A President’s Journey to the Western Pure Land

The trace of arrogance I once held in my heart—the belief that it was my own ability that achieved so many international peace negotiations—was actually not the case at all. These achievements were not within the scope of my individual power; rather, they were the result of the positive energy attracted whenever a heart of Goodness was emitted.

Had I not encountered the Buddha’s teachings and come to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I would not have been able to bring everyone this crucial message: that a heart and mind of Goodness is the key to changing the magnetic field of our world.

A President’s Journey to the Western Pure Land

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter shares his transition from a life of political service and Christian faith to his recent rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. He contemplates on the limitations of human power and the profound equality found in the teachings of Namo Amituofo.

Jimmy Carter speaks:

Namo Amituofo. I am Jimmy Carter.

Thanks to the guidance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, I officially arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss yesterday. I wish to convey the words in my heart to the people at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre; this is something I never imagined would happen!

Furthermore, I am deeply grateful to Lay Practitioner Xu Lin, who registered me for Chao Du. Although we have never met, your initiative has moved me profoundly. That you would hold such respect for what I did in my life—I am truly touched, and I feel I am hardly worthy of such honour!

A Century of Life and the Presidency

As one of the few Americans—and the first American president—to be interviewed by this temple, my identity is very familiar to everyone. Yet, in truth, the words ‘President of the United States’ do not stir much emotion in me now. Or perhaps, it is an identity that leaves me with a thousand conflicting feelings and deep reflections.

I lived to be one hundred years old, spanning an entire century. In that long stretch of time, I served as president for only four years. People will always remember my various political achievements, for better or for worse. In the eyes of Americans at that time, I was certainly not a qualified president, which is why I only served one term and could not be re-elected.

However, this was not the most satisfying or brilliant time of my life. Being the U.S. President was not something I had aspired to since childhood. Along the way, after I fought for the rights of the people in my hometown and received their strong support, I stumbled onto the path to the presidency. I truly did not have such grand ambitions when I was young.

A New Worldview Beyond Christianity

Today, the guidance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su has given me a completely different worldview and introduced me to a world I never knew existed. In the one hundred years I spent as Jimmy Carter, the Buddha’s teachings did not leave a deep impression on me.

I was a devout Christian my entire life. In the last few decades of my old age, I even served as a deacon and teacher in my church, teaching the scriptures to others every week. Therefore, I always regarded the Buddha’s teachings as a distant Eastern religious culture, believing they involved worshipping many god-like statues. In Christianity, the image of the Lord is not presented through so many vivid sculptures or paintings as in the Buddha’s teachings, which allow everyone to see what the Buddha looks like.

The reason I did not have a deep impression of the Buddha’s teachings at the time was that Christianity and Buddhism seemed worlds apart. In my heart, the image of the Lord was something beyond human comprehension. Moreover, I spent my life believing that Christianity spoke of only one Creator—one Lord who decides every aspect of human life and established this world.

However, I was not a blind religious fanatic. I was a very pragmatic person throughout my life; I focused only on how to prevent loss of life or how to provide greater security for humanity. This is also how future generations evaluate me: primarily as a promoter of human rights.

The True Equality of the Western Pure Land

The Jimmy Carter of today holds a vastly different perspective on Buddhist education, especially the teachings brought to us by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Throughout my life, I strove to maintain peace between nations and equality among people, hoping that war would never happen again and that everyone could live a good, equal life. However, I never expected that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, where I have now arrived, would be the only place where true equality exists. It offers a level of equality and compassion that I could never achieve, no matter how much I struggled or sacrificed during my earthly life.

This is because the Buddha has transcended all the afflictions and constraints of the mundane world. By detaching from these bonds and purifying into a Buddha, the distinction between ‘you, me, and him’ vanishes, allowing for the true perspective of oneness and equality. This realisation of absolute equality has been the greatest shock and most profound revelation the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss has brought me.

I have only been in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss for a little over a day. Yet, as I listen to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su explain the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss as described in the Infinite Life Sutra, I see that everything is exactly as it is described before my eyes. The fact that Namo Amituofo made the Forty-eight Great Vows to establish this world was initially a startling concept to me, as it had never existed within my previous worldview.

As I delve deeper, I find that every one of Namo Amituofo’s Great Vows shakes my heart. They far exceed the imagination I once had regarding the peace, benevolence, and compassion I always sought to uphold. I now understand what it truly means to be an awakened being who has realised their true nature: because there is no ‘self’—because the ‘self’ has been completely released—and because the vow to fulfill all beings has arisen, only then can such soul-stirring vows be made.

Regrets and the Ghost Realm

In the depths of my heart, I always yearned to promote what is good. In my later years—especially in the decades following my presidency—I tried my best to actively mediate peace negotiations around the world, hoping that nations would choose peaceful dialogue over force. Yet, there were many things in my life I could not bring to true perfection, simply because the difference between me and the Buddha is so vast. The Buddha can speak of true equality and perfection because the Buddha has no ‘self,’ whereas I was still bound by one. Thus, while I strove to do good, I would sometimes inadvertently cause harm despite my best intentions, or achieve certain goals at the expense of others. There were, indeed, stains upon my life.

I am profoundly grateful for the guidance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I am also deeply thankful to Lay Practitioner Xu Lin for registering me for the Chao Du ceremony. Your respect for me allowed this precious opportunity for rebirth in the Buddha-land, liberating me from the pain of the six realms of rebirth and granting me the chance to share these words with the world. Your merit is truly boundless. Thank you.

The Grey Reality of the Spirit Realm

Before arriving at the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I was indeed a lonely soul—what people in the West often call a ghost. I lived as a spirit on the plains of the American South, which was my home in the human world. However, my hometown was entirely devoid of sunlight; it was grey, dim, and profoundly different from the life I once knew. For the year or so that I could not see the light—from the time I left the human world at the end of 2024 until my arrival at the Western Dharma-Nature Land and then the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—being a ghost for that year gave me space for deep reflection. It made me realise what the spiritual realms are truly like. There are so many people who become ghosts after death, wandering without a clear destination.

In the plains of the American South, the world of ghosts is very complex and crowded. I could see spirits of all backgrounds—white, black, and Native American—all living in that space. We did not interfere with one another, though there was a faint, lingering interaction between us. In this spiritual realm, everyone seemed to have forgotten this former president; few recognised me. Unlike my life in the human world, there were no greetings, no smiles, and no need for security agents. To be honest, it allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief!

A Teacher in the Ghost Realm

However, the ghost realm is much more monotonous than the world of the living. I was no longer the master of my own fate; I could not decide what to do or what not to do. I simply went with the flow, following the aimless movements of the other spirits. I even served as a Christian teacher in the ghost realm. This was a role I discovered I could fulfil for the beings in the spiritual realms once I had gained a foothold in that world. It was much the same as what I had done for decades in the human world; only the audience had changed. That audience was diverse, comprising all kinds of people. Since they knew I was adept at explaining the teachings of the Bible, I would speak to them at fixed times. Thinking back on it now, it is quite remarkable, is it not?

Reflections on Regret and Karma

I once thought that after I died, I would be able to go to Heaven, as the scriptures often spoke of the divide between Heaven and Hell. However, because I still held many attachments that I had not let go of, and because my life in my old age was a mixture of merits and faults, I was left with many regrets that I felt powerless to change. I had lived a life of great influence, yet I had not fully understood the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Of course, I also committed my share of mistakes. I stood on the wrong side of the international stage at times, supporting people I should not have supported—especially regimes and tyrants who were unkind and cruel to their people. When choosing sides, I sometimes made the wrong choice or was forced into a position that prevented me from truly following the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way spoken of in the Buddha’s teachings. This resulted in biases that left me with deep regrets. Perhaps I can share a few more words about these matters when I discuss my life experiences in a moment.

In any case, during my time as a ghost, just as I had finally managed to find a bit of purpose, I was blessed with an even greater fortune: being guided to the Western Dharma-Nature Land, a true Buddha-land. It is here that I have finally found the peace I was searching for.

Namo Amituofo

While I was still engaged in the task of giving lectures within the ghost realm, a brilliant, golden light suddenly manifested directly above my head. A compassionate elder was calling out the name ‘Jimmy Carter’ in the Chinese language. It was not that I possessed an understanding of Chinese at that time, but in the ghost realm, language is no longer a barrier to communication. Even though the elder spoke in Chinese—a language I was not familiar with during my life on Earth—I immediately understood with absolute certainty that the person being called was me: the former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter.

The Journey to the Western Dharma-Nature Land

Following that resonant call, I entered a beam of pure, radiant light and arrived directly at the Western Dharma-Nature Land. A lotus flower appeared beneath me—a flower that belonged to me alone, vibrant and pristine. It was remarkably similar to the lotus flowers described in the sacred Buddhist scriptures, glowing with an inner light that seemed to pulse with life.

When Namo Amituofo appeared before me, I recognised him instantly. This was the Buddha! It felt as if my entire mind had suddenly become clear, bright, and liberated from all previous burdens. I did not need the Buddha to say a single word; I knew, deep within my heart, that this majestic, golden figure standing before me was Namo Amituofo. Standing alongside him was the living Buddha from the human world who had invited me to ascend: Practitioner Su.

Many things became clear to me in an instant, and my heart felt incredibly serene. Ever since that moment, I have held a heart of deep, abiding gratitude. Wishing to repay this profound kindness and eager to learn more, I have gradually settled into my new life here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, a place where the truth is as clear as the morning sun.

The Resonance of the Buddha-Name

Here, the sacred Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo is constantly being played, filling the atmosphere with a sense of peace. At first, I felt a slight resistance because it differed from my familiarity with the Lord Jesus; we did not constantly chant His name in my previous life. But here, the name ‘Namo Amituofo’ is chanted truly and continuously, and I began to understand its power.

