A Final Exit from the Stage of Life

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Ni Ruizhen, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her transition from the human realm to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on September 13, 2024.

Lay Practitioner Ni Ruizhen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo. I am filled with such gratitude, such immense gratitude. I have been chanting Namo Amituofo continuously. I am so grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am so grateful to Practitioner Su.

I am Ni Ruizhen, and I have now arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I sat directly upon a magnificent, expansive lotus pedestal, and then I knelt to kowtow in thanks for the Buddha’s grace. My tears just kept flowing, and they would not stop."

The Illusion of the Worldly Stage

"When I was alive in the world, I never truly had the opportunity to understand Namo Amituofo. I knew that 'the Buddha' existed, but what kind of Buddha He was, or what He was doing, I never really grasped. That was simply my Causal Conditions; I did not have the chance to practise the Dharma while I was in the world. Thankfully, even though so much time has passed, my children still remembered me and arranged for my Chao Du, guiding me here to the Western Land.

As for the affairs of the world, I have forgotten most of them. Those were things that happened when I possessed a physical body. Once you reach a realm where you no longer have a body, you live in a world without physical form, and naturally, you no longer dwell on the events of your past life. My heart has no attachments, so I have even less reason to think about the things that happened when I was alive."

Life as a Play

"I did not do anything particularly bad in my life, nor did I create enmity with anyone. Having lived to a ripe old age, I saw many people and experienced many things. My impression of that time now is simply that life is truly like a play. I was once one of the protagonists in that play, but now I have exited the stage, and others have taken my place. So, when I look at the people in the world now—people I once knew—they are still acting out their roles. I watch them as they perform, and because they are still caught up in the drama, they have no way to wake up.

I want to tell my descendants: the world is truly an illusion, but you are not yet able to wake up to this truth. Once the body is gone, you really have nothing left. Everything must be let go. No matter how much you like or dislike someone or something, it will all have nothing to do with you in the end."

The Only Path to Deliverance

"Therefore, I want to tell my children and grandchildren: do not take worldly matters to heart. It is enough to simply live your life; everything else is unimportant because, very soon, it will no longer concern you. However, you must remember to chant Namo Amituofo. Chanting Namo Amituofo is the only way to help yourself and to help all beings; chanting Namo Amituofo is the only way to return to the Western Land.

If you are able, I also hope you will listen to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su. Only then will you understand the need to wake up and the importance of following Namo Amituofo. Now, I am truly following Namo Amituofo. I thank my children; I am truly blessed, and I am so grateful, so very grateful. I am also grateful to Practitioner Su. If Practitioner Su had not reached out to guide me, I would still be trapped in the cycle of rebirth. My gratitude is endless.

Namo Amituofo.

Ni Ruizhen bows in reverence."