A Father's Journey to the Western Pure Land

Cai Hongbo, the father of Venerable HaiZe, sought Spiritual Deliverance after a long struggle with dementia. Following his passing, he was guided to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su. This interview was recorded at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre on October 29, 2023.

Cai Hongbo speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Cai Hongbo, though everyone affectionately called me 'Father Cai.' I am currently residing in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was Practitioner Su who guided me here during a Dharma assembly. This place is so brilliant, so beautiful; I am overjoyed to have arrived in such a magnificent realm.

I am truly grateful to Namo Amituofo, to Practitioner Su, and to all the monastics and fellow practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It is only because my daughter, Cai Xiuli—whom I call A-Ling—chose to become a monastic here that I was able to reach this wonderful place. I am no longer ill, and my spirit is clear and vibrant. When I arrived at the temple, I regained my clarity; my sickness vanished, and my spirit became sharp. I no longer speak in the confused, incoherent manner I did before. That is all in the past now."

The Burden of Karmic Debt

"For many years, I suffered from dementia. My wife cared for me tirelessly, and my son-in-law, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren were all by my side. On the day I passed, they accompanied me through the final leg of my life's journey. I felt completely satisfied; I have no regrets in this life.

Looking back, I realise that when A-Ling learned I had been hospitalised, she prayed to Namo Amituofo to watch over me. Practitioner Su also conducted one hundred Dharma assemblies for my deliverance and the elimination of my disasters. I am so thankful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. When I was in the intensive care unit, I saw that my body and the space around me were filled with what you call 'karmic creditors'—they were spirits, and it was absolutely terrifying! There were so many of them surrounding me. If I hadn't seen it for myself, I truly would not have believed it. I also saw the Buddha-light. I now know that it was the light of Namo Amituofo enveloping and protecting me, which is why those karmic creditors could not get too close and why I did not suffer even more intensely. The Buddha-light also shone upon them, calming their hearts so they were not overly aggressive toward me. The temple also invited spirits to attend the Dharma assembly, which helped deliver my karmic creditors and made my transition much easier. I must tell you all: Namo Amituofo truly exists. You must thank Him, do you understand? I also urge you to chant Namo Amituofo diligently. He is truly watching over us."

The Loss of Control

"I also saw that, in truth, my body had lost its ability to function independently many years ago, around the age of seventy. My health gradually declined, my memory faded, and my mind became unclear, causing me to speak incoherently. Fortunately, my family cared for me with great patience and filial piety. Sometimes I would become angry, but I tell you now: it was the karmic creditors who were angry through you, not my own intent! My body was being controlled by them. At that time, my physical form was completely occupied by a multitude of beings. It is truly unimaginable. I want to say thank you to my family, especially my wife—she is the one who suffered the most.

Practitioner Su is incredibly compassionate. Here, she is like a Buddha; not only does she have the attainment to deliver us, but she also looks after everyone, including A-Ling. We all call her 'Buddha Su.' I heard from Practitioner Su that her spirit visited me in the hospital and saw that my karmic creditors were as numerous as the dust of the earth, even residing in my pores. I believe this, because I had no control over my own body. Now, I can see for myself just how many there were. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for delivering these karmic creditors for me."

A Golden Light of Deliverance

"On the day I passed away, Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su brought my spirit to the temple. No wonder! I was suffering so much at that moment, but the instant I stopped breathing, I saw a golden light descend and carry me here. When I first arrived, I was still a bit dizzy and confused about the situation. Now, I see everything clearly. The Buddha-light brought me to a very bright, wonderful place within the temple called the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Shortly after arriving, I regained my full consciousness. I did not suffer any pain at all. People say that some pass away in great agony, but that was not the case for me—truly, it was not. My body was left at the hospital for you to handle, but my spirit did not suffer in the slightest.

I see A-Ling practicing here. This place is truly pure, and Practitioner Su takes excellent care of it. I have been listening to her Dharma talks; they are so profound. No wonder so many beings come to listen. Everyone should listen. She tells us that we must change our personalities to avoid sickness. I did not change mine, which is why I was found by so many karmic creditors and became ill. Every day here, I listen to the sutras and chant. When I hear others chanting Namo Amituofo, I join in, just like the chanting machine A-Ling used to keep at home. I often chant along with it."

