A Journey from Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Zong Jinzhou, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his journey from the depths of hell to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on April 17, 2026.

Zong Jinzhou speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zong Jinzhou. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the most magnificent place I have ever set foot in. Of course, the suffering I endured before this was truly immense, so much so that now, as I reflect upon the beauty that surrounds me, I no longer have any desire to dwell on the past or cling to old memories. Everything has culminated in this very moment. To be here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is something for which my heart feels an infinite, overwhelming sense of gratitude.

Although I have only been here for a few short hours, it feels as though I have forged a profound and ancient connection with this place. It is as if I had been here once before, long ago, only to lose my way and wander into the darkness, committing countless wrongs. Now, by some miracle, I have returned to the presence of the Buddha. The emotions stirring within me are beyond words; there is only a heart overflowing with thankfulness. I wish to tell Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su that it is solely because of your great compassion that I was granted the opportunity to escape the agonizing space I once inhabited—to be delivered from the hellish realms of punishment, to the Western Dharma-Nature Land, and finally, to arrive here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Agony of the Hellish Realms

"I still remember the moment I was lifted from the depths of hell; my entire being was consumed by an endless, searing pain. Even when I first arrived in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, that agony had not yet fully faded. It took a significant amount of time for me to undergo the necessary purification before I could slowly shed the remnants of my past suffering—the torment that had ravaged both my body and my mind. It was a suffering so colossal, so absolute.

In that place, there was not a single moment where I was not being sliced by blades, bleeding, or enduring the most excruciating heat. It felt as though every inch of my skin was being scorched, with no reprieve to be found. That cycle of dying only to be reborn, and being reborn only to die again—that constant, relentless suffering in the hells—is a kind of pain that leaves the soul in a state of utter, profound despair."

The Turning Point of Compassion

"Back then, I did not know how to chant Namo Amituofo, nor did I realize that a Buddha would ever descend into the hells to save beings like me. I simply drifted in that darkness, suffering endlessly. It seems that, at times, there were voices around me urging me to chant, encouraging me to walk out of the shadows, to move toward the light. But I could not hear a single word of that advice; I was simply too consumed by my own agony. The only thoughts that flickered through my mind were regrets—a thousand different ways I had failed in my life, the flaws in my own character that had led me to such a wretched fate. I could not conceive of anything beautiful or hopeful.

But now, here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, everything has undergone a complete and total transformation. Every thought that arises is one of pure Goodness. In fact, there is hardly any need for thought at all here, other than the remembrance of the Buddha and the concern for all sentient beings. Aside from the desire to practise diligently, everything is perfectly still and peaceful. The old habits of overthinking, of constant analysis, of making discriminations, and of calculating—those tendencies no longer exist. Because this world was established by the great compassion of Namo Amituofo, I feel completely at ease. Every being here is filled with such profound compassion and kindness."

A Message to My Daughter

"I must also express my deepest gratitude to my child, who is still in the human world. My daughter is so incredibly filial; she performed this Chao Du for me, which allowed me to finally be free from that cycle of suffering. I am moved beyond measure that she has not only become a true disciple of the Buddha but has also been able to hear the True Teachings—the genuine Buddha’s teachings provided by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This kind of Buddhist education cannot be found anywhere else in the world. My dear daughter, you possess such tremendous blessings; please, I urge you, cherish them deeply.

One day, as a bhiksuni, if you can come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to further your practice, to purify yourself, and to learn the true skills of the Dharma, that would be the greatest blessing of all. Even if you feel you are getting on in years, it does not matter. If you still have even a shred of strength to give, or a small ability to contribute, then put it into action. Do not wait until you are like I was—like your father was—when the body is failing and the pain is unbearable, only to realize that it is already too late. The agony I suffered was entirely the result of the character I had cultivated throughout my life. The karmic creditors within my own body had awakened, causing me endless torment before I finally passed away. That kind of painful death left my heart in such turmoil that I could not find peace, and thus, I fell into the hells to continue my punishment."

A Warning to the Living

"I implore you all: do not follow in my footsteps. To my family and friends still in the world, I offer you these words: you must understand the truth of impermanence. No matter how well your life seems to be going, everything is merely an illusion. This body should only be used for practice; that is the only way to avoid going astray and the only way to truly escape the suffering of the six realms of rebirth. You must believe the words of this old soul. I suffered for so long, and the great reversal I have experienced is entirely due to the compassion of the Buddha.

My heart is filled with such gratitude. Finally, I wish to share this wonderful news of my rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss with all of you. I hope that one day, you too can be reborn, shed your old selves, and leave suffering behind to gain true happiness. Thank you all. Namo Amituofo."

"Namo Amituofo."

"Zong Jinzhou"