The Scientist Who Found the Ultimate Truth

This is a record of an interview with the renowned educator and scientist Fu Ssu-nien, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Having transcended his past life and the subsequent retribution in the spiritual realms, he now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account, which reflects upon his life approximately seventy-five years ago, was recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 29, 2026.

Fu Ssu-nien speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Fu Ssu-nien. I was a man who had absolutely nothing to do with the Buddha’s teachings throughout my entire life. Yet, here I am today, in the Western Land of Dharma Nature—a magnificent Buddha-land—about to be interviewed. I am here to tell my own story and to share the incredible journey of how I arrived in this place. The transformation is truly astonishing to me. I never knew the Buddha, nor did I ever have the intention to truly draw near to Him. While it is true that almost everyone in China knows of the existence of Buddhism, very few people truly place the Buddha in their hearts.

A Life Dedicated to Science and Empirical Proof

From my youth until the end of my life, I was a thorough man of science. I believed in scientific evidence and empirical proof; I could only believe in things that I could see with my own eyes. I believed that all external phenomena should be verified through the most rigorous scientific methods. I advocated for democracy and science, primarily based on Western cultural models. During the era of the Republic of China, I shared the same dream as many ambitious youths: to build China into a powerful nation of science and democracy. I was known for my exceptional courage, and I was a prominent figure in the famous May Fourth Movement.

My life was incredibly stimulating, and in my own eyes, it was quite fascinating. I spent my entire life pursuing what I loved—various fields of study and knowledge. I studied abroad in Europe and America, spending seven years in Britain and Germany, which had a profound influence on me. My studies spanned both the sciences and the humanities, covering psychology, medicine, linguistics, and history. I mastered them with ease. However, if asked how I identified myself, I preferred to call myself an 'educator.' While my work was broad, I always believed that education was the most powerful weapon to change the destiny of a nation.

The Scientific Zealot and the New Culture Movement

By using the word 'weapon,' you can see my intense attachment to the New Culture Movement. Looking back, I was indeed a 'scientific zealot.' I not only promoted science but also ensured I had a deep foundation so that I could, from the perspective of an educator, lead the new generation of students toward a future of true science and democracy.

For someone like me, who had no connection to the Buddha’s teachings, to be sitting here honestly on a lotus in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, accepting this interview with a peaceful heart—the emotions I feel are profound. I spent my entire life proving science and bringing that proof to the world and to the next generation of Chinese students. I hoped everyone would follow in our footsteps, especially in the spirit of exploration and inquiry, to contribute to the nation.

The Ultimate Technology of the Dharma

However, I never expected that while listening to the Dharma in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I would hear Practitioner Su say that 'the Dharma is the ultimate high technology.' I was shocked. At that moment, I had already truly attained rebirth in the Western Land of Dharma Nature and had witnessed the high technology of the Buddha’s world. I must say, from the bottom of my heart, I am truly convinced. I am completely convinced by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. After being nurtured by the true Dharma, my entire being has become clear. I realise that everything I experienced in the human world was merely a dream. Even if I lived a life of great intensity and accomplished things praised by future generations, the philosophy I promoted was not one that could bring lasting peace and stability to society.

To promote my ideas, I possessed a very strong and stubborn heart. I would fiercely criticise anyone who went against my principles. This is what Practitioner Su calls 'clinging to the body'—I was constantly obsessed with my own feelings and thoughts. I projected my own perceptions onto others and acted upon them. People praised me, saying it was due to my merit, my deep desire for knowledge, and my spirit of exploration. I helped prove the existence of the Shang Dynasty, advancing Chinese history by several hundred years. This was once my pride. But looking at it now, from the perspective of the Western Land of Dharma Nature, what I did pales in comparison to Practitioner Su’s spirit of 'realising one's true nature and attaining Buddhahood to save countless suffering beings.' I dedicated my life to such academic and educational pursuits, bravely speaking my mind for the students and the people, protecting those who needed protection, and fighting to the death against those I perceived as evil.

