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

This is a record of an interview with Li Xingcheng, the father of Lay Practitioner Li Qingqiu, who sought Chao Du 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 Buddha-land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on November 22, 2024.

Li Xingcheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Xingcheng. Standing here now, right in front of the magnificent, towering Buddha, I am overwhelmed by the sheer scale of His compassion. During my life in the human world, I never truly had the opportunity to understand the Buddha or the depth of His teachings. But now, here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I can finally dedicate myself to chanting the Buddha-name. I am filled with such profound gratitude. If it were not for this precious opportunity for Chao Du, I would never have attained this radiant, luminous form I possess today."

The Gift of Youth and Peace

"Since arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have been restored to my youth. I look exactly as I did in my prime—the version of myself that I always felt was my best. It is truly remarkable. Here, my heart feels so cool, so refreshed, and so incredibly calm. There is not a single trace of worry, anxiety, or affliction to be found. If this Buddha-land did not exist, I would likely still be wandering aimlessly through the vast, dark spaces of the universe, lost in the cycle of rebirth."

Confronting the Past

"Now that my mind is clear and bright, I can look back at my past with perfect clarity. I saw a vision of a previous life—I was a pig, waiting to be slaughtered. I do not know why this image appeared before me so vividly, but it felt like a warning, a mirror held up to my soul. It was as if the universe was asking me: 'You have already lived through such suffering; do you really want to continue this way in the future?' I have been trapped in the cycle of rebirth for so long, and the thought of continuing that path is unbearable. Since arriving in this Buddha-land, I have been constantly supported by a powerful, guiding force that teaches me, awakens me, and helps me finally let go of the heavy burdens of my past."

The Illusion of the World

"Everything I busied myself with in my past life was ultimately meaningless; none of it could be taken with me. It is only now that I realise how much I obsessed over things that simply vanished the moment my life ended. Before I came to this Buddha-land, I was trapped in a loop, wandering through the familiar spaces of my old life. I did not even know I had passed away; I was completely blinded by the illusions of everything I used to know. It was all just a phantom, a dream that felt real."

A Debt of Gratitude

"Now that I have been awakened, I realise how quickly everything changes—in the blink of an eye, the world I knew is gone, and those people and things I clung to are no longer within reach. I am so deeply grateful for the blessing and support of the Buddha’s power, which allowed me to transform from a soul driven by karma into one who has found the path. I am also profoundly thankful to Practitioner Su for the Chao Du. This opportunity for deliverance was the most important event of my existence. I want to thank my child, Li Qingqiu, for making it possible for their father to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Final Wish

"I have learned now that there is no point in arguing or holding onto grudges. Everything is fleeting. My only hope is that my family members will also find the Causal Conditions to study the Dharma, to chant the Buddha-name, and to eventually reunite with me here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Right now, I am surrounded by the sound of the Buddha-name, and I am chanting it with every fibre of my being. I am so, so grateful! Namo Amituofo."