The Truth Behind the Fall of Leslie Cheung

This interview was recorded on June 11, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It features the spirit of the late superstar Leslie Cheung, who sought deliverance through the compassion of Practitioner Su. Having been guided to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, he shares the truth behind his tragic passing and the karmic conditions that led him to this moment.

Disciple Li Jiaxian speaks: "I offer ten bows of respect to the Buddha and respectfully invite Mr. Leslie Cheung to speak. Namo Amituofo, the Great Compassionate One, created the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Through the compassion of Practitioner Su, who performed the Chao Du to guide Mr. Leslie Cheung to the Western Pure Land, I ask you to explain the causal conditions that brought you to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and the process of your rebirth. Namo Amituofo."

The Illusion of Stardom

Leslie Cheung speaks: "First, I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for rescuing my spirit from the scene of the incident and bringing me to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It was only after my spirit was settled in the Dharma-Nature Land and I began listening to the sutras that I finally understood the truth. All the fame, the fortune, and the dazzling, multi-coloured life on the stage were merely illusions. Although my music was popular across Southeast Asia and Korea, and I was known as one of the 'Three Kings and One Queen' of the music scene, I constantly sought to break through and try new things. I chose to act in films. 'Days of Being Wild' made me a star again, and I became a Best Actor. I continued to take on many roles, including 'Farewell My Concubine,' which spread my fame even further. My records were bestsellers, and I was loved and welcomed by a vast audience. My film performances pushed my career to new heights.

"In 'Farewell My Concubine,' I interpreted the state of mind of someone who wanted to be a woman. Performing that role made me feel as though I had become a woman. I played the female lead, imagining her as myself, tasting what it was like to be a woman, and I became completely immersed in it. The outside world knew I was a homosexual; I loved men. I wanted to be a woman through and through—a man's body with a woman's heart. As a famous singer, the criticism from the outside world was often polarised. I was frequently subjected to malicious reporting by the press and media, which caused my mood to plummet to the depths of despair. No matter how the world criticised me, deep within my heart, I suffered incomparable trauma. I would lie awake all night, often relying on sleeping pills just to fall asleep. Although my career was smooth and I was at the peak of my fame, deep down, I longed for someone to cherish and protect me. As an artist, I was constantly monitored by the media. I had to be extremely cautious about my private life to avoid exposure, which the media would then sensationalise. This is the tragedy of being an artist. Sometimes I wanted to quit the entertainment industry and live as an ordinary person, but I couldn't bear to let go of my singing career. I wanted to let go, yet I was reluctant. My heart was a tangled mess of contradictions.

The Fateful Day

"I was terrified that my relationship with my boyfriend would be exposed. I feared the media and the paparazzi who followed us closely, sensationalising everything and adding fuel to the fire. I was terrified that our hard-won relationship would be torn apart if it were exposed. My heart was filled with anxiety. To protect this relationship, I was extremely careful not to give the media any handle to use against us. When I went out, I would always disguise myself or use decoys. I felt so exhausted. The next day, because I had not slept well, I took an extra sleeping pill, which left me feeling disoriented. I went up to the rooftop, intending to get some fresh air and clear my head. At that time, I was dizzy and confused. I saw what looked like a flat wall, and I simply walked toward it. I never expected that I would fall to my death just like that.

"At the time, the media reported all sorts of things. Some said I committed suicide because of emotional trauma. Now, looking back at the situation, I realise that it was the karmic creditors from my past lives who found me, leaving me in a daze. It was they who led me toward that wall, which appeared flat, causing me to fall to my death. I want to clarify here: at that time, I only went upstairs to get some air. I had absolutely no intention of committing suicide. Because of my fall, my boyfriend suffered a great deal of speculation and blame from the outside world, bearing an unjust accusation. I want to use this report to clarify to the media that my boyfriend is innocent. I hope to restore his reputation. Namo Amituofo."

Karmic Debts from the Palace

Disciple Li Jiaxian speaks: "Namo Amituofo. May I ask, Mr. Leslie Cheung, how many lifetimes ago did these karmic creditors find you, leading you down this path of no return?"

Leslie Cheung speaks: "It was about six lifetimes ago. I was a eunuch in the palace. From a young eunuch, I slowly rose to become the Chief Eunuch. I was in charge of all the eunuchs, both great and small. The consorts of the inner palace would sometimes come to curry favour with me. I could whisper into the Emperor's ear, recommending which consort was gentle and virtuous. Sometimes the Emperor would listen to my suggestions, so the consorts and concubines in the palace dared not offend me. At that time, my power grew greater and greater, and I harmed many people who did not submit to me. I created a great deal of negative karma in the palace and harmed many people. Therefore, in this lifetime, as a superstar, because I pursued fame and fortune, I often dreamed of myself in the Hong Kong Coliseum with ten thousand people applauding and cheering, and I was intoxicated by it. My soul was thus drawn out. Also, because of the constant following of the paparazzi and their false reports, I was often hiding from the media in my dreams, and my soul was pulled away. The media's close pursuit and their false reports caused anger in my heart, which led the karmic creditors from my past lives to find me. They caused me to take that extra sleeping pill, and in my daze, I walked toward the rooftop wall as if it were a platform, falling to my death. This was also a debt being collected by the karmic creditors I had harmed in the past. Seeing how I harmed the consorts, palace maids, and eunuchs in the palace for the sake of fame and fortune, I repent for the evil karma I created in my ignorance. I hope that Practitioner Su, during her morning kinhin, can save the karmic creditors I harmed. Practitioner Su is truly compassionate. Namo Amituofo."

The Seeds of Past Blessings

Disciple Li Jiaxian speaks: "Namo Amituofo. May I ask, Mr. Leslie Cheung, what great blessings did you cultivate in your past lives to be able to become a superstar in this lifetime?"

Leslie Cheung speaks: "Four lifetimes ago, I lived in poverty. My father carried the burden for the whole family, and we often struggled to have enough to eat. At that time, we encountered war, and the whole family fled to the rear. Many people fell ill or went missing on the way. My mother had to take care of six children, carrying some, holding others, and bringing our meager belongings. In a moment of carelessness, I went missing. I cried loudly, and a kind couple took me back to their home. They arranged for me to accompany their son, who was about my age. I took care of his daily needs and accompanied him to school. I also benefited from learning to read. The days passed quickly, and as the young master grew up, we became like brothers. The master and mistress were very good to me and adopted me as their son. The young master fell in love with a married woman. No matter how the master and mistress tried to persuade and stop him, he wouldn't listen and insisted on continuing his relationship with her. In a fit of anger, the master drove him out of the house. For the sake of love, the young master ignored his parents' painstaking efforts and eloped with the woman to a distant place. The mistress was heartbroken and hoped he would return, but he never did. The master and mistress waited and waited, but he never returned. Overcome with grief, they both passed away one after another. The master entrusted the family's property to me, hoping that one day the young master would return and I could turn it over to him. Later, I sent people everywhere to inquire about him, only to learn that shortly after he left home, he ran out of money, caught a cold, and died of illness because he couldn't afford medical treatment and was too ashamed to return to his parents.

"I formally accepted the family's property and married a virtuous wife. She was a devout Buddhist. She told me that all the wealth in the world is external and urged me to practise Generosity, giving to those in need. She said that giving is more blessed than receiving. My wife and I went everywhere doing good deeds. Even in those war-torn times, we helped the disaster victims. My wife took me to the temple to make offerings to the Buddha and provide everything the temple needed, strongly supporting the bodhimanda. It is because of the blessings I cultivated in that past life that I was able to become a superstar, and this is the fruit I reaped in this lifetime. What is even more blessed is that Practitioner Su rescued my spirit and brought me to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies guided my spirit to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful to Practitioner Su; if it were not for your great compassion, the spirit of Leslie Cheung would still be at the scene of the incident, endlessly re-enacting that scene. Thank you once again for allowing me to escape the suffering of the six realms of rebirth. I also take this opportunity to confirm to the online media that Practitioner Su is a true practitioner who can truly guide spirits to the Western Pure Land. Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui, and many other famous singers from Taiwan are all beneficiaries. This is all true. Please believe everything I, Leslie Cheung, have said. Namo Amituofo."

Disciple Li Jiaxian speaks: "Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Mr. Leslie Cheung, for accepting this interview."