A Journey from the Hells to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Pei Changyou, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life during the mid-20th century. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on May 8, 2026.

Pei Changyou speaks:

"Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I, Pei Changyou, am filled with such profound emotion today. I know I have come to the right place. But this 'right place' was not something I achieved through my own efforts. I did not have the blessings to know Namo Amituofo or Practitioner Su while I was alive, nor did I have the chance to understand the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I did not live my life as a practitioner, chanting the Buddha-name to ensure my rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I have been dead for so many years, yet I still received the help of my family to obtain this Chao Du. It has finally allowed me to escape the torturous suffering I endured in the hells for over half a century. It was truly, truly unbearable!"

A Half-Century of Suffering in the Hells

"I am so grateful to my wonderful daughter-in-law, Sun Fengge. When I saw your name, I felt such a deep sense of closeness. I do not know why, but when Practitioner Su spoke the words, 'Pei Changyou—father-in-law of Sun Fengge,' I could not hold back my tears. I know this is the compassion of the Buddha, the compassion of Practitioner Su, and the compassion of your own heart. To be surrounded by such immense compassion—it is something I could never have imagined while I was in the human world!

I am grateful to you, and I am grateful that you also helped deliver my wife. Now she no longer has to suffer and can reside in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is truly magnificent! Thinking back to my time in the human world, the suffering was endless. My wife passed away before me, and her death was a burden of grief I could never shake from my heart."

The Weight of Past Karma

"My own life was no better. I was riddled with illness and died in agony. I thought that physical pain was the worst of it, but after I died and reported to the hells, I discovered that it was suffering upon suffering, pain upon pain! I never expected that my life would end like that. I did not even get to grow old; I was summoned by death while still relatively young. Now, I clearly understand that it was my own personality and my own attachments that attracted those beings. They had been waiting in a long line, waiting to seek revenge against me.

Back then, in that chaotic world, my heart was filled with injustice, dissatisfaction, and volatile emotions. Every single one of those intense feelings served as a beacon, waking up the immeasurable and boundless beings within me, calling them to come and seek their due. My illness was like that, and the bullying I endured during the Cultural Revolution was the same. All of it was a drama I had invited upon myself. I cannot blame anyone else."

Reflections on a Turbulent Era

"Of course, I had hoped that my country would find its way and that people would not have to endure such chaos. But that was the reality of the time. Seeing China today, I am filled with complex emotions. Life is so much better now, yet I see that people still cannot find true happiness.

It is only now, residing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, that I understand what true happiness is. It is the constant, unwavering desire to use one's own strength to help others, rather than constantly thinking of oneself, one's own afflictions, or one's own feelings. This is the only way to live a life of true joy, true letting go, and true freedom!"

The Path to True Happiness

"When I was in the human world, I never had such a feeling. No one ever taught me the principle of 'thinking of others in everything and living for others.' I can say with certainty that the Buddhist education provided at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is the most unique in the world. There is no other place that offers such magnificent education.

This is why so many people, like me, ended up suffering in the hells. It is the result of people being unable to receive proper Buddhist education and being influenced by the trends of each passing generation. I hope my family members who are still in the human world—even though you are not young anymore—will realise that you still have this human body. You can still do good deeds. Do it directly, without hesitation. Do not think of yourself, do not give yourself excuses. Listen to the sutras, hear the Dharma, follow the footsteps of Practitioner Su, and change your personality."

A Final Blessing

"This is exactly what I did in the Western Land of Dharma Nature! I listened to one lecture, then two, then three, and only then did I gradually purify myself. I finally understood that the ultimate goal of this life must be rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. That is the only path to complete perfection. I have learned so much and made so much progress. You might wonder how I have become so articulate; it is because the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Western Land of Dharma Nature have completely transformed me.

I have been away from the human world for so long that I doubt many people even remember I existed. Even my own memories have faded, let alone those of the people in the world. People are always so forgetful. I will not say too much more. I want to offer my blessings—my sincere blessings—to my family, especially to my wonderful daughter-in-law. I hope that when your life reaches its end, you can leave peacefully and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Do not cling to this body, and do not be attached to the feelings of this body. Sincerely chant this Buddha-name, surrender yourself to the Buddha, and you will surely achieve success.

Thank you all. Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo."