A Grandfather's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Sun Bangshi, 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 ghost realm to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on April 3, 2026.

Sun Bangshi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I offer my deepest respects to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. My name is Sun Bangshi. I have only just arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss a few hours ago, and I wanted to express my immense gratitude and let everyone know that I have finally found peace. I also want to extend a special note of thanks to my granddaughter, Sun Caixia. Seeing your name brings me such profound relief. Knowing that you have been able to study the Buddha’s teachings, perform good deeds, and maintain such a heart of filial piety—this truly makes a grandfather’s heart bloom with joy. It is a wonderful thing to see."

The Peace of Arrival

"This was the very first thing I felt upon arriving here. Beyond gratitude, there were no other overwhelming emotions—only a deep, pervasive sense of calm, joy, and serenity. I had already caught glimpses of this while I was in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, so I knew what the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss would be like. My heart was already settled and filled with the joy of the Dharma as I arrived. There was no shock, only a natural homecoming.

I have just heard the testimony of my wife, who arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss at the same time as I did. Listening to her, I can truly tell that she is different from the person I knew in the human world. Her speech is steady, filled with wisdom, and carries the weight of someone who has truly undergone a deep purification. It is clear that the transformation we have experienced is profound."

Half a Century in Darkness

"Of course, I left the human world long before she did. It has been such a long, arduous journey—nearly half a century has passed. To think that I could be reborn and completely transformed in this way is beyond anything I could have ever expected. I never imagined that the world after death could be so dark. I did not even know what I had done wrong during my life to end up spending all those years wandering in the gloomy ghost realm.

However, after listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, I finally understood. Most people who end up like me—without the benefit of the Buddha’s teachings—simply live out their lives through birth, aging, sickness, and death. It seems like a normal trajectory, but in reality, it is a cycle driven by our own uncorrected character flaws and the karma we have created. As long as one holds onto greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt, one is destined to continue suffering through the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death."

The Truth of Human Life

"It was only when I was in the Western Land of Dharma Nature that I realised most people, after death, end up just like I did: a lonely spirit drifting in the ghost realm. That painful memory is still fresh in my heart. After all, I spent such a long time living in that realm—confused, without direction, devoid of freedom, and feeling utterly isolated and wretched.

This is the truth of human life. If you follow the same path I did, your body will inevitably decline as you age, and your lifestyle will remain self-centred. You will continue to think primarily of yourself rather than truly letting go of the ego to serve others. As long as this powerful sense of 'self' exists, it is impossible to avoid the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death. Many will even end up suffering in the hells; it is an unavoidable consequence. While these things are sad to hear, they are simply the reality of where life leads when one does not find the true home."

A Call to Practice

"I hope my family members who are still in the human world—especially my dear granddaughter, Sun Caixia—will take this to heart. You must study the Buddha’s teachings diligently. Follow Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su closely. Let go of everything that binds you; you will find that life becomes so much lighter and happier. I pray that you, too, can return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss just as I have. Find the path back here as early as you can so that you may cease your suffering sooner. How wonderful it would be for us all to be reunited here! Everyone here is a Buddha. You must see yourselves as Buddhas even while you are still in the human world. You do not need to wait until you arrive in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to be a Buddha; everyone is inherently a Buddha."

The Wisdom of the Buddhas

"Having said so much, I must also share a little about the beauty of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Since arriving here, my heart has become even more stable and peaceful. Although I had already undergone significant purification in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, my eyes have truly been opened here. I now see how profound and compassionate the wisdom of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is. Everything they do for all beings is now crystal clear to me. I can see everything I have done throughout my many lives; every image is vivid and visible before me.

I see now that everything has a cause and an effect. The fact that I had the Buddhist affinity to arrive in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss today is because of the deep connections I had forged with the Buddha in the past. This is something that moves me to my core. I never expected that after so much time, the Buddha would never have forgotten me. The moment I reconnected with the Buddha, this old man could not help but shed tears of gratitude.

Of course, I do not look old at all now; I have the appearance of a very dignified man. In the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, even my wife, who was a woman in her previous life, is now just like me. There are no discriminations here, and there is no room for emotional entanglements between us. We are all one. This is the most special gift that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss has given me.

Namo Amituofo."