As it turns out, the Buddha compassionately explained to me that after he attained Buddhahood, he wished for everyone to follow in his footsteps and attain Buddhahood as well. Therefore, he gifted this name to all beings, allowing everyone to chant the Buddha-name together. This practice serves several vital purposes:

• It allows us to awaken the Buddha-nature that has always existed within our own hearts.
• It helps us rediscover our true self, which has been obscured by the dust of our past lives.
• It provides a direct path to return to our original, pure state of being.

The moment I heard those words—‘Buddha-nature and true self’—tears streamed down my face. I realised that I actually had a Buddhist affinity a long time ago. When I learnt of the Buddha’s compassion and realised that I, too, could have the opportunity to realise my true nature and attain Buddhahood just like him, my heart was truly shaken! The equality in the Buddha’s teachings is rooted in the truth that all beings are Buddhas; it is from this foundation that a genuine heart of equality is developed.

The Universal Truth of Equality

This is something that cannot be found in any other religion in the world. Here, there is no god who is ‘greater’ or ‘lesser,’ nor are there animals considered more insignificant or fragile than humans. This is because the true self within every life is equal. It is only because our karma differs and our Causal Conditions vary that we appear in different forms. Every person and every animal has the potential to realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood.

At that moment, I was filled with extreme joy. Having reached the end of my life and arrived in this world, I found that I still had a new goal: to be like the Buddha—to attain Buddhahood and save all beings! I am filled with joy. I know that attaining Buddhahood must be an extraordinary feat, because by becoming a Buddha, one can help others just as the Buddha does, guiding them from a world of darkness into a world of light. This is something every Buddha can do after realising their true nature.

The Long Journey Toward the Ultimate Truth

In truth, I discovered the Buddha’s teachings far too late in my earthly journey. Having dedicated my life to the study of the Bible for nearly a hundred years, and with my family members and myself all being devout Christians, I never had the precious opportunity to encounter the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way as they are so clearly articulated in the Buddha’s teachings. For decades, I walked a path of faith, yet I remained unaware of the profound mechanics of the universe that govern our existence, our suffering, and our ultimate liberation.

This is not to say that the faith I held was without merit; I would never harbour such a thought. I have come to realise that these different faiths are simply the various ways in which Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest their compassion, adapting their teachings to the individual capacities and cultural contexts of people across the world. Everything taught regarding benevolence, love, and peace in Christianity adheres to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. It is simply that the Buddha’s teachings offer a more ultimate, complete, and perfect map for the soul to return to its original nature.

The Harmony of All Paths

Differences in faith are, in reality, merely variations within the complex web of Causal Conditions. When we look through the eyes of the Buddha, we see that every sincere prayer and every act of kindness is a step toward the light. I have since learnt that Jesus and my Lord had once stayed in the Eighteenth Heaven, and were subsequently guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This revelation brought me a peace that passes all understanding.

Now that I reside in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, if I wish to see them, I only need to form a mental note, and I can see the Lord and Jesus immediately. This is truly a miraculous manifestation of the Buddha’s infinite power. It is a testament to the fact that in the Western Pure Land, all barriers of time, space, and belief are dissolved by the boundless light of Namo Amituofo.

A Reunion Beyond Time and Space

I never expected that the Lord and Jesus, whom I worshipped with such devotion for my entire life, would be reunited with me in this sacred Buddha-land. I feel an overwhelming desire to share this news with all my American friends and relatives, so they may finally understand the vastness, the inclusivity, and the profound compassion of the Buddha’s teachings. Although I may not always possess the perfect words to express these profound truths, now that I am in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I feel there is so much I can say to help others leave suffering behind and find true happiness.

If you were to ask me to dissect the story of my life in detail, most people would expect it to revolve around my four years as president. Indeed, in the eyes of many, that was the only time I, Jimmy Carter, was truly known to the world. It is inevitable that every action I took and every word I spoke while serving as president left a deep impression on the collective consciousness of humanity. However, I must confess that this was the most distorted and struggling four-year period of my life. It was a time when the weight of the world’s karma pressed heavily upon my shoulders.

The Burden of Leadership and the Roots of Division

I was originally a state senator in the South and later became a governor. The American South, specifically Georgia, was where I grew up and where I first served my country. The America I was born into was a deeply divided society. By divided, I mean that as a white person at the time, the worlds of white and Black people were completely separated by invisible walls of prejudice and fear. These walls were not merely physical; they were rooted in the deep-seated ignorance of the human heart.

In my simple, young heart, because I knew that everything Jesus said was based on peace, equality, and benevolence, I was always puzzled by the reality I saw around me. I often asked myself:

• Why must white and Black people be separated in such a harsh manner?
• Why must the toilets we used, the schools we attended, and even the cinemas we went to be segregated?
• Why did even the water we drank—the public drinking fountains—have to be separate?

These questions were the seeds of my early awakening, though at the time, I lacked the wisdom to understand the karmic roots of such injustice.

The Seeds of Change and the Illusion of Ignorance

Furthermore, what saddened me most at the time was the inherent injustice of this divide. If a Black person accidentally entered a white area, they would be harshly driven away, and some would even be beaten; yet if a white person accidentally entered a Black area, they would be left in peace. Why on earth was this? It was a manifestation of the Five Poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—playing out on a societal scale. It was a cycle of rebirth where the strong oppressed the weak, creating endless karmic debts that would need to be repaid in the future.

In the most innocent world of my childhood, there was a time when I thought the reason Black people’s skin was dark was that they were infected with a disease. I conjectured that they were separated from white people in all public places to protect the white population from falling ill. At the time, my understanding of race was almost non-existent, and my parents did not provide me with a more accurate explanation. I was trapped in the darkness of my own limited perception, unable to see the inherent equality of all beings as taught by the Buddha. It is only now, through the grace of Namo Amituofo, that I can look back at those days with clarity, understanding that we were all lost in the cycle of samsara, waiting for the light of the Truth to guide us home.

As I matured, I came to the painful realisation that my father was a staunch proponent of racial segregation. He firmly believed that white and Black people should be kept entirely separate in every facet of life, from the most mundane daily activities to the use of public facilities. This rigid adherence to division deeply wounded my young heart, as it stood in stark contrast to the innate sense of equality I felt within.

Once I truly grasped the concept of race, I became even more convinced that humanity should never be divided by the colour of one's skin. I saw such divisions as a profound tragedy. I began to understand that the American South, the place of my upbringing, had been deeply entrenched in conservative traditions for generations. Many white citizens held fast to the belief in separation, refusing to grant Black people equal treatment or fair access to employment. They were systematically relegated to the status of second- or third-class citizens, a situation that felt hauntingly reminiscent of the dark days of slavery.

By the time I reached my teenage years, I had gained a clearer understanding of these systemic injustices, and my heart was heavy with sorrow. Yet, a firm conviction had already taken root within me; regardless of my father's views, I would not waver in my own beliefs. My father remained unaware of my inner thoughts, and I did not dare to voice them to him. Instead, I harboured a silent, fervent hope that if I were ever granted the power and the capacity, I would dedicate myself to changing the lives of Black people for the better.

A Commitment to Equality

Years later, the opportunity I had long awaited finally arrived. Through steady progress, I rose through the political ranks and was eventually elected Governor of Georgia. Even before I assumed office, I had publicly declared my firm opposition to racial segregation. It was my sincere hope that the American people could move toward greater unity, transcending the barriers of skin colour and background. I actively utilised my position to ensure that Black citizens could secure equal employment and development opportunities. I was determined to prove, through my actions, that white and Black people are truly one family.

Upon becoming governor, I gained even greater leverage to vigorously implement these policies. I laboured to create environments where Black and white people could live and work side by side, systematically dismantling the policies that had kept them apart for so long. Gradually, I steered the state away from its rigid, long-standing history of segregation and toward the more inclusive and open policies that we see today.

Reflecting on my journey, this is the achievement from my earlier years of which I am most proud. It was because of this unwavering commitment that, even before I was elected President, I earned the support of many Black voters. I continued to strive tirelessly to ensure that every citizen, regardless of their racial background, possessed a fair and unhindered opportunity to cast their vote.

A Life of Partnership and Principle

Before I ascended to the Presidency, my life was remarkably rich and multifaceted. I was accepted into the military academy of my dreams, where I gained invaluable knowledge during my service. As a naval officer, my time in the military had a profound and lasting impact on my character; it forged me into a disciplined individual who understood how to analyse problems with composure, even under the most intense pressure.

I also served as a nuclear engineer, a role that demanded both technical precision and immense courage. During a nuclear emergency, I led a small, dedicated team into a high-risk zone to dismantle a reactor. In that perilous operation, we relied on sheer perseverance and a spirit of absolute cooperation to successfully resolve the crisis—an effort for which I received significant recognition at the time.

That harrowing experience solidified my cautious stance on nuclear energy for the remainder of my life. Having witnessed the risks firsthand, I was deeply reluctant to promote related developments, as I possessed a very practical and sobering understanding of the impact of radiation on human health. Having been a victim of exposure myself, I remained profoundly wary of its use, always prioritising the safety and well-being of the people above all else.

Our family business was rooted in the cultivation and trade of peanuts, yet there came a season when our fortunes waned and the enterprise faced a period of significant decline. It was during this challenging chapter that I married my wife, Rosalynn. She was a woman of remarkable kindness and profound understanding, a steady presence who walked faithfully by my side through the many highs and lows of my life. There were countless moments when I stood at a crossroads, forced to choose between political expediency and the quiet, persistent benevolence in my heart. In those times, she would stand with me, encouraging me to remain steadfast on the path of compassion. Her resilient spirit is a treasure I deeply cherish and admire; it is a grace I shall never forget.

