Interview with Ye Jun (Renowned Chinese Documentary Director)

Synopsis: An outstanding Chinese documentary director, film and television producer, and cultural creator. In 2002, he was admitted to the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University as the top liberal arts student in the college entrance examination for Huangshi City, Hubei Province, and obtained a master's degree in film and television communication in 2009. He was one of the early core members of the Tsingying Studio at Tsinghua University, demonstrating exceptional talent for documentary filmmaking and humanistic narrative from a young age.## Interview Chief Writer: Venerable Fa Ning July 24, 2026 Ye Jun: Namo Amituofo, I am Ye Jun. The documentary Masters in the Forbidden City that I directed years ago was loved by many viewers. Seeing many young people develop a keen interest in documentaries and national treasure culture because of it brings me great comfort. In my youth, my academic performance was excellent; I was admitted to Tsinghua University and subsequently developed my career in the field of film and television communication. Throughout my journey, I first worked at a television station, then filmed Masters in the Forbidden City and If National Treasures Could Talk, and later became a self-media creator. In truth, I have always maintained a sincere heart for art and culture. The management of my personal public account, Simple Kid Ye Jun, was actually started with a childlike, innocent heart. My initial idea was to allow more people to meet me through this account, and I hoped that the content published could stir the hearts of more people. However, upon arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I clearly understood that if the content I created or any information I published stirred something in others' hearts, it was not actually a good thing. People in the world are always accustomed to savouring various stirrings and feelings within their hearts. Many films, music, or expressions of sentiment are loved precisely because they can evoke strong resonance and rich inner experiences. Such stirrings of the heart and physical reactions are now widely accepted by modern people, and many are even deeply addicted to them. However, I clearly saw in the Western Land of Dharma Nature that every single feeling and stirring represents the awakening of countless karmic creditors and spirits within one's own body, which will cause great harm to one's body, mind, and spirit. If karmic creditors awaken, they can kick one's soul out of the body, causing one to gradually lose control over this physical form. I believe no one wishes for their body to become a puppet for karmic creditors and demon crowds; is living like that not equivalent to being half-dead? And after death, to have to pay the price for the various sins committed by these karmic creditors and spirits while they controlled one's body—this is truly a most sorrowful thing. As a Chinese person, I sincerely hope that every Chinese person can come to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The reason is: only here can one be helped to become the true master of one's own body and be helped to avoid letting one's body become a puppet for karmic creditors and spirits. Because if one cannot understand what the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way are, then the body will inevitably be subject to interference and invasion from the spiritual realms. Kindness and simplicity are actually of great help to oneself. However, in the process of growing up, how many people can maintain this simplicity and kindness in their hearts? After growing into an adult and experiencing the polishing of society, how much of that simple intention to help others remains in your heart? This is truly a touchstone, testing the good roots of every person. If, after experiencing various hardships, you still have very firm confidence in your kindness and simplicity, then I, Ye Jun, believe that you really should come to contact the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre quickly. I believe you are truly a person of great potential and should come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to receive the education of Buddha’s teachings. Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su will help you recognise who you truly are. It turns out that each of us is originally a Buddha; we are Buddhas who have come to this world to save the world and help beings. When we were first born, we had no pollution; that inherent compassion and goodness, that Buddha-nature, has actually never disappeared. Now that the Buddha has come to this world, it is to help those who have lost their way. Many people are not only filled with confusion in their hearts but have even lost confidence in the kindness that was originally within them. The Buddha says to the children: Children, you are actually all Buddhas. You have the same compassion, Wisdom (Prajna), and auspicious characteristics as the Buddha. You must believe in your own Buddha-nature and must diligently chant this Namo Amituofo. This Buddha-name can give us strength and help us find our true selves. It turns out that becoming a Buddha is something everyone can achieve, and this is the only thing we need to complete upon coming to this world. It is absolutely not about how much knowledge one learns, nor is it about chasing worldly fame, wealth, or status; these have never been necessary in our lives. Or rather, these have actually brought too much pollution and burden to our souls. Because any pursuit with a worldly meaning, as long as one still sets one's future in this world, has already caused countless karmic creditors within the body to awaken, not to mention that countless demon crowds have also found a handle to control oneself. It turns out that so-called worldliness actually represents selfishness, and the various habits of the world are exactly what we often call demon nature. What exactly should one do upon coming to this world? In fact, one only needs to chant this Namo Amituofo and, in the process, help beings according to karmic affinity, saving as many as one can. Helping beings with whom one has karmic affinity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and even to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime—this is the only thing a person needs to do upon coming to this world. This is the truly great matter, and it is something we must do. Because within the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, there is never any selfishness, and there is no I within it. Everything worldly is not within our inherent Buddha-nature; within Buddha-nature, there is only compassion, gentleness, kindness, and simplicity. I, Ye Jun, here use the most sincere heart to appeal to all people in the world who still believe there is a power of kindness in their hearts: everyone, please do not be defeated by reality! Do not doubt whether the simplicity and good thoughts in your heart are correct. You should act in the present moment, muster your boldness, let go of all worldly afflictions, and as long as you have absolute confidence in Namo Amituofo and yourself, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome. I, Ye Jun, sincerely suggest that everyone go to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to see the Buddha and seek the Dharma immediately. In my view, this is the one thing you should be doing right