A Journey to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss: The Testimony of Lay Practitioner Chen Deliang

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Chen Deliang, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition and his newfound clarity. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on February 7, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Chen Deliang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chen Deliang, the brother of Lay Practitioner Chen Peizhen. I am filled with such profound gratitude—gratitude to the Buddha, gratitude to Practitioner Su, and gratitude to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I am truly, deeply grateful. Today, being able to stand here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I know that I have received immense help. I am also deeply thankful to my family for arranging the Chao Du for me.

In the past, I used to chant the Buddha-name. I knew that I should follow the Buddha, and I genuinely enjoyed chanting because it brought a sense of peace to my heart. But it is only now, looking back, that I realise my chanting was purely for my own sake. Beyond the chanting, I still held onto my own stubbornness and my own rigid perspectives. It was not until my spirit was guided to this Buddha-land that I could finally see clearly and truly understand myself."

The Clarity of the Buddha-land

"Since arriving at this Buddha-land, my spirit has become clear and bright. I can see the world I left behind with such newfound perspective, and I have come to understand so much more. This world is filled with so much love, hatred, separation, and grief. There is so much talk of what is 'good' and what is 'bad,' of fairness and unfairness. These things are all sources of deep suffering for everyone involved.

Now that I have returned to the side of the Buddha, basking in this absolute purity, I realise that all the things people in the world cling to so tightly are, in truth, merely fleeting and temporary. Yet, people are trapped by them; they cannot let go, and they cannot find a way out of their own mental prisons. I can empathise with this struggle, because I was once just like them—clinging to these attachments, completely unaware that I had the power to simply let them go."

A Message to My Family

"Now that I am truly by the side of Namo Amituofo and have become a disciple of the Buddha, I see clearly how everyone in the world is lost in the cycle of rebirth. Having seen the truth here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, my deepest wish is to help everyone wake up. But I am just a simple person, and I do not have the influence to reach many. My hope now is for my family in the world—I pray that you do not remain trapped in the events of the present moment.

Please, look further ahead. Always keep the Buddha-name in your heart. If you do this, you will find the wisdom to face whatever life brings you. I am so grateful that I am no longer the person I once was. I hope that anyone who has the Causal Conditions to read these words will be able to let go of a little more. Most importantly, believe in the Buddha. Believe that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is real. If you set your heart and make your vows, you too can reach this place. You can achieve this.

I am grateful for all the Causal Conditions that have brought me here."