth, had taken it all in, and my heart matured significantly that day, leading to many profound realisations.

The Vow of Compassion

We travelled back and forth several times, and during those journeys, I silently made a sincere vow to help all beings. Once this vow was made, I felt myself become much more mature and steady. This was the process of following my master to transmit the Dharma. When I was about fifty years old, I took on the role of abbot. I passed on my experience of practice to my disciples, teaching them the dual path of Chan and Pure Land. Even after becoming the abbot, many local officials came to seek my guidance. Despite this, I never allowed my heart to be moved by fame or profit. After establishing a legacy at the temple, I passed away while chanting the Buddha’s name and attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I was sixty-four years old at the time of my rebirth. This is what I, Koo Chung-ling, have seen, though it is not entirely clear to me now.

Awakening from the Illusion

Today, my spirit is repeatedly becoming aware of the past, and I realise that I have certain tasks to fulfil, rather than simply being an ordinary wealthy man. The constant manipulation of money and the endless cycle of financial games—it all feels so hollow, so utterly unreal. I do not wish to continue living like this. My spirit has awakened once more. I look at my physical body and realise that my fifty trillion cells have undergone much purification. I pick up my phone, scrolling through websites, and inadvertently, I seem to have come across the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I thought I had clicked it by mistake at first, but I did not pay it much mind. However, from the perspective of my spirit, this is already the blessing of the ancestral masters. I am clear-headed now, and I hope that everything will soon be revealed. Namo Amituofo."