A Teacher's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Liu Ya, 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 transition from the ghost realm to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on May 29, 2026.

Liu Ya speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Liu Ya, and I have arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to report in! I want to tell my family that I am safe. To say 'safe' is an understatement; I am filled with immense Dharma joy and delight. I am so grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su!

Coming to this place, my heart is overflowing with gratitude, and I am filled with deep emotion. To think that as my life in the human world came to an end, I would actually be able to reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—this is something I never could have imagined. It is entirely due to the compassion of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who have opened up such a dignified and pure Buddha-land, giving us the opportunity to learn the Dharma here. Truly, there is nothing better than this.

A Life Transformed

Looking back from here at the various events of my human life, the things I once worried about seem hardly worth mentioning. But since I have been given this opportunity to speak, I will certainly do so with all my heart. I was a teacher in the human world. To say 'teacher' is perhaps too formal or official; I was simply a man who dedicated his life to education.

I have been gone from the human world for over a decade. It was only because my daughter came to know the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and registered me for Chao Du that I had the chance to arrive here. When I heard Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre call my name, he also called the names of my wife and daughter. Hearing those names echoing in my ears, it felt as if I had returned to the past—everything was so familiar, yet at the same time, so strange.

The Darkness of Wandering

To be honest, during these years as a spirit, I was just what people commonly call a 'ghost.' I had no special status; I simply drifted aimlessly through the world, with nothing to rely upon. Looking back, I had gradually grown accustomed to those ten-plus years of darkness. Then, one day, a vast and magnificent light suddenly appeared before me. My heart was filled with an indescribable sense of being moved, and a feeling of gratitude welled up from within. I knew then that this was the Truth I had been searching for, and the place where I could finally attain rebirth.

Therefore, with a heart full of joy, I entered the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and from there, I arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I believe my wife must have experienced the same. I can sense that she has attained rebirth alongside me. We have met here, and we might wave or share a gentle smile, but we no longer hold onto our past relationships. We do not have any of the old interactions here; everyone is in a state of purity and dignity. In fact, I look quite similar to her now!

The Wisdom of Letting Go

Because this is a world without any attachments, there is no emotional entanglement. We are all one family, and there are no private, selfish feelings. We are simply focused, with one heart and one mind, on chanting 'Namo Amituofo' from beginning to end. That is why this world is so peaceful and why it brings such tranquility to the heart. Namo Amituofo created the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss with such profound Wisdom. Without the Buddha's great Wisdom, where would we, these wandering, suffering spirits, ever go?

Being a spirit in the ghost realm was not entirely terrible, but I saw many who had come up from the hells, and that was truly suffering. Of course, I had many personality flaws while I was alive, but I consider myself to have been a decent person, so I did not end up in a miserable state. If I were to offer some advice to the people of the world, and specifically to my daughter and my family, I would say this—and it is a simple, ordinary truth, nothing special.

It is this: while you are living in the world, do not be too attached to everything that happens. Everything is illusory. Just as the Buddha said, once you let go, there is no problem, because everything is false and nothing is permanent. In the human world, you might not be able to fully grasp this, but having walked this path, I can tell you clearly: when you let go, your heart will be much happier.

If you can live in the world without any burdens, living as purely as we do here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, that would be the best thing of all.

I hope my daughter makes progress in her spiritual achievements and returns to the Western Pure Land soon; this is your true home.

I am grateful to Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo.

Liu Ya"