A Mother's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Liu Chen-zhu, the mother of Lay Practitioner Liu Ling-jun, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and her transition to the Buddha-land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa-xin, on November 24, 2023.

Liu Chen-zhu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Life is truly filled with such immense suffering. There are so many agonies that I kept buried deep within my heart, never daring to speak them aloud. My relationship with my husband, the complexities of our family life—these were all my trials. For so long, I could not let go of the things that had happened to me. I endured so much pain in silence, holding it all inside until I could no longer bear the weight. When I finally reached my breaking point, I collapsed, and that was the end of my time in the world.

There were things in my heart that no one ever knew. It is only now, looking back from this place of clarity, that I realise how much damage I did to myself by carrying that burden. I have also seen the karmic creditors who were once attached to my heart. I hurt them deeply in the past, and this lifetime was, in a sense, my way of repaying that debt to them."

The Darkness and the Light

"After I passed away, I drifted through a period of profound darkness and agony. I was suffering the consequences of my past actions, and my heart could not comprehend why I was experiencing such torment. Because of this, my mind could never find a moment of peace. That was my initial experience after death. But then, everything changed. I heard someone calling my name, and a brilliant light descended, pulling me out of that abyss of suffering. I saw a radiant golden light and countless lotus flowers blooming all around me. At that moment, I had no strength left in my body; it took several days for me to recover, and only then did I realise that I had arrived at the Buddha-land. I am truly, deeply grateful to the Buddha for helping me.

Once my mind became clear, I saw that my grandson, Shang-yong, was here in this Buddha-land. Seeing him as a monastic, I should now call him Venerable Fa Hui. I never imagined that our family could have a monastic in our midst. Looking at him now, he appears so dignified and serene. My child, I am so incredibly happy for you. To have given birth to a son who is willing to walk the path of the Buddha—a path that will eventually help our entire family and countless others—is a blessing beyond words."

A Mother's Counsel

"I know that since you married, you have endured so much hardship. That kind of suffering is something you had to grit your teeth and endure, just to make it through. You are such a foolish, dear daughter, and I could see it all. My heart ached for you, but I knew this was your own path to walk. I always believed that one day, you would find your own way out of the darkness.

Now, you finally do not have to worry so much about the struggles of daily life. I know that you still carry the weight of every single person in our family in your heart; that is simply the fate of us women. I am someone who has already walked this path, and you are too. You still have your physical body, which means you still have the power to change. You must open your heart. With your inherent desire to help others, you can achieve so much more than you realise.

You were willing to trust my grandson and have him perform the Chao Du for us elders. You truly saved me, and you saved your father, as well as our relatives. I can tell you everything I have seen here in the Buddha-land. Practitioner Su at this Buddha-land is so dedicated to teaching my grandson. He makes progress every single day, and he is becoming more and more like a true master. You must support him and try to understand him. I have seen him cry whenever he speaks of his parents; it is clear that his heart is filled with filial piety toward you. To have raised such a son makes all the hardship worth it."

The Wisdom of Letting Go

"I hope that you will take the opportunity to listen to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks. On one hand, it will help you understand your son's choices, and on the other, it will give you a chance to hear the truth of the Dharma. You are not young anymore; there are many things you cannot afford to wait on, and you should not overthink them. I hope you can set aside your preconceptions, just try it, and you will find that you have a completely different experience.

Life is truly unpredictable; we never know when we might have to leave. I hope that in your future, you can find a true spiritual refuge. Do not place all your hopes and reliance on your family members, or your heart will remain in pain, just as mine was. You are a person of great wisdom; you must cherish that.

My daughter, you must tell everyone: I am already in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, living a life of peace and stability. The Buddha is so compassionate, and this Buddha-land is so comfortable—it is far more beautiful than anything described in the sutras. I am truly enjoying the fruits of this peace now. Remember the things I have counselled you to do. You must listen to your mother and put these teachings into practice. Once you act and change, you will be able to help your other children, and even more so, you will be able to help our relatives and everyone you know."

Final Words of Gratitude

"Right now, I am infusing your heart with light. I hope even more that you will find the time to visit Australia. This is the hope in my grandson's heart, and as his grandmother, I am speaking for him. Come to understand your son, and come to thank the temple for performing the Chao Du that allowed me to escape my suffering.

To my son-in-law: thank you for taking care of my daughter and giving her a warm home. I want to thank you for that. Many things in the past are gone; we must look forward. You must take care of your health and chant Namo Amituofo more often. The world is illusory; when a person dies, they cannot take anything with them. So, do not take worldly matters too seriously. As long as you can get by, that is enough. Leave the rest for the descendants to handle.

I hope that both of you will follow Namo Amituofo in the future and persist on this path of learning the Buddha-Dharma. You are both getting older; do not delay any longer. Please, remember this.

Everything is a cause for gratitude. I am grateful to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, grateful to Practitioner Su, and grateful that I could speak these words to my daughter and son-in-law. Finally, I want to encourage my grandson: keep working hard. Grandma believes in you, and I know you will succeed. You must listen to the teachings and help more people. Continue to do good deeds alongside Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo."