The Poet's Return: A Conversation with Su Dongpo

This is a record of an interview with Su Shi (Su Dongpo), who sought Spiritual Deliverance 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 life approximately 900 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on April 5, 2026.

Su Shi (Su Dongpo) speaks:

"My journey here, to this moment, is beyond words—it is truly magnificent. These past ten or so years have passed in the blink of an eye. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is like a beacon of light in the human world, guiding all beings back to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Looking back from afar, I am filled with Dharma joy; after a separation of a thousand years, everything feels completely renewed.

Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, along with my younger brother, are all gathered here in this time and space. It is a reunion of the ages.

A Millennium of Wandering

I have already spent several decades in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Practitioner Su, I am so deeply grateful for your great compassion! To see you again after all these years—it is overwhelming. It has been over a decade, and in the Western Land, many of the historical figures who were guided here by Practitioner Su share this same profound sense of gratitude. We are indebted to you for your guidance, a debt that words cannot express. Being able to accept this interview today fills my heart with such deep emotion and boundless joy. Every detail of my past life is now crystal clear before my eyes. My spirit, nearly a thousand years old, once roamed across the vast lands of China. I remember how I was demoted again and again, travelling to every corner of that great land. That was the essence of my short, sixty-four-year life.

The life of a spirit is incredibly long. I endured such a vast stretch of time in the ghost realm, trapped in that dark, dim space, yet I never truly left the land of China. Now, the great Spiritual Deliverance performed by Practitioner Su has ignited a tremendous hope for all of us, for all our descendants across thousands of years. I am truly fortunate; I arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss a little earlier than many others.

From Zen Intellectual to Pure Land Practitioner

I did not come here to enjoy myself. Although the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is the most magnificent of all the Buddha-lands in the ten directions, I have never held a heart of laziness or complacency. I know deeply that this grace of guidance, this magnificent Causal Condition, was not easily attained. I practise here with the hope that if I can become a Buddha in this lifetime, I can return to the human world, or go to any of the six realms of existence or the ten directions to teach beings, just as Practitioner Su does, saving countless suffering beings.

I am honoured to share the same surname as Practitioner Su, and I am in awe of the magnificent achievements Practitioner Su has made at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in the human world, as well as the great work of saving the countless beings of China who have been trapped for millennia. This truly makes my heart blossom with joy. To see the emperors, generals, heroes, and knights I once knew all gathering in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, knowing that one day they can truly chant the Buddha's name and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—it is a miracle.

I once called myself 'Lay Practitioner Dongpo,' believing I had reached a certain level of practice. Looking back, it is truly laughable. Of course, I have always been an optimist, and when I look at my past states of mind, I cannot help but burst into laughter. Ha! Therefore, in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I strictly follow the words Practitioner Su gave me: I chant 'Namo Amituofo' to the very end, not daring to let a single deluded thought arise. If I were not here speaking to you, I would still be immersed in the Buddha-name, my heart as still as water. I am a completely different person from the 'Lay Practitioner Dongpo' of a thousand years ago.

Reflections in Verse

I once composed thousands of poems, just to describe the life I led. My nature was always free and easy, letting the wind and rain of life wash over me. Whether I was judged as good or evil by later generations, it was all just the illusion of the Law of Cause, Condition, and Fruit. Back then, I did not know the name of the true Buddha, yet I carried the heart of a Buddhist disciple. I thought the Buddha's teachings were merely Zen, and that life within Zen was the ultimate happiness. Who would have known that the Dharma Body is saved in this way—realising the truth through the false? Today, here at Hsiang Kuang, the truth manifests again in the land of China. It is a technology beyond technology, with countless manifestations, saving beings without end.

The Legacy of the Su Causeway

Of course, I still bring that same joyful heart to report to you all. In my past life, although I lived a life of displacement and hardship, I found joy within it. My life was full of ups and downs, and while I never dared to covet high office, I always hoped that every step I took could contribute something to my country and its people. I considered myself a person who could find wisdom in the midst of busyness—that is, through diligent work, I could generate a special kind of wisdom. One project I truly enjoyed was the restoration of the West Lake in Hangzhou. I led tens of thousands of workers in the restoration efforts. The West Lake back then was nothing like it is today; it was barely a lake, barely water. But through our diligent efforts, the West Lake finally achieved the dignity you see today. After dredging the lake, we had to deal with the leftover mud and stone. I had an idea: why not use this earth to build a long causeway? That way, the people on both sides of the lake could travel freely. Why not? And so, the 'Su Causeway' was born. This is one of the things in my life that still brings me great joy when I think of it.

