A Grandfather's Journey from the Void to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with the grandfather of Lay Practitioner Peng Hong, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on May 3, 2024.

The Grandfather of Lay Practitioner Peng Hong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I have arrived at the place of the Buddha, and I am truly filled with gratitude—so much gratitude. I do not know how to adequately express my thanks to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. For the longest time, I was trapped in a place from which I could not escape. I relied on my own sheer willpower, walking and walking, refusing to give up. When I grew weary, I would sit down to rest, only to rise and continue my search. I was constantly looking for an exit, a way out; but no matter how hard I searched, I could not find one. To say that I was not anxious or afraid would be a lie."

A Sudden Light in the Darkness

"I do not even know how long I had been wandering. Suddenly, a brilliant light shone upon me, and with an immense, gentle power, I was lifted and carried away. In an instant, everything before my eyes became radiant, and my heart felt a profound sense of peace. I wondered, 'What is this place?' I tried to reflect on my past, but I had been drifting in that space for so long that I could barely remember anything at all.

After spending time in the Buddha-land undergoing purification, I finally realised that it was my own descendant—my granddaughter—who had saved me. I am truly so grateful to her. In truth, I cannot recall much else from my life, and I have no desire to dwell on it. Seeing my granddaughter, who performed the Chao Du for me, I felt a deep need to thank her, but I also saw the suffering she has endured."

A Grandfather's Wisdom for the Living

"I was never a man of great learning, but I understood the ways of the world, and now, I can see even more clearly into the nature of these spiritual spaces. Grandfather knows that you are a kind-hearted child. You have faced many hardships in this life, which could be seen as the settling of old debts. Now that you have encountered the Buddha, seeing you follow the Buddha with such steadfastness makes me very happy.

Think about it—a human life passes in a flash, and in the end, everything is empty. Once I lost my physical body, I was nothing more than a drifting spirit. That kind of suffering—the inability to find a way out—is something most people cannot even begin to imagine. That is why I want you to know: stay firm in your path and follow the Buddha. For the things that you still cling to, you must learn to let them go, little by little."

A Message to the Descendants

"If there is an opportunity, please tell my other descendants to cherish the present moment. Do not be blinded or led astray by the material things you possess. If you have the chance to believe in the Buddha, and if you have the chance to understand the necessity of liberation, you must seize it firmly. Many Causal Conditions, once passed, are gone forever.

I hope that you are not living only for the sake of your current life, but that you are also planning for where your life will lead after it ends. Namo Amituofo."