Awakening from the Long Drunkenness of Samsara

This is a record of an interview with Zhao Chaosheng, the father of Lay Practitioner Zhao Wenjin, 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 transition from a spirit trapped in the cycle of addiction to a liberated being. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 17, 2025.

Zhao Chaosheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am so deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for his boundless compassion. I am truly grateful! I am now residing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I am fully awake. My eyes—I cannot bear to blink, for I want to take in every detail of this place. It is so magnificent, so incredibly beautiful; it is completely unlike anything I ever experienced in the human world. I, Zhao Chaosheng, do not know what great blessings I must have cultivated in my past lives to have the opportunity to arrive here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I never imagined that I would possess such incredible fortune. I am filled with gratitude, such immense gratitude!"

A Vision of Unimaginable Beauty

"For so long, I was lost in a fog, but now I have finally awakened. For all those years, there was not a single day that I was not intoxicated. I never expected that after my death, I would become the person I was. When I was alive, I enjoyed drinking, but I always told myself I did not drink that much—perhaps just a little more than the average person. How could it be that after I died, my spirit became a full-blown drunkard? In the underworld, I was obsessed with alcohol. It felt as though I could not survive a single day without it. In truth, I was already a spirit; even if I had no alcohol to consume, it would not have changed my existence. But it was my own attachment—the craving for alcohol was so powerful, so overwhelming—that I kept wanting to drink. I wandered everywhere, begging others for a drink, just to satisfy that hollow, burning need."

The Endless Fog of Addiction

"I gathered many friends who were also spirits of drunkards. We would drink together, get intoxicated together, and sing together. Some of these spirits were incredible drinkers; they could consume endless amounts and never seem to lose their senses. Others did not have such a high tolerance, yet they were just as desperate to drink. I considered myself to have a decent capacity for it, though occasionally, when I drank too much, I would still lose myself. I loved the feeling of being completely intoxicated; it made my entire body feel so comfortable, so numb to the world. I lived in that haze, never once waking up to the reality of my situation, until not long ago."

The Golden Light of Deliverance

"Suddenly, I saw a vast expanse of golden light appearing before me, and I heard someone calling my name. At first, I thought it was a trick—I assumed it was just another hallucination brought on by my drunken state—so I ignored it. But then, I was swept up by an immense, irresistible force. I was brought to Practitioner Su, and even then, I was still intoxicated; I had not yet woken up. There was no alcohol there, and I kept craving it. At first, it was agonizing. I thought, 'How can there be no alcohol?' I truly believed I could not endure it. But to my surprise, I was perfectly fine. The Buddha-light from Namo Amituofo was constantly shining upon me, and through that light, I began to grow clearer and clearer. Only recently have I fully awakened, and it was then that I realized I had truly been saved. I feel such deep, profound repenting. I am so sorry to everyone."

A New Life in the Western Land

"Now, I am doing very well, and I have no desire to drink at all. I have been restored to my best self, and I have even become young again. My entire being is transformed. I love this feeling—it is so clear, so pure, and I even find myself wanting to chant Buddha's name constantly. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for saving me, and I am grateful to my descendants in the human world for helping me. I hope they will all study the Dharma diligently. I laugh at myself, thinking that even a 'sinner' like me could be saved by the Buddha; the Buddha’s compassion is truly beyond measure. I hope that everyone will believe in the Buddha, practise the teachings, and eventually come to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"Namo Amituofo."

Zhao Chaosheng bows in reverence.