The Call to Serve and the Pursuit of Equality

Following the passing of my father, I retired from my service in the Navy and returned to my hometown to assist in the revival of our family business. While we were successful in restoring its prosperity, I did not allow myself to become complacent or indulge in that success for long. I felt a deeper calling and chose to run for Governor of Georgia. This position provided me with the platform to pursue a lifelong ambition: to stand firmly against the injustices of racial segregation and to do my utmost to promote fairness, dignity, and equality for all people, regardless of their background.

The Price of Standing Against the Tide

In those days, the white majority often viewed my stance with suspicion, and I was frequently shut out of their circles. During numerous voting campaigns, my wife and I were often the only white people among the crowds who supported the abolition of segregation. The verbal abuse I endured from society was immense, and many of my peers kept their distance, fearing association with my views. Within the white world, I was branded a rebel because I refused to support policies that granted special privileges to one group while perpetuating inequality for others. The journey was certainly not easy, and the path was often lonely. However, my faith always whispered to me that this was a path I had to walk with unwavering conviction, for it was the right thing to do.

The Constraints of Power

I was once an idealist, harbouring the belief that if I were elected President of the United States, I would possess the power to transform many things for the better. However, I soon discovered that the actions of a U.S. President are heavily constrained by Congress to maintain a delicate balance of power. This meant that the bills I hoped to pass could not be enacted by my will alone; they required the support of a vast number of legislators, many of whom were driven by their own agendas. Despite these formidable obstacles, I truly believed that as President, I could lead the nation toward a more equal, harmonious, and compassionate society.

The Hidden Rules of the White House

During those four years in the White House, I witnessed the hidden game rules that had been passed down through generations. These were the many unspoken, often shadowy, regulations that bind people and prevent them from acting with true autonomy. To put it bluntly, most of these hidden rules did not conform to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. They were often secret exchanges, compromises made to gain personal benefits or to achieve specific, narrow ends rather than the greater good of the people.

The Integrity of Governance

Many past presidents pushed their legislative agendas forward in this manner. They might spend huge sums of national funds to win the approval of legislators or secure the support of specific interest groups to advance their ideal policies. I firmly opposed this approach, as I could not reconcile such methods with my conscience. Consequently, many of my own policies stalled or were outright rejected by those who preferred the old ways of doing business. It was truly a helpless situation, yet I remained committed to my principles.

A Different Vision for America

People often considered me a weak president, and in the eyes of many Americans, perhaps I was. I did not believe in the aggressive ideology of putting one nation above all others at the expense of the world. Although I held a deep affection for this land and wanted to do my best to give back to the country, I did not believe that America had to step on the shoulders of others or sacrifice the interests of other nations to achieve its own dominance. This is a policy I have seen America pursue for a century; one could say it has been the case for every president who came before me. I sought a different way, one rooted in peace and mutual respect, even if the world was not yet ready to embrace it.

After I advocated for the dismantling of segregation, I felt profoundly that all people should be able to cooperate and complement one another. Every individual possesses unique strengths. We ought to utilise our own strengths to compensate for the shortcomings of others, thereby moving forward together on the path of mutual cooperation. Only through such unity can we bring true peace, stability, and strength to the nation.

The Burden of Moral Choices

I was not unaware that these dark, internal realities existed, but I truly did not expect that my moral persistence would prevent me from achieving so much of what I believed should be done. In that era, United States Presidents seemed accustomed to using coercive means to interfere in the affairs of other countries. This was especially true during the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union were in a state of absolute opposition, with each side aggressively supporting its own camp.

At the time, I secretly hoped the Cold War would end early, allowing nations to move toward a true multi-polar system where multiple major powers could speak for the people of the world simultaneously. However, I eventually discovered that whether the pressure came from within the United States or from abroad, the various constraints left me at a loss. I was often unsure of how to truly follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way within such a system. Maintaining moral standards—without sacrificing the interests of smaller nations for the sake of American interests—was truly an arduous task.

A Controversial Act of Compassion

The first thing I did upon becoming President caused a great deal of dissatisfaction at the time. During the Cold War, the United States supported the southern front of the Vietnam War, sending many young soldiers to the front lines. However, many American youths resisted the war or lacked the courage to go to the battlefield, choosing to evade service and leave the military. Many of these individuals fled abroad; because they were blacklisted by the government, they could be neither welcomed back nor established in their own country.

I felt a profound sense of sympathy for them. I knew many were forced by circumstances, and I believed that resisting war was often a psychological expression of a desire for peace. Therefore, I decided to grant these individuals a second chance, allowing them to become productive members of society rather than spending their lives hiding in foreign lands in misery. It seemed a waste of potential for so many ambitious young people. I quickly issued a policy to redress the grievances of those who had evaded military service and removed them from the blacklist.

This caused a massive backlash. Many citizens believed these people were traitors or were simply selfish. But I understood that most were driven by various unavoidable reasons. Believing that there is rarely an absolute right or wrong in such human struggles, I decided to release these people from their legal burdens so they could serve their country in other ways.

The Struggle Against Deep-Rooted Prejudice

Many of the policies I championed throughout my life were rejected by the American people at the time because they were diametrically opposed to the mainstream thinking of the era. There was a significant difference between that generation and people today: they placed immense importance on the perceived superiority and self-esteem associated with being white. This intense self-consciousness caused deep suffering and left many Black people scarred by the coercive measures of the white population.

This prejudice was not merely a social issue; it was a deep-seated spiritual sickness. It manifested as the Five Poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—which clouded the minds of the people and prevented them from seeing the inherent equality of all beings. When one is trapped in the cycle of samsara, these delusions create endless suffering. My goal was to guide the nation toward a more compassionate understanding, yet I found that the collective karma of the people was difficult to shift in a single term.

I often reflected on how the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way are the only true anchors in a world of shifting political tides. Without these, a leader is merely a leaf in the wind, tossed about by the desires and fears of the masses. I sought to govern with a heart that understood the interconnectedness of all life, even when the world around me was focused only on division and power.

Namo Amituofo

The Burden of History and the Call for Equality

The deep-seated issue of racial discrimination has permeated the fabric of American society since its very inception. For hundreds of years, the shadow of prejudice has cast a long, dark veil over the hearts of many, creating divisions where there should be unity. As President, I felt a profound responsibility to utilise the influence of my office to gradually alleviate the hatred that had taken root in the hearts of the people. My aspiration was to guide them toward a state of clarity, where they might truly see the inherent goodness and the original nature within one another. It is a journey from confusion to awakening, from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity.

We must realise that this land does not belong solely to any one group; it belongs to the indigenous Native Americans who have walked these paths for generations. The reality of white rule over this land only began after the British arrived and took root. Therefore, I firmly believed that we must honour the indigenous people and ensure that everyone—regardless of their origin—has equal opportunities on this land. This is in accordance with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, which teaches us that all beings are equal in their potential to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Walking the Path of Integrity

My four years in the White House were a time of walking on thin ice. Because the majority of people did not support my policies—or could not accept them from the bottom of their hearts—I struggled to forge a new path, only to feel hindered by what was perceived as my own incompetence. Yet, in the face of such adversity, I remained steadfast in my commitment to the truth. I understood that to lead is to serve, and to serve is to help all beings leave suffering behind and find happiness. Even when the world around me was focused only on division and power, I sought to govern with a heart that understood the interconnectedness of all life.

The Sacred Pursuit of Peace

Despite these struggles, perhaps the achievement I am most proud of in my life was my effort to maintain regional peace, specifically in the Middle East, by helping two nations reach a historic peace agreement. At the time, Israel and Egypt were deeply hostile toward one another. Their influence in the region was significant; the United States had provided massive military aid to Israel for a long time, while a coalition of other countries, led by Egypt, stood on the opposite side. Whether due to territorial disputes, regional power struggles, or energy concerns, these nations would often break out into wars of varying scales over the smallest matters, leading to countless casualties. Driven by a desire to end this cycle of suffering, I invited the President of Israel and the Prime Minister of Egypt to the White House to mediate and negotiate peace for both sides.

I did not want to use the flames of war to solve problems. I believe that as long as we have the ability to speak, we can resolve the most difficult conflicts in the most perfect way. As long as we communicate thoroughly, we can complete this mission of peace together. I spent thirteen days at that time working to convince the leaders of both sides to stop warring and sign that peace agreement. In my heart, that agreement was very precious. Perhaps the joy I felt far exceeded that of the leaders and the people of those two countries. I was genuinely happy for them, because less war means fewer senseless casualties, and fewer souls trapped in the cycle of rebirth.

The Wisdom of Peaceful Resolution

Throughout my political career, and even after retirement, I often travelled to the front lines to negotiate with national leaders. My goal was always to reduce wars between countries and resolve problems through peaceful means. Perhaps the most famous example was when I was older and travelled to North Korea to meet with President Kim Il-sung. At the time, I hoped he would engage in further consultations with South Korea, and I did my best to help them resolve the predicament that was leading them toward the battlefield. I know that many times, when national leaders consider starting a war, they know deep down that it is unwise and will bring great pain and casualties to the people. Why, then, do so many presidents still choose this path? I did not understand it at the time. I only felt that with my own modest ability, I could persuade them, help them find their calm, and perfectly resolve the wars that were about to break out. By choosing peace, we allow the light of Namo Amituofo to shine into the darkest corners of the world, guiding all beings toward the path of liberation. Namo Amituofo

Until now, as I look back from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss upon everything I once did, I have realised the profound truth. Whenever I sincerely emitted a thought of Goodness—wishing only to help the nation and its people by reducing the horrors of war and resolving conflicts through peaceful means—there were always many benevolent spirits surrounding me. They were there, supporting and helping me complete every single one of those peace negotiations. It was not my own intellect that succeeded; it was the power of a heart aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

The Invisible Support of Benevolent Spirits

There were countless benevolent spirits surrounding me, unseen by the physical eye but felt by the heart. They were the silent guardians, supporting and guiding me to complete every one of those peace negotiations. It was not my own intellect that succeeded; it was the power of a heart aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. This is the grace of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who work tirelessly to save infinite suffering beings.