The Law of Cause and Effect

"There are Thrice Yearning Ceremonies here. I saw Namo Amituofo—He is so large and so radiant! They wrote a memorial tablet for me, and Practitioner Su, in her great compassion, is performing one hundred Dharma assemblies for me. They are still ongoing. Every time my name is read, I see many karmic creditors—the crabs I sold to restaurants when I was in the seafood business. They actually came! There were also many others from my past lives with whom I had grievances. Oh, they came to collect their debts. There were so many of them that I was stunned. Fortunately, the Buddha-light shone upon them and delivered them. I sold so many crabs; I have to repay that debt. I am truly sorry to them. It is fortunate that the Dharma assembly delivered them, or how could I ever repay such debts? No wonder they sought me out and caused my dementia and illness. Alas, this is the law of cause and effect; what is owed must be repaid.

During the three-day Dharma assembly each week, A-Ling is present at every session. She can communicate heart-to-heart with Namo Amituofo, relaying His words to everyone, and she can also communicate with spirits. I have seen and heard this. This is her natural ability. I was worried before, but now I am at ease. Everyone should believe it. Now that she is a monastic, I should call her 'Venerable,' but 'A-Ling' still feels more natural. During the ceremony, when Practitioner Su reads my name, A-Ling makes three prostrations. After seven sessions, A-Ling asked me from her heart if I wanted to go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, saying Practitioner Su would lead me there. I nodded and said yes. Of course, I wanted to go! I knew long ago that the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a wonderful place and that if a person can go there after death, it is the best possible outcome. So I said, 'Yes, I want to go.' And just recently, during the latest assembly, Practitioner Su led me and many other beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Everyone was so happy; some even knelt and kept kowtowing in gratitude. I am also very grateful."

The Beauty of the Western Pure Land

"I am now in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is unimaginably beautiful here, shimmering with golden light everywhere. It is truly the world of Namo Amituofo. The weather here is perfect. On the day of the assembly, many beings came to the temple; it was very lively. Everyone came seeking deliverance, and there were many tall Dharma protectors maintaining order. Namo Amituofo was right before our eyes. It was my first time seeing the Buddha—so large, so compassionate. Namo Amituofo is truly here; this cannot be a lie.

I have the blessing of having A-Ling as my daughter, which is why I do not have to reincarnate again. Otherwise, it would be impossible for me to reach such a wonderful place. My reaching the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the greatest act of filial piety A-Ling could perform for me. When I was alive, everyone cared for my body; now that I have passed, A-Ling is the only one who could care for my spirit. This is something others could not do. Without her, I don't know where my spirit would be—perhaps I would have become a ghost.

I see hell-guardians here listening to the teachings, and they were also sent to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su along with me. You don't know about the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, but I am telling you now: it is too beautiful, too wonderful! Sometimes, if I want to eat something, I just think of it, and it appears. I don't need to earn money to buy groceries, wash them, or cook. It just appears. I don't even feel hungry; just seeing it is enough to feel full. I walk around and look—there are so many jewels here, and many trees. Oh, the trees are tall and large, sparkling like gold, platinum, and crystal. The ground is paved with gold! It would be a great pity if you did not come here. I see that this is not a place ordinary people can enter. You must chant the Buddha's name. I know you must chant to enter here, and I have been chanting!"

Reunited in the Pure Land

"Also, on the day Practitioner Su led me into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, A-Ling's grandparents were there to welcome me. I saw them, and everyone was so happy. They all looked very young and were smiling. A-Mei, who is A-Ling and Xiufeng's mother, and Minghong's mother, was also there, along with my in-laws. It turns out that after A-Ling met Practitioner Su, they had long since been delivered to this place. I saw A-Ling's uncle-in-law, Huang Shuiyuan, Xiaowen's father, and Hongsheng, A-Ling's uncle, and Yinglan, A-Ling's fourth aunt—they are all here. It turns out that everyone only died physically; the spirit does not die. We are reunited in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. A-Ling has done so much without letting everyone know. I tell you, you must believe what she says. You can call to check on her or come to visit. She is so far away, but even if you cannot visit, I see she doesn't have a mobile phone, so you can call the temple to find her. After all, we were once a family. In the future, everyone will have to rely on Practitioner Su and A-Ling to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I see here that she is very skilled at writing; she can receive the words of Namo Amituofo and write them down for everyone to see. Practitioner Su reads them aloud, and we can hear them too. This can save many people. I have never heard of anyone having this ability before. She is learning these skills from Practitioner Su here. If she succeeds, she will be able to lead others to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in the future. This is incredible! I am so proud of her."

The Reality of Reincarnation

"I didn't understand what reincarnation was before, but after coming to the temple and hearing Practitioner Su's lectures, I realised how terrifying it is. If you don't go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you must reincarnate. You might go to the hells, become a ghost, an animal, or an earthly creature. It is very difficult to become a human or a god again unless you have done good deeds. If you become a ghost, it is very painful! During the Dharma assembly, many ghosts came seeking deliverance; many were dressed in rags, crying in sorrow, or were grey and dim, their eyes lacking spirit. If I hadn't come here, I might have become a ghost too. Those inside ancestral tablets are just ghosts, relying on offerings to have food to eat. But I see that I don't need to eat here. For so many days since I was sent to the temple, I haven't needed to eat, and my spirit is vibrant! It turns out that spirits here don't need to eat; they are full of strength and energy. So, everyone, do not reincarnate again; come to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

One more thing: the body is very important. Whether adult or child, take good care of your health; sickness is very painful. I am listening to lectures here and know now that learning Buddhism and chanting can prevent aging and sickness. Only the body dies; the soul does not! The soul can be sent to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Father's Heart

"A-Ling, my biggest worry was whether you were eating well as a monastic here. Now I see that the monastics and practitioners here are excellent cooks; everything is delicious. I see you are eating happily, and Practitioner Su takes good care of you. Now I am at ease.

You were always well-behaved and obedient since you were small. When you grew up, you went to study Buddhism on your own. You, like your mother, have an affinity with the Buddha; I knew that before. You are also very filial and thoughtful; all my clothes were bought by you. After you married and had children, you worked hard. When you retired, we all thought you could finally relax a little, but I never expected that at this time, you would... of course, there were some issues with communication at home. So, your becoming a monastic was very sudden, too sudden. Many relatives and friends, as well as your family, miss you, but they must accept the fact that you have become a monastic. Not seeing this daughter for so many years, I was worried and couldn't let go, but now I am at ease. In fact, everyone has accepted it in their hearts and wishes for you to practice well.

Actually, I know that true practice is not a simple matter. Since you were small, everyone loved you, and you must be able to endure. At first, I was worried about how you were doing, but now I know you are accustomed to life here—eating with everyone, wearing the same clothes, sleeping together. This is the life of a monastic. You have to get up at two o'clock every morning for morning service; the practice here is truly not simple. Getting up so early is harder than in the world. But to learn these skills, to save people, to save beings from reincarnation, you must be like this; you cannot be selfish. You have this ability to save people, relying on Practitioner Su to first save your family so we don't have to reincarnate. Father was saved, your in-laws were saved, and your grandparents and mother were all sent here by Practitioner Su. This is truly an extraordinary thing. It turns out none of us are really dead.

You are in Australia, too far from Taiwan. Sometimes I wanted to visit you, but it is such a long journey, and sometimes I wasn't very clear-headed, so I couldn't do it. Leaving you alone here, none of us have been able to visit, but now I am at ease.

Taiwan is so far from Australia, but the act of spirit-guiding happens in an instant. It is so fast; you really need to have true attainment to do it. Now that you are a monastic, wearing monastic robes, you have your duties. You must do them well, learn well, and be a good disciple of Namo Amituofo. Because you are here and met Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, you were able to bring me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In this sense, Father is also relying on your blessings. You are truly my good daughter.

By the way, I must say again, I saw that your asthma flared up. I saw it; you have many karmic creditors on you, and you also owe others a lot. I also saw that Practitioner Su has been saving you, inviting spirits for you, and speaking kindly to those beings so they would come out. Also, Namo Amituofo here is shining light on everyone, truly. I had heard that the Buddha shines light, but I had never seen it. I saw it here; it is Namo Amituofo shining light on everyone, including you. Fortunately, I see you are much better now. You must thank Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, and thank the practitioners here; everyone takes such good care of you. I also thank everyone. Thank you, thank you all for taking care of our Cai Xiuli!"

— Cai Hongbo, spoken personally, October 29, 2023

A Letter to My Wife

"Qing, I know you took such hard care of me. I often misunderstood you, scolded you, and yelled at you. That was the karmic creditors deliberately trying to anger you, to see if you would be driven away so I would have no one to care for me. Fortunately, you endured it. I am truly sorry to you, though sometimes I would smile. I only know now that it was not my own intent; my body was used by spirits when I was ill.

Thank you so much for taking such good care of me when I was old and sick. I am satisfied to have lived to this age. It was fortunate to have you by my side; a life partner is a life partner. I believe our descendants will be filial to you; this is our family tradition and will continue. You must chant Namo Amituofo, do you know? I urge you to chant; you must believe in the Buddha. This is a true matter; it is I, Hongbo, speaking, and it is because A-Ling has this ability that she can interview me. They call it 'Interviewing Cai Hongbo, a lay practitioner in the Western Pure Land.' This is real. The deliverance here is excellent, excellent. I was delivered here. Practitioner Su is still performing deliverance for me; he wants to do one hundred sessions, and I am very grateful to him for delivering my karmic creditors. I owed too much to others in the past. My dementia was also because of debts from past lives; when I was old and weak, the karmic creditors found me to collect their debts, which is why I was confused. What is owed must be repaid. Now Practitioner Su is helping me perform deliverance, which is also helping me repay the debts I owe to beings. I am truly grateful to Practitioner Su. I know A-Ling will be here. If you have time, you should come and visit. I think you should come. With Practitioner Su and A-Ling here, there is hope for everyone to go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Do not be afraid; believe that this is real.

You must chant the Buddha's name; you can avoid sickness and aging. One day, when the body is no longer there, the spirit can come to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, but you must rely on Practitioner Su to do so! A-Ling does not have this attainment yet; you must rely on Practitioner Su and Namo Amituofo to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. You must listen to my words! I am truly grateful that you cared for me during those days of illness. I am truly grateful to you. Now that I have passed, I say thank you to you here. Thank you! We were husband and wife, and you suffered a lot. You didn't have many good days with me. I know you are a good mother and a good wife; I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Take care of your own body. After all, we were a pair; when I was there, you had a companion, even if this companion made you very busy and tired. Now that I am gone, you must take better care of yourself! Eat what you like, go out and walk around, play, and see things. Your legs are not very good, so walk as much as you can. While you can still walk and see, hurry out and enjoy yourself. You were held back by me before, and I know you couldn't get away.

A-Ling is doing very well here, so you don't need to worry. I think you can also come and see her life as a monastic; it is very pure. She is truly practicing, following Namo Amituofo and following Practitioner Su. You must also chant Namo Amituofo; this Buddha-name is truly excellent. Chanting it is good for your health and gives your heart a reliance. In the future, you must also come here. I am waiting for you here. You also need to rely on Practitioner Su to come; we will see if A-Ling has the same attainment as Practitioner Su in the future to bring you here.

I am gone. You are alone, but I think Minghong is very obedient, and Yijun is also very obedient; they will listen to you and be filial. I will instruct them, and they will do it. Our son is so filial, and our daughter-in-law is also filial. The six grandchildren—Kaiqun, Xinya, Xinjie, Yuting, Rui-Rui, and You-You—are all growing up well and have been cared for by you. You are truly their good grandmother.

I see here that the crabs we sold to restaurants when we were in the seafood business are now coming to collect their debts. I saw them during the Dharma assembly; many were looking for me. Fortunately, I am in the temple and now in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, so they cannot find me. Otherwise, how could I repay them! So I must tell you: do not buy live things to bring home to kill. Do not eat these live things; they all have lives, and you have to repay them if you eat them. It is best to be vegetarian. You must tell Minghong, Yijun, Cai Xiufeng, and Ma Zhiguang that everyone must listen. Father hopes you will eat more vegetarian food, especially when your health is poor. You must know now that sickness is the karmic creditors coming to collect. In the past, we did many wrong things, owed people emotions, and owed people debts. When your health is poor, the karmic creditors will find you. Fortunately, the temple is inviting spirits and resolving these conflicts. You can do more deliverance; everyone has some sickness in their bodies. So, Qing, I tell you now: do not buy live things to kill anymore. Crabs too; it is all creating karma. It is truly cause and effect; I have seen it. Eating vegetarian is also very good; do not eat meat. We were eating fish and killing; now you must stop. It is too late for me to stop, but I would rather you not eat it; eat vegetarian. Many vegetarian foods are also very delicious. I hope you will do these things I have instructed. Fortunately, I can say these words so you can hear them; otherwise, you would not know how serious it is.

A-Ling can communicate; spirit can communicate with spirit. And now that I am in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, it is also by relying on her receiving my words that I can write these for everyone. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a very good place; I am waiting for you here. I am truly not dead; my body is just broken and unusable. My spirit is very clear now, talking to you."

— Husband Cai Hongbo, spoken personally, October 29, 2023

A Letter to My Daughter and Son

"I want to speak to my daughter and son, Xiufeng, Minghong, Xiaowen, and Xiaohua. Your eldest sister has truly become a monastic, following Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su to save people and save beings. Father can be considered one of those saved by them; otherwise, I don't know where I would be now, and you wouldn't be able to find me! Now that I can speak here, it is because your sister has this ability to communicate with us, and I have seen that she can receive the words of Namo Amituofo to tell everyone. This is real, not fake; this is not superstition. Father has seen it; you must believe Father's words, otherwise how could I be talking to you now? So, she has become a monastic now, and it has been so many years; you must accept it in your hearts. A-Ling used to take good care of you younger siblings. Also, Father relied on Practitioner Su's guidance to reach here. If not for Practitioner Su, Father would not be able to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss now. So you must say thank you to the Practitioner here; she also takes good care of your eldest sister.

I saw the funeral you held for me; my photo was hung up, and it was very dignified. I saw it. My life was not lived in vain; having you children makes me very satisfied. Take good care of Mother; I am waiting for her here. She must also come; she is a good person, a good mother! So, your eldest sister must practice well and be able to save many, many people to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss here! If she practices well, it is good for everyone in the family.

Your eldest sister is here. This is a good place. You can come over, and you can bring Mother here to see. You should also care about your sister and ask if you can make offerings or support the temple. This is a very good thing, especially since Namo Amituofo is here; it is a temple with a Buddha. You must respect the Buddha and respect the temple. There is construction going on here, and it needs everyone's money and effort. You can contribute your own strength to sponsor it, no matter how much. This is also doing good deeds, very good. Namo Amituofo is here; it is so rare to encounter such a thing. You must seize the opportunity to make offerings and support it; such good deeds should be done. Father understands this much!

Practitioner Su is performing one hundred Dharma assemblies for me; that is not a small number! I am very grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I know that originally every session had a fee. So, you can also make offerings or support the temple; Father just said this, and it is the principle of being a person. If the temple has any notifications, remember to reply. You must all say thank you to the temple and Practitioner Su for performing deliverance for me and delivering me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Shumei, Ma Zhiguang, and Xiaohua, although your sister is now a monastic, you are sisters and brothers after all, and you were all very close in the secular world. Now Shumei, you are getting older; A-Ling is over fifty, and you are over fifty too, right? Ma Zhiguang must be over sixty? You have seen the world, and the business you and Ma Zhiguang worked hard for also came at a great price. Father knows you are all filial. Now that Father is gone, you must look after Mother and your aunt more. She is also old and likes people to accompany her and greet her. You can come to see your sister here. Father encourages you all to come here to see her and see if you can be delivered too, and chant a few more 'Namo Amituofo.'

You know she has always liked to be in contact with the Buddha and the Dharma. You should respect your sister, believe her words, and learn Buddhism; learning Buddhism is very good. I have started chanting Namo Amituofo, and I think you can too. You and Ma Zhiguang are also people who have suffered; you must chant. The Buddha here is very large, very large, and very radiant; there is truly a Buddha here. You must believe.

Also, besides performing deliverance here, there is also the inviting of spirits. If someone is sick or uncomfortable, it is the karmic creditors; inviting them out makes the body much better. Ma Zhiguang also has many illnesses, and you must take care of your body. I think you and Ma Zhiguang can bring Tingting here to attend classes, invite spirits, and perform deliverance for you and Tingting's karmic creditors; it will be helpful to you.

