A Journey from Attachment to the Western Pure Land
An Interview with the Late Lay Practitioner Pang Wen-yi
A Testimony from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss
This is a record of an interview with Pang Wen-yi, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang 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 Western Pure Land, which occurred around 2012. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on November 8, 2019.
Pang Wen-yi speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. I am Pang Wen-yi. Respected Practitioner Su, thank you for helping me fulfil my deepest wish by guiding me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am also deeply honoured to be able to share my story through this interview.
A Connection Formed in Malaysia
I first met Practitioner Su at the Bao En Nian Fo Tang in Kuching, Malaysia. At that time, I was a volunteer serving at the temple. Because Practitioner Su was so vibrant and approachable with us young people—never once acting with arrogance or airs—we all grew very fond of her. We knew she was a great protector from Taiwan, and when she spoke of the Buddha’s teachings, it felt so relevant and practical. She made the Dharma feel so natural, and Namo Amituofo felt so close to us. It was then that I made a vow in my heart: I must be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Whenever Practitioner Su gave Dharma talks, word would spread, and the hall was always packed. Later, when Practitioner Su was to return to Taiwan, I decided to follow her to continue my studies in Buddhism. I was determined to become her attendant and to be someone she could truly trust. I did my best to carry out every task she entrusted to me. With my Malaysian accent in tow, I settled down in Shiding, Taiwan; that was over ten years ago.
The Struggle with Self-Attachment
Upon arriving in Shiding, I witnessed Practitioner Su’s total dedication to all beings. She wholeheartedly led everyone in chanting Namo Amituofo and studying the teachings. For anyone who had the sincere wish to learn, chant, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land, she provided residence without charging a single cent. This only deepened my faith in her. However, I was not a good student. I held onto rigid attachments and believed my own perspective was always right. I was difficult to mould; there were many things Practitioner Su had to tell me several times before I was finally willing to accept them and change.
Practitioner Su repeatedly urged us to change our personality traits and tempers, but my stubborn nature and my carefree attitude meant that day after day passed, and I simply could not change. Eventually, I summoned my own to manifest. In fact, when Practitioner Su was interviewing a celestial being from the seventh heaven of the twenty-eight heavens, the interviewee was my mother from a past life. When she arrived and I saw her, the tone of her voice made me realise that the for the deeds I had committed in my past and present lives had finally come due.
The Weight of Karmic Debt
When I could no longer hold on, my body collapsed. I was thin and had no strength left. I knew something was terribly wrong, yet I was unwilling to face it. Eventually, I became so weak that even prostrations to the Buddha left me exhausted. Practitioner Su tried constantly to save me, but she could not pull me back.
It was my own personality that destroyed me. Later, I returned home, and my family took me to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with cancer. Not long after, I departed from the human world. At that time, when Practitioner Su was inviting spirits in Australia and Shiding, every time my spirits appeared, they were a large group of monastics. Because I had been arrogant while receiving offerings and had failed to fulfil my duty as a monastic to spread the Dharma—failing to lead others to the Western Pure Land—they had all suffered in the cycle of reincarnated beings. Now, they had all come to collect their debts; my spiritual obstacles had manifested. I know that if it were not for Practitioner Su’s in constantly helping me invite them out to resolve the conflict, they would never have had the chance to go to the Western Pure Land. They would have continued to follow me, and I would have died long ago!
The Final Moments of Struggle
While I was in the hospital, although I wanted to chant Namo Amituofo, I could not summon the strength; I would stop after only a short while. I knew I did not have long to live. I knew that in the whole world, only Practitioner Su could save me and deliver me to the Western Pure Land. I trusted her! I kept telling my family: 'If I die, you must notify Practitioner Su.' I gave them the temple’s phone number; this was the most important thing in my life, and I insisted they follow my instructions.
Before I took my last breath, I could not catch my breath. In my heart, I kept telling myself: 'This human world is only suffering. I must go to the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo must take me there!' I chanted, but it was intermittent. The scenes of chanting in Shiding kept flashing through my mind. I was drowsy and could not focus my attention at all. Yet, the image of Practitioner Su was so clear. It must have been the compassion of Namo Amituofo, knowing I could not focus on chanting, who helped me see her image. She was my savior!
Deliverance into the Light
I struggled and twisted, feeling as if I were suffocating. I do not know how much time passed, but suddenly my body relaxed. My spirit broke free, leaving my physical form. I did not linger for a single moment; I flew straight toward the image of Practitioner Su. I saw her, and I saw the light! I saw the noble people of my life! At that moment, Practitioner Su was teaching a class. My family called to notify her of my death, and almost at the same time, I manifested through of Practitioner Li at the temple so everyone would know I had arrived. I knelt at Practitioner Su’s feet, weeping and begging her to help me. I knew she knew I had died and that I had come. I did not have a shred of hesitation; I had to go to the Western Pure Land.
