A Family’s Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the Venerable Xue Mingqi, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his family's collective journey toward enlightenment. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on July 4, 2018.

Venerable Xue Mingqi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xue Mingqi, ranked 880th among the Venerables. My parents had eighteen children in total. I was the last child, born simply because my parents wanted to round out the number to an even eighteen. We were all boys, and from a very young age, we worked the fields together alongside our father. Every household in the village would remark that our father was the wealthiest farmer, not in gold, but in manpower—he had eighteen strong sons to help him till the land. Whenever he heard this, he would beam with pride, unable to keep his mouth from curling into a wide, joyful smile.

A Life of Shared Labour and Filial Piety

We lived a simple life, relying on farming and selling vegetables to survive. Our home was modest, and space was a luxury. All eighteen of us slept on a single, massive bed. We had to interlock our arms or sleep on our sides, squeezed tightly together just to fit our eighteen sturdy frames into the room. It was a life of constant physical closeness, yet it forged an unbreakable bond between us.

The rice and vegetables we grew ourselves tasted better than anything else. My older brothers would easily polish off three or four bowls of rice at every meal; they were all tall, broad-shouldered, and incredibly robust. We shared one defining virtue: we were filial. The villagers often praised us for our devotion to our parents. When our parents said 'one,' we would never dare to say 'two.' We listened to every instruction and acted immediately. My eldest brother led by example, and the rest of us followed suit without hesitation. We cared for one another deeply, and there was never any discord among us.

The Wisdom of Optimism

Our parents were naturally optimistic and cheerful, which kept our home filled with warmth and harmony. Even though they had never received a formal education, they possessed profound wisdom. They had a way of looking at the world that turned every challenge into an opportunity for growth. When natural disasters struck and our crops failed—losing months of hard work in an instant—our parents would face the situation with a smile. They would tell us, 'Children, do not worry. We will harvest what we can, and we will certainly find a way to carry on.' Whenever we heard them speak with such calm, our hearts would settle. It was truly miraculous: when we adopted their positive outlook, things would invariably begin to improve.

The Discovery of the Dharma

When our parents reached their twilight years, they handed the farming duties over to us and began a quiet life of retirement. One day, while out, my mother encountered an elderly monk whose presence was incredibly dignified and radiant. He was teaching a group of children in the city how to chant the Buddha's name, and the children were chanting with such pure, unadulterated joy.

My mother was astonished. She had never realised that chanting could bring such happiness. Shortly after, she saw another monk sitting freely under a large tree, delivering a Dharma talk. He was speaking to the tree, to the stones, to the small flowers and the grass—it seemed as if all of heaven and earth were listening to his teachings. My mother slowly approached him and sat down, joining the rest of nature in listening to the Dharma. The monk was introducing the Buddha’s teachings and guiding all beings to chant Namo Amituofo, seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Family United in Vows

After hearing the lecture, my mother felt as though she had discovered a priceless treasure. She rushed home to share everything she had learned with the entire family. My father and brothers had never heard of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss before. Once my mother described it, we were all filled with curiosity. What kind of world could it be? Soon, many monks began visiting our village, taking turns to teach us. They helped us understand the suffering of reincarnation and the beauty of the Western Pure Land, awakening in us a deep longing for its purity and freedom, and a sincere vow to be reborn there.

My mother brought our whole family to listen to these teachings. We were all overjoyed, especially my father, who was filled with Dharma joy. He turned to us and declared, 'Children! Let us all be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss together!'

The Path of Diligent Practice

My father was not merely making a passing comment. To ensure our rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, our entire family began to study the Buddha’s teachings and practise chanting Namo Amituofo with great diligence every single day. My parents frequently travelled to many places, sharing the benefits of the Dharma and inviting others to join us in chanting and seeking the Western Land.

Our family’s naturally optimistic and contented temperament flourished after we began our practice. We lived lives free from worry, chanting with pure and liberated hearts. The first thing we said to each other every morning was 'Namo Amituofo.' We chanted while eating, while working in the fields, while walking, and even while resting. At every moment, our hearts were focused on the Buddha-name. Because we chanted with such purity and ease, our countenances became increasingly dignified over time.

A Collective Dedication to the Buddha’s Path

Our parents encouraged us to pursue the path of practice, explaining that it would allow us to help even more people attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My brothers all agreed. None of the eighteen of us ever had any intention of marrying. The allure of romantic love held no temptation for us; we only wanted to focus our minds on chanting and seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Over the course of several years, we eighteen brothers entered different temples to practise. We eventually became monastics. Our practice was incredibly free; we did not pursue outward appearances but focused entirely on internal cultivation. This allowed us to walk, sit, and lie down with total freedom, to laugh freely, and to chant freely. Within this outward freedom, we remained dignified, pure, and strictly observant of the Precepts. Each of us had our own unique strengths, and we contributed our efforts to the Buddha’s path. When our time came to depart this world, we all attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Transformation of the Universe

The magnetic fields within the universe are constantly changing; each planet emits its own unique energy. Some planets carry friendly vibrations, others carry malevolent ones; some are silent and pure, while others are chaotic and unstable. Today, Practitioner Su brings the Buddha-light into the universe. Under this light, malevolent magnetic fields begin to turn toward Goodness, and chaotic fields are purified by the Buddha-name. The entire universe is being continuously transformed. This is truly the supreme, profound, and subtle Dharma—it is real and not empty.

Namo Amituofo."