A Mother-in-Law's Gratitude from the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Feng Youjin, the mother-in-law of Lay Practitioner Zhong Meihao. She 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 her transition from the cycle of rebirth to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on March 18, 2022.

Lay Practitioner Feng Youjin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my wonderful daughter-in-law for saving me. My heart is filled with such profound thankfulness and emotion! When I was alive, I did not understand how to practise the Dharma, and neither did anyone else in my family. We mistakenly believed that as long as we did not commit evil deeds, that was enough. It was only after I died and entered the cycle of rebirth that I truly realised how incredibly bitter and painful it is for those who do not chant the Buddha's name."

The Endless Wandering of the Spirit

"In the underworld, I remained in the same state as I was in life, yet the sorrow and bitterness within my heart made me feel even more aged and weary. I spent my time in a state of constant suffering, pacing back and forth, often not even knowing what I was doing or why I was there. Every single day was a repetition of that same bleak existence. It was a life—or rather, an afterlife—of aimless wandering and deep, hollow despair."

The Call to Deliverance

"When Practitioner Su called out my name, 'Feng Youjin,' I did not hear it clearly at first. My mind had become so dull and clouded by the suffering of the lower realms. It was not until I heard Practitioner Su call my name a second time that I finally regained a shred of awareness. I looked up and saw a brilliant, radiant light ahead of me; the voice was coming from that very source. I hurried forward, and very quickly, Practitioner Su guided me to the Dharma-Nature Land to listen to the sutras."

Awakening to the Great Compassion

"While in the Dharma-Nature Land, I went from knowing nothing about the Pure Land Dharma Gate to gradually understanding what the Pure Land truly is. I felt the great compassion of Namo Amituofo so intensely. I wept many times, and each time I cried, it was because of a different realisation. I felt such deep regret that I had never encountered the Pure Land Dharma Gate during my life and never had the opportunity to know the Buddha. However, I am so fortunate that my wonderful daughter-in-law had the Causal Conditions to know Namo Amituofo, to know Practitioner Su, and to connect with the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

A Final Message to My Daughter-in-Law

"I want to say this to my dear daughter-in-law: 'You must cherish this connection deeply. It is precious—it is absolutely the most important connection in your entire life. No other connection can help you achieve liberation; only this one can truly save you from the cycle of rebirth. You must chant the Buddha's name diligently and practise the Dharma sincerely. You are getting older now; in the past, when you did not understand the Dharma, you had your own personality and temper, and as you age, your body inevitably suffers. You must repent through chanting, pray for the resolution of conflicts with all beings, and save them so they too may be reborn in the Western Pure Land!'"

"Binghui and I are waiting for you in the Western Pure Land."

"With palms joined, Feng Youjin. Namo Amituofo."