The Soul of the Pen: A Journey from Fenshui to Deliverance

This interview was recorded on October 11, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The spirit of a pen manufacturer, who identifies himself as 'Black Jack,' sought Chao Du after being trapped within the essence of the pens he once produced. He shares his story of life in Fenshui, his tragic accident, and his hope for rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Spirit of the Pen speaks:

"We are deeply grateful to Sister A-Tao for her compassion. We have been waiting for a very long time. We have long desired to speak, and even more so, we have longed to seek Spiritual Deliverance. Finally, the time has come for us to share our own life stories."

Lay Practitioner Cao Rudi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo! Although computers are highly advanced and convenient today, the role and importance of the 'pen' remain irreplaceable. It is merely that the forms of its existence and the preferences in its design constantly change and adjust according to market needs. Here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, each of us uses various pens to write every single day. May I ask which of you connected spirits would be willing to accept an interview?"

The Legend of 'Black Jack'

The Spirit of the Pen speaks:

"Everyone is very happy today. We can finally let out a sigh of relief. After much pushing and shoving, we have collectively decided that 'Black Jack' should be our representative to speak up and clear his name. I am the black pen that you use every day to write memorial tablets—I am Black Jack. Because I produced black pens and personally enjoyed wearing black jackets, my clients teased me and gave me the nickname 'Black Jack.' Furthermore, it is important to note that for any difficult problem regarding pens, 'Black Jack' is the one to consult."

Lay Practitioner Cao Rudi speaks:

"Black Jack, you are very welcome to share your fascinating story with the fourfold assembly. If you have any needs, please do not hesitate to tell us."

A Life of Industry and the Fateful Crash

Black Jack speaks:

"Before I became a pen, I did not live in Taiwan. I lived far away in Fenshui, Zhejiang, in mainland China, a major hub for pen manufacturing. Thirty years ago, every street and alley in Fenshui was dedicated to producing pens. I was one of them. At that time, our lives were not wealthy, and we still relied primarily on farming. Only during the off-season would the village cadres help us find this easy-to-learn side business to stimulate the local economy. Almost the entire village and town were mobilized. As the economy took off, everyone became wealthier. People began to speak louder than before, and we had the opportunity to choose which orders to accept or reject.

"However, once people had money, they no longer seemed as simple and honest as before. Everything seemed to be driven by a sense of comparison. The spirit of mutual help and cooperation from the past seemed to vanish. Because the products we manufactured were so similar, it felt as though we were constantly guarding against one another. The human heart had changed. I wondered, does wealth truly change a person? Because there were simply too many types of pens, I eventually chose to specialize in products that were very similar to the ones you use now. We had no technology and no original designs; we relied entirely on imitation to get started.

"Gradually, international trade and export business became increasingly competitive and difficult. We began to focus on the domestic market. The domestic hinterland was vast, and the room for imagination was great, so I worked even harder to expand there. Because profit margins were limited, we relied on mass production to accumulate earnings. One afternoon, as usual, I loaded a truck full of pens and rushed to the location specified by a client. Anyone who has visited mainland China knows that in the early days, traffic lights were merely suggestions; no one strictly followed the signals. I was the same. It was a red light, and seeing that it was getting dark, I was anxious to deliver the goods, so I ran the red light. In the blink of an eye, a large truck from the other side of the intersection, which had the green light, slammed into the side of my vehicle. Just like that, I kicked the bucket, and I never had to deliver those goods again."

The Wandering Spirit

"Before I passed away, I was worried about my truck full of new goods—how would I deliver the pens I had just finished? Who would have known that my spirit would drift everywhere along with those pens? When the pens ran out of ink and were thrown into the trash to be incinerated, my spirit would escape to find another place to dwell, but I could never leave the body of the pen. Thank you for your interview today. I have heard that this gives me a chance to leave this space and be reborn as a human again."

Lay Practitioner Cao Rudi speaks:

"May the compassion of Namo Amituofo be upon you! Through the sincere recitation of the six-character name, 'Namo Amituofo,' Practitioner Su will assist you in detaching from the pen body, regaining a human body, and ascending to the Dharma-Nature Land to listen to the Sutras. You will come to understand the beauty of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and subsequently seek rebirth in the Pure Land. Do you have other companions who also wish to seek rebirth in the Pure Land?"

Black Jack speaks:

"I do not know what it means to 'seek rebirth in the Pure Land,' but during this time, I have met many different people in various pen-related spaces. Can we help them write it out together? If we do that, will we have the chance to leave the pen bodies? We are a group of fifteen. Let me, Black Jack, represent them all!"

Lay Practitioner Cao Rudi speaks:

"Very well."