A Mother's Plea from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Lay Practitioner Chen Licai, the mother of Lay Practitioner Chen Jinfeng, who sought deliverance 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 journey to liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on April 22, 2022.

Lay Practitioner Chen Licai speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. In this life, we are constantly buffeted by the winds of impermanence. To speak of the past—all those events that have already faded into memory—is ultimately of little use. What truly matters is the present moment, is it not? Think about it—the here and now is where our destiny is decided.

My children are still in the world, and I know they are waiting for me to share these words. To be honest, my heart is trembling as I speak. I am filled with a profound fear—a fear that others might slander the Buddha’s teachings. That is a grave, heavy sin. I implore you, do not do such a thing. Even if your heart is filled with doubt, do not lose faith in Namo Amituofo. It is only because of the boundless compassion of Namo Amituofo that I was able to arrive here today. I am now in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Bitter Reality of Samsara

It has been many years since I passed away, and looking back, I realise how incredibly bitter human life truly is. Even after death, I remained trapped, unaware of how to find liberation. It was a wasted life, even though I had studied the sutras. I had read the texts and heard the teachings, yet my heart remained unchanged. My practice had not achieved any real success. I cannot blame the Buddha’s teachings for this; the fault lay entirely within my own heart. I had failed to transform myself, and for that, I must offer my deepest repentance.

I feel such profound shame. During my time in the world, I did not provide a good example of practice for my children. Now that I have passed, it is difficult to expect them to suddenly take up the study of the Buddha’s teachings with the seriousness it requires! However, I do not wish to force anyone. I only hope you understand that I am now in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, following the Buddha in my practice. If you still trust your mother’s words, you must now follow the path at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Practise diligently, follow the teachings of Namo Amituofo, and seek liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Do not return to this world to suffer any longer.

The Power of Dharma Affinity

The illnesses I suffered in the past were the result of my own spiritual obstacles, and they became a burden to those around me. We were brought together by karmic conditions, but now, we must transform those conditions into Dharma affinity. Let us all strive to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss together.

I do not know how much longer I can speak in this short time. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia is truly a place of genuine practice. I see them every day, working tirelessly, completely dedicated to the work of saving sentient beings. They are truly extraordinary; this is what real practice looks like. I do not wish for our family matters to take up too much of their precious time. To say more would be useless. The past is gone; what matters now is the future. You must practise with sincerity. If you siblings can unite in your hearts and study the Buddha’s teachings together, that would be the greatest blessing of all!

A Path to Salvation

Do not be influenced by the person I used to be. You must study the Buddha’s teachings properly and place your trust in this place. There is truly a Buddha here; this is a genuine bodhimanda. Coming here is your salvation. Life in this world is far too bitter, and the cycle of rebirth is exhausting. Like me, because I held onto attachments to the world, I remained trapped in the dimensions after death, and no one knew where I had gone. If it were not for the unique ability of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to open up space and dimensions, I would never have been able to escape.

Furthermore, those eight sessions of Chao Du helped me immensely. I saw so many of my karmic creditors waiting for me. Without that deliverance, I would never have had the opportunity to reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss today.

Gratitude and Final Instructions

All of this is due to the compassion of the Buddha, and we should all be filled with gratitude. Jinfeng, you know this place well. Mother is so grateful to you for arranging the Chao Du for me. Now that I have reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I no longer have any need for the rituals of the world. If you are concerned about my ashes, please do not worry—that is merely the physical body of the world. It is no longer needed. Just find a clean place and scatter them. You must focus on your own practice, keep your heart pure, listen carefully to the Dharma talks by Practitioner Su, and work on transforming yourself. I will be waiting for you in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. If you can save your siblings, please do your best to do so. Although I have reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I must continue my own practice. You are still in the world, and this is the time when you can truly make a great impact. If you have the ability, help our departed family members reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss; the merit you will gain is immense. I do not have the power to help them myself, as they are bound by their own laws of karma and cause and effect. Only through Chao Du can they find liberation. Jinfeng, please do your best.

I have said all that I needed to say. I am truly grateful to the Master for recording these words for me. I hope my family can understand my intentions: to practise diligently, study the Buddha’s teachings, and one day, we shall all be reunited in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Thank you to Namo Amituofo, thank you to Practitioner Su, and thank you to everyone. Namo Amituofo."

Chen Licai, with palms joined in respect.