A Mother's Journey to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Jiang Qun, the mother of Lay Practitioner Luo Yanmei, who sought deliverance 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 spiritual journey and transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on November 12, 2021.

Lay Practitioner Jiang Qun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Kneeling before the Buddha, I cannot help but weep continuously. I have finally seen the Buddha. I never imagined that such a day would come, that I could arrive in such a magnificent and beautiful world. My heart feels so much more peaceful now; I am filled with such profound gratitude for the Buddha's compassion!"

From Darkness to the Light of the Buddha

"In my past life, I knew nothing of the Buddha, and I certainly did not have faith in the Dharma. Yet, here I am, standing within the Buddha's own realm. It is truly breathtaking. When I reflect upon my past, I realise how much my heart used to be filled with petty calculations and grievances. No one knew the depth of my inner turmoil, and it was this very state of mind that caused me to be reborn as a snake—and not just any snake, but a venomous one. Now that I have been restored to my original form, I realise how foolish I was. Life is so incredibly short, yet I wasted so much of it on things that held no true value. Looking back at everything that happened, those events were actually just trivial matters. Once they passed, none of it was important at all."

A Life of Fear and Final Deliverance

"I spent two lifetimes living as a snake. Every single day was a struggle; I had to hide everywhere, constantly terrified that someone would see me and that I would be in mortal danger. It was a life of perpetual anxiety. Thankfully, just as I was about to be captured, a powerful force pulled me upward, and I was suddenly transported into a world of brilliant light. I was still trying to process how everything had happened so quickly when I looked down and saw my son-in-law, Jiahao. He is not an irresponsible man; he simply has his own path to follow and his own goals to achieve, which sometimes meant he could not attend to every detail of family life. I understand this clearly now. He possesses a heart that truly wishes to help all beings, and that is a truly precious quality. If it were not for him, Yanmei, your mother would never have been able to reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Mother's Final Guidance

"Yanmei, I know it was you who supported your husband in coming to the Buddha-land. That was truly the most correct decision you could have ever made. I know your health has been poor and that your body has caused you much suffering, but after listening to the Dharma teachings here, I have come to understand that this physical body is merely an illusion. There is no need to be overly concerned with it. The most important thing is where our spirit goes after this life ends. It is a great blessing that you have now come to know the Buddha. You must practise diligently—chanting Namo Amituofo and performing prostrations before the Buddha. As for the children and the affairs of the juniors, do not worry about them anymore. To you, those are no longer the most important things in life. Mother truly hopes that your heart can remain pure and clear."

"Jiahao, I should now address you as Venerable Fashi. Thank you so much for helping your mother-in-law. I am doing very well now, and I hope that you will continue to practise with great diligence on the Buddha's path, so that you may fulfil your own aspirations within this lifetime. Mother will be waiting for you both in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss so that we may be reunited. Namo Amituofo."