The Power of a Sincere Heart

Even after I was no longer president, I travelled to Haiti to confront the local dictatorial government. I hoped the leader would step down, allowing the people to restore the nation’s political situation in a more democratic and peaceful way. My goal was also to prevent the then United States President, Bill Clinton, from launching a massive invasion of Haiti—an action that would have put the lives of the vast Haitian population in grave danger. These various events demonstrate that these achievements were not something I could have achieved through my own strength alone. Rather, once a thought of Goodness is emitted—especially one that affects the lives of millions—it attracts the protection of numerous deities, benevolent spirits, and even Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to safeguard world peace.

The Illusion of Personal Arrogance

Because of this thought of Goodness, the demon nature within the hearts of the demon crowds—those who wanted to incite war—and the hearts controlled by these demon crowds, found no foothold. This allowed the situation to be eased and resolved peacefully. Now that I have discovered the Truth behind all of this, I am truly amazed! The trace of arrogance I once held in my heart—the belief that it was my own ability that achieved so many international peace negotiations—was actually not the case at all. These achievements were not within the scope of my individual power; rather, they were the result of the positive energy attracted whenever a heart of Goodness was emitted.

The Key to Changing the World

Had I not encountered the Buddha’s teachings and come to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I, Jimmy Carter, would not have been able to bring everyone this crucial message: that a heart and mind of Goodness is the key to changing the magnetic field of our world. If one can maintain purity and absolute Goodness in the depths of the heart, one can contribute to world peace. There is no need to overuse the intellect, nor is there a need to exhaust the people and drain the treasury to wage war or engage in unnecessary mediation. As long as this thought of Goodness naturally flows from the heart, it allows positive energy to advance the cause of peace, helping the demon crowds to surrender or find their calm.

Reflecting on a Life of Mixed Merits

My heart is filled with immense emotion at this moment. It turns out that all of this is truly inconceivable; I was in the midst of it all, yet did not understand the underlying reason. But it was a good deed after all, and this allowed me—despite a life of mixed merits and demerits—to always walk on a path of benevolence built upon moral foundations. However, I must also look at the stains on my political legacy. There were moments where my own ignorance, my own attachment to the Five Poisons, clouded my judgement. Even in my efforts to do good, there were times when the ego sought recognition, and these attachments created karmic obstacles that I am only now fully understanding. Namo Amituofo

The Weight of Karmic Responsibility

During my tenure as president, there were many policies that I enacted which, in hindsight, clearly violated the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. These actions, though perhaps intended for national stability, caused immense suffering for countless people. They drained the national treasury and, in some instances, provided support to regimes that inflicted horrific violence upon humanity. At the time, while I was manoeuvring between the interests of major powers, I often lacked the clarity of mind to stand my ground or to remain firmly on the side of justice. I was caught in the web of political expediency, and I did not always know how to uphold the sanctity of life. Perhaps the most painful example of this was my support for the brutal Cambodian government. This was a decision made because I desired to establish diplomatic relations with China. Today, I realise that this position remains a deep, indelible stain on my political career and a heavy burden upon my soul.

The Illusion of Sacrificing Minor Righteousness

During that era, millions of people in Cambodia sacrificed their lives because of the brutal Pol Pot regime. In order to achieve the national interest of establishing diplomatic relations, and because of my own misguided belief that I must sacrifice the minor righteousness to achieve the greater righteousness, I supported that government’s hold on power. In doing so, I indirectly allowed many people to suffer. I feel a deep sense of sorrow and guilt regarding this; it has always been an indelible stain on my heart. I now understand that such justifications are often merely the ego attempting to rationalise actions that cause harm to others. True righteousness can never be built upon the suffering of innocent beings, for every action creates a karmic seed that will eventually bear fruit.

I must also humbly admit my own moments of cowardice and ignorance. Many times, under the immense pressure of cabinet ministers or congressmen, the peaceful mediation I originally intended to conduct was subverted by the violent means traditionally used by the United States to solve problems. Although some of these instances did not result in immediate, visible casualties, the policies and methods established therein had already violated the Universal Principle. I allowed the influence of others to cloud my own conscience, and in doing so, I drifted further away from the path of compassion.

The Dark Side of Power

I must say that my four years as president left me with much joy, but also many regrets. Regarding politics, there were actually many realities I found impossible to accept. I could not condone the fact that I, or my close subordinates, walked down such a dark political path. There are many hidden, darker sides to American politics, which likely mirror those of other major powers. Since the United States has held absolute global power for many years—particularly after becoming an international leader following the Second World War—the unilateral policies adopted toward many smaller countries have been driven entirely by our own economic interests. Whether we supported or opposed a specific regime, the decision was always made to consolidate our energy interests and to prioritise the future development of domestic enterprises. This is the nature of the cycle of rebirth, where greed and the desire for power drive the actions of nations, leading to endless suffering for all involved.

Although I strongly denounced these practices and disliked the extreme right-wing approach of sacrificing the interests of other nations to pursue the economic interests of our own country, it was a very difficult reality to grasp. At the time, there were too many things I wanted to resolve but felt powerless to change. I consistently sought a middle ground—a way to ensure equality so that all parties received the benefits they deserved—but this proved to be no easy task. The world is a complex tapestry of karmic debts, and one cannot simply untangle these threads without the wisdom that comes from true Awakening.

The Pursuit of a Higher Goal

Consequently, I focused my efforts on the broader goal of reducing casualties and promoting world peace and development. In this process, it sometimes felt necessary to sacrifice some minor righteousness or smaller interests; it seemed unavoidable. In my pursuit of greater righteousness—to enable people to live in an environment with human rights and freedom, and to allow the people of all countries to communicate with transparency—I did indeed sacrifice a great deal. Ultimately, I was unable to reach a state of perfection. I was still a person bound by the Five Poisons, and my efforts, while well-intentioned, were often flawed. It is only through the light of Namo Amituofo that I have come to see the true nature of these past actions and the necessity of seeking purification for the sake of all suffering beings.

The Panama Canal Decision

The decision regarding the Panama Canal was another moment of profound complexity. It was a choice that required balancing the sovereignty of a nation against the strategic interests of my own country. I felt the weight of history pressing down upon me, and I struggled to find a path that would not lead to further conflict. Looking back, I see that every political decision is a reflection of the state of one's own mind. If the mind is not pure, the actions will inevitably be tainted. I now dedicate my remaining time to the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo, seeking to leave behind the confusion of the past and to find the true peace that exists only in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo

The Weight of Global Responsibility

Of course, when the greater righteousness of my own country was at stake, I would occasionally sacrifice immediate national interests to promote global equality. My aim was to ensure that smaller nations obtained genuine opportunities to thrive, rather than being overshadowed by the ambitions of larger powers.

At the time, the public strongly opposed one particular action I took: returning control of the Panama Canal to the nation and people of Panama. This decision was despised by many high-level United States government officials and a significant portion of the public, who viewed it as a surrender of American strength.

The Panama Canal was built by the United States many years ago. It was excavated to facilitate international commerce and vessel traffic across the Atlantic Ocean. Although the United States maintained complete control over the Panama Canal, I found this arrangement inherently unreasonable. Since the canal was located within the sovereign territory of Panama and had been operational for many years, I believed that sovereignty and control should rightfully be returned to the Panamanian people.

The Path of Wisdom and Foresight

If the United States had insisted on maintaining its rights over the canal, it would have appeared to the world that we sought to dominate and occupy a position of unilateral power. Therefore, I worked tirelessly to facilitate the return of the Panama Canal to its people. I must admit, however, that this decision was also rooted in our own national interests. At the time, I feared that the United States would be drained of wealth and resources defending the canal, or that we would be subjected to constant attacks and voices of discontent from those who felt oppressed by our presence. To ensure the safety of our compatriots stationed there, this transition was the only viable path forward.

Consequently, my primary reflection as a president was this: many policies are not inherently good or bad in an absolute sense. Instead, one must prioritise the interests and benefits of the majority. If a policy serves only a select few at the expense of the many, it cannot be considered a good policy. True leadership requires the courage to look beyond the immediate and consider the long-term harmony of all involved.

Reflections on Failure and the Self

Later, as is well known, I failed to be re-elected. During my term, many people grew dissatisfied with my policies, labelling me as incompetent or cowardly, and believing that my decisions did not prioritise the interests of the American people. I did, in fact, fail to use the power of the Presidency to its full extent to protect the nation and its people. I made some mistakes, most notably during the Iran crisis. I must admit that I struggled to manage the broader landscape, which caused many people to suffer, and for that, I deeply apologise.

After losing the election, I felt a sense of relief deep in my heart—though the world remained unaware of it. The political pressure of those four years was simply immense. Carrying the weight of every issue, from internal domestic struggles to external global pressures, felt as though it was draining my soul. It left many of my goals unrealised, and through that struggle, I came to see that every matter truly has two sides.

The Illusion of the Self in Politics

In the political world at that time, everyone was driven by their own interests. As the president of a nation, attempting to satisfy the needs and benefits of all parties is a nearly impossible task. Unless those involved are willing to compromise—to let go of this "I," and relinquish their own self-interests—there is no way to achieve a truly equitable policy. This is the reflection I arrived at after witnessing the true complexities of human nature.

It is only through the lens of the Dharma that one can truly understand why such conflicts arise. When we are caught in the cycle of the Five Poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—we cannot see the truth. We cling to our positions, our nations, and our personal gains, forgetting that all things are impermanent. If we could all learn to chant Namo Amituofo all the way, we would find that the conflicts of this world are but fleeting shadows. By turning from confusion to awakening, from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity, we can finally leave suffering behind and find happiness in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo

The Illusion of the Self

Today, as I contemplate the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the clarity of the Dharma reveals the truth of our existence with profound sharpness. The same fundamental truth applies to the relationships between nations as it does to the interactions between individuals. As long as this stubborn sense of an 'I' remains, it is impossible to truly accommodate another person or to hold them within the sanctuary of one's heart. In this world, apart from Practitioner Su and those rare beings who have truly realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood, who else can claim to be entirely free from the shackles of the 'I'?

