The Ultimate Retirement Plan

This is a record of an interview with Chang Yung-fa, the founder of the Evergreen Group, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land. This account reflects upon his transition from his life in the world to his current state. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on August 31, 2018.

Chang Yung-fa speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chang Yung-fa. When you look back at this life, you might say it is interesting, but then again, perhaps it is not. What makes it interesting? It is the ability to see through things, to let go of attachments. Life is so short, so fleeting—why spend so much time worrying about the affairs of others? Now that I am in the Western Pure Land, my days are far more joyful than they ever were before. I can truly say that I am free from worry. Even when I look back at the world, I can only shake my head; there is nothing left there that I can control or manage.

When I first arrived in the Western Pure Land, I would still feel unsettled when I thought about the affairs of my family. But now, I realise that such attachments were entirely unnecessary. Whether you take a step forward or a step back, the truth remains the same: in the end, every person is alone. We die alone, and we go to be reborn alone. Even if you carry your abacus in front of you, calculating your wealth and your legacy, it cannot shield you from the arrival of your karmic creditors. You will still grow old, and you will still suffer from this pain or that discomfort."

The Indignity of the Final Chapter

"Think about it—when you are finally confined to a hospital bed, you are surrounded by things the living cannot see. There are spirits walking back and forth, and your body is being pulled and twisted by unseen forces. Your physical form is cut into, poked, and prodded; the dignity of being a human being simply vanishes. You are left there, needing someone to change your diapers, needing someone to turn your body over, completely unable to move a single muscle.

Meanwhile, your karmic creditors are standing right there, laughing in the shadows. They are watching your body suffer the consequences of your past actions. It is a debt that must be repaid. How many people do you know who have walked out of a hospital feeling truly healthy and whole? Once you see these facts clearly, you should start planning for your later years while you still have the chance. You must decide: do you want to be someone who serves others, or someone who is merely served?"

A Call to Action

"While you are still able to move, you should step out of your comfort zone. Go out and volunteer. Do not just cling to your money, do not just guard your house until the very end, because if you do that, you will eventually lose your mind. Right now, I reside in the Western Pure Land, and it was the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia that helped me ascend here. To thoroughly resolve the suffering of human illness and death, this Centre is establishing a Mituo Village. They are teaching everyone how to chant Buddha's name, how to perform prostrations, and how to become a Buddha.

Instead of spending your time in a hospital, turn your focus here to chanting Buddha's name. By doing so, you can even move and inspire your own karmic creditors. You must also resolve to serve the Buddha and serve all beings. When you keep your mind active in this way, your wisdom will not fade, and your spirit will remain sharp. Emigrating to the Western Pure Land without a single worry is the best retirement plan you could ever make for yourself. You will not find such a perfect opportunity anywhere else. Everyone, please, seize this chance while you can.

Namo Amituofo."