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

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Fan Wenshu, the mother of Lay Practitioner Tu Fangmo. She sought Chao Du 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 and final awakening. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on May 24, 2024.

Lay Practitioner Fan Wenshu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am so grateful to the Buddha. Today, I have finally seen the Buddha. As I gaze upon Him, the Buddha is always smiling gently at me, and this makes my heart feel so incredibly peaceful and settled.

I am deeply grateful for the time I have spent here at this Buddha-land. My spirit has become so much clearer and brighter. For the longest time, I was tightly clinging to the family members I cared about so deeply. My children, my grandchildren—I always hoped to see you all living every single day in peace and good health. This thought was anchored so deeply within my heart, so much so that even when I first arrived at this Buddha-land, my very first thought was to ask the Buddha to bless and protect all of you. However, after listening to the Dharma teachings, I finally realised that my way of thinking was far too narrow and limited.

The Vastness of the Buddha's Mind

Coming to this Buddha-land, I can truly say that I have begun to learn the Dharma. Since that is the case, I should be learning to emulate the Buddha's mind-capacity. Here in the Buddha-land, I can see everything with such clarity. I have witnessed Practitioner Su performing Chao Du for countless spirits—layer upon layer of them, so many that it is beyond my ability to imagine. When I saw those scenes, I was truly shocked. It was only then that I realised I had once been one of those wandering spirits myself. Thankfully, my child, Fangmo, saved me. Since this was an act of filial piety from Fangmo, I knew I had to cherish this opportunity to learn from the Buddha. When I truly set my heart on wanting to transcend this cycle of rebirth, my wish was finally fulfilled.

Reflections on a Life of Suffering

When I think back to the past, there were joys and sorrows, but there was far more suffering than joy. Life is filled with so many trials and so many things we find difficult to let go of; we are forced to face them one by one. Now, I have been liberated from all of that. I have let it all go. To have reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—this Causal Condition is truly precious beyond words.

A Mother's Final Advice

My children, you are all getting older now. Your mother's experience tells you this: in life, you cannot take anything with you when you go. Everything you possess in this lifetime is merely an arrangement of Causal Conditions. Whatever connections you have in the present moment, cherish them. What is there to seek in this life? When the time comes to leave, you will find that you cannot take a single thing with you.

Now that your mother is here with the Buddha, I hope that you, too, will chant Buddha's name, study the Dharma diligently, listen to the sutras, and understand the importance of seeking liberation. The suffering of samsara is far more intense than any suffering you are experiencing right now. This is the realisation I have gained during my time here, and I hope to leave this wisdom with you so that you, too, will know to seek liberation. I hope that all of you will also make the vow to follow the Buddha.

Namo Amituofo.

Fan Wenshu bows in reverence."