Although I appeared to be a scholar and a poet, skilled in many arts, deep in my heart, I was a loyal official who loved his country and his people. I knew what the country needed, and I knew how my humble skills could serve the people. The laughter and joy of those days brought happiness and satisfaction to many.

A Heart Seeking Home

My life seemed to have everything—I had done everything—but in truth, my heart remained as pure and sensitive as a child's. While I thought about doing great things for the people, I also thought about my own small, interesting affairs. I liked to use my hands, my brain, and my feet. Sometimes I did things that were unconventional, which made people laugh, and I had moments of arrogance, but that was just my way of 'playing the fool' in the midst of life's situations. In truth, I always longed for someone to understand me, someone to discuss the world with. Aside from my brother, Su Ziyou, who was my best partner, the topic most often gossiped about by the public was my relationship with Chan Master Foyin.

Though people misunderstood me as arrogant and rude, they did not know that Master Foyin and I shared a bond as deep as brothers, a profound mutual understanding. I always liked to show off in front of him, and he knew it. He knew my 'unruly' temper, yet he never said a word to hurt me. Even when I was disrespectful, he would just laugh it off. The famous story of 'The eight winds cannot move me, yet a fart blows me across the river'—thinking back, it is a very funny story, but also a helpless one. I knew then that I was only lingering on the surface of Zen, not truly deep in the Buddha's teachings, and I had not experienced the 'meditative concentration' that Zen brings. I knew I hadn't grasped the essence of the Buddha's teachings; I was just 'fighting on paper,' yet I was very happy and amused by it.

I was diligent in my duties, always wanting to do good for the people, but because of my blunt personality, I could not tolerate political corruption. I offended many high-ranking officials, leading to my constant demotions and exiles. I had my grievances, but they were minor. I knew this was all part of the Causal Conditions, a path I had to walk, so I did not have much resentment. I would just write a few poems, and life would go on. I once thought I could find refuge in my wife, but both of my wives passed away before me. These painful facts only show how much I longed for understanding and love. Despite my talent and my love for the people, my inner world remained like a child's. I lived a free and easy life, but I never found my true home.

I admired Confucianism, yearned for Daoism, and delved into Buddhism. I studied all three, and each gave me insights to comfort my life. Whenever I hit a wall, I would read the sutras or look into the inner worlds of the sages of the past to help me overcome my frustrations. If you ask which school I belonged to, I did not truly take refuge in any. I believe the Buddha's teachings were my most important spiritual pillar in my later years, but I never truly encountered the Buddhist education like that of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, nor did I apply the teachings to my life. Everything was just a comfort to my heart. Under such circumstances, how could I have become a truly devout Buddhist?

I am an optimist. I could always stand up after setbacks and find a new goal. I always had a direction, knowing where to find joy and interest. Every place I passed through is still deeply imprinted in my heart, and every person I met gave me great inspiration. I once wrote a poem, ending with: 'Ask of my life's work: Huangzhou, Huizhou, Danzhou.' I did not have great achievements, nor did I hold high office to solve the people's problems, but in those days of constant demotion, I found ways for myself and my family to survive.

Ziyou, look at me—I have been talking for so long, saying a little here and a little there, yet I have not reached the most important point I wanted to tell the world. Does this not sound exactly like my personality back then? The brother who used to give you such a headache is now having a soul-to-soul conversation with you across a thousand years of time and space. Our identities are very different now, but we are both people of the Buddha's gate, both practitioners with a deep connection to Namo Amituofo."

I am no longer the Su Dongpo of the past, now that I reside in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, I possess a higher Wisdom and a more composed state of mind to share my story with you. I have not forgotten our promise—the promise that we would meet again and continue our affinity in the future. I have kept my word. Our gathering today stems from a magnificent Dharma affinity within the Pure Land Dharma Gate. We are both followers of the Pure Land path, both individuals learning the true Buddhist education under the guidance of Namo Amituofo, and both people who share a deep, karmic connection with Practitioner Su.

A Brother's Reflection on the Past

The Su Zhe of the past—Zi You—is now Fa Ning, living the life of a monastic at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. You never expected such a transformation, did you? In this life, you truly bear a striking resemblance to the Su Zhe I knew—my younger brother, Zi You. If I was the foolish elder brother who was always stirring up trouble and maintaining a carefree attitude, leaving you to clean up the mess, you were indeed the one who could hold up the sky for our Su family. You were the one who silently shouldered every responsibility, remaining steadfast in your dedication to the country and to your elder brother, even amidst the storms. I have never forgotten your integrity and your strength of character. I remember when we participated in the imperial examinations together; you bravely wrote an essay criticizing the government for Emperor Renzong of Song, and yet, you earned his tolerant praise.

