Deliverance to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss

This interview features Lay Practitioner Qiu Jinxian, the husband of Lay Practitioner Shi Jianfang. After seeking Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, he was successfully led to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account, recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on December 20, 2024, captures his reflections on his life and his transition to the Buddha-land.

Lay Practitioner Qiu Jinxian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qiu Jinxian. I offer my deepest gratitude to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for their boundless compassion toward me. To be honest, I was never a person who believed in the Buddha during my time on earth. I lived my life without that connection, yet, in the end, the Buddha still accepted me. Now, I have arrived here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the Buddha is right before my eyes. My heart is filled with such profound gratitude. I realise now that this karmic affinity is something my spirit had been waiting for, for a very, very long time.

I am so incredibly grateful to my wife, Shi Jianfang, for her willingness to believe in the Buddha and for her faith in the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It was only because of her faith that I was granted the opportunity for Chao Du. Without that, I truly do not know where I would be. Before I was saved, my world was nothing but a thick, impenetrable fog. I kept walking forward, trying to find my way, but I could never find an exit. I was so helpless, so terrified, though I was too proud to admit it at the time. I waited for what felt like an eternity, and it was only through the Causal Conditions of this deliverance that I was finally led to this Buddha-land."

Reflecting on a Life Once Lived

"When I look back at my life now, it feels as though it passed by in the blink of an eye. It was all over so quickly. I lived my life very authentically, very much in the moment, but looking back, it feels like a dream that has already faded. I asked myself if I had any regrets, but now, I cannot even name them. When my life ended, the process of my soul entering that dark, cold void was so incredibly painful—it was a suffering beyond words. Because of that, being rescued by the Buddha and Practitioner Su has left me with a sense of gratitude that I cannot fully express in words.

Thinking about it now, I cherish the time I spent with my family, but I cherish even more the profound realisations and the spiritual growth I have experienced here in this Buddha-land. It is a different kind of appreciation, one that transcends the fleeting nature of human existence."

A New Purpose Beyond the Self

"Having arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have found a purpose that is entirely different from the goals I held in the past. I hope to follow the Buddha and engage in diligent practice. Beyond simply enjoying the bliss of this Western Pure Land, I want to help other beings who are connected by karmic affinity. I want to share my own realisations with everyone, in the hope that others might suffer a little less than I did.

When you are living your daily life, it is so easy to become stagnant. You do not want to change because you are comfortable in your habits, and because of that, you remain trapped. You cannot find your way out of the cycle of reincarnation because you are too attached to the life you know. Some people are very sceptical about why we should practise Buddhism. I used to be one of those people, but now I know that this is the only thing that is truly helping oneself in the most fundamental way."

The Importance of the Spirit

"The Buddha has taught us that beyond this physical body, we have a spirit; beyond the home we see before our eyes, there is the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so grateful that the day of my rebirth in the Western Pure Land finally arrived. I truly hope that more people can come to know the Buddha, understand the importance of the Buddha’s teachings, and realise the necessity of ending the cycle of reincarnation. It starts with simply chanting 'Namo Amituofo'. If you can bring forth a sincere heart, the Buddha will be right there by your side.

The reason I am sharing all of this is simply because I want to repay the Buddha’s grace. I am filled with gratitude, and I thank all the Causal Conditions that brought me here. I hope that everyone I knew, and especially my family, are doing well. I send you all my blessings through Namo Amituofo. I truly hope that we will meet again in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Qiu Jinxian, with palms joined in reverence.

Namo Amituofo."