Deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss: Lay Practitioner Peng Shaoyu

This is a record of an interview with Peng Shaoyu, 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 life and his transition to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 13, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Peng Shaoyu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I have truly arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is an inconceivable event, truly beyond anything I could have imagined. The beauty of this Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is so profound, so magnificent, that it is impossible to describe with mere human language. Every spirit in the cycle of rebirth yearns to come here, and now, by some miracle, I have truly arrived. I am filled with such deep gratitude for Practitioner Su, who helped me, who reached out and guided my spirit here, giving me the only chance I ever had to attain true liberation.

The Inconceivable Reality of the Pure Land

When I was still alive in the human world, I would never have believed any of this. I had my own stubborn views, my own rigid way of seeing the world. I would have dismissed all of this as mere superstition or strange, unexplainable phenomena. I would have denied it outright, refused to believe it, and perhaps even slandered the very path that eventually saved me. The Buddha’s teachings taught here by Practitioner Su are truly a 'difficult-to-believe' path. If my spirit had not been personally guided here by Practitioner Su, and if I had not witnessed with my own eyes the inconceivable things happening here every single day, I would never have been able to convince myself to believe.

The Buddha’s teachings are truly inconceivable! I am so incredibly fortunate that my daughter was able to encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and listen to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su. That was truly the greatest blessing of her entire life. My daughter’s blessings have, in turn, allowed me—her father—the rare opportunity to be guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is overflowing with gratitude. I hope my daughter can convey my deepest thanks to Practitioner Su, and to all the Venerables and lay practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre on my behalf.

The True Value of Life

Now, as I look back at my past, I finally realise that it was my own difficult personality that caused me so much suffering. It was that very nature that led me to fall ill and allowed my karmic creditors to find me. I truly hope that all my children can listen to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su and use those teachings to transform themselves. Do not let your own personality and stubbornness lead you into sickness; it is a path of immense suffering. I have experienced it myself, and my children, who stood by my side during those dark times, know exactly what I mean.

When a person lives in this world without the guidance of a clear-sighted teacher, they simply drift along, living according to their own limited thoughts, concepts, and personality. They have no idea whether they are right or wrong, or if they are walking toward a cliff. I was exactly that kind of person. Only after I passed away did I realise that although I had a lifetime of rich experiences, and even held a certain status and position, all of it was ultimately false. None of it was worth clinging to, and holding onto those memories only caused me to suffer, keeping me trapped in a space between worlds, unable to move forward.

A Final Message to My Children

I want to thank my daughter, Peng Hong, for still remembering me, her father, even though I have been gone for more than ten years. Today, here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have even seen your mother. She has become so dignified, so radiant—completely different from the person I knew in the past. We did not speak; we simply nodded to one another. We both understood that we had once played our parts in a play in the human world, and that was all it was—just a play.

Life is truly an illusion. Once the spirit leaves the body, everything changes. The past feels like nothing more than a fleeting dream. The only thing that is real is the state of your spirit and where you are destined to go in the cycle of rebirth. That lonely, helpless version of myself that I once was—that was the only thing that was truly real. I hope my children and all my descendants can wake up, clear their minds, and diligently practise the Buddha’s teachings. Namo Amituofo."