Today, that same strength of character still resides within your heart, though your identity and state of mind have changed. What you wish to vigorously promote is no longer the affairs of the mundane world, but the work within the Buddha’s gate that can truly help others achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Of course, the path of practice is neither difficult nor easy—you should know this better than I. With this human body, you can achieve great things, or you can be limited by it. It all depends on your cultivation in this lifetime.

The Pride of an Elder Brother

Brother sees your heart clearly. Just as in the past, you still enjoy overthinking and worrying. I must remind you that this is not a good thing for your practice. You like to admire the brave figures and heroes of various dynasties, and you can even shed tears for them. Do you realize that you were once one of them? You, too, once exhausted your efforts to build a legacy for your family, your country, and the common people.

In truth, you have always been my pride. It is only because my reputation overshadowed everything else that later generations do not fully understand your story. The world does not know that the real Su Zhe was actually far wiser than I, Su Dongpo. It is simply that my literary talent far exceeded my status, and people are more familiar with the name Su Dongpo.

Of course, you do not mind this fact at all. You have always wanted to do your work in silence. Although there was both Goodness and evil in our pasts—for none of us were perfect and we all had our own habits and emotions—that is why you have wandered in this worldly realm until now, still unable to walk out of the whirlpool of emotions.

A Call to Awaken

Zi You, let it all go! Once you have followed the Buddha in this life, there is no turning back. This is a magnificent and joyful thing. If you could see yourself throughout your many lives—you who once wanted to achieve something great within the Buddha’s gate—you would see that you have now found the best home in the entire universe. In the human world, this is the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. In the spiritual realms, you have come to know Namo Amituofo and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is already the most magnificent and rare opportunity. Having said this, I will say no more. The Zi You of the past, now the monastic Fa Ning in a female body, you must awaken quickly!

Su Dongpo has finished speaking of the various life circumstances encountered in the human world. My own life was very open-minded and heroic, and I lived a life as thrilling as a roller coaster. I believe the readers have some understanding of Su Shi, Su Dongpo, so we shall omit the details! Today, I wish to share more about my soul, which has wandered for a thousand years and now belongs to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The gratitude and sense of security in my heart are things I could never have experienced when I was Su Dongpo.

The Power of Practitioner Su

It was only when I came before Practitioner Su that I truly saw how a human body can realize one's true nature and attain Buddhahood, becoming a true Buddha with such immense capacity. When Practitioner Su first guided me, although she did not yet possess the skills to deliver countless spirits and demon crowds through her countless manifestations as she does now, she was already able to freely travel to and from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and could freely guide the deceased into it.

At that time, in a place in Taiwan where Practitioner Su resided, a brilliant light shone forth, attracting countless beings from the spirit realm to come and investigate. Many famous figures—emperors, generals, scholars, and talented individuals—came before Practitioner Su to seek Spiritual Deliverance. In that instant of guidance from Practitioner Su, we entered the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss directly.

Before this, I was a lonely spirit who had wandered for over a hundred years, drifting aimlessly across the land of China just as I had in my own time. I drifted and drifted; although I was free, I had no home. If you ask where I went before wandering in the ghost realm, I must honestly confess that I spent two or three hundred years in the hells. My time in the hells was due to the various verbal karma I created throughout my life, as well as the various faults I committed by failing to follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Of course, there were also the many poems and essays I left behind. They contained a mixture of Goodness and evil, and their influence on future generations was significant. Although I maintained Right Mindfulness for most of my life, I could not avoid writing poems that reflected my inner world and worldly sentiments. These were of no benefit to society, nor did they help people adhere to moral foundations; they only increased people's afflictions and attachments, or deepened their longing for the world of emotions. This was a great taboo.

The Trap of Emotion

The word emotion has caused countless heroes to fail from ancient times to the present. There were several women in my life; although I was not promiscuous and remained loyal to each of them, I still walked into the whirlpool of emotion and could not extricate myself. Time and again, these emotions exhausted my energy. The poems I wrote inevitably contained such verses, which is where the creation of karma lies.

Looking back at the human world from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss today, I am filled with joy. I am joyful because Practitioner Su’s Dharmakaya achievement today is so much higher than it was back then. It is evident that the degree of Practitioner Su’s diligent practice and the speed of her progress are truly astonishing. Not to mention ten years—looking at it now, even in just a few days, weeks, or months, one can see that Practitioner Su’s skills in Chao Du are improving daily, monthly, and yearly. Seeing this fills me with joy. As one who was once a member of the land of China, I see how many famous figures have gained the opportunity for liberation through this great deliverance. If historical figures have had so many opportunities for salvation, then the number of civilians who have been delivered is truly remarkable.