I see now that it is difficult—truly, it is immensely difficult. As long as there is even the slightest trace of an 'I' existing, one will inevitably remain self-oriented. Consequently, one will sacrifice the needs of others to satisfy the cravings of the ego. How can such a heart, clouded by the Five Poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt, ever reach the perfection of the Buddha-nature? It is only by letting go of this false sense of self that we can begin to walk the path toward the Western Pure Land.

The Trap of Worldly Education

The world at large remains largely unaware of the true nature of this 'I.' It does not understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way as presented in the compassionate teachings of the Buddha. Consequently, the American experience—from the past to the present—is built upon the infinite magnification of this 'I.' The education system is no different; it is designed to reinforce the ego rather than dissolve it.

From a young age, children are indoctrinated with values that lead them away from their original nature:

• They are taught to seek self-worth through external validation and material success.
• They are encouraged to find a personal foothold in a competitive world, often at the expense of others.
• They are trained to be self-oriented in all things, prioritising their own desires above the collective good.
• They are urged to make their own lives shine at their brightest, often ignoring the light of those around them.

But what of the personalities that are stunted in this process? What of the people who are sacrificed in this relentless, ego-driven pursuit? When we focus only on the 'I,' we lose sight of the interconnectedness of all beings.

A New Path of Service

During my four years as president, I understood in my heart that I might not have been the most suitable candidate for such a position, given the limitations of the ego. Consequently, upon leaving office in my fifties and while still in good health, my wife and I felt we possessed unique insights into international affairs. We shared a deep, compassionate desire to help people resolve the challenges of their lives or their existence in the most peaceful way possible.

Therefore, we decided to use our personal savings, along with the proceeds from my books and other lifelong endeavours, to establish the Carter Centre foundation. Through this foundation, we sought to speak for the world’s marginalised people and dedicate ourselves to the noble cause of global peace. This was our way of turning away from the 'I' and toward the service of all suffering beings.

The Joy of Selfless Labour

Retirement became the most fulfilling and joyful period of my life. The establishment of the Carter Centre, along with the peace mediations and negotiations I conducted for various nations after leaving office—each success brought me profound satisfaction. Although I was a former president, acting as a private citizen while still carrying a certain 'presidential aura' allowed me to earn the respect and support of many. Because I was dedicated to good work, and as a former president, I was afforded security protections by the state, I was able to move forward straightforwardly and without any worry.

A Heart for the Marginalised

Regarding the marginalised people of the world, I have always held a heart that sought justice, hoping to fight for them and improve their lives. Building homes for the poor—both in the United States and abroad—to provide them with shelter from the wind and rain—this was something I took great pleasure in. It was a practice of compassion in action.

I have been a hands-on person since I was young; as an engineer, I had many opportunities to work with my own hands. In the later stages of my life, having the chance to build houses again—and for such a meaningful cause—filled my heart with immense joy. I participated in numerous housing projects, working alongside the people on construction sites every day, never tiring of the labour. The peace and stability in my heart were truly beyond words. Compared to the immense pressure I faced every day as President, this was a wonderful time. While I still had my strength, and while my body was free from illness and pain, those thirty or forty years were the happiest of my life. By shifting our focus from the self to the needs of others, we can finally leave suffering behind and find happiness in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo

Addressing Global Crises with Compassion

During my journey, I also participated in extensive efforts to resolve infectious diseases and viral outbreaks across various parts of Africa. At that time, numerous complex and obscure viruses, as well as parasitic infections, were devastating the lives of millions of people in Africa. Because many communities lacked access to clean water, they were forced to rely on contaminated sources, which caused widespread illness and premature death. These crises led us to conduct extensive scientific experiments and public health projects to eradicate these parasitic or bacterial threats. Our efforts earned widespread recognition and applause, eventually leading to the honour of a Nobel Peace Prize. Yet, as a practitioner, I have come to realise that even the most noble of worldly achievements must be viewed through the lens of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

The Subtle Shadow of the Ego

If you were to ask me whether the word ‘I’ was mixed into these good deeds, I must be honest with you all: yes, it was. I remained a mortal. Every glorious deed I performed was, in fact, tinged with a little bit of that ‘I’. I hoped to be affirmed by the world; I hoped the world would forget the stains left by the misguided or unavoidable policies of my four years as president. I hoped to make amends for the mistakes I had committed, so I exerted my greatest efforts to promote health and peace for humanity. There was still a degree of selfishness and a desire for face, but compared to my earlier years, my heart at that time was already quite pure and calm. This is the nature of the human condition—we strive for goodness, yet we are often tethered by the subtle, invisible threads of our own ego.

The Weight of Karma

It was this subtle ‘I’—which I did not even notice myself—that meant that even though I did many good things, I still inevitably fell ill and grew weak in my old age. This eventually led to the separation of the four elements and death. In the Buddhist tradition, we understand that the physical breakdown of the body during death is the loss of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind. Buddhist practitioners chant Namo Amituofo to bypass this painful separation and allow the spirit to depart peacefully to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Although I lived to be one hundred, the final years of my life were indeed frail and powerless, forcing me to spend my days in a wheelchair to finish out my life.

At the time, I was already very grateful that I could still do things for society while I was alive and had the strength; this was a gift from Heaven. I was deeply grateful to the Lord and Jesus for giving me a healthy body and a clear mind to accomplish these tasks. Therefore, before the Lord and Jesus, I was always humble and modest, not daring to claim credit for myself. Yet, amidst the praise of the vast public, I could not help but feel that sense of joy and the presence of my own ego. Yes, that is why, despite accumulating these blessings, I also exhausted some of them during my presidency. Through the offsetting of these various deeds, even though I lived to be one hundred by the grace of the Buddha, I could not escape aging, sickness, and death, nor could I avoid becoming a spirit in the spiritual realms, unable to achieve spiritual elevation.

A Life of Contradictions

My life is a true reflection of many people. I had a kind heart and a desire to do good. I was also a devout Christian, relying on Christ and the teachings of Jesus, wanting to walk the righteous path. But forced by many helpless situations—and because my own personality had not yet truly changed—I inevitably created some karma. This is why we must practise the purification of the Six Roots. We must learn to let go of the Five Desires and the Five Poisons that cloud our original nature. Only by chanting Namo Amituofo all the way can we truly leave suffering behind and find happiness. We must move from confusion to awakening, from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity. This is the only way to ensure that our final destination is the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where Namo Amituofo truly abides.

Namo Amituofo

My life, a complex tapestry woven with both merits and faults, ultimately left me in a state of spiritual suspension. While my actions were sufficient to prevent me from falling into the depths of the hells, they were not enough to grant me the profound liberation of the spirit. In the realm of ghosts, I often found myself lost in contemplation, asking: why was I unable to ascend to the heavens to meet the Lord and Jesus? I had dedicated so much of my earthly existence to the active explanation of Christian doctrines, striving to provide solace and answers to the doubts of others. Yet, I came to realise that this merit, however sincere, could not bridge the gap between my worldly deeds and the opportunity to meet the Lord and Jesus in the afterlife.

Truths Revealed in the Light of the Pure Land

Many of the questions and doubts that had long burdened my heart were answered one by one after I arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It was as if the heavy, dark layers of clouds that had obscured my vision for lifetimes were being peeled away, one by one. This clarity allowed me to finally understand the profound truth of the universe and to see, with absolute transparency, all the contradictions and imbalances that had existed within my heart while I was alive.

I often pondered why so many things in my life could not be resolved. Why was I unable to find a concrete, satisfying answer to the deepest longings of my soul? No matter how hard I tried to do good, I would still inevitably commit a few bad deeds while performing ten good ones. There were, of course, many reasons for this, including:

• The immense pressure of the external environment, which often forced my hand.
• The deep-seated influence of my own personality, which was tethered to ego-attachment.
• The unseen weight of past karmic seeds that had yet to ripen.

These factors created a cycle that I could not break on my own, no matter how noble my intentions were.

The Support of the Unseen

I later discovered that when I sincerely wanted to do things for people—regardless of their nationality, race, or background—and truly hoped only to promote peace, there were indeed many benevolent spirits surrounding me. As I have mentioned, this was a constant presence throughout my life. I am deeply grateful for this blessing, or perhaps it was the manifestation of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, which allowed me to turn danger into safety many times.

In times of great crisis, I was able to use my own strength to facilitate peace between two nations. In those moments, I did not dare harbour any arrogance, for I knew that my own power was insufficient. Especially after arriving in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and seeing everything more clearly, I sincerely attribute these successes to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and benevolent spirits who protected and stood by me. Although I had no faith in them and did not know them at the time, there was always this force supporting me. They were not merely supporting Jimmy Carter the individual; they were supporting the cause that could bring peace to humanity. When sentient beings have a request, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas respond—it is truly so!

The Limitations of Human Effort

Looking back on my past life, I see that the things I fought for were a mix of good and evil; every single act was subject to the Law of Cause and Effect. I was merely doing my best under those Causal Conditions to reduce suffering and hardship. However, the fundamental cause and effect, the karmic relationships, and the core difficulties people faced remained beyond my power to resolve through worldly means. This is why my efforts were met with both success and failure. Relying on my own strength, before realising my true nature and attaining Buddhahood, the number of beings I could help and the issues I could resolve were inherently limited.

