A Journey to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss: The Testimony of Lay Practitioner Peng Xingqu

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Peng Xingqu, who sought deliverance 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 life and his transition to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on November 4, 2023.

Peng Xingqu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lay Practitioner Peng Xingqu. I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo, to Practitioner Su, and to every single person who has helped me along this path. It is only now, as I chant the name of Namo Amituofo and follow the Buddha into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, that I have finally truly awakened.

The Debt of Life

Only now do I realise that our lives are essentially spent repaying debts. Whether it was the Causal Conditions I shared with my wife or the various trials I faced throughout my life, everything was destined and bound by the Law of Cause, Condition, and Effect. I was caught in a cycle I did not understand.

During this time, I have been sitting upright in the Buddha-land, listening intently to the teaching. The Dharma that Practitioner Su speaks of here, and the perspectives he establishes for everyone, are things I had never heard before. In the past, I always believed that simply being an honest and upright person was enough. Because of that, no matter what happened in my life, I never harboured any resentment. Yet, despite that, I was still just drifting through my fate, completely unaware that I needed to wake up.

A Transformation of the Heart

Now, I have changed. I am no longer the person I once was. The Buddha-light shines upon me, and the Buddha provides me with strength through the natural order of things. My smiles have become more frequent, and I truly wish to learn that compassion from the smile of Namo Amituofo.

After hearing the profound Dharma, I made the firm decision to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I made a vow before the Buddha to help all beings. Although I am now in the Western Land, looking upon its incredibly beautiful scenery, I do not cling to it. My only desire is to study diligently with the Buddha so that, in the future, I can use my own strength to repay the Buddha's kindness.

A Message to My Cousin

Because of this, since arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have been full of energy every single day. I am terrified of missing even a single word of the Buddha's teaching. I know that the world is chaotic and that human hearts are complex, but I still want to do my part. I want to counsel everyone to turn towards Goodness and to follow the Buddha. I truly hope that my wishes can be fulfilled.

Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my cousin, Peng Hong, for his help. Thank you for your kind heart in helping me become a Buddha. I hope that you, too, will soon have your Causal Conditions fulfilled so that you can properly study and practice the Buddha’s teachings. You still possess a human body, which is a precious opportunity to introduce the Dharma to others—please, cherish it well!

I am grateful for everything. Namo Amituofo."