This is a record of an interview with Balthasar Konda, a German spirit who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his life approximately 162 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on February 16, 2026.
Balthasar Konda speaks:
". I am Balthasar Konda. I have lost track of how long I drifted in that dark, desolate place. It was only recently that I encountered a brilliant, golden light. I entered that light, and a completely different journey began. I have so much to say. As a lonely wandering spirit who drifted for so long, I did not know where I came from or where I was going, until I arrived in this incredibly bright world—the Western -Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. We wandering spirits have long been familiar with this name; it represents our future destination and our liberation from that dark, miserable world.
A Search for the Divine
It has been about two months since I arrived in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. My heart is now filled with immense gratitude and hope. Initially, I was anxious to express my gratitude to Lord Jesus, as I had been taught, but upon arriving here, I could not find anyone resembling him. I searched diligently, only to find a figure who looked at me with compassionate, radiant smiles. I learned his name is 'Namo Amituofo.' Ah! I realised then that I truly belonged here. My heart finally felt at peace, and I understood that it was Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su who had saved me. I began to offer my gratitude to them, started to understand what the Buddha’s teachings are, and began listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks. The light that attracted me was a Namo Amituofo sign in Munich, Germany. It was not a large sign, and it was located in a quiet area on the outskirts of the city, but its light was incredibly bright—shining continuously, day and night.
The Light of the Buddha
From the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I look back at that place and see that many spirits notice the light, but many are still unfamiliar with it. They do not proactively step forward and instead choose to leave. I find this deeply regrettable, as this is a place where Namo Amituofo personally manifests his light to lead sentient beings with karmic affinity to the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Of this, I am now absolutely certain.
I have also seen many human beings and spirits who, after catching a glimpse of this Buddha sign, have had a planted in their hearts. Even if they are not yet familiar with the Buddha, this seed ensures that they will have the magnificent Causal Conditions to meet the Buddha and be saved in the future. These are truths I only came to understand after listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks here.
A Life of Scientific Pursuit
Let me tell you my story. I did not originally belong to Munich. Today, it is one of Germany's largest cities, a southern stronghold, but I was a resident of northern Germany over a century ago. At that time, Germany was divided into smaller states. I remember our country was called Prussia, a place of high economic status, and the people there were generally quite arrogant, taking great pride in being Prussian.
My family was not large, but we were a well-known, wealthy household in town. For generations, our family operated a winery with vast vineyards. We were famous vintners in the north, known as the 'Konda Winery.' I was born into a life of luxury, with several servants providing for our every need. As the second son, I grew up without ever knowing the hardships of the world. My life revolved around the winery; I rarely stepped into the outside world, and even my education was provided by private tutors hired by my father. This made me yearn for the world beyond—I craved freedom. I knew of the wonders of the outside world, the pursuits of music, art, and literature that cultured people valued. I was also obsessed with the science of the time, determined to enter university so I could escape the boring, uninteresting life of the winery.
The Rationalist’s Path
The year I was accepted into the most prestigious university in Prussia, I was not yet eighteen, and I was impatient to become a part of society. After a brief farewell to my parents and brothers, I set off. It was not a long journey to the university city in the north, but for someone who had never left home, it was a tremendous thrill. On the train, I met a woman who would later become my wife. We shared a common goal: to use scientific knowledge to improve society and the welfare of the people. From simple greetings, we moved to deep conversations, discovering our mutual insights into mathematics and physics. This life goal—science above all, rationality as the guide, a life of substance—was always my pursuit. I knew that the arrogance in my bones and my spirit of seeking truth through scientific evidence were the virtues I prided myself on.
My university years were smooth. Through step-by-step scientific inquiry and verification, I became what people called an intellectual, a university professor. I paved this path through my own hard work. My wife always supported my career, even when we were poor students and I was too proud to ask my family for money; she was willing to move from place to place with me.
The Fear of the Unknown
At that time, the framework for physics was not as complete as it is today. We were in the initial stages of theoretical physics. Anyone who wanted to achieve a breakthrough had to pour their heart, soul, and entire life into their research. I was no exception, spending countless nights and early mornings with thick stacks of mathematical manuscripts. I was an idealist, willing to sacrifice everything to prove my research results. I barely kept in touch with my family, and I never considered having children because I was too preoccupied with my work.
