The Talisman Master's Final Lesson

This is a record of an interview with Wei Wenming, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life and his passing during the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on December 13, 2025.

Wei Wenming speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wei Wenming. A single drop of ink falling onto a pitch-black surface—is the blackness the ink or the water? It is impossible to tell anymore. The brush is a scholar's tool, used to carve fleeting moments into the wind. Words possess a spirit, and intentions are etched within them; they can evoke the clash of soldiers, the thunder of galloping warhorses, or the stillness of a vast, calm sea. The cinnabar on the yellow paper is merely an extension of the heart's intent. I spent my entire life drawing talismans for others, yet I never imagined that these very talismans would be the ones I would rely upon during a massive, life-ending fire.

The Art of the Heart-Talisman

I am a middle-aged man, forty years old. My specialty was the creation of talismans. Many people hear the word 'talisman' and immediately think of 'ghost-writing'—scribbles that are confusing and impossible to decipher. But in truth, the quality of a talisman does not lie in the complexity of the brushstrokes. The key is the heart of the one who draws it. Having listened to the teachings here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land for several days, I now understand that to study the Buddha's path and realise one's true nature, one must be free of stray thoughts. This principle is identical to the art of drawing a talisman.

From the moment the brush touches the paper until the final stroke, one cannot have a single thought. If a thought arises while drawing, the talisman loses its efficacy. If one can remain completely free of thoughts from beginning to end, that talisman is guaranteed to be potent. This is the hard-won wisdom I gained as a talisman master. My home at Wang Fuk Court was also my place of business. My clients were diverse—some were Taoist practitioners, others were ordinary people. My rules were simple: a flat fee of eight hundred Hong Kong dollars per talisman. Whether the seeker felt it was effective or not, payment was required. I made this clear to everyone who came to me.

The Fire at Wang Fuk Court

People often asked what kind of talismans I drew. I had no categories; there was only one type, which I called the 'Heart-Talisman'. It could help you avoid misfortune, attract romance, or even help you pick the right stock—its function depended entirely on your needs. I learned the basics as a child, and although that connection was eventually severed, I discovered I had a natural talent for it, and it became my livelihood. As word spread, more and more people came to seek my help.

The massive fire at Wang Fuk Court came with terrifying speed. It began in the adjacent building, and I never expected it to spread to mine. When I realised the flames were encroaching upon my own building, my first instinct was not to flee in a panic. Instead, I sat down, composed and steady, and drew three talismans for myself. The first was a request for the place where it was placed to remain safe; the second was a request for those who carried it to leave the building safely; and the third was a 'Peace of Mind' talisman, intended to bring stillness to my own heart.

The Power of a Still Mind

I left everything behind, carrying only those three talismans. As I reached the stairwell, I placed the first protection talisman on the wall, hoping it would serve as a safe passage for others. I gave the second safety talisman to a mother who was fleeing with her child. The third, the 'Peace of Mind' talisman, I kept for myself. Along the way, flames raged and smoke billowed, yet my heart remained completely unmoving. I knew the talisman was working.

I watched as many people were consumed by the flames or ran in sheer terror. The fire was utterly merciless, crushing the survivors' attachment to life and their desperate hopes for survival. Having drawn talismans for so many years, I firmly believe in the importance of the mind. The fewer thoughts one has, the easier it is to succeed. Conversely, the more thoughts one has, the more likely one is to fail. In the midst of that fire, those who faced death without fear or with a smile had a higher chance of their wishes being fulfilled, because their intentions were often for others, and thus their minds were clearer.

From Talismans to True Blessings

Those who were panicked, angry, resentful, or screaming in fear had very little chance of success, as their intentions were focused on themselves, leading to a cluttered mind. When I drew those three talismans, I understood the principle that 'if the heart is good, no thoughts arise.' I drew the first two for others, and the third was not for my own survival, but merely for a tranquil mind. Because of this, I was able to remain free of thoughts while drawing that final talisman, making it incredibly effective.

Even when I reached the eighteenth floor and could not escape the fire, my heart remained calm and undisturbed, regardless of the pain, the blood, or the choking smoke. That was the wonder of the 'Peace of Mind' talisman. After I passed away, I continued to draw talismans in the fire, until a golden light pierced through the flames and my work. In an instant, I arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The light was brilliant, and the chanting of the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo' was constant. I immediately knew that Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su had saved those of us who perished in the fire.

Listening to the teachings here, I finally understood that the principle of 'no thoughts' is not just for drawing talismans—it is the core of Buddhist practice. I had been too attached to the form of drawing talismans and had missed the true, great benefit. Now I know that if one has no thoughts, only 'Namo Amituofo', one can, like Practitioner Su, master the technology of the human body, manifesting countless billions of bodies to any space or realm to save beings.

In this world of light, the golden radiance shines eternally. I am now happily chanting 'Namo Amituofo' every day on a lotus seat in the Dharma-Nature Land. If I had the opportunity to encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre while I was still alive, perhaps I, too, could have attained Buddhahood like Practitioner Su and followed Namo Amituofo to save the world.

I hope all my friends who knew Wei Wenming will come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to see me. You must understand that when you seek a talisman for blessings, are you seeking the paper or the blessing itself? If your heart is good and you seek for others, that is a blessing, and the talisman will be effective. If your heart is evil and you seek only for yourself, the talisman will have little effect. This is something I never told anyone before, but I must say it today. You are not here to seek talismans; you are here to seek true blessings, for the ability to believe in the Buddha and see the Buddha is the greatest blessing of all.

Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su. Thank you to the Venerables and lay practitioners of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo."