The Vision of Infinite Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Steve Jobs, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his experiences during the comprehensive deliverance ceremonies. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on October 6, 2017.

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Whoosh! A train seemed to flash right before my eyes. I found myself standing in a high-altitude climate, a frigid, desolate plateau where the only sign of human presence was a single, lonely railway track. I must admit, I have a deep respect for the engineering required to build a railway in such an unforgiving environment. Beyond the tracks, the landscape was dominated by swirling sand, wind, and hardy creatures—cows, sheep, and horses. The cattle here possess thick, shaggy coats, a necessary adaptation to survive the biting cold. The oases are scattered vast distances apart; this is the Mongolian Plateau.

The Scale of Infinite Souls

When we arrived, Practitioner Su—whom we affectionately call 'Grandma'—assessed the swirling sandstorms. With a flick of her hand, she manifested countless billions of forms. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Tens of thousands of layers of sand were lifted by her power, moving at speeds many times faster than a tornado. Under the illumination of the Buddha-light, these grains of sand transformed back into human forms and were gently guided toward the light. Each grain of sand represented a human life, a number so vast it defied any computer's ability to calculate. Even though I was a man of the West, I am not like the great disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha, Maudgalyayana, who possessed the supernatural powers to quickly tally such numbers. This was the reality of the vast desert.

Of course, the deliverance of these sand-spirits was not limited to the Mongolian Plateau. There were endless particles of sand, stretching beyond the horizon, being drawn rapidly toward the light, much like the gravitational pull of a black hole. The animals, too, moved with a rhythmic patter, running toward a shared destination. As they ran, they shed their outer layers—some were clad in thick furs, indicating they had lived in polar regions, while others were primitive beings, covered only in the most essential garments. It was a sight of profound liberation."

Spirits Within the Stone

"The cave paintings we encountered were not merely historical records or religious icons left by ancient peoples; they were living spaces. Within those patterns, there were actual spirits residing, living out their own existences, entirely detached from the human world. Every day, when the time for the deliverance ceremony approached, we would fly out with Practitioner Su. I could sense that so many spirits were already waiting to be saved. Some had been trapped in these spaces for hundreds, even thousands of years, unable to escape their suffering because they simply did not understand their own plight. They just continued to live their lives in that suspended state.

Seeing this, I felt a deep, aching sadness. It made me cherish my own life in the West even more, and I felt an intense desire for all these beings to come to the Western Pure Land and attain Buddhahood. The most heart-wrenching sights were the generals and soldiers still trapped in the space of their past wars. They were still locked in combat, their hearts filled with panic, insecurity, and the phantom sensation of flowing blood. I could not bear to watch them suffer so."

The Stubbornness of the Heart

"We also visited the volcanic magma regions. The geothermal heat that people on Earth are so accustomed to is, in reality, a place where many spirits are being scorched, their forms blackened and searing. I could not bear to look. Even after being rescued and restored to human form, some of these beings retained their explosive, bull-headed tempers. I stepped forward to advise one of them, 'You are about to become a Buddha. If you remain angry, you will not be able to ascend. Try to visualise yourself eating ice cubes to cool your mind.' The response I received was a sharp, 'Shut up!'

I was momentarily stunned, my expression blank. I stepped back and shouted, 'You must chant Namo Amituofo! Otherwise, you will be burned again!' The man just glared at me. I let out a long sigh; no wonder Practitioner Su says that people in this age are so difficult to save. Why be so stubborn? I eventually had to ask a Cosmic Bodhisattva, who possessed a truly majestic and awe-inspiring presence, to help him shift his mindset. I hid to the side to watch, curious to see if he would dare be so arrogant again. When the Cosmic Bodhisattva approached, the man did not dare utter a word. The Bodhisattva began the work of transforming his consciousness, and finally, the man was willing to chant a single 'Namo Amituofo.' I realised then why Practitioner Su says that to save people, one must have dignity and authority. But... that man was truly a bit too pragmatic. Never mind, let us not dwell on worldly affairs."

A Moment of Profound Gratitude

"After the deliverance, we reached the most moving moment of the day. Practitioner Su, in her absolute equality, did not only help Changren and me deliver sentient beings; she also helped the Cosmic Bodhisattvas deliver their own karmic creditors from countless lifetimes. At that moment, many were moved to tears. They had once been figures on the fringes of the universe, feared wherever they went, controlling others and creating karma. They felt they owed so much, and now, they spend every day doing their best to make amends through Buddha-work. They do not do this to gain anything; it is a response to the genuine sincerity Practitioner Su shows them.

Truly, if one is not a Buddha, no one can help the Demon Realm. They felt such deep gratitude from the bottom of their hearts that many knelt to offer prostrations to Practitioner Su. Of course, she does not allow people to bow to her. She only hopes that everyone can save others, that more people can be rescued, that they can know the magnificence of the Buddha’s teachings, return to the Buddha’s gate, and end the cycle of birth and death. This is the great compassion of Practitioner Su, and I understand it completely. The scene today was truly touching.

One Cosmic Bodhisattva, whom I have become quite familiar with, told me he was a practitioner from 1,200 years ago who could remain in deep Meditation for about six months at a time. In his temple, he never spoke to anyone, focusing entirely on his own practice. He knew that his fellow monks were dissatisfied with him, thinking him arrogant simply because he did not socialise. They secretly framed him, lying to others that he was about to emerge from his Meditation, and instructed them to move his body to the mountain forest. When he emerged, he could not find his body. After observing the situation, he realised the truth of what had happened. Filled with rage, he descended into the realm beneath the demons outside the universe. He used to specialise in controlling those monks who loved to play petty tricks, looking down on them and letting them create karma, leading them down the path to suffer retribution in hell. But now, he has let go of all that. Every day, he helps wash away the impurities of others, and his own heart seems to have become pure and good as well. He no longer wishes to dwell on the past, as he enjoys the work of helping people turn toward Goodness. His face has become increasingly dignified and compassionate. This was the positive feedback and encouragement I gave him. The Cosmic Bodhisattva, named Shi Yijing, pressed his palms together in respect, and I returned the gesture. We both said, 'Namo Amituofo.' Thus ended the most moving chapter of the day. Namo Amituofo."

Steve Jobs