This is a completely different concept from how Practitioner Su, through the state of no-self and the realisation of her true nature to attain Buddhahood, can freely travel to and from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to help immeasurable and boundless sentient beings achieve liberation. I helped people’s physical bodies, offering them a chance to reduce their suffering, but I could not bring about any spiritual purification. Therefore, none of my work was ultimately perfect or complete.

The Path of the Awakened

To truly help others, one must move from confusion to awakening, from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity. This is the only way to ensure that our final destination is the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where Namo Amituofo truly abides. It is only through the power of the Buddha that we can transcend the limitations of our own ego and truly save infinite suffering beings. By chanting Namo Amituofo all the way, we align ourselves with the infinite compassion of the Buddha, ensuring that our efforts are not merely temporary fixes, but seeds of eternal liberation. Namo Amituofo.

The Clarity of the Awakened Mind

If I had been fortunate enough to encounter the Buddha’s teachings and align my heart with the Buddha during my time on Earth, perhaps the course of many events could have been rewritten. With the presence of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, my heart would have remained steady and calm. I would have clearly understood the profound distinction between those who have realised their true nature and those who have not.

Those who have realised their true nature possess capabilities that ordinary people cannot fathom. This is not merely a matter of physical strength or intellectual prowess. It is the boundless potential of the spirit once it has fully recovered its original nature. It is not something that physical eyes can observe, nor can it be grasped by the minds of ordinary people who are still bound by their perceptions.

The Wisdom of Natural Action

This is the state of mind of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It is when one truly places the interests of all sentient beings in one’s heart without any discrimination. One acts entirely in accordance with conditions while respecting the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Such wisdom does not need to be thought out by the brain. It does not require the supplement of acquired planning or complex thought.

Everything is just as the Buddha’s teachings describe: it is the natural state within the natural. The Buddha naturally knows which methods are most suitable for helping sentient beings. The Buddha teaches and acts according to each individual’s capacity. By truly respecting the Universal Principle, the Buddha helps people resolve their suffering. This allows them to leave suffering behind, find happiness, and achieve spiritual transformation.

This is the realm of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I, Jimmy Carter, admire this immensely. Now that I have arrived in this Buddha-land, I hope to master these divine skills. This experience has truly broadened my horizons in ways I never imagined possible.

Reflections on a Nation's Path

Most of what I thought and did throughout my life was driven by a kind heart, yet it could not be fully realised. Now I finally understand why. I was still very far from the heart of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. If I had known these principles earlier, it would have been a wonderful thing. However, there are no ifs in the cycle of life. Arriving in the Western Land, my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude.

Namo Amituofo. Now that I reside in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have undergone several weeks of purification within the realm of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I have gained a much clearer perspective on the affairs of my former country, the United States. I have come to realise that if the American people truly wish to stand up and perform good deeds for the world, they must change their focus. Instead of prioritising their own interests, they must strictly adhere to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way as taught in the Buddha’s teachings.

The Karmic Lesson of the Pandemic

Among the traits I observed, the most prominent one in the hearts of Americans is greed. This single word—greed—has driven the actions of both the government and the people for over a century. It has often violated the Universal Principle, causing immense harm both to our own nation and to people across the globe.

Do you all remember the global COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago? Although the United States was not hit hard by the virus at the very beginning, the situation changed. As the pandemic slowly spread, the country eventually became one of the most severely affected places in the world. It suffered the highest death toll globally. In the largest city, New York, one could see scenes of tragedy and death everywhere. These events left many to wail in agony and despair, highlighting the urgent need for spiritual awakening.

In these great metropolitan centres, the greed in people’s hearts grows ever larger; this is the interference of what we call the demon nature. Furthermore, when a material society reaches its extreme, the greed within people is exposed even more vividly, causing even wider harm. This is precisely why the demon crowds are able to strike so effectively. Many people in large cities are driven solely by their own interests, and the level of selfishness has become extremely severe.

The Hidden Truth of Deliverance

At the time, I did not know the truth behind the pandemic. I believed that from a scientific perspective, finding a solution through scientific methods was the only path. I never imagined that years earlier Practitioner Su of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre had already opened her spiritual eyes. With the grace of Namo Amituofo, she saw the true cause of the COVID-19 pandemic and took on the heavy responsibility of leading the world toward its alleviation.

In particular, the United States received profound help from Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su; this is the true reason the pandemic was finally able to subside. Without this intervention, the pandemic demons would have only continued to multiply, potentially claiming countless American lives and leading to a gradual decline in national strength—making it impossible to recover the prosperity and glory of the past.

Seeing all of this now, I cannot help but sigh. It turns out there is such a place in the world—Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre—performing so many selfless deeds for humanity. Yet, people generally remain unaware of the interference from the spiritual realms. Demons do not need a just reason to attach themselves to people; they arrive with hearts full of vengeance and destruction to strike at humanity. This is also invited by one’s own karma; it is only when thoughts become corrupted that such things can manifest. My experiences—the time I spent in the ghost realm and my current arrival in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—have allowed me to see these truths. I hope the American public can find it in their hearts to believe what I see now.

Institutional Greed and the Shadow of History

Furthermore, regarding the greed in the hearts of the American people, I see even more clearly—beyond the individuals—the greed within the various institutions of the high-level government. Because of this generational greed, countless demon crowds have been drawn into the highest institutions of the United States. Beyond the White House where the President resides, there are countless energy-less demon crowds present in the chambers where senators and representatives gather. Many other agencies, especially the CIA—which frequently conducts secret operations around the world and persecutes many—are also under this influence.

I can see that the reason the American people have gradually walked down this path is largely due to the policies set by the nation over the past few centuries, as well as the education that has guided us. This is evident in the racial segregation policies regarding Black people that I mentioned earlier. The reason these policies were so widely implemented for centuries without being halted—or without enough people recognising them as wrong—is that a foundation of inequality, rooted in white supremacy and the enslavement of Black people, was laid down long ago. This is the greed in people’s hearts: the desire to grasp power and secure every comfort, which led step-by-step to the consequences we face today.

The Shadow of Greed and the Weight of History

The earliest settlers arrived with a vision of prosperity, yet they sought to build this comfort upon the labour of others. They viewed the enslavement of Black people as a means to serve the white population, a decision that was rooted in the deepest delusions of the heart. In the upper echelons of American society, households relied entirely upon Black individuals to perform all cleaning and domestic chores. While these individuals desired to enjoy such comforts, they refused to acknowledge the inherent rights and the precious Buddha-nature of those they oppressed. Because the white population sought to monopolise power, they desired that Black people serve them indefinitely. This greed was nurtured over generations, and as a result, we were gradually controlled by the influence of demons. The negative karma created through this systemic injustice is truly immeasurable and boundless. Many years ago, I, Jimmy Carter, deeply felt that such unequal policies were fundamentally wrong, but I was unable to articulate it as thoroughly or as clearly as the teachings of the Buddha allow us to do today.

The Illusion of Supremacy and the Cost of War

There has been no shortage of wars within the United States, not to mention the conflicts the government has orchestrated across the globe. Some of these are visible to the naked eye, while others are conducted in the shadows of political manoeuvring. Why are these wars fought? Ultimately, they are fought to protect the interests of one’s own country and the perceived benefits of one’s own people. This word ‘interest’ is merely a mask for greed. A massive, collective greed is at work, corroding generation after generation of Americans who enjoy the feeling of supreme power and a status above other nations, while ignoring the basic needs and aspirations of minorities and the people of other lands.

I, Jimmy Carter, offer a deep apology to the people of the world. Although many of these actions were beyond my personal control, as a former representative of the American people, I must say: I am sorry. People all over the world have been influenced by the United States to some degree, whether through the devastation of war or the erosion of their local cultures. This has left a profound impact on their bodies, minds, and spirits. This is a truth I must acknowledge with a humble heart.

The Mechanics of Collective Karma

Regarding the greed inherent in war, it has become an unspoken rule passed down through generations of Americans as our power expanded. The interests of the United States have been treated as the primary guide, regardless of the suffering inflicted upon others. The price other nations have to pay for this is simply not a factor the government considers. This is why, during the Cold War, many smaller nations suffered immensely because of the directions and policies of the superpowers. In war after war, the United States often appeared to be helping others build peace; in reality, it frequently employed unscrupulous means to achieve its own ends. Whenever an issue touched upon American economic or military interests, the United States would unhesitatingly take a side and condemn the other. This behaviour is a manifestation of the Five Poisons:

• Greed: The insatiable desire for resources and dominance.
• Anger: The tendency to condemn and attack those who do not align with our interests.
• Ignorance: The failure to understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
• Arrogance: The belief that one nation is inherently superior to others.
• Doubt: The lack of faith in the interconnectedness of all living beings.

A Sincere Reflection on the Path Forward

At the time, I, Jimmy, gradually realised that this seemed inappropriate, and I felt a deep sense of guilt and unease. This is why people regarded me as a president who cared deeply about human rights and humanitarianism. That perception was not entirely wrong. In most cases, I was able to rationally stand with nations that valued human rights, and I consistently offered criticism toward regimes and governments that were cruel to their own people. However, I am only human, and what I could achieve was very limited. When the legislators did not provide general support, many of my policies simply could not be implemented. This is the collective karma of the nation, a heavy burden that requires deep purification. We must move from confusion to awakening, from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity. Only by chanting Namo Amituofo all the way can we hope to leave suffering behind and find true happiness, both for ourselves and for the world we have impacted so deeply.

The Profound Web of Collective Karma

When we contemplate the profound and intricate nature of Collective Karma, we begin to see the world through a different lens. It was only after I was granted the grace to witness the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Western Dharma-Nature Land that I gradually came to understand the true complexity of our existence. There are simply too many events unfolding in this world—a vast, swirling ocean of good and bad, of virtue and evil. There is so much karma, invisible to the naked eye, that influences the larger picture of our lives. Throughout my life, I was deeply attached to what I considered to be good and virtuous, yet in reality, I often did not realise that I was also under the subtle control of my own past karma. I was, in many ways, unable to be truly autonomous, as the seeds of my previous actions continued to ripen and manifest.