Practitioner Su called my name: 'Pang Wen-yi, Pang Wen-yi! We will all chant Namo Amituofo to send you to the Western Pure Land.' My fellow practitioners chanted the Buddha-name loudly, just as they usually did to send beings to the Western Pure Land, but my spirit could not move. They chanted again to send me, but I seemed to rise and then fall back down. Practitioner Su knew I had failed to ascend twice, so she immediately said, 'I will pull you up!' In an instant, I was grabbed by a pair of large hands. I chanted with everyone, and it felt as if I passed through a time tunnel. In a very short time, I entered a world of light. My spirit was liberated, and I felt an instantaneous sense of relief.
Home in the Western Pure Land
Where was this place? The next second, the thought immediately surfaced: 'The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!' I looked around in disbelief; it was so tranquil and peaceful! The sound of 'Namo Amituofo' echoed all around, and it was incredibly beautiful! I listened carefully; it sounded very much like the repentance chanting Practitioner Su used to lead us in Kuching. Without realising it, I began to chant along, and my heart became calm. The words from The Infinite Life Sutra about the 'seven rows of railings and seven layers of nets' surfaced in my mind. Before my eyes, I saw only brilliance. A moment later, rows of railings truly appeared, just like the outer walls of a palace—tall and beautiful. Layer upon layer of nets appeared, with many colourful jewelled nets filling the sky. Whether it was the railings or the nets, they were all much larger than me; I felt so small. I looked up and around, unable to see the end. I asked, 'Is anyone here?' A reply came: 'We are in your heart!' Just like that, the Western Pure Land became my home, my final destination, and I settled down there.
A New Beginning
My life in the human world had come to a full stop, yet another beginning had unfolded in the Western Pure Land. Looking back now, the bits and pieces of the past seem like a dream, yet they are so clear. In the past, I would help Practitioner Su tidy her room, and she would always say, 'No need, I will do it myself.' But whenever I saw her, I felt at peace. I was very happy and willing to be by her side. I knew exactly where everything was placed in her room. Since arriving in the Western Pure Land, I often return to see Practitioner Su. At first, when I saw Practitioner Chen take over my position and struggle to find things in the room, I would tell her where they were. But because our space is different, she could not hear or see me. Yet, from where I am, she seems to be right before my eyes, very clearly.
The name Pang Wen-yi has disappeared from the human world, but a new 'Westerner' has been added to the Western Pure Land. My spirit has become clean and pure, unlike before I died when I was thin, weak, and shrivelled. That was just an illusory body; it was needed while I was alive, but after death, it was truly like a broken piece of clothing—discarded and no longer needed.
The Eternal Dharma
During the , I am one of the pure ocean-wide assembly, and many other spirits whom Practitioner Su has sent to the Western Pure Land also participate. In the Western Pure Land, we are all one; that is to say, everyone knows what is happening—there are no secrets. If you think of something, it is there; if you do not, it is not. I wanted to tell my family that I had been sent to the Western Pure Land by Practitioner Su, but they had no response; it was as if I were speaking across a void. Time does not exist in the Western Pure Land. There are no dark nights, and I always have a good mood—lazy, slow, and with nothing to worry about. In the blink of an eye, it seems several years have passed in the human world. It has been about seven or eight years since I left everyone, hasn't it?
Practitioner Su’s voice is like a loudspeaker; whenever she gives a Dharma talk, it can be heard throughout the Western Pure Land. There is no barrier of space. I am often one of the immeasurable and boundless beings listening to her Dharma talks. I always watch Practitioner Su with a smile. She is still the same as before—full of energy and spirit. Whenever she has new discoveries or insights, she immediately shares them with everyone; she is never stingy with the Dharma. Being with Practitioner Su is always full of vitality! Moreover, when she speaks, the Buddha-light on her body shines in harmony with the Buddha-light emitted by Namo Amituofo behind her. It is so bright, so very bright!
The Realisation of the
The Practitioner Su of today is still the same person who cares for all beings everywhere, leading everyone in chanting and keeping her heart and mind focused on helping everyone know Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land. But she is no longer just the Practitioner Su of the past; she is an awakened being who has realised her true nature—the Buddha who has realised her true nature and attained Buddhahood, as she described when she spoke on the Avatamsaka Sutra. In the Western Pure Land, we call her 'Buddha Su,' and all beings address her as such; it is truly a title well-deserved! In fact, when I could not ascend to the Western Pure Land, those large hands that pulled me up were the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su. Even then, she had already realised her true nature and possessed the Dharma Body. No one knew; she did not let anyone know. The fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is truly blessed to be led and protected by Practitioner Su! So blessed!
Practitioner Su comes and goes freely in the Western Pure Land. She is already a resident of the Western Pure Land; her heart is there, while her body remains in the human world to lead sentient beings with karmic affinity to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The current Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is the place where the Fragrant Light chamber once held group cultivation in Australia. Today, it is the hope of the Pure Land school. I, Wen-yi, once participated in it, and no matter how much time passes, I will always be a member of it.
Gratitude to Namo Amituofo. Gratitude to Practitioner Su. Gratitude to all the fellow practitioners who cultivated with me in the past and those who are doing so now.
Pang Wen-yi speaks.
Interview message recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe."
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library