A Ray of Light After Centuries of Darkness

This is a record of an interview with Tang Wenxiang, the grandfather of Lay Practitioner Wang Hong, who sought deliverance 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 past lives and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 20, 2023.

Tang Wenxiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so deeply grateful to Practitioner Su, and I am eternally thankful to my granddaughter, Wang Hong, for her role in this.

The First Glimpse of the Buddha

When I first beheld the Great Buddha of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I was so moved that tears streamed down my face. I knelt silently before the Buddha, my heart filled with the constant, rhythmic chanting of Namo Amituofo. I did not utter a single word. There are no words in any language to describe the feeling in my heart at that moment. It was like seeing a ray of light pierce through an eternity of darkness—a profound, overwhelming sense of relief. It felt as though I were still dreaming, unable to believe that such peace could be real.

The Weight of Karmic Retribution

For a long time, I was being purified in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. It was the Buddha-light and the immense power of the Buddha that slowly cleansed me. My heart was filled with such bitterness; I had always believed that my life was defined by suffering. I felt that my circumstances left me no choice but to walk down a path of no return, choosing to end my own life to escape the human world. Yet, even after death, I continued to suffer in the spirit realm. Looking back now, I finally understand that it was all the result of karmic retribution. If I had not been so aggressive and overbearing in my past lives—if I had not driven that entire family to the point where they felt they had no choice but to hang themselves—how could I have possibly faced such retribution in this life? It was all my own doing. It was the fruit of my own actions, and I accept it. I repent with all my heart.

A Plea for Deliverance

I pray that all those I harmed in the past can leave their suffering behind as soon as possible. I do not want them to remain trapped in that realm of agony. I hope they can all begin chanting Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is my constant prayer; I want to awaken those karmic creditors who have followed me through so many lifetimes. I have seen that it was not just one lifetime of karmic creditors seeking me out; many of them converged upon me at once, which is why I found myself trapped in such an inescapable predicament.

Finally at Peace

Now, my heart is finally at peace, and the knots that bound my soul have been untied. My spirit had been suffering, constantly enduring the consequences of my past actions, until I was rescued by Practitioner Su. Only then did the cycle of suffering cease. Now that I have arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I feel a sense of security I have never known. I chant Namo Amituofo without ceasing, filled with gratitude for the Buddha.

I also wish to thank my granddaughter, Wang Hong, in the human world. You are so kind, and your heart is filled with such compassion. Please, continue to chant Namo Amituofo diligently; the Buddha will surely help you.

Namo Amituofo."