The Unheard Voice of a Qing Dynasty Visionary

This is a record of an interview with Gong Zizhen, a prominent thinker and poet of the Qing Dynasty, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 180 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 30, 2026.

Gong Zizhen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, I, Gong Zizhen, have been called upon by Namo Amituofo at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to share my story. To be perfectly honest, my life was lived with such intensity—it was a whirlwind of passion that left an indelible mark on my soul. There are so many things buried deep within my heart that I have never been able to voice to anyone. Of course, I poured every ounce of my inner thoughts and philosophy into my three hundred poems. Those verses are the very essence and reflection of my life. Yet, it is a tragedy that I never found a single person who truly understood my aspirations. Throughout my life, I had so many strategies that could have benefited the nation and the people, but I never encountered a leader who truly appreciated my vision. I was never given the opportunity to serve my country or its people as I had dreamed. My life was short—only forty-nine years—but I tasted every bitter and sweet drop that existence had to offer."

A Life of Unfulfilled Ambition

"The immense suffering I endured stemmed from having a heart overflowing with passion and ambition, yet having nowhere to channel it. My heart was pure; I wished only to dedicate my life to ensuring the peace of the nation and the well-being of the people. I wanted everyone to have enough to eat and warm clothes to wear. I dreamed of a society where the chasm between the rich and the poor no longer existed. I spent my entire life devising strategies and governance policies for the state. However, from beginning to end, everything I proposed was dismissed by my superiors with a wave of the hand. My ideas were never allowed to flourish. It is a bitter irony that everything I argued for was only truly cherished and applied to national policy long after I had passed away."

"Today, Namo Amituofo personally called my name, wishing for me to accept this interview to discuss my journey—not just the path of my life, but the reality of the road I travelled after death to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Let me tell you, the world of the living and the world of the dead are worlds apart. Although I considered myself a student of the Buddha’s teachings—having studied the Tiantai school and some Zen philosophy—I had my own interpretations. While I did not spend every waking moment buried in the sutras, I discovered that whenever I was in the depths of despair, when no one understood my state of mind, I would turn to the profound Wisdom of the Buddha. I would digest those words, ponder them, and try to find a viable path forward through the darkness."

The Burden of a Sharp Mind

"I was a voracious reader, gifted from a young age, and I possessed a deep understanding of many different fields. I knew how to synthesise knowledge. I understood clearly that for a nation to develop healthily, it must value talent across all sectors, rather than demanding that officials merely follow orders, acting like puppets who care nothing for the grand strategy of the world. Everything I advocated for in those decades was part of what I called 'practical statesmanship'—the very theories that could have saved the Qing Dynasty and improved the lives of the people. I always believed I had a clear mind and a discernment that surpassed the ordinary, allowing me to see the trajectory and the deep-seated flaws of that era."

"But I had a difficult personality. By that, I mean I was incapable of being tactful. I could not empathise with the perspectives of others or understand how they differed from my own. I simply strove to implement the ideas I believed were right. Looking back now, I realise my thoughts and my policies for the people were correct; they were ahead of their time. I saw further and more clearly than others, so my theories were indeed applicable to the society of that day. However, my personality caused me to constantly hit walls. Whether it was the imperial examinations or my time in the bureaucracy, I could never integrate into the crowd. If only I had been able to lower my head, to present my theories with more humility and grace, perhaps they would have been accepted. My personality was my own undoing, turning potential greatness into a legacy of regret."

The Truth Behind the Veil of Death

"Coming to the Western Land of Dharma Nature and looking back at it all, I finally understand the truth that was impossible for me to know while I was still Gong Zizhen: the reality of samsara and the true nature of the afterlife. As someone who claimed to be a decent student of Buddhism, I discovered in the end that everything I had learned remained purely theoretical. I had never truly placed the Dharma in my heart to be lived out, nor had I used it as a compass for my journey through the human world."

"The Buddha’s teachings are truly vast and magnificent. The world after death made me realise that life is ultimately 'nothing left'—a void. I thought I understood the concept of 'emptiness', but my short life was always centred on the physical body, not on the spirit. Consequently, all my feelings, thoughts, and ambitions were trapped in the service of this body. When I could not break free from the shackles of the physical, it meant I was still viewing everything through a worldly lens—whether it was national affairs or my own inner world."

Karmic Debts and the Weight of the Soul

"What is this 'worldly perspective'? It is having a selfish heart—a heart that claims to be for others but still holds onto personal attachments. This selfishness operates so subtly that I never even noticed it. I spent my life planning for the people, for the nation, and for the future of our talent. Yet, I was defeated by my own rigid thinking and deep-seated attachments. I never truly walked out of that prison. That is why there was always a stone pressing down on my heart, preventing me from ever finding true peace of body, mind, and spirit."

"Many patriots in history lived with such ease. As long as they did what they could to benefit the nation, they did not obsess over the results. They followed the flow of circumstances, doing their best and leaving the rest to heaven. But I was like many others who cling tightly to the outcome, exhausting their lives and suffering immensely for the sake of the people. Many, like me, turned grey overnight from worry. We thought too much and suffered from too many afflictions, unable to harmonise with the changes of the world. I thought I was on the right path, but after I died, before I reached the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I wandered the human world as a vengeful spirit. It was only then that I began to wake up. Before that, I had even endured torture in the hells. My memories were trapped in the final moments of my life, unable to let go. I clung to the belief that my talents had been wasted and my good deeds unrecognised. That resentment was carved into my soul, leaving me in a state of perpetual, unspeakable misery."

A Vision for a Nation in Decline

"You might ask, why did I go to hell? I thought and acted for the country and the people—was I wrong? I once pondered this in the depths of hell. Later, I realised that my temperament was poor, and I had created much negative karma through my speech. Although my intentions were for the nation, my heart had been caught in decades of massive turmoil, awakening countless karmic creditors from my many lives who came to seek revenge. They were filled with resentment, all because my negative thoughts and emotions had caused them great pain. In the hells, there were mountains of petitions against me, which made it impossible for me to breathe even while I was in the human world. The more petitions there were, the more karmic creditors I had, and the deeper their suffering. That suffering was theirs, but it was also the weight accumulated in the depths of my own heart. There was a reason I could never speak of the pain I felt."

"One of the things I advocated for most strongly was the establishment of Xinjiang as a province. At the time, it was not a province, but my keen eyes saw that it would become a target for foreign powers. They would take advantage of China’s weakness to invade from the northwest, making it a critical point of attack. Defending Xinjiang was the bottom line for our nation. My words were not adopted until decades after my death, when they were finally recognised and implemented."

"The Qing government was incredibly corrupt, and I knew it. I bravely spoke truths that others dared not utter. Opium was becoming widespread, but the court had no deep understanding of the damage it caused. Watching officials treat opium as a normal part of life broke my heart. I was pained because everyone was so ignorant, lacking the wisdom to distinguish right from wrong, dragging the entire nation into a downward spiral toward decay. This was something I could not tolerate. The corruption of the Qing government did not begin with Empress Dowager Cixi; it was already rampant during the Jiaqing and Daoguang eras. Everyone was busy painting a picture of peace, pretending everything was perfect. Many saw the problems, but no one dared to speak out. A selfish mentality had permeated society; everyone was only interested in self-preservation and protecting their official positions, unwilling to use their voices or take action to change the fate of the nation."

Namo Amituofo.

"Returning to the reason for my descent into the hells, it is true that throughout my efforts to push through that series of social reforms, I failed to achieve the true Middle Way or avoid clinging to extremes. In other words, I failed to truly follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way as taught in the Buddha’s teachings. This is precisely the famous and frequently used phrase here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, often spoken by Practitioner Su: 'Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.'

The Illusion of Wisdom

As a man of the imperial court with a keen eye, and as someone who considered himself quite knowledgeable about the essence of the Buddha’s teachings, I spent my entire life failing to achieve the true Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. I had no way of understanding what they truly were. This is why I say the profundity of the Buddha’s teachings lies right here. The Buddha’s teachings are truly sublime, for there are those who can completely let go of themselves, becoming selfless and devoid of ego, reaching the state of an awakened being who realises their true nature. Such a person has the ability to truly perceive the human heart, the spiritual realms, and all the changes within the human body. Practitioner Su is the only person I have met in the human world who has reached such a state, and he is my current Teacher.

To be honest, I had quite a few admirers, and some of my famous poems did indeed touch the hearts of a generation. There is a line I wrote: 'I counsel the Heavenly Lord to shake off the dust, and summon talent without regard for convention.' I wrote this in a state of great sorrow and righteous indignation, seeing my country shattered and talented people lacking, yet failing to be employed. The court only valued those who knew how to flatter the government on the surface. Whenever the officials proposed something that differed from the mainstream or voiced opposition, the individuals and their ideas were often suppressed by society. It was an era where heroes and men of great ambition had no place to use their talents! I must say, the fact that the Qing government could last until that point and continue for so long was not because their governance was stable or brilliant; it was merely because they relied on the foundation of the prosperous eras and the hard work of their ancestors, which allowed them to barely scrape by at the time.

