A Mother’s Plea from the Pure Land: A Letter from Lay Practitioner Zhao Liangyu
A Message to Venerable Ding Hong
Recorded on June 10, 2017
This is the first letter from Lay Practitioner Zhao Liangyu, a mother reaching out across the boundaries of life and death to her son, Venerable Ding Hong. It is a testament to the profound nature of karmic connections and the urgent need for spiritual liberation.
The Journey of Faith and Devotion
My dear son, Maosen, I hope that everything is peaceful and well with you. As I look back upon our shared history, I recall the first time we heard the teachings of the Venerable Master Chin Kung. The I felt in my heart was beyond words. It was through this connection that you, Maosen, truly stepped through the gates of the Buddha-. The ocean of learning is vast, and your journey eventually led to the magnificent decision to leave the home life and become a monk. To this day, I still cherish the memory of your ordination ceremony. You have always been a deeply filial son. Where others might offer one part of their effort, you would always offer ten. Because you were raised in a single-parent household, we relied on each other for everything. This upbringing instilled in you a resilient spirit that refused to be defeated, which was the primary reason you were able to succeed in your studies abroad.
The Hidden Truth of the Final Moment
Maosen, do you believe that I am truly your mother? Do you believe in the capabilities of Practitioner Su? Practitioner Su is a person of integrity who never seeks to climb the social ladder or chase after fame. If she were the type to seek such things, she was already a prominent figure beside the Venerable Master Chin Kung; why would she have ever needed to leave? I am truly waiting for you to come and see me. Please, do not dismiss this letter or treat it as something to be cast aside. I am truly the mother of Venerable Ding Hong, Zhao Liangyu, from Guangdong. I used to send you the plums I grew in my own garden.
Before I passed away, I was filled with fear and panic. It was only in those final moments that I realised my faith in the Buddha was not as firm as I had believed. While it appeared to others that I was chanting Namo Amituofo and passing away peacefully, in reality, I was huddled in the corner of my room, trapped. A spirit, an elderly , had taken my place. She told me she was the first wife of your father in a past life. I had taken her husband and her son from her, and now it was her turn to take my body. At that time, I had no husband and no son by my side. I was cast out of my own physical form, left helpless in the corner, waiting for my son to come and help me stand up. However, I could not escape that space.
From the Depths of Hatred to the Light of
My passing was sudden, and my spirit was scattered. Although your ordination as a monk brought me the protection of the Dharma protectors, I did not reach the of Ultimate Bliss. At the moment of my death, I arrived in a space of my own creation. I remembered the sweet moments of holding you when you were small—memories I had buried deep within, which had not faded with time. I saw the memory of my separation from your father, a truth that only you and I knew. Once the dust settled, we never opened that wound again. Today, I want to prove to you that I am truly here, resting on a lotus seat at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, waiting for my son to come and guide me to rebirth in the Western Pure Land.
When I saw your father, my son, I was terrified. I realised how much hatred still resided in the depths of my heart. I was cast into the cycle of rebirth, even entering of a snake. Even when I resisted, my stubborn temper manifested, and I became a massive, venomous serpent. Within that body, I was filled with nothing but hatred. It was only when I was stripped of that snake form that I was guided by the Buddha-light to the temple of Practitioner Su. Only then did I understand the depth of Practitioner Su’s cultivation. I believe you, my son, understand this as well. I have made a firm decision: if you do not come, I will not leave! I believe you need to understand the reality of this place.
A Mother’s Final Request
Only your mother, who raised you with her own hands, knows the questions hidden in your heart. If you only acknowledge the illusory facts before your eyes and reject these words, then I will have no chance for rebirth, and you will have no future of true accomplishment. I do not want such a result. Therefore, my son Maosen, Venerable Ding Hong, please come and find me. I am in Australia. I am waiting, and I will keep waiting. I will continue to search for you until you are willing to see me. Namo Amituofo. I pray for the Buddha’s compassion and protection.
Your loving mother, Liangyu, writing through tears.
This interview was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library