A Mother's Final Lesson from the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Tang Zhongbi, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She 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 Fa, on May 24, 2024.

Tang Zhongbi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. My eyes are streaming with tears, and I am weeping so intensely that I can barely find the words to speak. I am truly overwhelmed with emotion, for I have finally beheld the Buddha.

Right now, I am kneeling before the Buddha, and the tears continue to flow. The Buddha, in His infinite compassion, is illuminating me with His Buddha-light. My heart feels so warm, and my entire body is suffused with this gentle, radiant warmth. There are so many Bodhisattvas here, and each one is so dignified—I have never witnessed such a magnificent sight in all my existence. It feels as though I am still dreaming; I can hardly believe that I have truly arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I keep bowing, and with every single prostration, my heart is filled to the brim with gratitude—gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and gratitude to Practitioner Su."

A Mother's Relief and the Clarity of Truth

"If my child knew that I had already reached the Western Pure Land, she would be overjoyed. Especially since Lianrong has been practising the Dharma for so long, her deepest wish was for me, her mother, to finally be liberated and leave suffering behind. Now, I have truly attained that liberation. During this time, I have been able to see my cycle of rebirth throughout many lives with perfect clarity. It was so painful—truly, it was agonizing.

Without the compassionate Namo Amituofo, every spirit has no path to follow but the endless cycle of rebirth; there is absolutely no opportunity to ever encounter the light. I am a spirit who was saved from the depths of darkness. It seems I must have possessed a small measure of blessings after all. Through the ingenious arrangement of Causal Conditions, my child happened to encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Her ability to believe in this path is her greatest blessing, and her willingness to offer funds for my Chao Du saved my spirit. I am the one who is truly blessed, and my heart is filled with such profound gratitude. I long to tell my child: thank you."

Confronting the Weight of Past Sins

"I have just finished reviewing the entirety of my many lives. After seeing it all, I wept for a very long time—I could not stop. I have committed so many, many sins. After my previous life ended, I was dragged into the hells to continue repaying my debts. I do not know how I could have been so vicious in the past. I was a bad person, and I harmed so many people. Those whom I harmed are still suffering today. When I saw their condition, I knelt and apologized incessantly, begging the Buddha to save them. I do not know how I am supposed to repay my karmic debts—I truly do not know. I can only continue to weep, continue to chant Namo Amituofo, and continue to beseech the Buddha for help."

The Urgent Call for Deliverance

"During these eight sessions of Chao Du, I saw many of my own connected beings coming forward to seek deliverance. When I witnessed the scene of them walking into the Buddha-light, I was so happy for them. I hope that many more beings with karmic affinity can come quickly to seek Chao Du. However, there are still many who do not wish to let me go; they are still waiting for me to appear so they can seek revenge.

Sentient beings are truly suffering; I understand this completely now. Having arrived in the Western Land, I will practise diligently. Perhaps one day, I will be able to return to the world to save the beings I once harmed. I want to tell my child: you must perform Chao Du for your own karmic creditors. They are suffering so much. Even if we had a hundred lives, it would not be enough to repay the karma we have created in the past. The only way is to seize the present moment while you still have a physical body and the opportunity to do so. Repent sincerely, perform Chao Du, and help them leave suffering behind—this is the best method. This is our responsibility; we owe others far too much."

A Final Lesson for the Living

"Even if this is the final lesson I, as a mother, can give to my child, I hope she remembers it forever: never be selfish or think only of yourself. You must save your karmic creditors. I see this so clearly now, and my heart aches. If I still had my life, even if I had to jump into a great fire, I would do it to save them, because they are truly suffering too much.

I hope my child will listen to my words and save her karmic creditors so they may leave suffering behind. In doing so, her own body will suffer less, and she will not have to endure the sickness and pain caused by creditors seeking revenge, as I did before I passed away. When you encounter the Buddha in this one lifetime, you must grasp the opportunity firmly.

Namo Amituofo.

Tang Zhongbi bows in reverence."