A Mother's Message from the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Madam Huang Yanping, 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 life and her message to her daughter, Nini. Recorded by the disciple, Lay Practitioner Cao Rudi, on June 5, 2017.

Madam Huang Yanping speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I offer my ten bows of respect to the Buddha. I am honoured to share the story of my journey to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, so that the world may understand the truth of these matters. Namo Amituofo.

First, I must express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su. It was Practitioner Su who rescued many members of our family from the hells, guided us to the Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to listen to the Dharma, and finally, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, sent us to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Nini, my dear daughter, Mother no longer has to worry about being separated from your father.

The Weight of Arrogance and Regret

Looking back, I realise that because of the pampered upbringing I received as a child, I never knew how to speak to your father with kindness or gentleness. People can be so strange; even when we are with the person we care about most and fear losing, we often hide behind a wall of pride. Deep in my heart, there was an arrogance that manifested in my eyes and my tone, wounding your father’s self-esteem. I wanted to win back his heart, which was drifting away, but I did not know how to use the gentle, tender side of a woman. Instead, I replaced it with cold sarcasm and a lack of empathy. It was only natural that he would be tempted by the outside world. It became a vicious cycle. I could not create a warm, soft atmosphere in our home. If you cannot keep a person’s heart, then keeping them physically in the house is all in vain.

Thanks to the great compassion of Practitioner Su, we have been given the chance to be reunited in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now that I no longer have a physical body, I can look back at the past with clarity. I realise that despite being born into a wealthy family, I understood very little about the fundamental principles of being a human being. In the Western Land, I continue to listen to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks. I have learned that the quality of gentleness is something one must cultivate, and I have finally understood the truth behind the saying, 'When the family is in harmony, all things will prosper.' I truly did not know how to apply this in my daily life back then. To learn Buddhism is to learn how to be a human; I truly understand the meaning of this now.

The Hidden Truth of Dreams and Spirits

When I was alive, because of my strong, arrogant personality and my constant anxiety about gains and losses, I lived every day in unhappiness. To outsiders, I had everything—wealth, status, and a prominent background—so what could I possibly be dissatisfied with? Yet, because of this, my temper only grew worse. At night, I would often have a recurring dream: I would see your father holding my hand, walking with the three of you sisters along the beach. It was such a peaceful and enviable scene. Now, chatting with your father here in the Western Land, I realise that this was our shared hope, yet we were both too foolish to know how to create it. After that dream appeared, I would wake up the next morning feeling completely drained of energy. Later, similar dreams occurred frequently, only the setting would change. I know now that those dreams were actually pulling away one of my hun souls and two of my po souls.

Because of our family's wealth, I did not need to work. With so much idle time, I did not know how to seek spiritual support, and I had no opportunity to encounter the Buddha’s teachings. Fortunately, our Nini has tremendous blessings in this life and has become a great Dharma protector, which gave me the causal conditions to be delivered by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Nini, Mother is here in the Western Land, listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks every day. I have learned that the core of practising Buddhism is to change one’s habits and personality. It was precisely because I did not change my habits that I suffered so much. Now that I am here, I understand that my past insomnia, depression, irritability, and frequent temper tantrums—along with the aches and pains throughout my body—were all the result of the negative karma I had created in the past. My karmic creditors from countless lives had been following me, manifesting within the fifty trillion cells of my body. If one does not resolve these conflicts, they will follow you for life after life to seek revenge.

A Mother’s Plea to Her Daughter

It was only by listening to the Dharma here that I realised humans have three hun souls and seven po souls as the main structure of the body. If these souls are scattered, a person will inevitably decline, becoming weak and unable to move forward. My own souls were often pulled away during my dreams because I was lost in excessive thinking. Nini, what is even more terrifying is that karmic creditors can occupy our bodies and kick out our true self. Where does the true self go? It likely follows the karma to suffer and receive retribution. When that happens, you are no longer yourself; a wife is no longer a wife, and children are no longer children. The world falls into chaos.

Nini, Mother sees that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is bustling every day, filled with sentient beings from all directions seeking rebirth in the Western Land. Nini, you have been studying Buddhism for many years; have you ever thought about whether you have any certainty of rebirth? I see Practitioner Su becoming younger and more light-bodied every day. Isn't that what practising Buddhism should be about? To be ageless, illness-free, and deathless—that is the only way to give people an incentive to practise! But if one does not have a dignified appearance, how can one convince the masses? I see that your health is poor and your energy is low; relying solely on massages will never fundamentally resolve your ailments. Child, don't be foolish. How much is 'face' worth? You must learn to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. If something is right, just do it. Otherwise, you are just practising blindly, and you will still have to bear the consequences of your karma. How is that a good deal? My heart aches for your health. Practitioner Su is a Buddha, a person of great mind-capacity. If you do not put down your pride and seek help from him, it is your own loss, and you are the one who will suffer. Why put yourself through this, my child?

Pick up the phone, dial the number, and you will hear a familiar and enthusiastic voice. I know you are very filial to the Venerable Master Chin Kung; that is true filial piety, and it is the only way the Venerable Master’s body can be nurtured and restored. If you think too much and wait too long, the time will pass you by. Regret will last for a hundred years. Child, do not hesitate any longer. This is all your mother has to say.

Namo Amituofo."