A Grandfather's Gratitude in the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Su Wenyan, the grandfather of Practitioner Su Yue'e, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his family lineage and his gratitude for his granddaughter's spiritual achievements. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on November 4, 2019.

Su Wenyan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Su Wenyan. I heard that my granddaughter, Ah-E, wanted to interview her ancestors—those whom she guided to the Western Pure Land. That is right! I am one of them. Her father, Su Tiansheng, was my son, so Ah-E is my granddaughter. In the world of the living, they say she has cultivated herself very well. She has even transformed into a masculine form, which allows her to travel back and forth between the Western Pure Land and the human world, guiding everyone into the Western Pure Land before returning. That is exactly how we were brought here."

The Changing Times and a Remarkable Granddaughter

"In the era I lived in, women did not need to study much. They were expected to marry, manage the household, and raise children. By the time of Ah-E's generation, children could receive some education, though it was not expected to be extensive. The belief was that they would eventually marry, so knowing how to read and write a little was sufficient—finishing primary school was considered quite an achievement. Ah-E was just like that.

I passed away a long time ago, even before she was born. I assumed she would be just like any other child. I heard that what made her different as a child was that she was very well-liked by adults; she was truly endearing. However, I never imagined that she would be capable of delivering Dharma talks, speaking to so many people! We can hear her from here, and her teachings are very logical and profound. When the other beings here learned that this person giving the Dharma talks was my granddaughter, they all told me that my ancestors must have had great virtue for such a descendant to emerge—someone who could become a Buddha, deliver Dharma talks, and guide others to the Western Pure Land. Every time I hear this, I nod and smile, saying, 'The Buddha protects us, the Buddha protects us!'"

The Radiance of Deliverance

"Have you seen that list with our names on it, the one placed upon the Buddha table? That memorial tablet, with the names written on red paper, actually emits light! I have seen it clearly from here. Those names are all the relatives that Ah-E has guided to the Western Pure Land, and my name is written there too. This is no simple matter. There is an old saying passed down through the generations: 'When one person becomes a Buddha, nine generations ascend to heaven.' In our family, it is a case of one person becoming a Buddha, and nine generations being reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is what Ah-E explained in her Dharma talks, and I find it to be very true! This is something that only someone with great wisdom and true attainment could ever accomplish.

Life in my era was incredibly bitter and difficult. Here, however, we live a life of supreme joy. Sometimes, I wish to speak with my son, Tiansheng. I do not need to see him; I simply need to hold his name in my heart. I do not even know where he is in the Western Pure Land, but he hears me regardless. We can converse with such ease—it is fast, accurate, and we do not even need to be in each other's presence!"

A Heart Full of Thanks

"Sometimes I want to see how my other relatives are doing. Most of the people I knew from my generation have passed on, and those who appear now are mostly juniors. I do not recognise many of them, and many are quite elderly and frail. Only Ah-E is both young and capable of driving—she is truly remarkable! I see her and I cannot help but smile; she is already seventy-five years old, yet she still looks so youthful! I am so grateful to Namo Amituofo for taking such good care of me, her grandfather, and her grandmother. He has looked after us so well! Thank you all, and Namo Amituofo."