Reflections on a Fierce and Driven Life

I did not care much for my own life, because I felt that in the few decades of a human existence, one should accomplish something grand. This work had to be based on establishing the nation and benefiting the people, not on personal gain. That is what I believed. However, my methods were very intense. I worshipped the spirit of democracy and science too much, while neglecting growth in other areas. This is something I can clearly see now as I reflect on my life from the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

Take National Taiwan University, for example. Everyone knows who I am. I served as the president of Taiwan University for two years and was an idol to many students. The things I fought for can still be seen today in the legacy I left behind at the university.

All of this feels like a lifetime ago, and now, it does not seem so precious. In the world, I learned the most exalted worldly knowledge and scientific understanding. But here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I am experiencing a completely different spiritual life. The impact of this spiritual life is far greater than all the worldly knowledge I acquired in my decades on earth. It turns out there are so many things humans cannot see. My lifelong arrogance has completely dissolved. I now have only a humble and modest heart, learning from the Buddha, Namo Amituofo, and Practitioner Su. This true Dharma is the 'technology of technologies,' the spirit of spirits. It explains how the Dharma embodies and articulates the 'Universal Principles, Truth, and the Right Path.' In my previous way of thinking, where were there any such things as Universal Principles, Truth, or the Right Path? I always believed that whatever science proved was the Universal Principle, Truth, and the Right Path. I enjoyed doing what I did, but I ignored the warnings my body was giving me.

The Backlash of Karma and Moral Regression

My body showed red flags when I was quite young. By middle age, high blood pressure made me live in constant fear. But I didn't care much; I just worked diligently, acting according to my strong convictions. I had a famous saying, which is quite funny now: 'Search the heavens and the earth, use your hands and feet to find the truth.' Haha, I was always such a practical person; I said what I meant. Of course, this offended many people. But my heart was open and honest, and I didn't care. I was determined to improve myself to fight for these things and help the next generation gain the best education and the best spirit.

However, looking back from the perspective of learning the Dharma over these past twenty years, I realise I was constantly awakening my countless karmic creditors. I had long ceased to be myself. In the words of Practitioner Su, my 'hot-blooded' passion was, to a large extent, severely interfered with by other beings, which led to so many arrogant and radical words and actions. Although my starting point never changed—I always hoped for things to improve—the agitation in my heart could not be calmed. Now, after my entire being has been purified, reflecting on everything, I still feel a bit of regret. Although I used 'doing good' as my slogan for all my undertakings, my excessive worship of the spirit of freedom and science also caused a moral regression in people.

I do not advocate that people should not have morality, but in an environment that overemphasises science and the spirit of freedom, the next generation inevitably becomes more self-interested. Because they have no opportunity to come into contact with true Buddhist education or the 'oneness' advocated by Confucian thought, while striving for the most advanced and high-tech things, they completely ignore their inner spirit and the goodness and beauty of the heart. Selfishness and the desire to compete are also triggered in such an environment. At the time, I did not realise such ills would occur; I was single-mindedly hoping to improve people's scientific literacy as quickly as possible. But after all, Eastern and Western cultures are very different. Introducing Western culture so strongly into the minds of Eastern students inevitably invited a great backlash. People blindly accepted the benefits of this side while ignoring too many things that are extremely important to human nature.

The Magnificence of Practitioner Su’s Spirit

At this moment, what I admire most about Practitioner Su is that he is such an honest person, without any intense or attached desires. Everything is natural, in the state of nature, because he has completely let go of himself, fully aligning with the Universal Principles, Truth, and the Right Path. In such a state, he has realised Buddhahood, attained Awakening, and with these abilities, he can help all beings in the human world and the spirit realms. This magnificent achievement has truly broadened my horizons and made me aware of my own shortcomings. I have come to realise that everything Practitioner Su advocates is so perfectly aligned with the overall truth and right path of the universe, integrated into one, without any sense of disharmony.