The Transformation of a Soul

Having said all this, I must add that since arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, my state of mind and character have undergone a tremendous change. I once said that even after experiencing nearly a hundred years of suffering in the hells after my death, I still had not truly awakened to what I had done wrong. At that time, I only knew that my ambitions could not be realised, and I was filled with grievances. This feeling of sorrow and indignation continued to affect my spirit, preventing me from seeing the truth of things. I also failed to realise that the things I clung to and the actions I took were, unconsciously, bringing negative influences to many people. I lived my whole life in a whirlpool of attachments; I was a 'madman' who could not see himself. In terms of the Buddha’s teachings, this is actually quite normal, for I could not let go of my attachments and could not see my own character flaws, thus creating huge problems for myself on my life's journey. When the things I thought were good could not be accepted or implemented, I was always blaming others, or blaming the social environment and the hearts of the people, never knowing that it was my own heart that could not integrate with others, lacking sincere contact and communication.

Ultimately, the Buddhist teachings at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are truly profound. I studied the Buddha’s teachings all my life, originally only seeking to penetrate the truth of the universe, hoping to find my true self and realise my true nature as the sutras say. Yet, I ignored a point that Practitioner Su values highly: what is the world like after one realises their true nature? Now, it is clear to everyone that Practitioner Su has indeed realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood. The world he sees after awakening is richer and more perfect than what ordinary people imagine, and it is even more respectful of celestial beings. After attaining the skills of an awakened being, he engages in the massive work of saving beings. Whether in the human world or the spiritual realms, Practitioner Su has unique and wonderful methods, responding with compassion. Even the demon crowds that the world fears are, in his eyes, nothing more than bitter children who have not been taught, and he does not blame them.

A Legacy of Reflection

My internal reflection has never ceased. Coming to the Western Land of Dharma Nature and looking back at all of this, what I advocated in the past was only a desire to truly benefit the common people; yet, everything Practitioner Su does, and even his vast mind-capacity, can substantially change all sentient and insentient beings.

If I could have known the true Buddha’s teachings earlier, perhaps the fate of both myself and the country would have been different. But in that era, very few people could delve deeply into the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. It was only upon arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature that I truly unlocked my instincts and looked back at the miserable state I was in before I died. The world had many regrets and puzzles regarding my sudden passing. Only now do I know that the cause of death was the accumulation of too many karmic creditors in my heart. When I decided to resign from office and live in seclusion, and my state of mind relaxed slightly, they began to attack in full force, causing my condition to deteriorate rapidly until I died. At that time, because my ambitions could not be fulfilled and the pain was unbearable, I chose to retire and live in seclusion, never expecting that I would depart from this world just like that. Namo Amituofo.

The various actions and education that Practitioner Su brings to the world have opened my eyes. I also studied the Buddha’s teachings before, but I studied myself into such a destitute, confused, arrogant, and stubborn life. Although my original intention was good, and I was thinking of the country and the people, the various character flaws I displayed, as well as the lack of adherence to the Dharma in my character, kept me on a path that deviated from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. I know now that any overly intense state of mind or action is actually not in accordance with the Dharma. I had been in a state of being controlled by other beings for those decades of my life. These beings controlled and used the various thoughts I wanted to implement, which meant that although I did not make major mistakes when offering advice for the country, I could not hold onto the most basic bottom line when it came to being a person or an official. I could not truly reach the hearts of the people, but instead remained stuck in many intense self-perceptions.

The Lesson for Future Generations

This is the root of all my suffering, and the result of being too attached and grasping too tightly to everything. People of future generations should use my story as a mirror: no matter how good a thing a person wants to do, or how sincerely they want to work for people, the 'Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way' is the standard that one must adhere to in life. In other words, a person who keeps Goodness in their heart should live happily. If one is kind-hearted but lives in great pain, they must have gone astray somewhere without realising it. The Buddha’s teachings advocate being carefree and empty. At that time, I did indeed admire the profound state of the Buddha’s teachings, but I only stayed within those self-perceptions and did not penetrate the most fundamental education of the Buddha’s teachings—teaching people to be truly pure and good, filled with Dharma joy, and thereby attaining Awakening and realising one's true nature to attain Buddhahood.

I have a very famous poem, which I am sure most of the Chinese people have heard. The last two lines are: 'The fallen flower is not a heartless thing; it turns into spring mud to further protect the flowers.' This is the truest portrayal of the word 'patriotism' in my life. I guarded the country and the nation for a lifetime, but in the end, my own body collapsed, and the country collapsed as well. In the end, this was not something in accordance with the Dharma, but it was also inevitable within the laws of karma and cause and effect. Because I could never truly be the master of my own life, I could only follow the causal conditions of karma itself, unable to achieve a true breakthrough. If I could have been more humble at that time and let go of that arrogant personality, perhaps I could have regained a sense of autonomy, and I would not have ended so miserably at the end of my life, leaving without even having time to say a final word to those who came after me.