now. Because in this world, although there are not few people who can still believe in the simplicity and kindness in their hearts, there are not many either. Such people are actually very precious. Now that Namo Amituofo has come to this world and is leading the Namo Amituofo salvation team to actively carry out the mission of saving the world, it is in the hope of leading more people who have karmic affinity with the Buddha to join in saving the world. It is not that the Buddha needs help on any level or in any form, but that the Buddha hopes more children can be saved in the process of the Buddha saving beings. Each of us is an object that Namo Amituofo wants to save. The Buddha wants to help us obtain the true benefit of being ageless, illness-free, and having a spirit that never dies, and to help us be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Furthermore, precisely because of the existence of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, we have the opportunity to become an awakened being and attain Buddhahood in this lifetime. Namo Amituofo hopes that everyone on Earth can obtain these magnificent benefits. The Buddha came to this world never hoping to gain anything, but purely to give to beings, hoping to bring true benefits to them. 24/7, Namo Amituofo is emitting light to guide from above the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, allowing immeasurable and boundless beings to leave suffering and gain happiness. The Buddha is so compassionate; the Buddha has no personal relationship with anything in the world, but in this world, the Buddha wants to bring this precious Namo Amituofo to the world, hoping that as long as everyone chants this Buddha-name, they can obtain true salvation. This Buddha-name is so precious. If one can keep one's thoughts and intentions settled within this Namo Amituofo Buddha-name, and keep one's heart in a state of purity and goodness forever, one will have the opportunity to resolve the karmic knots with the immeasurable and boundless suffering spirits and karmic creditors within this body. If one can truly resolve these karmic knots, it is actually turning the original evil karmic bonds between each other, or the karmic bonds entangled in reincarnation, into a magnificent liberation bond to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss together. All past mistakes have ushered in a perfect turning point because Namo Amituofo has come to this world. All the sins committed in the past have also given everyone the opportunity to accumulate merit and pay off these karmic debts because Namo Amituofo is actively carrying out the mission of saving the world. Now that Namo Amituofo has come to this world, it is precisely because Practitioner Su is of the same heart, same vow, and same practice as the Buddha, which has caused the Buddha to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This physical Buddha who came from Taiwan and attained Buddhahood as an awakened being in the human world—Practitioner Su—is truly a treasure of the human world. Because of the appearance of Practitioner Su, the human world has a ray of hope, because Namo Amituofo is the opportunity for all beings to be saved. Listening to Practitioner Su, this Namo Amituofo Buddha-name is the Bodhi (Enlightenment) Vajra Seed; once it enters the ear, it becomes a seed for the Path forever. I, Ye Jun, only slowly understood how great this Buddha-name is in the process of listening to sutras and hearing the Dharma. It turns out that at this very moment, everyone who knows the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, including all the deceased Chinese celebrities (including political figures, entrepreneurs, athletes, or entertainers, etc.) who have been saved by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, have actually heard and chanted this Namo Amituofo in the past. And many of us have made great vows to save the world and beings in the past, but after coming to this world, we fell due to being lost in the various emotional entanglements of the world. The word emotion is truly the source of harm in the world. I clearly saw in the Land of Dharma Nature that the harm of emotion to people is so great. Everything in the world seems to be related to emotion, but if you observe carefully, you will find that every blade of grass, every tree, every person, and every matter in this worldly realm is related to emotion. If there is truly no emotion in one's heart, then one has already transcended this world in the present moment. If one can truly see through the illusion of emotion in one's heart and is truly willing to transform one's ordinary heart into a Buddha-heart, as long as one is willing to chant this Namo Amituofo, one can make oneself truly different. What is called rebirth? It turns out to be very simple; it is just to make one's heart no longer worldly in the present moment, but willing to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. What is called transcending the ordinary and entering the holy? It turns out to be very simple; it is just to let oneself truly let go of all emotions and attachments to this world in the present moment, and instead make a great vow to save the world and beings. Making vows and chanting the Buddha's name run through the entire education of Buddha’s teachings. Such a magnificent Dharma is entirely to help everyone truly understand the fact that one is originally a Buddha from the heart. If one can truly believe and clearly recognise this, and shout at this moment: I am a Buddha, I am a Buddha who has come to the world to help beings! At this very moment, all suffering can be resolved. Why can't people be the master? It is actually because they do not know they are a Buddha and do not understand that they have a precious Buddha-nature. Why is people's heart always so impermanent and changing, causing one's life to experience various difficulties and hardships? It turns out it is because they have forgotten that they originally have the same Wisdom (Prajna), virtues, and auspicious characteristics as the Buddha. Namo Amituofo has now come to this world, hoping to help everyone regain their great vow to save the world and beings. The Dharma-spreading and world-saving cause of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre indeed needs every Chinese person to participate; this is something everyone should do. Because in the process of Namo Amituofo helping beings, every bit of one's sincere contribution is fulfilling one's sincerity and respect for the Buddha. This is the foundation of Buddha’s teachings—all benefits are sought through respect. And to respect the Buddha is to respect the unborn and undying Buddha-nature within one's own heart. At this moment, I, Ye Jun, appeal to everyone to think deeply about this question: do you believe that you are a Buddha who has come to the world to help beings? If you believe, you will have the opportunity to be the true master of your own body. The antidote for being ageless, illness-free, and having a spirit that never dies is at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Every Chinese person should grasp the time in this short life, chant the Buddha's name, become an awakened being, attain Buddhahood, and help immeasurable and boundless suffering beings return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss together. That will be the blessing of all of China, and also the blessing of the world.

