A Father's Journey from Hell to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Liang Bozhao, the father of Lay Practitioner Liang Rune. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition from the suffering of the lower realms to the peace of the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on April 22, 2022.

Liang Bozhao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Rune, my dear daughter, it is your father, Liang Bozhao. To think that the worlds of the living and the dead, which are usually so far apart, could be bridged in such a way that we can speak again—it is truly something I never could have imagined. I have now been guided by the venerable Practitioner Su, alongside your mother, to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. You can finally set your heart at ease."

The Weight of Karmic Debt

"You remain the same filial daughter you have always been. If you had not helped your mother and me by arranging for our Chao Du, I would still be suffering in the hells right now. That period of time was truly, truly agonising. It is a place so dark and painful that I cannot bear to touch upon it, nor do I wish to think about it ever again. Even though I did not realise I was doing wrong in my past life, the laws of karma and cause and effect do not let anyone off the hook. Regardless of whether you were 'good' or 'bad' in this lifetime, the mistakes made in the past must be repaid. No one ever truly gets away with anything.

"This is why there is no need to fight to win at everything in life. The price for such obsession is far too high. It is much better to live honestly and be a law-abiding and self-disciplined person. These are the sincere words of your father. That I am able to be here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss with your mother today must mean that I had some good affinity with the Buddha’s teachings in the past, don't you think?"

A Life-Changing Encounter

"During the time I spent at the temple before my final transition, I lived very well. That was the place I went to after leaving the hells, and the difference between the two was like heaven and earth. The experiences one can have as a spirit vary so drastically, and I owe this change entirely to the blessings of you and Practitioner Su. You must cherish the opportunity of having met Practitioner Su! He has saved so many, many spirits, and your mother and I are among them. You must express your deepest gratitude to him; without Practitioner Su, we would not have been saved today.

"We are now in the Western Land. It is so beautiful, so magnificent, and so radiant. I never knew such a place existed before. I never expected that after death, I could arrive at a place like this."

The Ultimate Reliance

"The world of spirits and the world of humans are truly incomparable. Rune, since you have already found Practitioner Su, it is the same as having found Namo Amituofo. You must diligently chant Buddha's name. Your father has discovered that whether one is a human or a spirit, the heart always needs something to rely upon. Namo Amituofo can be your ultimate reliance. This is a small insight I have gained from listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks at the temple during these past days, and I share it with you now, hoping that it will be of great use to you.

"No one can predict what kind of events will happen in the course of a human life. It is precisely because life is so unpredictable that one must cultivate their character and nurture their heart. Only then can you face the many sudden events that may arise.

"Finally, to my daughter: thank you for your filial piety in arranging our deliverance. I also offer my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for the grace of bringing us to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I hope that more and more beings in this world will have the same karmic fortune as we did, and be able to reach this Western Land."

"Namo Amituofo."