A Father's Journey to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Jia Zemin, the father of Lay Practitioner Jia Zhongyu, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition from the cycle of rebirth to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on September 1, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Jia Zemin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am filled with such profound gratitude—truly, my heart is overflowing with it. My wife and I have arrived together in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss today. To be honest, we hadn't even planned it together, but there was such a deep, unspoken understanding between us that we both decided this very week that it was time to come here. Now that we have arrived, I can tell you that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is even more magnificent than what I witnessed while I was with Practitioner Su. I have never in my existence seen a place so breathtakingly beautiful. I am so deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am so deeply grateful to Practitioner Su."

The Bitter Reality of Human Life

"Living in the human world is a life of such intense suffering. When I was alive, I didn't truly feel it—I was just caught up in the daily grind. But now, having passed away, I look back at the way everyone is living, and I finally realise how incredibly painful it is to be a human being. The body is never truly healthy; it is a fragile, decaying vessel. Once the body falls ill, your entire life changes, and everything you once held onto begins to crumble. If only I had encountered the Buddha’s teachings earlier, if only I had resolved my conflicts with my karmic creditors sooner, I might not have had to endure such immense suffering. I could have awakened much earlier, realising that I shouldn't have spent my life clinging to this false, temporary body. Instead, I should have let go of everything, chanted Namo Amituofo with a sincere heart, and sought rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Lost in the Shadows of the Underworld

"After my spirit left my physical body, I found myself wandering in the underworld, and it was a place of such profound suffering. At that time, my spirit was not clear at all; I was in a state of total confusion, a hazy, dim fog. I didn't even know what I was doing or where I was going. I kept feeling as though I were still sick, yet there was no one around to care for me, and I had no medicine to take. It is only now that I realise I didn't even know I was no longer ill. The thoughts and attachments I held right before I died kept me trapped in the illusion of living a life of sickness even after I had already passed away."

A Transformation in the Dharma-Nature Land

"From the moment I was rescued by Practitioner Su from the underworld and brought to the Western Land of Dharma Nature to listen to the sutras, my spirit has undergone a complete transformation. During this time, I have been able to see the human world with increasing clarity. It is only now that I realise how foolish I was when I was alive. I truly hope that all my descendants in the human world will learn the Buddha’s teachings. Especially my son and his wife—you have encountered Namo Amituofo, which is a rare and precious opportunity. You must hold onto the Buddha tightly, and you must introduce the rest of our family to the Dharma as well."

A Final Plea to My Family

"This world is nothing but an illusion; I have seen it with my own eyes. While you all still have a breath of life, while your bodies are still together, you must cherish this time. Think about it—one day, just like your father, that final breath will be gone, and you will all be scattered to the four winds, never to find one another again. I am so happy to be here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss now, but when I look at you and see that you are still not awake, still trapped in your own suffering, my heart aches. I urge you: save yourselves. Let go of your attachments, and chant Namo Amituofo with all your heart."

"With deepest respect and gratitude, I, Jia Zemin, offer my prostrations. Namo Amituofo."