A Grandmother's Journey from the Ghost Realm to the Western Pure Land

The Revelation of the Western Pure Land

Many beings in the ghost realm hold a singular, deeply ingrained belief: that upon death, one is destined to become a ghost. They believe that families are destined to wander the paths of the underworld, hoping to encounter one another again in the darkness of samsara. It is a profound revelation for them to learn that there exists a place called the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a destination far beyond the cycle of rebirth. For those who have spent centuries in the shadows, encountering this truth is a life-changing event, making their journey to the Dharma assembly truly worthwhile.

On the 14th of May, 2017, the Venerable Shi Faxi sought guidance from Namo Amituofo regarding the messages to be recorded from the spiritual realm. Namo Amituofo instructed that the voices and inner thoughts of the spirits present within the temple space should be shared. The Venerable then asked if any sentient beings wished to come forward for an interview. An elderly voice emerged, identifying herself as Lai Chen Akuan, the grandmother of Lai Cangyang.

A Voice from the Ancestral Past

Lai Chen Akuan shared that she had passed away during the Qing Dynasty, having been born during the reign of the grandson of the Ming Emperor Zhu Hongwu. She expressed her astonishment at the quality of the vegetarian food, marvelling at how such simple ingredients could be prepared with such exquisite care. She observed the assembly with a sharp, spirited wit, noticing her descendant, Lai Cangyang, among the fourfold assembly of disciples, and was somewhat dismayed to find him appearing drowsy during the proceedings. She remarked with humour that she felt embarrassed to introduce him to the other spirits nearby, such as A-Xiang, A-Guang, and A-Cai.

She urged him to wake up and maintain his focus, noting that the Dharma assembly was a fascinating and unique experience. She admitted that in her own time, women of her status rarely left the home, but her husband—the grandfather of the family—had come to invite her personally. She had waited a long time at their old home, and only today did she understand that he was leading her to a much better place. As she looked around the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, she realised that many members of the Lai family had already gathered here, enjoying a life far more comfortable than their old ancestral home.

The Path to Eternal Comfort

She expressed her support for her descendant's path of renunciation and his commitment to saving the world. She encouraged him to practise diligently, assuring him that the Dharma protectors would naturally arrange the affairs of the family. As the time for her departure arrived, she spoke of her readiness to ascend to the Western Pure Land, where she had heard there were comfortable seats waiting for her. She bid her descendant to take care of himself, leaving behind the worries of the world to follow the path of light.

The spirit of Lai Chen Akuan, representing three hundred and eighty-four ancestral spirits of the Lai family who had been residing in the ghost realm, was successfully guided to the Western Land of Dharma Nature of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi, to serve as a testament to the boundless compassion of Namo Amituofo, who leaves no being behind in the cycle of suffering. May all who read this be inspired to cherish their time, practise with sincerity, and seek the path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.