From Hell to the Western Land

Subsequently, my spirit began a life of suffering for over a hundred years: the first hundred years were spent suffering in the hells, and the following eighty-plus years were spent returning to the human world, wandering in the ghost realm. At that time, I was still a lonely, angry spirit, still unable to admit my own shortcomings, always pointing out the faults of others, which made my spirit even more miserable. Although my spirit had a high degree of freedom and could wander at will, and I had a clear understanding of my own thoughts, I still could not change my personality; it was no different from when I was alive. Perhaps because my initial intention never left the country and the people, the time I spent suffering in the hells was not too long. After a hundred years passed, my life in the ghost realm also obtained deliverance at this very moment, and I was guided to the Western Land of Dharma Nature by the Twelve Lights of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

All these painful nightmares came to an end. It is finally over; I finally have the opportunity to learn the true Buddhist education, to open my heart, and to accommodate all the good and bad in the world. Now, there is no distinction between good and bad in my heart, and I know deeply that everything is an evolution of Causal Conditions. Therefore, in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, my state of mind is very calm and gentle. Although I have only been here for a few weeks, my spirit has undergone tremendous changes, transforming from painful arrogance to peaceful compassion. This joy is truly indescribable. I will never again walk the old path of Gong Zizhen; that is a self-imposed framework that one can never escape in a lifetime. Now that I am able to walk out of it, I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am also grateful to Practitioner Su.

This bitter journey has lasted so long, and I have finally reached the end. I have a few words of advice: I hope all the Chinese people in the world can seriously read my interview transcript, and also look at the transcripts of all the historical figures interviewed by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Everyone should be sober. No matter how magnificent life in the human world is, no matter what you strive for or who you strive for, everything eventually turns into nothing left. Only the true Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddhist education brought to the world by Namo Amituofo, has the ability to truly change the human heart from the root, thereby changing the life direction of a person, and truly escaping the shackles and suffering of this cycle of rebirth. Being reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and finding one's own true self is the path everyone should take.

At the end of my spiritual life, as a lonely spirit, I unexpectedly encountered a light that awakened me from the haze and sent me directly to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Only then did I truly wake up and witness with my own eyes the true scenes described by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Namo Amituofo, and Practitioner Su. This is the major turning point where my life no longer suffers. Namo Amituofo."

Although this Western Land of Dharma Nature is only a temporary Pure Land, as long as one is willing to chant Namo Amituofo, there is a golden opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Upon learning this, I let go of all my worldly attachments and focused my heart entirely on chanting Namo Amituofo. My mind began to clear, and I became acutely aware of my own shortcomings. Through sincere and open repentance, I received the Buddha’s affirmation. I finally understood that I was not a 'bad person' at heart; rather, it was my past habits of arrogance and attachment that caused me to suffer so deeply throughout my life. The education provided to spirits in the Western Land of Dharma Nature has been profoundly beneficial. I never imagined that after Practitioner Su realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood, he would be able to carry out such massive, boundless deliverance for the people of China.

In the past, I always lived within the narrow confines of my own ego. Now, I realise how vast and magnificent the true power of deliverance is—compared to my past limited perspective, the difference is like heaven and earth. Practitioner Su has truly achieved a state of selflessness and no-self. He works solely to help beings leave suffering behind, never asking for anything for himself. If I had learned this lesson back then, perhaps my life would not have been so filled with agony. Practitioner Su’s great vow has moved Namo Amituofo to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia; this is truly the greatest blessing for all of humanity. However, for humanity to keep the Buddha in this world, we need someone with the human body and the awakened being's skills to spread the Dharma. Without such a person, the Buddha’s power cannot be fully utilised.

The Great Deliverance of China

People of China, we are truly, incredibly fortunate! I have seen with my own eyes the countless manifestations of Practitioner Su, shining brilliantly across the land of China time and time again, leading our countless brothers, sisters, parents, and ancestors to safety. All the descendants of the Yellow Emperor across the Greater China region are entering the Buddha-light with joy and gratitude. Because of this magnificent Chao Du, countless beings have attained liberation. They no longer have to suffer in the cycle of rebirth, nor do they have to wander as lonely spirits. This is a monumental event worthy of our deepest celebration and gratitude. If this truth can be spread far and wide, so that all of China knows, then the beings in the human world will finally have the chance to draw near to the true Buddha’s teachings. Only then will China truly be saved.

A Call to Cherish the Human Body

It is not easy for the Buddha to come into this world. If we possess a human body but do not know how to cherish it, we have essentially wasted our entire life. It is precisely because Practitioner Su made such a great vow that he has been able to manifest these Causal Conditions, which are in sync with the world, to perform such vast deliverance for the masses. The land of China is truly a blessed place. Everyone must cherish and seize the opportunity of the human body you currently possess. Do not let this precious Causal Condition slip through your fingers!

Namo Amituofo.

Gong Zizhen