In that particular lifetime, I was able to act with good intentions for the majority of my days. This sincerity allowed me to live to the age of one hundred years. Although I faced the inevitable challenges of illness, I did not suffer excessively, and I was able to pass away peacefully at home, surrounded by the warmth of my family. This was the fruit of my own good karma, a gentle ripening that allowed me to enjoy those one hundred years of beautiful, meaningful time.

The Foundation of Moral Integrity

I did not have the immense blessings of receiving the Buddha’s teachings during that life. However, as a Christian, the teachings of Christianity did bring me many positive influences. The greatest of these was the firm resolve that I could not bring myself to lie throughout my life. This is perhaps a rare quality among those who hold the highest office of a nation. Because I possessed a firm sense of moral integrity, whenever I was tempted to speak a falsehood, I would become very nervous and tremble. Knowing deep within my heart that it was something that should not be done, I naturally could not bring myself to utter a lie.

This led many at the time to wonder: as a president, how could I so honestly account for everything I did, or saw, or heard? Indeed, this earned me the respect of many later generations. Although my political achievements may not have been vast in the eyes of history, I at least did not dare to deceive others, and I maintained the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Even when my own brother made mistakes in our hometown in the South and was condemned by others, I did not hesitate to stand with those who condemned him, rather than using my presidential power to shield him. Although this caused dissatisfaction among family members, it was a principle of justice and reason that I felt compelled to maintain.

The Pervasive Shadow of Greed

The mention of this word, greed, makes me sigh with deep concern. The greed of the American people does not merely affect our own citizens; it impacts the vast population of the globe, bringing about profoundly negative consequences for the collective spirit of humanity. This is because, for the past century, the United States has been the leader of mainstream culture worldwide. People in many nations look to American culture as the standard and as a model to follow. Much of this influence stems from the development of American literature and film over the last century, which has led many to unconsciously adopt these values as their own while becoming deeply immersed in them.

Following the development of American culture and its economy, these influences have deeply permeated the hearts of people across the globe. We can observe the impact of this influence through several key channels:

• The global dissemination of American literature, which has provided people worldwide with the opportunity to encounter and emulate Western values.
• The widespread reach of the film industry, which has shaped the aspirations and desires of countless individuals.
• The assumption that because the United States has been the most advanced nation with a high economic standard for decades, everything it does must be inherently good, virtuous, and supreme.

This erroneous perspective has led many to drift slowly onto a crooked path, far from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. If the United States is truly to be taken as a model for the world, one must ask: why are there so many tragic conditions occurring in America today? We must look beyond the illusion of prosperity to see the weight of the karma that is currently manifesting.

The Illusion of Prosperity and the Weight of Karma

We must realise that material wealth is not the ultimate measure of a nation’s success. When a society prioritises the Five Desires—wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep—above the cultivation of the spirit, it inevitably invites the Five Poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt to take root. This is why it is so vital for us to return to the path of the Buddha. Only by chanting Namo Amituofo all the way can we hope to cleanse the deep-seated karmic seeds that have been stored in our consciousness for aeons. We must strive to move from confusion to awakening, from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity. Only then can we truly leave suffering behind and find the lasting happiness that the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss offers to all beings who sincerely seek it.

The Illusion of Material Prosperity

At the time, the American people still possessed a significant store of residual blessings from their past lives, which allowed them to enjoy the fruits of high-tech development and material abundance. On the surface, these blessings appeared vast, and the nation seemed to enjoy a level of prosperity that was the envy of the world. However, those who truly understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way know that the karma created within this process is immense and deeply concerning.

The accumulation of material wealth often masks a profound spiritual deficit. When a society prioritises external comfort over internal purification, it inadvertently sows seeds of future suffering. The prosperity that was once a sign of past merit has, in many ways, become a catalyst for the depletion of those very blessings, as the focus shifts entirely toward the satisfaction of the senses rather than the cultivation of the spirit.

The Global Spread of the Five Desires

I only saw this clearly later on, once I had attained a broader perspective. I realised that generation after generation of Americans—whether through scientific inventions, the rapid advancement of technology, or the pervasive influence of film and literature—have led the entire world toward a path dominated by the Five Desires:

• Wealth: The relentless pursuit of material gain and financial status.
• Sex: The indulgence in sensory gratification and the erosion of moral boundaries.
• Fame: The craving for recognition and the validation of the ego.
• Food: The attachment to sensory pleasure and the consumption of living beings.
• Sleep: The desire for comfort and the avoidance of the diligent practice required for awakening.

This is truly an unfathomable abyss of suffering. Many people, before even leaving the human world, have already begun to suffer the retribution for this karma in the hells. It is truly a massive force of karma churning within the collective consciousness of humanity, and it is a tragedy that so few are aware of the consequences.

The Erosion of Moral Foundations

Regarding the matter of sexual desire, it is with great shame and profound sorrow that I acknowledge the United States is indeed the primary nation leading the world toward indulgence and the rampant spread of sexual desire—there is no other nation that has exerted such a powerful influence in this regard. America is the chief culprit in the global decline of moral standards.

While people once held a cautious and respectful attitude toward the word ‘desire,’ the United States led the world down a path of indulgence and the so-called liberation of inner cravings. In the past, the sanctity of marriage and the importance of moral conduct were widely upheld. Yet, in today’s American society, the abandonment of these virtues has become extremely common. It has even reached the point where many high schoolers, and even elementary school children, have begun to taste the forbidden fruit of sexual activity. Many children by the age of thirteen or fourteen have already experienced things they should not have, yet parents and teachers often consider this quite ordinary, mistakenly believing it to be a natural desire that ought to be liberated rather than guided by wisdom and discipline.

A Heartfelt Plea for Reflection

Heavens! I am filled with deep emotion as I reflect upon this state of affairs. If I were not currently in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where I can see the retribution suffered by the masses across all worlds, I would not have known that so many Americans are already suffering retribution in the Pillar Hell or the Iron Bed Hell. This is a truth that the entire American population should take as a grave warning. My heart is filled with profound sorrow as I witness this, for I see the suffering that awaits those who do not turn back from this path.

I am also deeply grateful at this moment because of my Christian faith, which strictly forbids premarital sexual activity. Because of those teachings, I never engaged in acts of sexual misconduct. Throughout my life, I walked beside my wife for over seventy years, and I never turned my thoughts toward other women. This is surely the benefit that being a devout Christian brought me. At the time, I simply knew that such things were not to be done; I did not possess the deep understanding that the Buddha’s teachings provide regarding the profound harm that desire inflicts upon people, but the adherence to those moral precepts served as a vital protection for my life.

The Peril of Extreme Individualism

How is the karma of American indulgence to be repaid? Because people have not received a truly sound education—and because formal American education has for centuries focused primarily on subjects like science and mathematics to drive economic and technological development—moral foundations have long been neglected. The American emphasis on ‘individualism’ is a core tenet of their education, and this is truly a great pity.

Speaking of this, I can clearly see that the United States is the nation that has brought the word ‘I’ to its peak. It has pushed individualism to the summit; which is to say, it has pushed all the selfishness and self-interest inherent in human nature to its absolute limit. When the ‘self’ becomes the centre of the universe, the connection to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way is severed. This leads to:

• The growth of arrogance: Believing that one is the master of one's own fate without regard for karmic laws.
• The hardening of the heart: A diminished capacity for compassion toward others.
• The cycle of rebirth: A deeper entanglement in the cycle of samsara, making it increasingly difficult to find the path to liberation.

We must realise that this focus on the self is the very obstacle that prevents us from seeing our true nature. Only by letting go of this extreme individualism and embracing the teachings of Namo Amituofo can we hope to find our way back to the purity of our original nature and secure our rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.

The Mirage of Self-Centred Leadership

While it is true that every nation on this earth carries within it varying degrees of self-attachment, the United States appears to possess a unique capacity to rationalise its actions. It creates a veneer of righteousness that masks the underlying truth, making it appear as if there is nothing inherently wrong with its conduct. Everything is nominally performed under the banner of leading the world toward scientific progress and economic openness; however, in reality, everything remains centred on the ‘I’—the self-centred ego—moving forward with personal and national self-interest as the primary guide.

When other nations follow the same path as the United States, there are no major conflicts, and America happily leads them along that road. However, should other countries have interests that diverge from our own, the American government and its people do not hesitate to prioritise themselves. They stand firmly in defence of their own national interests rather than acting for the true benefit of the global population. This tendency is very obvious within American society, where the Five Poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—often dictate the direction of policy.

The Inevitable Return of Collective Karma

Looking at everything I have experienced, I see the current United States striving for victory in war and seeking to monopolise energy and resources. The current American leadership is staging one farce after another on the world stage, inciting dissatisfaction across the globe. Even many nations that traditionally supported the United States—those that stood with us for their own benefit—have now begun to voice opposition to American policies.

This is only the first step; most have yet to witness the layers of retribution that follow, which are not easily repaid. The impact of the Collective Karma created by one nation and cast upon the world will eventually return to its source. For now, American national power remains sufficient, so there is no obvious sense of a massive decline. But if a nation consistently causes trouble and suffering for others, that suffering will inevitably return to itself according to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

The Burden of Excessive Consumption

Furthermore, I clearly saw that the United States could be considered the first nation to export a culture of wastefulness and excessive luxury to the rest of the world, causing people in many other countries to emulate the American style. This is a trend I have always strongly advocated against. We must recognise that the resources of this world are not infinite, and to squander them is to create negative karma.

Even while running for president, I knew the country was facing a severe energy crisis. Although the public desperately hoped that I, as president, would provide a practical solution, the first method I proposed was to encourage the American people to:

• Conserve resources with diligence and care.
• Stop the cycle of unnecessary wastefulness.
• Reflect upon the true value of the blessings we enjoy.

This rhetoric drew widespread dissatisfaction; many felt the president’s role was to protect their interests and ensure they had more opportunities and rights to enjoy themselves. They did not understand that true happiness comes from purification of the Six Roots and the cultivation of a humble heart, not from the accumulation of material wealth.

Cultivating the Virtue of Cherishing Blessings

However, I knew in my heart that the world’s resources are limited. I believed that if the United States monopolises resources while other countries are deprived of them, the American people must bear responsibility. In my later years, I travelled to several African countries to help implement water filtration methods to provide clean drinking water. This work addressed many parasitic diseases at the time, most notably ‘Guinea worm disease.’

It was during this time that I discovered how rare and precious clean water is in many parts of the world. The American people should take this as a warning: the resources they enjoy do not come easily. They should lead the global community, setting an example of how to:

• Cherish the water that sustains all life.
• Protect the environment for future generations.
• Practise compassion by sharing rather than hoarding.

By shifting from confusion to awakening, from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity, we can begin to rectify the imbalances we have created. Only by embracing the teachings of Namo Amituofo can we hope to find our way back to the purity of our original nature and secure our rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.

This is a concept that has been severely lacking throughout American history. Although many environmentalists now vigorously advocate for these causes, the number of Americans who can truly put these principles into practice remains small. I sincerely encourage everyone, as citizens of the Earth, to cherish the planet’s resources and respect all life.

A Legacy of Humility

I also expected this of my own family and children throughout my life. Regarding wastefulness, I believed it was improper; even while serving as president, I was determined not to let my children develop habits of luxury. In my later years, rather than spending money or energy on personal enjoyment, I returned to my old house in the South and lived there for decades.

The laws of karma and cause and effect found in the Buddha’s teachings are, in fact, the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. I see this clearly and advise all Americans, regardless of where you are, your position, or your age, that you must firmly uphold this kindness in your heart. By thinking of others instead of oneself, one can help mitigate this massive Collective Karma and avoid calamity.

Reflecting on the Lessons of Impermanence

The COVID-19 pandemic from a few years ago serves as a poignant example. Within that massive vortex of Collective Karma, too many people lost their lives, and many families were torn apart. Does everyone truly wish to see such a situation happen again? Even while American national power remains sufficient, can we be certain that impermanence will not arrive? Will there not be other natural disasters, man-made calamities, or diseases to erode the people here? One should not take this lightly; the distinction between good and evil in one’s heart is very clear before the Universal Principle.

Although not everyone may be ready to accept the Buddha’s teachings or everything I have said, the American people are generally very religious. Regardless of the faith you follow, you must firmly uphold the doctrines taught within that religion. Every faith primarily advocates for benevolence and peace; no religion encourages sacrificing the interests of others for personal gain, nor does any faith allow people to indulge the selfish desires that result in bitter fruit. This is the fundamental goodness that every religion originally advocates, and everyone should be clear about this.

The Boundless Wisdom of the Buddhas

Now that I, Jimmy Carter, have been granted the opportunity to arrive at the Western Dharma-Nature Land and subsequently enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the energy and wisdom I have gained under the daily purification of the Buddha-light are beyond anything one could ever imagine in the human world.

Even if you are a top-tier intellectual from the highest echelons of American society—a distinguished professor from Harvard or Yale—your wisdom is, in truth, far inferior to the wisdom of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Why is this so? Because everything you have learnt, no matter how successful you are in this world, is inherently limited. It is not true, infinite wisdom. Human knowledge is pursued through the physical body, and the domains one can understand in a single lifetime are strictly bounded. The space you perceive is limited to what your physical eyes can see.

However, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can penetrate everything; they see the very essence of all things. This is the Truth that many scientists, despite their lifelong efforts, have never been able to reach. Because you hold onto delusion, discrimination, and attachment, you are unable to unlock the innate capabilities of your true nature.

The Ultimate Discovery of the Great Scientist

The renowned scientist and physicist Albert Einstein spent his entire life in a tireless pursuit of the truth of the universe. He sought to uncover the fundamental laws that govern all existence. Yet, despite his brilliant mind and his various complex calculations, he was never able to reach the final, absolute answer. He remained confined by the limitations of physical science and the boundaries of human intellect.

Now, however, he has arrived here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, just as I have. Only in this sacred realm can he finally see through the essence of all things. Only here has he been able to perceive the true Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, just as the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do. He has moved beyond the constraints of his former life, finding the answers that once eluded him.

The Technology of the Buddha

Everything described in the Buddha’s teachings is remarkably simple, yet it represents the most advanced technology imaginable. Practitioner Su refers to this as the technology of technologies. It is not a technology of machines or circuits, but a technology of the spirit and the nature of reality itself.

The reason Practitioner Su now possesses the extraordinary ability to traverse the ten realms and the vast expanse of the universe is due to her profound Awakening. She can reach into spaces trillions of light-years away to save all sentient beings who have karmic affinity, including even the demon crowds. This is possible because:

• She has attained the state of Buddhahood, where the illusion of a separate self has completely dissolved.
• She acts without any trace of selfishness, allowing the pure light of the Dharma to flow through her without obstruction.
• She has realised her original nature, which is one with the infinite wisdom of all Buddhas.

This is the only way such a magnificent feat can be achieved. It is the power of a mind that is perfectly aligned with the Truth.

The Spiritual Dimension of Existence

People in America often feel that science and academic knowledge are the supreme authorities of our time. However, there is a profound spiritual aspect to existence that many have overlooked. Everything within the spiritual realms—the ability to truly transcend this world, to see the essence of all things, and to reach a state where one is free from the suffering of aging and illness—can only be achieved by following the Buddha’s teachings.

By diligently practising these teachings, one can achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land and finally exit the cycle of samsara. Consider the following truths about the nature of your existence:

• Your spirit is not bound by the limitations of the physical body; it is inherently immortal and luminous.
• The cycle of rebirth is a reality that can be transcended through the power of chanting Namo Amituofo.
• True freedom is not found in worldly success, but in the purification of the body, mind, and spirit.

People of America, have you ever truly heard of being free from the decay of aging and the pain of illness? You may believe that the soul is immortal and that after death, one can go to heaven to enjoy blessings. However, you may find it difficult to accept that within a single human lifetime, one can actually reach a state where one does not grow old or fall ill in the way the world understands it.

A Path to Absolute Clarity

In this awakened state, your mind can be as crystal clear as a still lake, and your wisdom can become deep and vast. You can freely travel to and from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the worlds of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Have you ever heard of such miraculous things? Have you considered the fact that Practitioner Su can manifest countless incarnations to save sentient beings across the universe?

All of this is actually very scientific and very practical. Everything the Buddha’s teachings describe is based on the highest science; it does not violate the Truth as you understand it. It is simply because these things cannot be seen with the physical eyes—and cannot be learnt through limited human knowledge—that people struggle to accept them. Because you cannot see them, you find it difficult to believe.

An Invitation to the Truth

However, for those Americans with keen awareness, or those who have had contact with the spiritual world, you must make a trip to Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Only when you arrive here will you discover that the spiritual world is truly not what you imagined! This is a place where you can truly open up all spaces and see the truth of everything. This is only possible because Namo Amituofo truly abides at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. We invite you to come and witness the reality of the Dharma for yourself.

Namo Amituofo

The Limitations of Human Perception

The spiritual world, as it is generally perceived by the common person, is extremely limited. While there are many individuals in this world who possess a keen sense of awareness and the ability to explore dimensions beyond the physical, what they observe is merely the level that corresponds to their own current degree of purification. They have no way of perceiving the vast, infinite levels that exist far above their own. These realms are beyond the reach of human imagination and conventional thought. You must come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to witness this reality with your own eyes, and carry this profound, life-changing news back to the people of America.

A Sanctuary of Light in Australia

I, Jimmy, sincerely hope that everyone can truly believe in the existence of these higher realms. Even if you find yourself still harbouring doubts, I urge you to take my words to heart and reflect upon them repeatedly. If you have the opportunity, you must come to Australia. You will undoubtedly feel the profound difference in the magnetic field of this sacred place; there is truly no other location in the world where you can experience such a unique and powerful energy. If you possess any knowledge of the Buddha’s teachings, you should come here to experience the Buddha-land and the boundless compassion of Namo Amituofo.

The Unprecedented Vow of Practitioner Su

In this human world, there exists a spiritual realm known as the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It serves as a sanctuary that allows endless beings from the spirit realm to be purified and to deeply understand the Buddha’s teachings before they enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This world has been made possible because Practitioner Su, with the unwavering support and guidance of Namo Amituofo, has made this Ultimate Vow. This is an unprecedented event in the history of the Dharma, and it is essential that everyone becomes aware of its significance.

A Heart Transformed by Compassion

Finally, I, Jimmy Carter, sincerely express my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Without the infinite compassion of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, I, Jimmy, would not be standing here today to tell you that the truth of the universe is vast and that many things cannot be learnt through limited human knowledge. I hope that the American people who see this testimony, as well as those who have known me, can believe that this is everything I have witnessed after my own journey of Body-Mind-Spirit purification.

The Path to Eternal Peace

My own thinking has undergone a profound transformation; it is vastly different from the person I was in the past. The purification of the Buddha-light has made my heart peaceful and serene at every moment. You must believe in the beauty of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; only then will the day come when you can truly leave suffering behind and find happiness, escaping the bitter sea of birth and death. To achieve this, one must focus on the following:

• Faith: Cultivating a deep, unwavering belief in the power of Namo Amituofo.
• Vows: Making a sincere commitment to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land.
• Practice: Diligently chanting Namo Amituofo all the way to ensure one's mind remains pure and focused.

Jimmy sincerely wishes you all the best on your journey toward awakening.

Namo Amituofo.

Jimmy Carter