This article records the thirteenth letter from the late Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. Having sought deliverance through the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, he now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This message was recorded on August 10, 2017, to share his insights on the nature of existence and the path to liberation.
Lee Kuan Yew speaks:
"Greetings to everyone. I am Lee Kuan Yew. It has been a while since we last spoke, and in that time, the human world has undergone yet more changes. I realise now that my past life was lived in such a state of constant flux and impermanence. The gap between that existence and the profound serenity and peace of the Western Pure Land is immense. In the past, when people wanted to describe a vast difference, they would often use the phrase: 'the difference between heaven and hell.' Today, I would suggest a new comparison: the difference between the Western Pure Land and the human world is truly profound.
The Clarity of the Pure Land
At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, everyone refrains from reading newspapers or watching television. By maintaining a state of purity and avoiding the pollution of the outside world, they are able to receive information accurately, heal illnesses, and assist beings in achieving rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I, too, hope to realise my true nature and recover my original face as soon as possible. When I compare this to the outside world—with its endless disturbances, the pursuit of fame and profit, the social obligations, and the constant preoccupation with wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep—it is clear that these are two entirely different worlds, yet they coexist simultaneously in this realm. It is fortunate that this is the case; otherwise, who would be there to save the suffering and the lost in the human world? saves all beings, and the places where no one else will go are precisely the places where He goes to offer salvation. Only in this way can the suffering in human life find an exit and possess true meaning. Now, I seem to understand more clearly what it means to say that 'in a thousand places of prayer, there is a thousand-fold response; in the sea of suffering, the Buddha is always the boat of deliverance.' This is the 'great without conditions' and the 'great compassion of shared identity.' In this turbid and evil world, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is truly a 'Brave New World.' However, in terms of the Buddha’s teachings, it would be more accurate to call it a 'Dignified World of the Heart.'
The Illusion of the Human Struggle
I have experienced all kinds of scenes in the human world, witnessing its various rights and wrongs, its grievances and debts. My mind was always racing, planning and calculating every single second, believing that this was the only way to avoid wasting time. The price I paid for this was rapid ageing, exhaustion, and illness. It is no wonder that people in the human world age so quickly. Women must constantly beautify and adorn themselves to maintain their appearance, while men must pursue, compete, and acquire wealth and power to display their status and position. Looking back on all of this, I realise how precious and rare my current existence in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss truly is. The peace of the West allows one to remain forever young, free from worry and sorrow. There is no comparison, no interpersonal grievances, only serenity, auspiciousness, and . I have suddenly forgotten that I ever spent time in the human world; it feels as if it were all a dream. Now, it is the moment of waking from that dream.
A Father's Message to His Son
My son, Hsien Loong, the power of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is invisible, yet it is incredibly potent. It is a pity that people in the world do not know of it and lack the opportunity to enter it. Today, I, Lee Kuan Yew, tell you all: while you still possess a physical body, you have the chance to understand, choose, prepare, and make the vow for your future destination. By relying on the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you can live without illness. When the of in this world are exhausted and the body is cremated, the spirit does not die. One can chant Namo Amituofo and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. How many people know of this? Hsien Loong, my son, I hope you are one of those who do. You can master your own future. If you come here to visit, you will know that what your father says is not empty talk. Your father is waiting for you here."
Written by Lee Kuan Yew
Message recorded by the Buddhist disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
IN THIS COLLECTION
More from Interviews with Lee Kuan Yew (S'pore ex-PM)
