The General's Final Command: From the Battlefield to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Nguyen Van Thieu, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life as a historical figure and his subsequent journey after passing. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on February 11, 2026.

Nguyen Van Thieu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Nguyen Van Thieu. My days here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss are incredibly peaceful and free. Looking back on those years when I served as the President and a General of South Vietnam, it truly fills me with a complex mixture of emotions.

To the people of Vietnam, the name Nguyen Van Thieu has already become a part of history. The events that unfolded while I held the reins of power, the defeat, my departure from Vietnam, and the time leading up to my passing—these are matters that the media of the world have already reported. But as for what happens to a spirit after death? Where does one go? I believe this is a question that, for most people, remains an absolute mystery. What matters is that this person is no longer in the world. Whether the military record I left behind was a contribution or a burden to Vietnam, or even the final outcome of that last battle—those merits and faults are for history to judge.

A Dreamlike Existence

From where I stand now, those days feel like nothing more than a dream. Where did the soul of Nguyen Van Thieu go after I passed away? And why, today, would I appear here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to be interviewed by the Venerables of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia? This sequence of events is something no one in Vietnam knows. Aside from Practitioner Su and a few senior practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, no one in the world is aware of this. Yet, in the spiritual realms, the name Nguyen Van Thieu and the experiences of my spirit are a very real, tangible existence.

Today, because one hundred and eighty monastics and lay practitioners from Vietnamese temples are coming to visit the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, Practitioner Su, in his great compassion, has invited me to speak once more. He wishes for these visitors to know that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is real, and that Namo Amituofo truly abides here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

The Truth of the Afterlife

I will now report my experiences after passing away to my fellow countrymen from the Vietnamese temples. I suspect this first-hand information is something you are hearing for the very first time. In truth, the event where I was saved by Namo Amituofo occurred over a decade ago. It is a story that sounds almost impossible to believe, yet it is the absolute truth.

I know that when a person's physical body is no longer in the world, the words spoken—especially those coming from a spirit—are often met with skepticism. This is understandable and acceptable, but it does not change the fact that I am here to tell the truth.

When I passed away, my spirit left my body and immediately descended into the hells to undergo retribution. This result was not surprising. During my time in politics and as the leader of South Vietnam, the strategies I employed resulted in countless casualties among both the people and the soldiers. The cruelty of war is a harsh reality: the victor becomes the king, and the defeated becomes the bandit. It is a brutal fact. The memory of those countless fallen soldiers—when I speak of these things now, while residing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I still feel a lingering fear. After all, for these past fourteen years, the Nguyen Van Thieu who lives here is a pure soul.

The Golden Light of Deliverance

At that time, the various forms of suffering in the hells were truly too horrific to witness, too painful to recall. I could only wail and cry out; there was not even an opportunity to repent. Infinite agony bound those who were suffering. I was a soul with no power to resist. Suddenly, one day, a brilliant golden light shone upon me. In that instant, all the pain in my body vanished. In the moment of shock, as I wondered what was happening, my spirit was transported to a bright, luminous Buddha hall. That hall was the predecessor of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre—the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-Name Chanting Hall, which was also known as the Hsiang Kuang Room.

At the time, I did not know where I was. I still felt the residual pain from the hells, and I could not help but let out a cry of agony. But soon, my dignity as a soldier and the memory of my role as president allowed me to stop and restrain my suffering. To my surprise, I was wearing a military uniform. The compassionate Namo Amituofo had bestowed upon me the very uniform I wore when I was a general.

Practitioner Su, who was then known as Lay Practitioner Su, did not recognise me, and I did not recognise him. We were complete strangers. But I knew that this place was my salvation. Practitioner Su asked me several questions: who had arrived, and why had I come to this place? When I revealed that I was the former President of Vietnam, Nguyen Van Thieu, several lay practitioners present gasped in astonishment. At the same time, I calmed my heart; I knew I had to face all of this with composure.

A Call to the Fallen

This place had allowed the wounds and pain on my body to vanish in such a short time. I knew that, aside from that compassionate light, this place was truly extraordinary. I set aside the agony I had endured in the hells, and though my heart still held a lingering fear, I gradually became calm, carrying myself with a sense of authority.

