A Father's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Yang Dingming, the biological father of Lay Practitioner Mao Meiju. He sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account was recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on January 24, 2026.

Lay Practitioner Yang Dingming speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Yang Dingming. Today is the day of my rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—a truly joyous occasion. When I learned that I was to be interviewed, I was suddenly so filled with joy that I hardly knew what to say. I arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss only yesterday. My face is radiant with happiness; although I am incredibly, incredibly joyful, it is not the same kind of frantic excitement one feels in the human world. Here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the joy is calm and serene. It is a profound sense of belonging, a complete certainty that I am truly a member of this magnificent realm. The affairs of the human world are already fading from my memory. At this moment, I am filled with immense gratitude—gratitude toward Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, and of course, deep gratitude toward my daughter, Mao Meiju."

The Power of Filial Piety

"My daughter was not raised by me from a young age. Yet, today, she still possesses such a deep sense of filial piety that she has helped her own biological parents receive Chao Du. We are both deeply moved and profoundly grateful. From here, as a father, I can see our many lives throughout the cycle of rebirth. I can see that you and I have shared a very deep affinity in the past. We are all children who possess a strong Buddhist affinity."

The Rarity of Rebirth

"To be able to arrive in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is, in itself, no easy feat. The contamination of the Five Turbidities and Evil World is so deep that it is truly difficult to escape. Today, we have the great blessing of having encountered the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Looking out at the world today, there are far too few people who are truly able to chant Namo Amituofo and achieve rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Many good people we know do not necessarily have a good place to go after they pass away. This is the tragedy of the human world."

A Realm of Infinite Learning

"But enough of that—as a father, I should not dwell on such pessimistic thoughts. The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss before me is a true bodhimanda where one can learn directly from Namo Amituofo. Previously, while I was in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I watched the scenes of Namo Amituofo accompanying Practitioner Su as they travelled everywhere to deliver sentient beings. Even then, I was left completely dumbfounded by the magnitude of their work. Now that I have arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, everything is even more beautiful. Everyone wears a smile, and at every moment, we are chanting the Buddha-name. My heart feels so light, so secure, and so at peace."

A Final Message to My Daughter

"My daughter, you are not young anymore. You must cherish this encounter with the Buddha's teachings. Do your best to make the most of your limited time in this human life. If you can introduce others to Namo Amituofo and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, there could be no better deed than that. I will stop here for today, my heart overflowing with gratitude—so much gratitude. I hope that everything is well with you. Namo Amituofo."