A Beacon for the World

What is even more extraordinary is that the scope of Practitioner Su’s deliverance is not limited to the souls of those who were active in China; it also includes the immeasurable and boundless beings in the demon realms that interfere with the thoughts, speech, and actions of the Chinese people. It also includes many animal spirits, plant spirits, and many souls trapped deep underground for thousands of layers. It can be said that no matter how much time has passed, as long as the Dharma affinity is sufficient, everyone can have the opportunity to leave suffering behind and gain happiness through this great deliverance by Practitioner Su. I am happy for every member of the land of China, and I am very joyful that the world has this beacon of light—the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Recalling the Su Dongpo of the past, I only liked to discuss interesting aspects of Buddhist philosophy and Zen, but I did not know the true high-tech and profound mysteries of the Buddha’s teachings. I did not truly place the Buddha in my heart or implement the Buddha’s teachings in my life, which is why I could not experience the profound Wisdom of the Buddha.

Practitioner Su’s manifestation is truly difficult to encounter in millions of years. It has been over two thousand years since the Buddha’s teachings were introduced to China, but never before have we seen such a magnificent feat, such a world-shocking deliverance. Only a person who is completely selfless, who thinks of all beings in every thought, who is willing to sacrifice themselves and endure various physical pains to achieve all this, could possibly have such accomplishments. As a lay practitioner, Practitioner Su possesses a heart more resilient and Wisdom higher than all men in this worldly realm. Although she may not know many characters, the Wisdom she has developed is truly infinite. It is very difficult for us who have not reached the state of a Buddha to comprehend! If I were not a spirit today—a spirit who can witness the scene of this deliverance with my own eyes—I might not have been able to believe everything that has happened.

Zi You, you are truly blessed to be able to practice in such a magnificent environment. This is similar to your heart, which was more diligent than mine in studying the Buddha’s teachings and practicing Meditation in the past, is it not? It is just that what you studied back then was the Zen school; no matter how diligent you were, you only achieved an improvement in the state of Meditation and higher concentration. It seems you were unable to end the cycle of birth and death or escape the three realms, am I right? Now, what you know is the Pure Land Dharma Gate, which is a very magnificent Dharma gate! You should be very clear about Practitioner Su’s manifestation now. Do not let your heart be afflicted by the affairs of the world anymore; none of this is worth your attachment, nor is it worth you losing your temper. If I had a human body today, I would practice at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre just like you, and I would certainly strive to make realizing one's true nature the only goal of my life.

"Without realizing one's true nature, how can one truly save beings? Without becoming an awakened being, no matter how much one speaks of saving others, it is not the ultimate, perfect deliverance of countless suffering beings. Just as Practitioner Su has often said, establishing a bodhimanda is truly no easy task. If no one is willing to take on this heavy responsibility, how can we truly continue the wisdom-life of the Buddha and pave a bright, luminous path for future generations of Buddhist practitioners?"

The Weight of True Awakening

"Practitioner Su has truly learned the spirit of Namo Amituofo, and has mastered all the Universal Principles, the Truth, and the Right Way taught by Namo Amituofo. By honestly and diligently putting these into practice, she has achieved the ability to travel freely back and forth to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and to deliver countless suffering beings. I truly hope that the Buddha’s teachings will flourish once again across the vast land of China. The Chinese people are in such dire need of the Dharma, yet they remain unaware of it, still living within the rigid frameworks they have constructed for themselves. The stubborn attachments of the Chinese people will truly harm generation after generation. Of course, the propagation of the Buddha’s teachings is not something that can be achieved overnight."

A Message to Ziyou

"Ziyou, you must truly exert yourself at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Center. Do not dwell on your human body anymore; your physical form is worth nothing. Just like the Ziyou of the past—has he not long since turned to dust? Where is he now? You must look beyond the temporary and focus on the eternal."

The Joy of the Western Land

"Speaking of this, my heart remains filled with gratitude and joy. The magnificence of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss will soon enter the hearts of people in this world. As the stories of Practitioner Su’s work to deliver sentient beings spread, more people will surely take this opportunity to understand the true Dharma. What exactly is the Dharma that can truly save the world, save humanity, and save the spiritual realms? Thinking of this, I am filled with immense joy, and I hope to contribute my own strength to this great cause. If Practitioner Su has need of me, she may call upon me at any time. I am always here; I have never left the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su. Su Dongpo bows his head in gratitude to you."

Su Shi (Su Dongpo)