Practitioner Su asked me a few questions. When he learned who I was, he said very rationally: 'Since you are a general, what about the troops you led? They must also be suffering greatly. Here, our Namo Amituofo can compassionately save you suffering souls and lead you to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.'

My heart skipped a beat. I thought: What about my army? My soldiers had died or been wounded on the battlefield. My heart was filled with grief, but I could not save them. I could only watch as they died one by one, suffering in agony.

Now, Practitioner Su was saying that Namo Amituofo could save them. No matter what, I had to seize this opportunity for salvation, because no one else could save a soul. I had been saved, and I hoped our generals and soldiers could be saved too. I issued a military order into the void, calling for them to come to this place. I hoped that wherever they were, they would hear my command and rush here immediately.

The Miracle of the Buddha-Name

An inconceivable thing happened. Tens of thousands of generals and soldiers arrived, but they were scattered everywhere, emitting sounds of sorrow and pain. I saw it, and Practitioner Su saw it too. Practitioner Su is truly one with open eyes; he saw what others could not. We were witnessing the same scene.

He told me: 'Your army has arrived. They are dead or wounded, and they are suffering greatly. Namo Amituofo can save them, restore their bodies to their former state, and reunite them with their families. Most importantly, he can take you all to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and give each of you a lotus flower. But there is one condition: you must chant Namo Amituofo. Only then can the lotus be activated to carry you to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.'

I was willing to accept any condition. I spoke to my army in Vietnamese, telling them of this vital matter. This was a military order; everyone had to do it.

Afterward, Practitioner Su said: 'If you are ready, let us quickly chant the name of Namo Amituofo to send you to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, so you need not suffer any longer.'

The moment he said this, I saw the wounds on the generals and soldiers before me gradually heal and close, and their wailing stopped. I was shocked and overjoyed to see them recover. At the same time, I urged them repeatedly: everyone must chant Namo Amituofo. At this moment, only Namo Amituofo can save everyone and allow the lotus to carry you to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Everyone agreed in unison. We joined the lay practitioners present and shouted together: 'Namo Amituofo! Namo Amituofo!' The trailing sound of the Buddha's name was drawn out very long. I had to boost everyone's morale and lead by example, so I shouted at the top of my lungs: 'Namo Amituofo!'

A New World

Miraculously, that single Buddha-name transported me to another world—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, where I reside now. The practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Room were able to converse with Namo Amituofo and ask whether Nguyen Van Thieu and his army had arrived. Namo Amituofo replied: Nguyen Van Thieu has already arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and some of the generals and soldiers who chanted the Buddha-name have also entered, while others who did not chant in time were unable to make it. I felt a sense of regret for them, but my heart was filled with gratitude. Regardless, Nguyen Van Thieu was saved, and the generals and soldiers who came were also saved.

Everything I have stated here is my own personal experience. Many lay practitioners present at the time saw and heard it, and they heard the sound of the Buddha-name we chanted together. A compassionate Lay Practitioner Jiang acted as a medium, representing me in the dialogue with Practitioner Su.

Since then, no one has known of my situation in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I, Nguyen Van Thieu, am reporting this to you all today.

The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is an incredibly bright world. The military uniform I was wearing naturally fell away once I arrived here. I do not know when it happened, but I found myself wearing the simple, comfortable clothes from my hometown. These are the clothes I thought of day and night. Here, whenever I think of food from home, it appears before me. I feel very happy; it is such a special place! In truth, I am not hungry; the energy here is abundant and fulfilling, but seeing it brings me great comfort. Food, clothing, shelter, and drink—everything is perfect. There is no need to be like people in the world who must earn money, prepare, sew, or wash clothes. None of that is necessary; whatever you think of appears instantly. The compassionate Namo Amituofo has established such a wonderful world to welcome everyone.

