An Interview with Lin Ze Xu （林則徐） The National Hero who bans Opium

This is a record of an interview with Lin Zexu, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life approximately 175 years ago. Recorded by the chief interviewer  Venerable FaHui, on March 30, 2026.

Lin Zexu speaks:

“Namo Amituofo. I am Lin Zexu. I never imagined that in this lifetime, I would have the opportunity to behold Namo Amituofo. I was rescued by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Now, I reside in the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, where I pay my sincere respects to the compassionate Namo Amituofo.

The Foundations of a Life

I am Lin Zexu. I have been incredibly fortunate in this life. Although my family was poor, I was blessed with a virtuous father and mother. From a young age, my mother’s discipline was strict; she taught me what a man ought to do and encouraged me to broaden my horizons. My father, a teacher, also held high expectations for me. Among his students, many went on to achieve great success in their examinations. My father did not believe in rote memorisation; he taught according to each student’s aptitude. More importantly, he emphasised the cultivation of morality, character, and integrity as the very foundation of life. The education, personal conduct, and words of my parents had a profound influence on me. Therefore, in this life, I am most grateful to my parents. Without them, there would be no Lin Zexu and none of the small achievements I attained throughout my life.

A Mentor and the Pure Land Path

Beyond my parents, the greatest benefactor and noble person in my life was Zhang Shicheng, the Governor of Fujian. At that time, he appreciated my talent and character. He did not look down upon me; instead, he recruited me as his staff member. My teacher shared all his knowledge with me and treated me with great kindness. Most significantly, he was a devout follower of the Pure Land Dharma Gate. Influenced by him, I remained deeply committed to the Pure Land teachings throughout my life, no matter what hardships I encountered. I carried a hand-copied, pocket-sized edition of the Infinite Life Sutra with me at all times to facilitate my daily practice, and I upheld the Holy Name ‘Namo Amituofo’. It was also through my teacher, Zhang Shicheng, that I came to understand the laws of karma and cause and effect. He was truly my foundational teacher, and I am deeply grateful to him.

The Burden of Duty and the Truth of Karma

When I was determined to eradicate opium, I chose to pour the confiscated opium into the sea. It was a measure of last resort. Because I was a devout follower of the Pure Land Dharma Gate, I understood the laws of karma and cause and effect. I knew that the aquatic life in the sea possessed consciousness and deserved respect. Therefore, I specifically wrote the Proclamation to the Sea God, informing the Sea God and all the creatures in the water—even the shrimp, crabs, and shellfish—hoping that they would take refuge and avoid harm so they could continue to survive in the ocean. At that time, although I was a believer, I did not fully grasp the true magnificence of the Holy Name ‘Namo Amituofo’. Had I known, I would have added one more instruction: I would have asked the beings in the sea to chant the Holy Name ‘Namo Amituofo’ so they could have the opportunity for liberation and leave suffering behind.

A Heart for the World

I once said, ‘I do not seek comfort for myself, but only wish for all beings to be free from suffering.’ This was a sincere vow born from my immersion in Buddhist sutras, and I lived by it throughout my life. Serving the country and saving the nation were the deepest desires of my heart. After becoming an official, I always tried my best to fulfil my duties. However, there were many factors influencing whether I could truly make a difference in the officialdom, one of which was the trust and appointment of the Emperor. I understood that these were tests every official would face; it was natural. Yet, I never truly achieved the ‘ease of following causal conditions’ that the Buddha’s teachings speak of. The sutras were my constant reliance. I persisted in reading them, especially the Infinite Life Sutra, which was a tremendous help in guiding me through many trials.

The Descent and the Long Wait

At the end of my life, I passed away during an illness. Regardless of the cause, it was ultimately my spiritual obstacles manifesting. From the perspective of practice, I know this meant I had not truly penetrated the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. It was not a flaw in the Dharma, but a flaw in me, Lin Zexu. Even so, the Pure Land Dharma Gate provided me with immense support throughout my life. Many times, I firmly believed it was the Buddha’s blessings that sustained me—a magnificence I never doubted. However, in my final moments, I did not chant the Buddha’s name. After death, I fell into the hells. In my severely ill state, I had already been tracked down by my karmic creditors seeking revenge. Even at the end, I remained headstrong, shouting ‘Xing Dou Nan’ three times. Whatever I intended to express, it reflected my intense temperament. I suffered greatly before I died. Before the King of Hell, I was made to confront my karmic creditors in court. It made me realise that many of my personality traits remained unchanged from my past lives. In this lifetime, due to my education and study of Buddhism, I had indeed committed fewer evils and performed many good deeds, but the temperament at my core remained strong. I accepted the judgment of the King of Hell with composure. The days of suffering in the hells were agonising. Perhaps due to my inner repentance, after one hundred years, I was released from hell and became a lonely wandering spirit in the world. The political situation in China changed rapidly; the Qing Dynasty had already fallen. Watching the changes in the world, I felt lost. As a spirit, I watched the people on the land of China. For the first time, I deeply realised how impermanent the human body is. Looking at the myriad states of human life, I felt even more lost; it seemed the human body held no real significance. After another seventy-five years, I was incredibly fortunate to encounter Practitioner Su conducting a Great Chao Du in China. I saw Practitioner Su manifesting in countless golden lights, carrying the Twelve Lights of Namo Amituofo. Between heaven and earth, the Holy Name ‘Namo Amituofo’ chanted by Practitioner Su resonated. My heart was deeply shaken, for I had never known this Holy Name possessed such power and energy. In fact, there were many times I had forgotten to chant it myself.

