The Scientist's Awakening: From Earth-Rock Dams to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Kong Xianjing, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on May 31, 2026.

Kong Xianjing speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I have received the formal invitation sent by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I am Kong Xianjing, and this is yet another exchange with the human world. However, this communication is truly extraordinary, for I am speaking as a spirit, currently situated in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, conversing with the Venerables of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, who are recording and archiving my words. If this were to be made public, it would surely shock the world. During my life, I never imagined such things could exist, but the world after death is so complex that I have come to accept any possibility. Because so many things that I previously considered illogical or impossible have happened to me personally, I must admit that everything I knew while I was alive was far too little.

A Scientist's Humbling Realisation

In my own field and profession, I could be considered one of the top experts. Yet, upon arriving here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have discovered that I must start from scratch, learning about things I have never seen before and uncovering the truth of the universe. I have had to become a humble version of myself, starting over like a child to learn anew.

The Western Land of Dharma Nature is a truly unique place. From here, I can see everything happening in the human world—and I see it very clearly, even more clearly than those living in the human world. Because this place was established by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, all of us here possess a certain degree of supernatural power, allowing us to understand and see through many things. I have only been here for three or four days, not long at all, but the things that have shocked me so far are simply too numerous to count.

The Reality of the Western Land of Dharma Nature

My name is Kong Xianjing, and let me introduce myself. I was seventy-two years old when I left the human world. As an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, I was what people call a scientist. I was not a world-famous celebrity, but the work I quietly dedicated myself to was actually quite vital for national development and the construction of water conservancy facilities. I spent much of my life focusing my efforts on the field of earth-rock dam seismic resistance.

What we call earth-rock dam seismic resistance involves leading teams into many mountainous regions to study how to combine different stone materials or use various technologies to achieve seismic stability. In many mountainous areas, earthquakes are a constant threat. If these earth-rock dams are not constructed with solid foundations, the resulting danger during an earthquake can lead to catastrophic casualties for the civilian population.

Therefore, our professional work was of the utmost importance; we aimed to reduce casualties and losses when disasters struck. We planned many different schemes and provided them to the state, allowing the government to improve the technology and professional knowledge of dam construction based on our scientific data and research results. This was the achievement I was most proud of in my life, and it is why, after completing many tasks, I was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering years before my passing. It is a title that many dream of, and one that only those Chinese scientists who have made significant contributions in various scientific research and practical applications can attain.

The Unforeseen Descent into Hell

That is essentially what I did with my life. I am a relatively simple person; aside from racking my brains within my professional field, I tended to take a broader view of other matters. This is why I could not understand why I fell into hell after leaving the human world. When I was in hell, I was completely bewildered. I thought that I had contributed to the country and the people and had committed no major wrongs, so how could there be a place for me in hell?

I suffered in hell for over a year. I was sent to the brain-gouging hell, where my brain was constantly being gouged out. It was absolutely, unimaginably painful!

As for why I ended up in hell, I have gradually come to understand some principles after listening to the sutras and the Dharma here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature over the past few days. Although I cannot say I fully understand every reason for my descent, I have begun to grasp what is meant by the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. It must be that my moral standards in certain areas were lacking, or that I failed to observe them. Perhaps it was because I was constantly overthinking, possessing a very meticulous mind, and this very mind drew forth the many beings I had owed debts to in the past, causing them to awaken and come to seek revenge.

Arrogance and the Laws of Karma

Of course, looking back at my life, I believe I was a person with a decent nature, but one who was slightly arrogant. In fact, it was not just me; many scientists like me share this air of arrogance. This arrogance can be subtle or overt, and it may cause great harm without one even realising it. So, to be honest, this arrogance accompanied me throughout my life—from my undergraduate studies, through a smooth academic career, until I graduated with my doctorate and entered my research field. I can truly say that I poured my entire life's energy and countless thoughts into the field of water conservancy engineering.

Perhaps it was this endless stream of thought that allowed so much attachment to grow within me, which is what led me to hell. But my heart is very calm now, and I have no regrets, for I know that everything is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect.

