A Journey from Suffering to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Liu Zhimin, the grandfather of Lay Practitioner Liu Liming. He sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his journey of spiritual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on March 27, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Liu Zhimin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I bow to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Today, the fact that I am able to reside here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is entirely due to your great compassion. It is your boundless compassion that has finally granted me such a wonderful place to call home.

Right now, I am in this pure land of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Here, there is no fighting, no concepts of good or bad; there is only equality and profound stillness. This sense of absolute peace is something I have come to cherish deeply. It is a feeling that resonates within my very core.

The Gift of Deliverance

To have such blessings, I am filled with gratitude. I must thank Xiao Kong. Without Xiao Kong, I would still be suffering, and I would have no idea that there was a way to escape my plight. I am also deeply grateful to Practitioner Su. It was Practitioner Su who guided me into the radiant Buddha-land. The moment I entered this sacred space, my entire being was filled with an incredible, revitalising energy.

The journey I took after my death was the price I had to pay for the karma I created in my past life. The killing karma I accumulated caused me to suffer greatly in the hells. However, once I entered the Buddha-land and truly understood the laws of karma and cause and effect, my heart finally settled. For all the beings I harmed in the past, I now feel deep, sincere repenting. I truly hope that in the future, I will have the opportunity to make amends for those debts.

Reflections on the Worldly Life

When I think back on everything I experienced in the world—the hardships, the joys—it all feels like it passed in the blink of an eye. Only after a person has truly experienced the cycle of life and death do they realise the necessity of letting go.

The freedom I feel in my spirit now is so cooling and refreshing; my whole body feels light. I am so grateful for the Buddha's compassion toward me. Although I know that my family members may not yet have the Causal Conditions to truly believe in the Buddha, I still hold onto a glimmer of hope. I offer my blessings to them, wishing them well from afar.

A Final Wish for My Family

I only now understand the true suffering of being reincarnated in the cycle of rebirth. I hope that the family I love will also have the opportunity to awaken. Finally, I want to thank Xiao Kong once more. It was because Xiao Kong remembered this old man that I was able to be saved.

I hope that in the days to come, you will be well, and that your kind heart will be met with good fortune. Keep your heart firm in following the Buddha. I am grateful for everything.

With palms joined in reverence, Liu Zhimin."