A Father's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Fang Zhetong, who sought rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss through the deliverance of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land. This account reflects upon his transition and final message to his daughter, Lay Practitioner Fang Qiurong. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on February 25, 2022.

Lay Practitioner Fang Zhetong speaks:

"Qiurong, my dear daughter, it is your father. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your filial piety. You have truly achieved the impossible by helping me secure my rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This opportunity is so incredibly rare, and you seized this Causal Condition to help your father in the most profound way possible! I am now here with Namo Amituofo. Please, tell the rest of our family that I am doing wonderfully. I feel so energetic, so full of life, and my face is beaming with a smile because I have finally beheld the magnificent, breathtaking beauty of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Everything here is far more glorious than what is described in the sutras. I am so happy, and I am filled with such deep gratitude toward Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, who guided me to this Western Land."

A Daughter's Filial Piety and a Father's Gratitude

"Qiurong, regardless of how much the rest of the family believes, I want you to know that I am truly doing well. My decision to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land was not made on a whim. Before I made the final choice to depart, I sat quietly and listened to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks. The scriptures and Dharma that Practitioner Su explained were so clear—they truly unraveled the mysteries of life. There was no unnecessary jargon or complex wordplay; instead, every word struck straight to the heart of the matter. It allowed me to hear clearly and understand deeply. I finally woke up from the long slumber of ignorance, and only then did I realise that I should no longer cling so tightly to my family. Everyone possesses their own Dharma Body and wisdom, and every single person has the opportunity to become completely awakened within this very lifetime. Everything I am able to say to you now is a result of the insights I have gained recently."

The Natural Law of Parting

"There is an old saying that 'there is no banquet in the world that does not come to an end.' Now that I have departed, I can no longer be with you all in the physical sense. But the most important thing I can leave you with is this: you must all be diligent in your own practice and vow to be reborn in the Buddha’s Pure Land. All the relationships we have in this world only exist while we have this physical life. Once this life ends, everyone drifts off to different places. This is a reality we must all face sooner or later; it is simply the natural law of the universe."

A Final Plea for Awakening

"Qiurong, please tell the rest of the family that since we have been blessed with this human body, we must cherish it. We must cherish the rare opportunity to encounter the Buddha’s teachings. If the family is willing to make the vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, I would be so incredibly happy, and my writing this message would not have been in vain. Life passes in the blink of an eye, so you must seize the moment. Listen to the Dharma talks more often, and you will come to understand everything I have said today. I have said all that needs to be said. Finally, I offer my infinite gratitude for this Causal Condition that allows one to become a Buddha. Your disciple, Zhetong, bows in deep gratitude. The Buddha’s grace is difficult to repay. Namo Amituofo."