A Mother's Journey to the Western Pure Land
An Interview with Lay Practitioner Zhou Er-mei
Recorded by Fa Ning on January 2, 2026
This is an interview with Lay Practitioner Zhou Er-mei, the mother of Lay Practitioner Chen Miao-juan. Having sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, she now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This testimony was recorded on January 2, 2026.
Lay Practitioner Zhou Er-mei speaks:
"I have arrived! My husband—who was Chen Miao-juan’s father—and I are finally going to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today! When I think back to the moment I passed away in the human world, I remember how incredibly reluctant I was to leave. Now that I have arrived in this magnificent Buddha-land, I find myself wishing I could have come here much sooner. This place is truly a realm of pure , where suffering does not exist! I am filled with gratitude for Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. You are both truly magnificent. I am so thankful for the Causal Conditions that have allowed me to reach this place.
The Regret of a Life Without Practice
To be honest, I feel quite ashamed. As a mother, I did not cultivate my practice well, and I did not understand how to chant Namo Amituofo. Consequently, after I died, I lived through days of immense suffering. I had no direction and no idea where I was supposed to go. But I suppose that is fate. I did not have the same good fortune as my daughter, Miao-juan. To be able to encounter Namo Amituofo and the magnificent Causal Conditions of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in the middle of one's life—and even to bring others along to be reborn in the Pure Land—you are a child with truly great ! My husband, myself, and so many others have all walked the path of the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death. When a person reaches the end of their life, they are truly left with nothing. We come into this world empty-handed, and we leave empty-handed. You must cherish the great blessings you have!
True Freedom in the Western Pure Land
Today, I am following Namo Amituofo in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I can travel freely in all directions; I can go wherever I wish. In the past, when I was bedridden, I could not go anywhere. Now, I am truly free. Furthermore, there is such beautiful Buddha- here that I can listen to repeatedly; it feels as though my heart is being purified.
When I was in the , I already felt it was wonderful, and I was purified quite a bit. However, only after arriving in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss did I realise that this is truly the place of ultimate perfection! I do not want to go anywhere else now, and I have no lingering attachment to the human world. My life was alright, but it was also very hard. As Practitioner Su says, living like that was just about earning money to eat and survive. Compared to studying the Buddha’s teachings, it really had no meaning at all.
A Mother’s Final Advice
Miao-juan, you must listen to your mother’s words, but more importantly, you must listen to the words of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. They are both beings of great Wisdom. It was because I listened to them that I was able to say so quickly that I wanted to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am very clear-headed now. Even though the Western Dharma-Nature Land is wonderful, it is not a permanent place. One day, one must return to the seat of Namo Amituofo in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; that is the only truly perfect outcome.
Of course, you still have a physical body, so you can still cultivate well. That means you must let go of your temper, your personality, and your own opinions. Learn to follow along with everything and let everything follow the Law of Cause, Condition, and Effect. If you can do that, you will succeed! Life is so short; it disappears in an instant. How can there be anything that you cannot let go of or that keeps you stuck?
The Path to True Cultivation
Cultivation must be genuine. I hope that you do not just chant Namo Amituofo with your mouth, but that you also read the sutras. You must understand that the Infinite Life Sutra is truly vast and profound. You must learn the skills of the Buddha! Only then will you have the ability to save many people. That is what it truly means to change your ways and become a good disciple of Namo Amituofo.
Well, I will continue to follow Namo Amituofo now. One day, you will also return here. I am grateful for the good connection we shared, and I hope that you will continue to do well. I am grateful for the of Namo Amituofo, grateful for the compassion of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su, and grateful for everything at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It is only because of this that we have the opportunity to leave suffering behind and gain happiness. Gratitude, gratitude. Namo Amituofo. Words of Zhou Er-mei"
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library