Minghong and Yijun, I am Father. I know this period has made you and the family very busy. The greatest blessing of my life, besides having your mother as a good mother, is having a good daughter-in-law, Yijun; she is your good helper. Couples will occasionally argue or fight; you must be tolerant of each other. Yijun is very filial, and I am very moved. You have raised the two grandchildren very well, and your work also needs a virtuous wife to help. Now that Father is gone, you are the eldest in the family. Father knows you are very capable and a filial child. Your eldest sister has become a monastic at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre here in Australia. As a younger brother, you must also care about her; she took care of you when you were small.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are things everyone will go through; Father is no exception—old, sick, dead. I know now that life is like a dream; you can't take anything with you, it all stays in the world. You children and grandchildren are my achievements while I was alive. If your eldest sister or the temple gives you any notification or response, you must answer them; that is a matter of politeness.

Minghong, I know you are also getting older; you must take care of your own body. When Father was here, I could still look after you. Although I was very good at nagging you, there is a saying: 'Deep love, harsh criticism.' So, fortunately, you were teachable, which is something I feel very heart-warmed about. I was also very filial to your grandparents, so I could have a filial son and marry a filial daughter-in-law.

Yijun, Mother will trouble you. You obedient daughter-in-law, please take good care of Mother. She is getting on in years and cannot walk as well as before, so you must watch over her more and accompany her more. You are very obedient and will take good care of Mother."

— Father Cai Hongbo, spoken personally, October 29, 2023

A Letter to Dinghui

"A-Ling has truly become a monastic now. When I was at the temple, I saw it; she wears monastic robes and her head is shaved. She is not the wife you knew before; you must let go of your heart, let go of your heart. She has always had an affinity with the Buddha since she was small. Now she is a monastic, following Namo Amituofo, following Practitioner Su, following many monastics here, and many lay practitioners. Everyone is saving people and chanting, so you must let go of your heart. Do not be stuck on past events anymore; live your life well. This is Father's expectation for you.

You also know that A-Ling has this ability in this regard; you must accept it. So many years have passed; no matter what happened, it is all in the past. The important thing is to live well. Live well now, and live well in the future.

I didn't have such a clear mind to tell you these things before, but now I use this opportunity to tell you; you must believe this is real. You also know she is very honest; she truly has this ability. You are a reasonable person. She became a monastic here, so the temple is covering the expenses; can you contribute a little? After all, she worked until retirement and contributed to this family.

Dinghui, no matter what grievances there were, they are all in the past. For Father's sake, for the sake of my face, forgive her for not being able to care for your mother with you. These words, I couldn't say them, but if I don't say them now, I won't have the chance in the future, so I must make it clear so my heart can be at ease. No matter what, I hope you both open your hearts; do not have knots. It is impossible to return to the past. I see her practicing here; it is true practice, and she can help many beings. She has this ability, and you know it. This is not fake, not a lie. You should explain it to your family, but sometimes you don't need to say too much; it's hard to explain clearly anyway.

I think you should know she can truly talk to Namo Amituofo. Now that I have passed away, it is also by relying on her knowing Namo Amituofo and knowing Practitioner Su that I was able to be sent to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is a true matter; I hope you can accept it. In the future, your mother will also have to rely on Practitioner Su and A-Ling to come here. Your father-in-law is already here; he came to welcome me when I arrived. Truly, you should be happy that your father-in-law is living a good life here.

Kaiqun and Xinya should also come to Australia to see their mother; let them come! You can also call to care about her, and you can come to see her. After all, you lived together for more than twenty years. For Father's sake, don't keep this stalemate going, okay? She wants to practice, so let her set her heart at ease; this is also good for you. The days ahead are still long; open your heart, it is good for your health. You are also a person in your fifties or sixties; listen to Father's words.

Also, to your mother, I hope you can understand that A-Ling is not by your side to care for you, and can understand and accept that she has become a monastic; she has this monastic destiny. I also feel very sorry that A-Ling could not be by your side to care for you and be filial, making you worry! A-Ling is also very obedient; she married over shortly after working and worked for more than twenty years before retiring, taking good care of the family. She also did her duty well. So look at the good side; Practitioner Su teaches us to look at the good side, and I hope you can look at the good side and think positively. So many years have passed; after all, she gave birth to Kaiqun and Xinya, two good grandchildren, and added much glory to your family. Just look at this, okay? I am speaking fairly; you should be more tolerant! She is working for Namo Amituofo now, which is also not simple; you need to have this heart and this ability to do these things. We are old and will always have to walk this path; we also have to rely on Practitioner Su and rely on her to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Otherwise, if you enter the ancestral tablet, that is becoming a ghost, living a grey and dim life, relying on offerings to have food to eat. It is better to come to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, such a bright and good place, to become a Buddha.