A New Life in the Dharma-Nature Land

I could not help but kneel and prostrate toward Namo Amituofo. I knew in my heart that the Buddha had come to save me. Just like that, amidst the light, I arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land, reborn and granted a new life. Here, my countenance becomes purer day by day, as the dust and stains of my spirit are rapidly washed away in the Buddha-light.

I am filled with Dharma-joy and gratitude to be able to behold Namo Amituofo. It turns out that the Buddha is residing right now at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. This is because Practitioner Su’s heart and vows are in sync with the Buddha’s heart and vows, which has enabled Namo Amituofo to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is truly an encounter difficult to find in millions of years. I never expected that although I did not practice well while alive, after death I would have the blessings to encounter the true Buddha. This brings me great comfort; in the end, the Buddha did not forget this lost child.

The True Essence of Practice

Listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma in the Dharma-Nature Land, I realised how profoundly wrong I had been in the past. Regarding the Buddha’s teachings, although I persisted in my daily practice of reciting sutras, I did not understand the preciousness of this Holy Name. Many times, I focused on applying the principles of the Dharma to my life; although I chanted, I was not focused enough. When I was alive, I spent more time reading the sutras with extreme sincerity than chanting ‘Namo Amituofo’. At the time, I thought this was very helpful, and indeed it was, but I had not put in the real work regarding the Holy Name itself. Now I know I was wrong, because the foundation of the Pure Land Dharma Gate lies in this Holy Name, ‘Namo Amituofo’. By chanting it simply and directly, one can change their personality and radiate great light. Seeing the manifestations of Practitioner Su in the Dharma-Nature Land, I, Lin Zexu, finally understood what it means to truly study Buddhism. It is to internalise all the Buddha’s teachings as one’s own, to truly follow the teachings, to reduce one’s personality traits to zero, and to simply focus on saving beings.

Saving the World by Saving the Self

People come to this world to save the world, but to save the world, one must first save oneself. This means saving one’s own spirit, as well as the countless sentient beings within one’s own body. This was a principle the Lin Zexu of the past had never considered, and no one had ever told me such a truth with surgical precision. Now, sitting on a lotus seat listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, I understand that studying Buddhism is very simple: it lies in making the vow to save beings, using a pure and good heart to chant ‘Namo Amituofo’ for the sake of all beings.

I am now very earnestly studying every word and action of Practitioner Su, because I know Practitioner Su is an awakened being who has realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood. I am eager to know how Practitioner Su practices, and what the difference is between Practitioner Su’s practice and my own past practice. The difference lies in the heart’s vow. My heart was still filled with worldly concerns; I had never truly made the vow to leave this world. Therefore, all my actions were limited to the worldly realm. To put it simply, between the transcendental path and the worldly path, I chose the worldly path. Even if my heart was for the country and the people, and even if I performed well in the world, I remained worldly and could never transcend the mundane. Practitioner Su, from the beginning of practice, made a great vow—not just a vow of renunciation, but a great compassionate vow to introduce the Great Pure Land Dharma to all beings. Practitioner Su was able to truly let go of worldly affairs, persisting alone in prostrations and reciting sutras for nearly five years. The great power in this was not for personal liberation, but for the benefit of all. Practitioner Su’s heart was never worldly; from the very beginning, it was a thorough letting go, a true transcendence. Later, by taking on the suffering of beings, Practitioner Su enabled Namo Amituofo to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Now, Practitioner Su is tirelessly conducting Chao Du for the people and historical spirits of China.

The Path to True Liberation

Practitioner Su’s manifestation has shown me that the difference between ‘self’ and ‘no-self’, between ‘having a body’ and ‘not having a body’, is immense. The former is like the Lin Zexu of the past—even while studying Buddhism, it was only superficial, and I remained trapped in the cycle of rebirth, suffering and unable to escape. The latter is like Practitioner Su, who is free from aging, free from illness, and whose spirit never dies, truly at ease with life and death, and capable of saving countless beings through countless manifestations. Sitting on my lotus seat in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, watching Practitioner Su work day and night for the sake of beings, I feel such immense Dharma-joy. In the past, I truly did not know what the real Buddha’s teachings were. Although I studied the Pure Land Dharma Gate, I did not understand that the foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in ending the cycle of rebirth, and more importantly, in finding one’s true self, so that one has the ability to save others. Changing my personality and habits was a failure in my practice while alive; I did not truly realise the severity of this issue. I am very fortunate that I can now re-learn at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre where Namo Amituofo resides. I am working very hard every day to study the true Great Pure Land Dharma and happily chant the Holy Name ‘Namo Amituofo’.

A Rare Opportunity

From the perspective of studying Buddhism, the fourfold assembly of the temple truly has an unparalleled learning environment. They have Namo Amituofo as their teacher and Practitioner Su, an awakened being who has realised their true nature, to lead them. This is truly a magnificent causal condition, difficult to encounter in millions of years. Moreover, the fourfold assembly is very fortunate to have the Infinite Life Sutra (The Buddha Speaks the Mahayana, Infinite Life, Adornment, Purity, Impartiality, and Enlightenment Sutra) to recite and uphold. In the era I lived in, very few people upheld the Infinite Life Sutra, let alone such a complete compilation. At that time, I placed great importance on my daily practice of reciting sutras, but I upheld the Amitabha Sutra. Of course, I understood too little about the Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo and the power of the Holy Name ‘Namo Amituofo’, which is why, although I chanted throughout my life, I was not focused and did not truly uphold the Buddha’s name. Now I know that this Holy Name is the most important part of the Pure Land Dharma Gate. I dare not forget it for a single moment. I chant ‘Namo Amituofo’ happily and loudly, hoping that, like Practitioner Su, I can be a truly good student of Namo Amituofo.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo. Gratitude to Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Lin Zexu”