Regrettably, although I achieved some success, I never found the light in my heart. I always thought it was because my achievements in physics were not enough to satisfy me, and the formula I wanted to prove remained unproven. I ignored the massive void in my spirituality. I desperately wanted to know where I would go after death, whether there was a spiritual world waiting for me. I never had the chance to explore these questions, and no one could give me an answer. I thought that by focusing on scientific research, I would eventually find some clues, and when the time came, everything would become clear. But that moment never arrived. As I entered old age, I was terrified of death because I could not master it. Unlike my scientific work, where effort yielded results, death was something I could neither control nor predict.
A Century of Wandering
My wife passed away before me, and my nerves began to fray. My lifelong habit of over-analysing everything became a psychological burden I had never recognised. Overwhelmed by excessive thinking, longing, and helplessness, and after drinking too much, I passed away at home one night, undiscovered. My soul was in a state of utter helplessness. I did not want to leave my body, but it no longer responded, and I was forced out. I began a life of wandering and restlessness. It was exactly as I had imagined death to be. I truly became a ghost—a ghost obsessed with my own attachments and my own of right and wrong.
I had no faith, no spiritual support. Who could I turn to? I knew that some people around me believed in Christianity, so when they faced trouble, they would call upon Lord Jesus. I learned to do the same. Even though my soul was not very clear after death, the memories and temperament of my life remained. So, as a wandering spirit, I began to call out, 'Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus.' I do not know how long I called, nor how long or how far I drifted. I had forgotten everything. If Namo Amituofo had not told me today, I would not have known that I had been an anxious, helpless, and attached wandering spirit for 162 years. It is truly miraculous. The concepts of time and space were things I had wanted to explore in the scientific and physical worlds my entire life, yet I never found the answer. All of this was answered today, here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, before the compassionate Namo Amituofo.
The Ultimate Truth
I have been sitting on a lotus seat in the Western Dharma-Nature Land for two months now. Every day, in addition to chanting Namo Amituofo and listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, I have witnessed Practitioner Su performing large-scale for the wandering spirits and demon crowds of this world and the universe. This is all so miraculous! The high technology Practitioner Su possesses is beyond anything I could have ever imagined. This is what truly saves people. Looking at Practitioner Su’s heart and vows, I know he is the best person I have ever met. He has already become a Buddha, known as 'Buddha Su.' The answers I sought, the truth of the universe I wanted to know, are exactly what Practitioner Su calls the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. The way to obtain these answers is not through studying worldly knowledge, but by adhering to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, allowing one’s inherent pure heart to manifest so that one can clearly foresee the truth of all things. This is the highest level of the spiritual world.
I spent my life trying to prove things, thinking that life was about finding answers and directions through my own efforts. But all of that was just a cage I built for myself, a cage of attachments. Now, Balthasar does not need to think or struggle. Whatever I want to know appears before me. There are no afflictions, no need for effort. Everything presents itself naturally. It turns out that a single 'Namo Amituofo' can clear the fog in my heart and bring a ray of hope to people and wandering spirits alike.
A Call to My Homeland
Today, I look at Germany, my homeland. The people there are generally kind, working diligently and conducting research, hoping for national stability, prosperity, and a peaceful life. But all of this is ultimately illusory and temporary; it can only satisfy people’s fleeting desires. I sincerely hope that the Buddha’s teachings can spread across that land, so that people may know the true Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. I want them to know what true science is and what the high technology of the Buddha’s teachings is. Our people are truly lacking in this regard! We only know science, not realising that the Buddha’s teachings are the true science. There is no need to prove anything; all that is required is a sincere heart and a pure, kind heart.
I am grateful to the Buddha for teaching me so much. I am grateful for everything in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. During this time of having my horizons broadened, I have truly prostrated myself before Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I will practise well here, and I will call out to the wandering spirits of Germany and all sentient beings: our experiences have been too painful; come quickly to find the Buddha! The Buddha can give you a stable heart and a wise heart. You will surely be moved by the Buddha’s .