Tell your mother that on the day Practitioner Su sent me into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I saw your father-in-law come to welcome me! He was also delivered by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I saw he was in high spirits, smiling, wearing a suit, and very young! This was also because A-Ling asked Practitioner Su to send him to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss at that time; this is a good thing! I smiled at him, and he was very happy I came; he also knew I had passed away. Everyone is not dead; only the body is old and broken, unusable. The body is dead, but the spirit is still there. We are truly still here; you must believe what I say.

You are a good person; I believe you will also come here. Dinghui, you heard me, right? You must also send your mother here. This is a very good place; only Namo Amituofo's place can be this good. Being able to come here is a great blessing; do not go to reincarnate and suffer. It is not that you can come just because you want to; you must chant, chant 'Namo Amituofo,' 'Namo Amituofo.'

I am truly sorry to say these things to you."

— Father-in-law Cai Hongbo, spoken personally, October 29, 2023

A Letter to My Grandchildren Kaiqun and Xinya

"Kaiqun, Xinya, I am Grandpa. Grandpa has passed away, but that is just the body being broken and unusable; my spirit is still here. Now Grandpa is using his soul to talk to your mother; your mother knows what I want to say, writes it down, and passes it to you. If you receive it, you must thank Namo Amituofo, thank the Practitioner here, and also thank the many practitioners here for their help; everyone takes good care of your mother here. After all, Mother gave birth to you, raised you, brought you up so big, and loves you so much, letting you two grow up so well. You are grown up now and very sensible, able to take good care of yourselves, so your mother can be at ease. You must know how to be filial to Grandma and also be filial to your father.

Grandpa also knows you will miss your mother; this is human nature. If you have anything to say or anything to do, you can contact the practitioners here; they will arrange it and tell your mother, so your hearts will feel better. The environment here is very good; you two children should come here to see her; this is the filial piety children should perform. If you have work, you should ask for leave. No matter what, you only have one mother. Although she is called a monastic now, she gave birth to you and raised you; you must repay her kindness, do you know?

Mother becoming a monastic does not mean she doesn't want you! Although you are reluctant to part with her, she has helped many beings; this is not simple! The path your mother is taking, the things she is doing, are not things everyone can do; it is a path of helping people, not a selfish path, so you should be proud of your mother, do you know? Grandpa sees clearly now what she is doing—helping beings, letting them escape suffering, letting them know Namo Amituofo, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is very important! Grandpa was able to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss because of your mother, without having to reincarnate and suffer again, and only here at the temple can this be done.

You can work now; as for the future, I believe your father, Grandma, and everyone will take care of you. As for your plans for the future, Namo Amituofo will help you. I heard your mother say that when she became a monastic, she entrusted you two children, as well as your father, Grandma, Grandpa, and Grandma—all the relatives around her—to Namo Amituofo's care. Grandpa also believes Namo Amituofo is taking care of you.

Xinya, you are your mother's good daughter. If Mother needs any help at the temple, you must do it well, do you know? After all, there are still some things that need help."

— Grandpa, spoken personally, October 29, 2023

A Letter to My Grandchildren Xinjie, Yuting, Rui-Rui, and You-You

"My obedient grandchildren are also grown up. You grandchildren must be filial to Grandma; seeing your parents be filial to Grandpa and Grandma, you must also be filial to your parents. Your parents are very hard-working; you must listen to your parents, learn to take care of yourselves, and don't let your parents worry. Doing your own things well is being filial to your parents. Filial piety is our family tradition; you must continue to pass it on! Grandpa is watching you from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss here!

Study hard and be a good person! Although Grandpa has passed away, my spirit is not dead; my spirit is very clear. I am not sick now, and my spirit is very clear. You might not understand when I tell you these things. Grandpa's body is just broken and unusable; Grandpa's spirit is all here, sent to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss by your eldest aunt's Practitioner. You must remember! Your eldest aunt is very remarkable; her Practitioner and Namo Amituofo brought Grandpa to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am very well here; coming here is enjoying blessings!"

— Grandpa, spoken personally, October 29, 2023