A New Life Beyond the Flames

Li Bingyao, the father of Lay Practitioner Li Ruizhen, sought deliverance after his passing. His spirit, having lingered in a state of profound distress, was eventually guided to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This interview, recorded by Chief Writer Shi Faxin on February 14, 2023, captures his journey from the depths of suffering to the peace of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Li Bingyao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. No one is truly without fear of death. I was the same—I was terrified of dying. In fact, I did not want to die at all; I desperately wanted to keep using my physical body. But no one can escape the reality of death. If you look at it from a different perspective, perhaps death is simply a new beginning. Yet, when you are in the midst of it, you have no idea where this 'new beginning' will lead you.

I have only recently managed to convince myself to accept this term, 'new beginning.' Before this, I was trapped, circling within the cycle of death. My spirit wandered through a place of fire—a space that was absolutely terrifying to me. In that burning space, I had to face my own death, and worse, I had to witness the deaths of others. It was a nightmare that I could not escape, and it left me in a state of constant, overwhelming panic and dread.

From the Flames to the Light

It was not until my spirit was finally led away from that horrific space that I was able to see the light once again. For the first time, I felt a sense of peace. This feeling of security allowed me to calm down. Day by day, I became clearer, and my spirit became more and more purified. It was only after I heard the scriptures and the Buddha’s teachings explained in the Buddha-land that the fear and anxiety in my heart were finally unraveled. I came to understand that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is a world completely free from all afflictions. In that world, one's spirit can attain true, eternal life, and one no longer needs to suffer through the endless cycle of birth and death. My spirit saw the magnificence of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss with absolute clarity, which is why I decided so quickly that I wanted to go there.

A Debt of Gratitude

I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su. In such a chaotic era, it is truly rare for someone like him to appear and stand up so firmly to help so many people. If it were not for Practitioner Su’s guidance and explanations, I would never have been able to wake up so quickly. My heart is filled with such sincere gratitude that I truly do not know how else to express it.

A Father’s Message to His Daughter

Ruizhen, my daughter, I know that it was you who arranged for my Chao Du. Thank you for making that decision; it truly helped your father. I hope that you will continue to practise the Buddha’s teachings diligently and not let the chaos of the outside world influence your heart. In these times, it is not easy to find people who are truly willing to believe deeply in the Buddha. If you can, please use the Causal Conditions of my rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to share the good seeds of the Buddha with others. After you share these truths, do not hold onto any attachments or worries in your heart.

The laws of karma and cause and effect are truths that everyone should know. If people understood them, they would not create so much negative karma out of ignorance, nor would they have to suffer the resulting retribution. These are things that you can do to help others.

Now, your father has arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Everything here is wonderful. Please tell the rest of the family that they can all be at peace now. Namo Amituofo."