A Message from the Western Pure Land: Lay Practitioner Xie Qinglian

This is a record of an interview with Xie Qinglian, 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 journey and his message to his family. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on October 12, 2021.

Venerable HaiZe: "I respectfully invite Lay Practitioner Xie Qinglian, who now resides in the Western Pure Land, to accept this interview."

Xie Qinglian: "I have received the message. The Buddhist Centre has sent word that they wish to interview me, so I have been waiting for the Venerable to begin writing."

Venerable HaiZe: "Namo Amituofo. Please speak, Practitioner Xie."

Xie Qinglian: "Namo Amituofo. I am Xie Qinglian. Since arriving in the Western Pure Land, my heart has been filled with boundless gratitude and awe. I am grateful to have reached the West, and I am in awe of everything here—the grass, the trees, the fragrance of the flowers, the singing of the birds, and the very water that chants the Buddha's name. It is truly beyond the power of words to describe; it is far, far more magnificent than what is mentioned in the Infinite Life Sutra or the Amitabha Sutra!"

A Debt of Gratitude

"I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo for spending five kalpas establishing the Western Pure Land, allowing us ordinary beings, trapped in the cycle of rebirth, to finally cease our suffering. I am grateful that in the human world, Practitioner Su has practised with such diligence and achieved Awakening, thereby enabling Namo Amituofo to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I am grateful that my daughter, Zhonghua, had such deep Dharma affinity; she did not fear the obstacles of the time and submitted her father's name to the Centre, inviting me—a spirit without a physical body—to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I am grateful that Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body performed the Chao Du to guide me to the Western Pure Land, allowing me to stand here today as a resident of the West. With all of this, what more could I possibly desire? My heart is full of gratitude. This life is complete!"

A Message to My Wife

"Yongxiu, it is I, Qinglian. The bond of husband and wife in this life gained new hope through our study of Buddhism. Even when we faced difficulties, your companionship helped me weather so many storms! Although I had a difficult temperament and often lost my patience, it was your understanding and tolerance that helped me pass test after test. I am grateful for the Dharma affinity we shared with Venerable Master Chin Kung, which inspired us to distribute Dharma materials and help the practitioners in our village. I believe it must have been the compassion of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, knowing our sincerity toward the Dharma, that led our daughter Zhonghua to connect us with the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre at just the right time. This allowed me to verify the 'deathless' Dharma: though the body decays, the spirit does not die, and I have entered the Western Pure Land."

The Truth About Suffering

"Although I suffered greatly from illness while alive, that was due to my own personality and habits—how could my karmic creditors have any reason to retreat? The suffering of illness was something I brought upon myself. I implore everyone: do not lose faith in the Pure Land because of my illness and death. Fortunately, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is now bringing glory to the Pure Land and has connected with the Western Pure Land and Namo Amituofo. This is truly a great blessing and a joyous occasion for the Pure Land!"

The Necessity of Deliverance

"Yongxiu, thank you for helping me perform eight sessions of Chao Du for my karmic creditors. You are truly my good wife, my good assistant, and my good fellow practitioner. You knew this was exactly what I urgently needed! We owe our karmic creditors far too much. The suffering of illness and death was only a small portion of the karmic retribution manifesting. The creditors are coming to collect, and there are immeasurable, boundless numbers of them still waiting. How can these debts be repaid? Fortunately, the power of Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body in performing Chao Du is beyond description. During the Dharma assemblies, countless beings kneel and beg for deliverance. I am also fortunate that Namo Amituofo resides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Under the guidance of Namo Amituofo, the Dharma assembly leads immeasurable, boundless beings into the West."

A Call to Action

"Given this situation, the Pure Land School headquarters is planning to build on land selected at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The Mituo Village is intended to serve as the preparatory fund for the construction of the Pure Land School headquarters. This is a place that can save immeasurable, boundless spirits of the Dharma Realm. While humanity will share in the benefits, the construction costs are in the hundreds of millions—not a small sum. How could a practitioner like Su Fo achieve this alone?"

"Yongxiu, the kindness of the Buddha is hard to repay. No amount of money could have sent me to the West, and now that I am already here, how could I be absent from such a monumental task? We come into this world empty-handed, and we leave empty-handed. Everything I worked for and earned in my life, I could not take a single cent with me. Yet, I have this opportunity to share my heart today. If not for the blessings of the Buddha, how could I have this chance? We have always loved to practise the giving of the Dharma. No matter how much money we earn or leave behind in this world, it cannot help us end the cycle of birth and death. We know very clearly that what we want is not human or heavenly blessings, but rebirth in the Western Pure Land—that is the only path to ultimate liberation from suffering. I have already attained it, and I hope that you, our children, and our other family members can also attain this magnificent benefit."

The Only True Home

"Yongxiu, supporting the construction of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and purchasing a residence in Mituo Village is my wish. I hope my wife will help me complete it, and in doing so, prepare for your own rebirth in the Western Pure Land. In this Five Turbidities and Evil World, where can the heart find peace? Where is our true home? Only in the Western Pure Land. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and the Pure Land School headquarters are precious lands for leading suffering beings to rebirth in the West. How can worldly wealth compare to this? I am grateful for Practitioner Su’s heart in building this. I hope that all Pure Land practitioners and their families will contribute money if they have it, or effort if they can. This is a small contribution we can make as children of the Buddha in the human world, whether by sponsoring the construction of the Pure Land School headquarters or purchasing a home in Mituo Village as preparation for when impermanence arrives. No matter how much we do, it is not even one ten-thousandth of the way to repaying the Buddha’s kindness."

A Final Plea

"Yongxiu, you must believe what I say. You must practise and chant the Buddha’s name with even greater diligence. Do not retreat, and do not listen to the words of others that disturb your heart. Whether or not you attain rebirth in the West is up to you, not others. Whether or not you can attain rebirth is up to you, not others. Will you believe my words or the words of others? You must strengthen your faith. The Three Provisions of Faith, Vows, and Practice are essential; not one can be missing. The Mituo Village, where the heart can find a home and the body can find a place to stay, needs everyone to help purchase it. Namo Amituofo has descended to the human world to save the spirits of the Dharma Realm. The first Pure Land School headquarters, where people can leave suffering behind and be reborn in the West, needs everyone to help build it together."

"Namo Amituofo."

— Xie Qinglian, speaking from the Western Pure Land