A Grandfather's Journey to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Huang Jinchong, 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 transition from the world of the living. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on December 15, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Huang Jinchong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. When my relative nodded and said they were coming to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I decided to follow suit. To be perfectly honest, I was still hesitating before that moment. I really did not want to leave the world of the living so quickly. But now that I have arrived and witnessed the sheer magnificence of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I realise how foolish I was. I should have come much sooner! It is truly a place beyond all imagination, a realm of pure joy that makes my previous concerns seem so trivial and small.

The Compassion of Practitioner Su

I am filled with such profound gratitude for the compassionate Practitioner Su. It was his guidance that took us by the hand and led us to this sacred place. Without his intervention, we would never have attained true liberation. If I were still living in the human world, I would find it incredibly difficult to believe that such a person exists—someone capable of guiding a human spirit directly into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now that I am here, standing in this light, I can speak these words with absolute certainty. My heart is overflowing with thanks.

The True Purpose of Existence

What is the point of living? I never really pondered this question while I was still in the world. For people of my generation, life was simply about getting by, day after day. We spent our time caring for our families, dealing with the inevitable onset of illness, and then, eventually, passing away. It seems that people today are not much different, though I do observe that the younger generation seems to understand the concept of enjoyment better. They are more focused on living the lives they desire, rather than pouring every ounce of their energy into their families. They know how to set aside time for themselves to pursue their own interests.

However, whether it is the youth of today or the elders of my own generation, we are all essentially living the same mundane life. We spend our entire existence tethered to this physical body, completely unaware that our primary task should be to help our own spirits find relief and ultimate liberation. This is a truth I only came to understand after listening to the Dharma talks here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I share this now because I wish to counsel those still living in the world. If you can hear my words, you should understand exactly what you need to do to save yourselves.

A Message to My Grandson

I look at my grandson, Huang Zhisheng, and I see that he is a very intelligent young man. Yet, he is not quite wise enough yet, because he has not yet learned the art of letting go. Do not be fooled by my status as his grandfather; I can see his heart very clearly. There are still many things in this world that he clings to, things he desires and craves, and that is why he cannot let go. If he were just a little bit wiser, if he truly understood the necessity of releasing these attachments, he would have the potential to cultivate himself to a very high level. I can see that in a past life, he was actually a monastic.

It is a great pity that he has chosen a different path in this lifetime. Although he is still connected to the Buddha, it is not like his past lives, where he spent every single day lecturing on the sutras and teaching the Dharma to all beings before the Buddha. But there is no use in dwelling on that; those are matters of the past. What happens in this life must follow the conditions of cause and effect; one cannot force these things.

A Final Plea for Liberation

Nevertheless, I am deeply thankful to this grandson of mine for saving me. It was because of him that I was able to leave that space of suffering, and I no longer have to worry about being reincarnated into other realms to endure further hardship. I truly hope that he will also help himself. In this lifetime, he must make it his priority to reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo."