A Father’s Guidance from the Western Pure Land

The Preciousness of Time and Spiritual Practice

On the fifteenth of December, 2018, we had the profound opportunity to communicate with the spirit of Yu Shengxian, the father of Yu Yutao, who has successfully attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. He began by addressing his daughter, Yu Yutao, with a mixture of paternal concern and spiritual insight.

He remarked, "Yutao, how quickly time passes! Looking at you now, I see that you have aged. Your back is bent, and your steps have slowed. It is truly fortunate that you have been engaging in spiritual practice. If you had not, you would have aged even more rapidly. It is a great blessing that you did not continue to follow the path of the deity Shangdi Gong. If you had, you would not be in this world today, and even if you were to pass away, you would only be serving by the side of that deity, rather than attaining the supreme liberation of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Superiority of the Pure Land Path

Yu Shengxian explained the fundamental difference between various spiritual paths and the path of Namo Amituofo. He noted that the deity Shangdi Gong does not possess the Dharma power of Practitioner Su, which is capable of extending one's life to allow for genuine spiritual cultivation. He emphasised that the first half of his daughter's life was filled with hardship, but her current path is the most auspicious one possible.

He asked rhetorically, "Is there anything in this world better than serving everyone by the side of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su?" He further explained that his own ability to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss was only possible because his daughter was already there, creating the necessary conditions. He urged her to bring her younger sister to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, stressing that one must follow Namo Amituofo to truly ascend to a higher state of existence. He posed a challenging question to his daughter: "Does she wish to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and attain Buddhahood, or does she wish to continue in the cycle of reincarnation, acting as a medium for others to consult?"

Facing the Weight of Karmic Debt

Yu Shengxian spoke candidly about the nature of karmic creditors and the reality of the laws of karma and cause and effect. He shared his own experience, saying, "Over these past two days, we have been performing the Chao Du for our karmic creditors, and the sight is truly frightening. There are so many spirits waiting for me. None of them come with good intentions; they are all here to collect debts and demand my life. How could I ever repay them? Although I understood the laws of karma and cause and effect across the three lifetimes, I did not realise that the debts from my past lives were so heavy. It is fortunate that I am now in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; otherwise, if they had found me, I would have been treated very harshly."

He expressed his deep gratitude to Practitioner Su and Namo Amituofo for their intervention. He also acknowledged his daughter's human flaws, noting that she sometimes talks back or fails to listen. He humbly requested that Practitioner Su be patient and forgiving when teaching or correcting her, as he knows the value of the guidance she is receiving.

A Father's Final Plea to His Daughter

Turning his attention to his other daughter, Yu Bixia, Yu Shengxian offered words of wisdom and encouragement. He identified her as the most strong-willed and fortunate among his children. He stressed that spiritual practice is the most important matter in life. He urged her to understand the difference between the path of Taoism and the path of Buddhism, and to cherish the rare affinity she has with the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

He warned her not to be intimidated by the physical sensations that can arise when one begins to help other beings, as this is a natural part of the process. He urged her to take the opportunity to save the beings connected to her now, rather than waiting until after death to rely on others to save her. He concluded with a heartfelt plea: "I was only able to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss because of Practitioner Su, and that is why I can live a good life now. You are getting older, and your health is not good. If you do not practise now, when will you? Your children are grown, and you are already a grandmother. You and your husband should practise with Practitioner Su! Do not just look, laugh, and then cast your father's words aside. You know what you must do, so do not think your father is being too talkative. Namo Amituofo!"

This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo