A Grandmother's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Tu Wu-shi, the grandmother of Lay Practitioner Tu Fang-mo, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and her transition to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on November 7, 2025.

Tu Wu-shi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Tu Wu-shi, and this name is the identity I carried through my life. For a long time, I did not want to look back at my past. It was a period filled with pain, hardship, and struggle, but those memories are no longer important. They have lost their weight because, at this very moment, I have arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, during the Dharma assembly at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I was guided here by the compassionate Practitioner Su. I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined that such a day would come for me.

My life was filled with obstacles and trials. I never asked for much; I only ever wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life. But now, here, it is not just quiet—it is incredibly bright, vast, and expansive. I have finally come to the right place. I am so happy, so deeply joyful. It has been such a long time since I felt this way; in fact, I think I have never been this happy in my entire life. I find myself smiling, and it has been ages since I have smiled like this. I never knew such a wonderful place existed. It turns out that this universe still has a side that is truly beautiful and perfect."

The Warmth of the Light and the Power of Chao Du

"I remember the moment it happened. I was touched by a beam of light—a light so warm, so incredibly gentle, that it made me feel completely safe and at peace. After that, I found myself in a place of brilliant light. It was a temple, and I was there listening to the Dharma. During the Dharma assembly, I heard Practitioner Su call my name, and in that instant, I knew I had been saved. This was all made possible because my grandson, Tu Fang-mo, performed the Chao Du for me. Thank you, my dear grandson. Thank you for remembering your grandmother.

Let the past be the past. All those old memories, all that suffering—I have learned while listening to the Dharma in the temple that we must transform these memories into something positive. Practitioner Su taught us that we must think well and look well. I have found that when I truly do this, everything around me changes for the better. So, I want to tell my grandson, Fang-mo: listen to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su. They will help you understand the root cause of why life is full of suffering, and by understanding this, you will no longer have to endure that pain."

The Path of Chanting Namo Amituofo

"Chant the Buddha's name! Chant it with all your heart! Chant 'Namo Amituofo.' This is the sacred Buddha-name I hear constantly here in the temple. I am standing now in the world of Namo Amituofo, and I kneel down to kowtow in gratitude for all of this. I am filled with gratitude for Namo Amituofo, for Practitioner Su, for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and for my grandson, Fang-mo. The way all these conditions and causes have come together to guide me here fills my heart with such profound thankfulness. This is a truly wonderful beginning—a magnificent beginning. Thank you for everything."