The Price of Power and the Truth of Retribution

This interview was recorded on May 30, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The speaker is the late Lin Rong-san, the founder of the Liberty Times, who sought deliverance from the hell realms through the compassion of Practitioner Su. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, having been guided there by the great vow of Namo Amituofo. In this testimony, he recounts his life of immense worldly influence, the devastating karmic retribution he faced after death, and his profound gratitude for the salvation he received.

Lin Rong-san speaks: "Namo Amituofo. I am Lin Rong-san. Back when I was active in the political and business circles of Sanchong, who did not know the name Lin Rong-san? In the corporate or political world, it could be said that my words carried such weight that they could freeze water. During the boom of the real estate market, my ventures only increased my fame and made my life appear even more glorious and successful. I held so many enterprises—real estate, newspapers, banks, and more. You could say my career reached its absolute peak.

The Illusion of Earthly Greatness

"My philosophy and my political leanings were biased toward the Democratic Progressive Party. I supported them because I could not stand the Kuomintang's monopoly on power. I started my own newspaper specifically to attack the Kuomintang. I felt that because I had money, I could do whatever I wanted. I told myself I was doing this for the people of Taiwan, but my newspapers were almost entirely focused on exposing the bad things the Kuomintang did. I would dig up every negative story I could find. I felt that with my wealth and power, there was no way the Kuomintang could ever bring me down. My mind was sharp, and I made my newspapers cheaper than anyone else's. Whether I was losing money or making money, I was determined to keep going—all to strike at the Kuomintang. I wanted everyone in Taiwan to know the evil things they were doing behind the scenes. Sometimes, I would even embellish the reports to make people feel more shocked and dissatisfied, which stirred up ethnic conflict. At the time, I felt I was a man of justice. Who would have expected that despite my soaring career, my death would be so miserable?"

Retribution in the Hells

"Who would have known that after I died, I would fall into the hells and face judgment before the King of Hell? I had to confess that while I was alive, I ran a newspaper that incited ethnic conflict and published falsehoods, causing deep rifts between the Taiwanese people and the mainlanders. For this, I suffered retribution in the hells. The first was the heart-gouging hell, because my heart was malicious and I wrote things that were untrue. The second was the intestine-gouging hell, because the King of Hell judged that in my business and political dealings, I had used unscrupulous means to earn money I should never have touched. The suffering in hell was unbearable, truly agonizing.

"I am so grateful that Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre happened to see a business magazine, mentioned my name, and realised I was suffering in hell. With a heart of great compassion, she saved me. Perhaps you do not know that although this Practitioner Su is a lay practitioner, she has more virtue than many monastics. Even though she wears white, her heart is entirely that of a renunciant. That is why she had the ability to save me from hell. During the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, she sent my spirit to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am twelve thousand times grateful—I do not know how to ever repay this kindness."

A Direct Flight to the West

"Because Practitioner Su is now opening a direct flight to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and Namo Amituofo is residing at the temple, she wants the whole world to know that the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the name of Namo Amituofo are vast and boundless. She wants everyone to recognise the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and Namo Amituofo. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Practitioner Su has compassionately saved many political and business elites, as well as celebrities, leading them to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They are all able to come forward and speak from their own experiences, allowing more people to believe that the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss exists and that Namo Amituofo is real.

"If you have any doubts about what I, Lin Rong-san, am saying, or if you do not believe it, you can come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I can come forward and speak to you myself so that you will believe. My words end here. I thank Practitioner Su and the fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo."

The Mechanics of a Stolen Soul

Disciple Li Jia-xian: "Thank you, Mr. Lin Rong-san, for accepting my interview today. May I ask at what age your three hun souls and seven po souls were captured, and when you began to fall ill? Your merit is immeasurable. Namo Amituofo."

Lin Rong-san: "I, Lin Rong-san, was famous in the political and business worlds. My life was one of glory and wealth, but in the end, I died of cancer. After death, I fell into the hells to suffer retribution. Fortunately, the compassion of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre saved my spirit. After my spirit was rescued, I listened to the sutras at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for a long time before going to the West. While listening to the sutras in the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I finally understood that when our three hun souls and seven po souls are captured, the body begins to decay.

"After listening to the teachings, I realised that the karmic creditors from our past lives will enter our dreams. They manifest as the things we love most—fame, status, family, or romance—to make us unable to let go. They lure us into these dreams, and once we enter that dreamscape, we cannot get out. This is what the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre explores regarding different spaces; once you enter that space, you cannot escape. This is what is meant by the soul being captured."

Dreams of Power and Desire

"My soul was captured when I was about fifty-seven years old. To hype up real estate, I used various means to buy low and sell high, extracting as much profit as I could. Once, in a dream, I dreamt I was the most famous person in Taiwan's real estate industry. I was dining with famous political and business elites. When I walked into the venue, everyone stood up and applauded. I felt so proud and raised my hand to greet them. At that moment, four of my po souls were captured. I did not know it at the time, and when I woke up, I still felt smug about that dream. I dreamt it often. Not long after, I often felt exhausted and weaker and weaker. I thought I was just too busy and tired, so I ignored it and continued to push my career.

"Another time, I dreamt that my Liberty Times had defeated the China Times. I was incredibly smug. My reports attacked the Kuomintang and dug up their scars; the content was very popular. I walked into my newspaper office, and my employees were ready with champagne to celebrate my arrival. I straightened my suit, a smile on my lips, walking with a swagger, feeling how powerful I was. My newspaper had finally gained the upper hand. After that dream, looking back, I realise one of my hun souls was captured. Ever since that dream, my health deteriorated further.

"And there was another hun soul captured. Oh, men of this world! Which one does not love the company of women? Especially in politics—who does not have a string of mistresses? I was no exception. I dreamt I was going to a social engagement, walking into a high-end hostess club. Two rows of beautiful women, all slim and graceful, were there. They were all specially selected beauties. As I walked in, they all blew kisses at me. As a man, walking through like that felt so triumphant. Just like that, another one of my hun souls was captured. My body became thinner and thinner. Later, a full-body checkup revealed a tumor. Even with the illness, I continued to struggle in the political arena, thinking I was working for the people, fighting for benefits in the Legislative Yuan. In reality, it was all for my own benefit. Who among us is truly working for the welfare of the people? I was the same—do not talk about others. That is why I died of cancer. I lived to be seventy-seven. A lifetime of glory and wealth, a brilliant life, but when I died, I could not take a single thing with me. I only took the karma I created in this world to the hells to suffer retribution.

"Speaking of this now, I feel a bit sad. I have laid out my process so clearly today to let everyone know—especially those in government—that for your own interests, you have created much mouth karma, inciting ethnic conflict and making people feel uneasy. All of this has the retribution of cause and effect. I hope everyone will not be like me, only realising the suffering after falling into hell upon death. I thank Practitioner Su again, and I thank the fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo."

The message content was written by the Buddhist disciple, Practitioner Li Jia-xian.