In the past, the documentaries I filmed were mainly about national treasures and the artisans of the Forbidden City. However, after coming to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I truly feel that what should really be made into a documentary is the process of Practitioner Su performing Chao Du for sentient beings at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Of course, I know that no technology in this world can achieve this, because the scope of Chao Du is too vast and too subtle, and there are various matters of space that cannot be captured by current filming equipment and technology. However, if everyone could see it, they would discover that Practitioner Su, with his countless manifestations, transforms into immeasurable and boundless golden emanations, reaching every corner of China and even the entire world. Countless rains of golden light descend from the sky, and as the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo" resounds, it summons countless Namo Amituofos who emit great golden light, allowing immeasurable and boundless spirits to be saved within the Buddha’s light.

When I witnessed this, I was truly moved in my heart; I never imagined that after attaining Buddhahood, one could bring such real benefits to the world. I clearly saw that due to Practitioner Su’s Chao Du, the magnetic field of all of China was purified to a great extent. Many people who were originally being interfered with and controlled by beings from the spiritual realms were able to regain clarity in a short period of time, as these beings were delivered by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

Here, I call upon the people of China to learn, to truly summon their own strength, and to save themselves. Practitioner Su has been going to China to perform great Chao Du; this is Practitioner Su’s compassionate vow. If another living Buddha like Practitioner Su could appear in China, would that not allow us Chinese people to save our own nation? Furthermore, after attaining Buddhahood, one also saves immeasurable and boundless sentient beings.

Attaining Buddhahood is a goal that everyone should aspire to, and rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the only direction for everyone’s future. In the future, I will also be able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; would you all be willing to meet me there?

Finally, I would like to tell everyone that the "silly child" Ye Jun has written many essays about natural history, cities, mountain walks, or the poetry of life, and many people may enjoy reading the content I have created. However, I must clearly tell everyone that, in fact, any stirring of the heart is a form of harm to one’s own body, mind, and spirit, and is not a good thing. If a person in this world can achieve a state of no-mind and no-thought, that is true compassion. Because even the slightest thought creates karmic bonds between oneself and others, which represents endless suffering within reincarnation. Only by not being tainted by anything in this world can one save oneself and the countless beings within one’s own body.

When we attain Buddhahood together, we will understand one truth: only when our hearts have truly let go of attachments to this world do we have the ability to save those sentient beings who are still suffering and sinking in this world.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and gratitude to Practitioner Su for telling me the truth about life and the universe regarding the Western Land of Dharma Nature. I hope that in the future I will be able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land and advance diligently on the Buddha’s path. After attaining Buddhahood, that will be the time for me to save all beings from boundless suffering.

Ye Jun