What surprised me most is that the 'freedom to follow conditions' in the Buddha’s gate is not passive, nor is it a cynical or indifferent attitude. In fact, it is a very active heart—a heart that wants to forge a path for the world, a path that can liberate one from the cycle of rebirth. Such a heart is incomparably vast. The capacity of the mind described as 'encompassing the void and covering the realms of the universe' is exactly this. The mind-capacity contained in the Dharma is incomparably vast, and compared to the scope of understanding in the scientific world, it is on a completely higher level.

Practitioner Su’s honest spirit is truly admirable. A heart that is selfless and honest, thinking entirely for the sake of all beings under heaven, without seeking a shred of benefit for oneself—only such a person has the opportunity to become a Buddha. Practitioner Su attained Awakening and Buddhahood in just a few short years. The effort he put in, and the merits accumulated over many lifetimes, are truly profound.

A Chance for Deliverance and Purification

Although I, in my life as Fu Ssu-nien, did not know the Dharma, I can see that my past lives were indeed connected by karmic affinity to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Otherwise, given my lifelong opposition to the Dharma and religion, and my lifelong devotion to the spirit of science above all else, how could I have had the opportunity to receive such great deliverance from Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su at this moment? It is because of this great deliverance that I had the opportunity to be pulled out of decades of dark space and receive true purification of the soul. Perhaps Practitioner Su saved a connected person like me so that he could use my mouth and the pen of the writer to bring people to a better understanding of the various histories that occurred during this period. But I feel that everything in the past is no longer important. I have let go of the past, but the heart that is firmly following the Buddha to learn the Dharma in the future is so precious.

My life ended at the age of 55, and my soul, before I died, had actually already suffered retribution in the hells. The cerebral haemorrhage and sudden death were just one of the breaking points. For the decades I suffered in hell, to be honest, I was suffering in a daze. I knew I was wrong, but I didn't know exactly where I had gone wrong. I knew I had always been working for the people, but perhaps the verbal karma I created was too heavy. Of course, I did not know the ills brought about by the spirit of worshipping science too much in the thoughts I left for future generations. Like everything I have mentioned, there are actually many large and small karmic causes and effects that need to be borne, but I was unaware of them at the time.

From Darkness to Golden Light

I spent several decades suffering retribution in hell; I do not know how long it was. But it was only recently, because I sincerely repented in hell and realised I had too many shortcomings, that I received the grace of King Yama, allowing me to return to the human world. Although I am residing here as a ghost, I am already very grateful. Because life in hell is too bitter, being able to be a ghost is not a bad thing.

My soul was wandering in a city in southern China in a daze. Later, when I discovered that the surroundings had changed greatly, I looked up and saw a golden light shining on me. At the time, I felt it was inconceivable. The days of being a ghost had made me completely abandon the science I once knew, because science does not talk about past and present lives, and there is no such thing as hell. But I had truly experienced all of this, and I truly knew the inadequacy of what I had learned.

This golden light brought me another kind of shock. Because I had suffered for so long, the truth of reincarnation I saw was mainly on the dark side, but this time the golden light was so full of hope that I was shocked. Following the golden light, I came directly to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Since I have been here accepting purification, it has only been about two weeks, but I have seen too many breathtaking and astonishing things. I never thought one person could save so many people—this is what a person who has 'realised their true nature' can do.

If I, Fu Ssu-nien, had known the Dharma back then, with my extraordinary perseverance and spirit of wanting to do things for people, how good it would have been if I could have believed in the Dharma! I could have dedicated my life's energy to truly meaningful things, rather than blindly pursuing various meaningless struggles. This transformation would surely have brought more benefits to the people. But this was also an arrangement of Causal Conditions. The days in hell made me wake up quite a bit. Now, the habits of a lifetime of arrogance have long since disappeared. I only carry a pious, humble, and modest heart, learning here the true 'technology of technologies.'

I, Fu Ssu-nien, have no other thoughts; I am single-mindedly continuing to follow the Buddha. I hope that the vast Chinese people, as well as the students in Taiwan, if you can see these words of mine, can also have a further understanding of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Namo Amituofo, and Practitioner Su. You are welcome to come here to learn; you will surely gain different rewards.

Namo Amituofo.

Fu Ssu-nien"