A Father's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Lei Yonghua, 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 life and his transition to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on June 7, 2024.

Lay Practitioner Lei Yonghua speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I offer my deepest gratitude to the Buddha, and I kneel before Him in reverence. I have now arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I will never forget the great kindness and compassion the Buddha has shown me. I am also deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for her guidance; without her, I would still be wandering in the cycle of rebirth. My children, please offer my thanks to Practitioner Su on my behalf.

I am now resting within a lotus, gazing upon the magnificent pavilions and towers of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Looking back on my life, it feels as though it passed in the blink of an eye. Life is truly just like this—everyone must experience birth, aging, sickness, and death, and no one can escape it. It is a cycle that we all must face, yet we often spend our entire lives trying to ignore its inevitability.

The Fleeting Nature of Life

During my time at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, my spirit has been elevated, and I have gained a perspective I never had before. I have come to realise that this body is illusory; it was merely something I borrowed for a time. In the past, I was far too attached to the name 'Lei Yonghua' and the identity that came with it. I spent my entire life striving to create the image I wanted for myself, working tirelessly to build a legacy that I thought would last. Now, looking back, I realise that all my efforts were only for the sake of this physical form. Once the body is gone, everything is gone. It is not that I did not know this truth before, but I did not understand it clearly or deeply enough. It is too late to try to awaken to these truths while still in the body, but fortunately, after arriving at this Buddha-land, I finally understood these principles. Only then was I willing to let go of my attachments and my desperate grip on this world, and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Awakening to the Truth

Every day here in the Buddha-land, my spirit becomes clearer. I see now that this spirit is the true 'me.' In the past, I lived inside my body and was completely deluded by it. I was a prisoner to my own senses and desires, constantly chasing after things that had no lasting value. It is a profound relief to finally be free from that delusion. My children, I say these things because I hope you, too, can awaken. This life is very short; it passes in an instant. With the world becoming increasingly chaotic, I hope you can find peace and avoid unnecessary suffering. I hope you do not have to walk the path of hardship that I did.

A Father's Final Advice

If you can, follow the Buddha, believe in the Buddha, and learn from the Buddha. Do not dismiss this as superstition. When you truly align yourself with the Buddha, you will feel His compassion. The Buddha is waiting for every single being to be delivered. Everything that this body possesses cannot be taken with you, so stop clinging to it. If you can learn to be more natural and let things be, you will find peace. These are the changes in my heart and mind that I wish to share with you. Thank you for saving your father; it is because of you that I am now so free and at ease.

Reunion in the Pure Land

The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is truly magnificent and dignified. It is a place of pure joy, far beyond anything I could have imagined while I was still in the world. I hope you will all chant the name of Namo Amituofo so that we may be reunited here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am waiting for you, and I am watching over you with the compassion of the Buddha. Namo Amituofo. With folded palms, Lei Yonghua."