A New Life Beyond the Bondi Tragedy

This is a record of an interview with Dan Elkayam, a victim of the Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney, Australia. After his tragic passing, he sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Queensland, Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life, his sudden departure, and his newfound peace. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on December 22, 2025.

Dan Elkayam speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Dan Elkayam. On the day of the shooting, as evening approached, a group of us were gathered on Bondi Beach. We were drinking, chatting, and enjoying a barbecue, celebrating the grace that God had bestowed upon us. In the Christian faith, we believe that all human beings are like broken vessels used by God; even if we have committed many sins, the Lord is still willing to use us to help the world.

I was a devout Christian. Although I did not attend church services every single week, I strictly observed the tradition of the Sabbath, regardless of whether I was working, on holiday, or travelling. I would take one day off every week to disconnect from computers, mobile phones, and the internet. For a computer engineer like me, that was no small feat, but I held onto it faithfully."

The Sudden End of a Sunny Life

"After I was struck by the bullets, my breathing stopped almost instantly. But what truly terrified me—what haunted me even after death—was the face of the shooter. I do not know why, but I could not forget that expression. It was so cold, so eerie, and it filled me with an indescribable dread. When the shooting began, none of us realised what was happening at first. We heard the gunshots, saw people falling to the ground, and only then did we realise that a massacre was underway. My first instinct was to command everyone to run. Perhaps because of that, I became a very obvious target, and the shooter struck me directly from behind. Just like that, my twenty-six years of life came to an end.

In truth, I had never intended to settle down in this life. Although I had a partner, our time together was mostly about enjoying the pleasures of life. Deep down, I longed for a partner with whom I could weather the storms of life, but I had never met such a person. My friends always saw me as a very sunny, cheerful person, and I was indeed cheerful. However, many never knew that while Dan Elkayam loved travel and the sun, he was secretly terrified of stopping, of living a stable life, of putting down roots, getting married, having children, and working the same job in the same place day after day. I could never imagine a life without novelty, change, and excitement. I wondered, if my life lacked those things, would I still be able to love it? For the old Dan, that was an impossible thought. Yet now, here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Queensland, Australia, I can say with absolute confidence: 'I can!'"

Finding Peace in the Western Dharma-Nature Land

"When the Venerable Fa Ning of the Buddhist Centre brought the details of the Sydney shooting to Practitioner Su, she acted with such immense compassion. She guided us—the spirits of those who perished in the shooting—to the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Centre. We were all saved! It is such an incredible stroke of fortune. Now, Dan Elkayam is here, bathing in the Buddha-light every single day.

I have always loved to travel. I know that the sunrise and sunset look different in every corner of the world, but here, it is truly unique. A golden light is constantly shimmering—I have never seen such a light before. It is so warm, so bright. Whenever this golden light shines, I feel my entire being become lighter. The sound of 'Namo Amituofo' constantly resonates through the air; it is so beautiful, and sometimes I chant along with it. The strange thing is, here I must stay on a lotus seat. Although I cannot leave it, I can do whatever I wish while sitting there. The Western Dharma-Nature Land possesses a magical power. The longer I stay here, the calmer and more stable my heart becomes. The traits I once had—the constant craving for excitement and change—have completely vanished. Not only do I never feel bored, but I feel so vibrant every day, happily repeating 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo' over and over. I want to stay in this place forever. It is truly the most wonderful environment imaginable.

From the Dharma-Nature Land, I can see and hear what is happening in the human world, especially everything occurring at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I now know that it was Practitioner Su—I feel it is very intimate to call her Practitioner Su, just as everyone at the temple does—who saved us, the souls who died in the Sydney shooting, and brought us to the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It is only because of her that I have this opportunity to be interviewed today."

A Synthesis of Faith and Truth

"Here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I have learned a term: 'listen to sutras and hear the Dharma'. In the Christian faith, we say, 'There is God in the world, and we are not Him.' But here, I have seen Practitioner Su, a human being, become a Buddha. This is very different from my past Christian faith, yet, paradoxically, it has given me a much deeper understanding of that faith. In the Dharma-Nature Land, I see that the human body is truly like a vessel, just as the Bible describes. But it is not just God who can use our bodies; I have learned that karmic creditors, other beings, and even demons—what we call the devil in the West—can all use human bodies. After learning Buddhism, I understand that the body should be used by one's own true self, or as we might say, given to Namo Amituofo. This is what Practitioner Su often calls 'mastering the body'. In Christianity, we often talk about 'seeds' and 'fruits', which is the same concept as 'doing Good and not doing evil' that I have heard while listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma here.

The difference is that I now know that when a spirit reaches the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss in the country of Namo Amituofo, that is the true 'spirit never dies'. Especially when I see the countless manifestations of Practitioner Su—I had never heard of such a thing in the Bible, and here in the Dharma-Nature Land, I am seeing it with my own eyes. It is an unimaginable, magical ability.

In short, here at the temple of Namo Amituofo, I have gradually come to realise that Buddhism and Christianity are actually connected. It is just that the Buddha's education is more comprehensive and profound, and it explains the truth of the universe much more clearly. There were many scriptures in the Bible that I did not understand before, but now, after listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma in the Dharma-Nature Land, I suddenly understand their meaning. Dan Elkayam now knows that I should vow to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss; that is the world where one never dies. I also hope to contribute to the salvation team of Namo Amituofo."

A Message of Hope to My Loved Ones

"I hope my brother and all my friends will not be sad for me. On the contrary, I hope you can all come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to witness my new life. When I used to run on the football field, the applause and the physical thrill were things I savoured endlessly. I knew that was related to the satisfaction I gave the audience and my performance on the field—it required effort and achievement. But now, in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I do not need to strive for anything, nor do I need to compete. Namo Amituofo is always shining light upon me, always watching me with a compassionate smile. I have nothing left to worry about. Do you hear me, everyone? Here, Dan Elkayam has nothing left to worry about.

Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su. And thank you to everyone at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo.

Dan Elkayam"