As someone who was rooted in science for so long, I always believed in the truth and in what I could see with my own eyes. This is why, while I was in the human world, I never took an interest in any religion; to me, it was merely a spiritual crutch, something I believed was imaginary rather than real. Because I could not see it, I could not believe it. I think many people in China share the same sentiment.

But now that I have truly experienced hell, and have truly arrived at this Buddha-land called the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have truly awakened. I know that everything I see before me is real, clear, and absolutely not a deception.

By the way, I have been talking for so long and forgot to tell everyone: this place, the Western Land of Dharma Nature, was established by Practitioner Su—who realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood in the human world—with the help of Namo Amituofo. It is a place that can help beings be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and fulfil their wishes. My heart is now filled with gratitude; I am thankful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for providing us with such a wonderful destination, so we do not have to continue wandering in the six realms of rebirth.

Nowadays, most people can easily broadcast their inner thoughts—whether they are negative, filled with dissatisfaction, or completely contrary to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way—by simply posting them online for the entire world to see. It is a digital age where one's every fleeting, unrefined thought can be amplified and shared instantly. Under such circumstances, the karma created is incredibly profound and heavy! The number of human hearts influenced by these actions is vast, and the ripple effect of such negativity is staggering. This is the stark, undeniable reality of the human world that I can now clearly perceive from my vantage point.

As I stand here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, witnessing this world of pure, radiant light, I am filled with such deep, overwhelming emotion! In the past, I did not believe in the Buddha; I believed only in the rigid frameworks of science. But today, I have come to realise that the Buddha’s teachings are, in fact, the ultimate science—the science of the universe itself. The principles that science describes are immutable because they are the absolute truth of reality. And everything that is now manifesting before my eyes is, indeed, that very truth. There is no doubt about it; it is as clear as a mathematical proof.

The Convergence of Science and Spirituality

As someone who could be called a scientist in the field of research, I find that the individuals I admire most today are not other scientists or people of great talent, but rather the two Buddhas: Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. It is they who are currently in the human world, assisting beings by performing large-scale Chao Du. When I was living in the human world, I absolutely would not have believed such things were possible. I would have dismissed them as mere superstition. Yet, here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, everything is presented so clearly before me that I cannot help but be in awe of the Buddha! Namo Amituofo created the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, allowing us to be reborn there. And Practitioner Su, having mastered the Buddha’s skills, has realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood in the human world, creating this Western Land of Dharma Nature so that we, as beings, have a place to go.

Such a wonderful, life-saving thing—I have been thinking constantly about how to express this to our vast number of Chinese compatriots and to my own children. My children are all talented individuals in the scientific community, yet they remain unaware of this truth. It is truly a great pity! One comes to the human world, achieves a certain level of success, and yet still ends up in the hells to suffer the consequences of their actions. I truly hope that such suffering does not have to be repeated in the lives of others. I want them to know that there is a way out of this cycle.

The Illusion of Personal Control

Reflecting on my own journey, I feel a deep, burning desire to share my insights with everyone. The truth is that, while living in the world, human beings are truly unable to master their own lives. Take my own experience, for instance: even back in my youth, when I was deeply immersed in various research fields, I was not the one truly in control of my own being. Practitioner Su speaks of this every single day, and I now understand it perfectly: humans possess three hun souls and seven po souls, and there is also a true self that is often obscured by the noise of the world.

I understand these matters very clearly now, because to me, this is true science—the scientific face of the Buddha’s teachings. It is absolutely brilliant! To be able to integrate the Buddha’s teachings and science so perfectly is something I believe has never been heard of in the human world before! It is the missing link that so many of us in the scientific community have been searching for, yet we were looking in the wrong direction.

I have been constantly immersed in the atmosphere of the Western Land of Dharma Nature, which is filled with such immense, tranquil joy. Seeing so many truths has left me with no choice but to believe that the reality of existence is exactly as described in the Buddha’s teachings. It is a profound awakening.

I am filled with gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their boundless compassion!

Namo Amituofo.

Kong Xianjing.