Awakening from the Dream of Life

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner He Canji, the father of Lay Practitioner He Zhi-Niu. He sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his transition from the cycle of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on March 11, 2022.

Lay Practitioner He Canji speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am He Canji. Looking back at my life, I realise that I lived it in such a state of blindness. I carry many regrets in my heart, but the past is gone, and there is no way to return to it. I can only continue to move forward on this new path.

The family I had in this life, the connections we shared—those decades of living together have now come to an end. Although I still have children and relatives living in the world, I no longer possess a physical body. I am now just a spirit, and my appearance is quite different from the way everyone used to know me. It is a strange feeling to look back at the life I once led, knowing that the physical vessel I relied upon is gone.

The Fleeting Nature of Human Bonds

During the time I spent listening to the Dharma in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I have become much clearer in my understanding. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for rescuing me; without that intervention, I would still be trapped in suffering. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my son and my daughter-in-law. Thank you for still thinking of us two old people, for remembering us, and for giving us the opportunity to finally leave suffering behind.

I want to tell my children: life is truly full of suffering. If one does not study the Dharma, one might not understand the true nature of this pain. But after studying the Dharma and listening to the sutras, I finally saw how painfully I had been living. I see that my children are also suffering, and that everyone in the world is suffering. Yet, when one has not yet awakened, one is just like I was—I did not even realise that I was living in such misery.

Gratitude for Deliverance

Now, my wife and I are both doing very well. We had not seen each other for a long time, but now that we have shed our physical bodies and exist as spirits, our feelings for one another have changed. Since arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, we smile at each other and kneel together before the Buddha to express our gratitude for His grace and for the kindness of Practitioner Su. There is no longer the attachment of worldly marital emotion; it is simply a recognition of the bond we once shared in the human world. We look at each other and smile, thankful for the companionship we once provided one another.

A Dreamlike Existence

Looking back at life now, it truly was nothing more than a dream. I hope that all my descendants will have the opportunity to wake up from this dream. You must hold tightly to the Buddha, for only the Buddha can lead us to leave suffering behind forever.

Namo Amituofo.

He Canji bows in reverence."