A Father’s Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Su Tiansheng, the father of Practitioner Su Yue'e, 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 observations from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on November 4, 2019.

Su Tiansheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Su Tiansheng, A-E's father. People in the outside world always called me A-Shan! When I heard that my daughter, A-E, wanted me to share a few words, I was overjoyed. I have been waiting right here for this moment.

I have always cherished A-E deeply. Since she was a little girl, she and I shared a very special bond. I had many children, but she was the one I loved the most. She had this wonderful way of connecting with both adults and children alike. She was so obedient and filial. She wasn't the type to be flashy or overly beautiful, but she had a natural charm that drew people to her. If she had something delicious, she would always share it with everyone. If she had a little pocket money, she would buy ice cream or snacks just so we could all enjoy them together. It is exactly the same today—no wonder everyone loves to follow her! She was always the one leading the way to do good deeds, and she even taught us how to chant the name of Namo Amituofo. Having such a daughter is the greatest blessing for our family; it truly shows that our ancestors in the Su family had great virtue. My father and mother—A-E's grandfather and grandmother—are all here with me in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is so heart-warming! I truly did not love her in vain."

A Family Reunited in the Western Pure Land

"Throughout my life, I had eight sons and four daughters. We had a large family, and I did not have much of a career to speak of, so my wife, A-Dan, had to work incredibly hard. It was a difficult life.

But now, being here, there are endless, breath-taking landscapes to explore. From the moment I arrived until now, I still have not finished seeing everything! You have no idea how beautiful this place is. Sometimes, I walk through a place, and when I return later, the scenery has transformed into something even more magnificent. In the human world, if you want to go anywhere, you have to take a car or a plane. Here, you only need to think of a place, and you are there. Sometimes, you do not even need to think; the scenery changes automatically to suit your needs. It is truly convenient!"

The Music of the Dharma

"I never liked studying when I was young, so while A-Dan and the others went to listen to the sutras and learned to read, I would stay behind. But here, it is wonderful! You can hear the trees, the water, the birds, and even the wind—everything is chanting Namo Amituofo! So, I follow along and chant as well. It sounds so beautiful! Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo... Can you hear me chanting? It is the same Buddha-name that you all chant during your Dharma assemblies. I can also see my daughter, A-E, before the Buddha, performing Chao Du for sentient beings. There are so many waiting for her to save them, and she has already guided so many to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Horrifying Truth of Karmic Retribution

"There is one thing I must repent for. In my past life, I was a meat-eater. I do not know how many chickens, ducks, fish, shrimp, and pigs I consumed. Especially chicken legs—once our life became a bit more comfortable, I ate quite a lot of them. I would often save some for A-E to eat as well. Fortunately, A-E has the ability to perform Chao Du. She saved those pigs, chickens, ducks, fish, and shrimp. Many of them were broken—missing limbs, broken waists, missing heads. Their feathers had been plucked, their skin peeled away, their shells removed until only the meat remained. Oh, my heavens! My heart ached so much when I saw them. It was absolutely heart-breaking!

Thankfully, A-E saved them and allowed their bodies to return to their original forms. She even helped them transform back into human shapes. It turns out that those chickens, ducks, fish, and shrimp were actually humans who had died and been reborn into those forms. It terrified me! I did not know this before; otherwise, I would never have eaten meat. Now I know that if I eat their flesh, my own flesh will be eaten in the future. What can I do? Thank goodness for my daughter! She saved them. My good daughter! Her mother, A-Dan, told me that she is no longer just a daughter; she has transformed into a son. To have such a son, one is enough to make this life worth it!"

A Legacy of Compassion

"A-E, keep doing your work well. Help the Buddha save all sentient beings! Do not just save yourself; save everyone. Now you are also acting as a teacher, instructing everyone on how to chant Namo Amituofo. Many spirits are listening to the sutras you teach. If your father wants to listen, I can hear the sutras you are lecturing on. I can understand them, and I have learned a bit of the Buddha’s teachings. It is truly not simple! Learning the Buddha’s teachings is so meaningful! And coming to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is even better!"

These are the words of Su Tiansheng.

This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo.