A Grandfather's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Nian Fangmin, the grandfather of Lay Practitioner Nian Cunxin. 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 reflects upon his transition from the spirit realm to the Pure Land. It was recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on November 15, 2025.

Nian Fangmin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Nian Fangmin. I am now residing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My granddaughter, Nian Cunxin, has been incredibly filial in arranging for my Chao Du. To have such a descendant is truly a sign of ancestral virtue. It is only because Nian Cunxin was able to encounter Namo Amituofo that she had the means to deliver us from the cycle of rebirth.

The Aimless Days of a Wandering Spirit

The days spent as a spirit are hollow; there is no goal, no direction—just one day drifting into the next. I honestly do not know how long I had been deceased. I lost track of time entirely. Then, one day, I was suddenly enveloped by the Buddha-light and brought to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

When I was alive in the world, I worked myself to the bone, desperately hoping to build a better life for my family. I did some good deeds, but I also endured a great deal of suffering. The legacy I could leave for my descendants was limited, and I could see that you all were living lives of great hardship as well. However, if all that struggle can lead one to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, then it was all worth it. Having a true destination for the heart makes the journey so much easier to bear. I believe this is the very reason you travelled all the way from Malaysia to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre—you came to find the Buddha, and you truly found Him. I am convinced that only the Buddha has the power to bring us here to this sacred place.

A Heart of Gratitude

Cunxin, no matter how difficult life may seem, you must always remain filled with a heart of gratitude. With a heart of gratitude, you can navigate any hardship and live well. You are so much more fortunate than we were; you have been able to encounter the Buddha, and no matter what happens, you will always be under the Buddha’s compassionate care.

The Swift Deliverance of Practitioner Su

Practitioner Su is a truly remarkable practitioner. We must rely on Practitioner Su to guide us so that we can reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This time, there were over ten of us who were guided into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss together by Practitioner Su. Practitioner Su’s spiritual manifestation is incredibly light and moves with such immense speed; in an instant, we were delivered safely into the Pure Land.

To encounter such a miracle is no simple matter. Meeting the true Namo Amituofo is not an easy thing to achieve. Now that we have all encountered this, we must share this wonderful news with everyone. Do not let others continue to suffer in the world. For all of this, we must offer our deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su, gratitude to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and I must also express my gratitude to my granddaughter, Nian Cunxin."