Here, the birds sing 'Namo Amituofo,' and the river water emits the beautiful sound of 'Namo Amituofo.' The faint fragrance in the air is something one could never smell in the world. Most special of all, Namo Amituofo gives lectures here. I enjoy listening to the teachings, and the Dharma he speaks makes me feel completely renewed."

Namo Amituofo.

"In this world, there is absolutely none of the cutthroat competition, the power struggles, or the life-or-death conflicts that defined my time in the world. There is no need to obey rigid military orders or fear the harsh sanctions of military law. Here, no one is forced to submit to another, and there is no debate over what is 'correct.' Instead, we live in complete freedom, following our hearts. It is a truly magnificent world.

A Glimpse Through Time

I feel as though I have only just arrived here, yet when I look at the date in this realm, it is February 11, 2026. It has been fourteen years since I was guided by the compassionate Buddha-light of Namo Amituofo to the Hsiang Kuang Chamber, and then sent to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su, using the power of the lotus and the chanting of the Buddha-name. Only after entering the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and reflecting on those events did I realise that the brilliant light that rescued me from the hells and brought me to the Hsiang Kuang Chamber and the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-name Chanting Hall was the very light of Namo Amituofo.

Today, Practitioner Su has already performed Chao Du for countless deceased spirits and military souls. Even many famous figures who were also guided by the light of Namo Amituofo to the Hsiang Kuang Chamber and the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-name Chanting Hall have been saved.

The Path of Diligent Practice

I, Nguyen Van Thieu, created too much negative karma while I was alive, but now I am practicing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Before the Buddha, I listen quietly to the teachings. I have come to understand that only by diligently practicing and achieving success can I have the opportunity to return to the world to help the Vietnamese people, the generals, and the soldiers with whom I share a karmic connection. My fellow countrymen and the creatures of that land are all in urgent need of deliverance after their passing. I can see many of them still suffering in the space between realms.

Only by relying on the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, established by the Greatly Compassionate Namo Amituofo, can these suffering souls find peace, security, and a state free from pain and filled with ultimate joy. I am practicing in this world of Infinite Light and Infinite Life. If I can achieve success in my practice soon, I will certainly return to the world to save the beings with whom I have an affinity.

A Message to the Visitors

Because the one hundred and eighty monastics and lay practitioners from the Vietnamese temple made the wise decision to visit the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, I have been given the opportunity to accept this interview and share this untold, unknown past.

My heart is firm: one day, I will return to the world. But for now, I must remain here to cultivate myself in stillness. This resolve was true in the past, it is true now, and it will remain so in the future. This is the only way I can repay the Greatly Compassionate Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for saving me and so many other military souls.

The Unique Ability of Practitioner Su

Namo Amituofo is truly residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre right now. Practitioner Su, along with the fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, follows Namo Amituofo in saving the world and delivering beings. They have already saved countless souls and spirits. In particular, Practitioner Su possesses the unique and extraordinary ability to guide the deceased to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. In the entire universe and the whole world, only Practitioner Su—now respectfully addressed by everyone as Buddha Su—has the capability to lead the deceased into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Everyone must know this, for it is the way to save yourselves. To the one hundred and eighty monastics and lay practitioners from the Vietnamese temple: you are truly blessed to have visited this place! Now that you know of my experiences, you must believe, for this is how you can save yourselves. I share these experiences in the hope that I can save as many as possible.

A Final Plea

You must believe in the vow of Practitioner Su—now known as Buddha Su—to follow Namo Amituofo in saving the world, and you must come to this place. This is a precious land that leads everyone to rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss; it is a pure land where practitioners can engage in diligent practice and remain free from aging and illness.

These are my heartfelt words. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and Buddha Su for allowing me to be interviewed today to speak of the past. I am also grateful to and welcome the one hundred and eighty visitors from the Vietnamese temple. I hope that when you have the chance, you will share this information with the followers around you, so that they too may have the opportunity to be saved. Please share this message with the people of Vietnam, so they may know that Namo Amituofo is residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, that Namo Amituofo has come to the world to save everyone, and that they too can be saved.

This is my sincere request and my blessing. Thank you all. Namo Amituofo.

Nguyen Van Thieu"