From a Tragic Fall to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Yu Menglong, 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 life and his transition from the human world. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on October 24, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Yu Menglong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Yu Menglong. At this very moment, I am standing upon the sacred ground of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is truly difficult to imagine that someone like me—a man who lived his life as an actor and a singer—could be granted such a profound blessing. I am filled with immense gratitude that Lay Practitioner Li, whom I had never met in my life, would offer to perform Chao Du for me. Perhaps we shared a karmic connection in our past lives, which is the only reason I could possess the karmic fortune to be here today.

The Sudden End and the Lingering Spirit

My passing was a source of great shock and agony for all those who knew me. After I died, I remained trapped within the very space where the event occurred. Falling from a height is an absolutely harrowing experience; it is devastating for the physical body, but it is equally traumatic for the soul. When the fall occurred, my spirit was violently ejected from my body at the very instant of impact with the ground. That moment was filled with such intense, overwhelming terror. I remained tethered to that location, trapped in that dark, cold space, until a brilliant, radiant light shone upon me and guided me to a place of immense brightness.

It was only later that I came to understand that this place is known as the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Here, I have been able to listen to Practitioner Su deliver Dharma talks, and only then did I begin to comprehend why I was able to reach this sanctuary. I have come to deeply believe in the laws of karma and cause and effect. Such a painful and sudden death was something I could never have anticipated; it must be that in my past lives, I committed grave transgressions, which is why I had to endure such a tragic situation in this lifetime. Now, all of that has passed. Truly, life is like a dream, and I have just awakened from a long, dark nightmare. Even while I was alive, I had a sense of this impermanence—which is why my name, Menglong, means 'hazy' or 'dim.' That name carried me through my life, and in the end, I departed the human world as if drifting through a thick, impenetrable fog.

A Dreamlike Existence and the Power of Compassion

In any case, I am now here, residing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Gazing upon this magnificent, pure world, I feel that my sinful spirit has finally been saved. I firmly believe that there exists a force of great compassion within the universe—a power capable of helping suffering souls escape their agony. I have been incredibly fortunate to encounter this power. The journey I took after my death was so dramatic, so full of twists and turns, that it felt just like the various roles I used to play as an actor on the stage of life.

My life with a physical body has come to an end, and my soul, now free from that vessel, has arrived in this beautiful, new world. My heart is overflowing with gratitude—gratitude upon gratitude. My deepest thanks go to Namo Amituofo, for it was through listening to the Dharma talks at the temple that I learned the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss was built by Namo Amituofo specifically to lead suffering souls away from their misery.

Eternal Gratitude to the Centre

I am eternally grateful to Namo Amituofo, for it is only because of your great compassion that such a world exists. I also wish to express my profound thanks to Practitioner Su; you possess the extraordinary ability to lead us to this place. Because this world has a practitioner like you, suffering souls are finally able to leave their pain behind. I am also deeply thankful to Lay Practitioner Li; it was your helping hand, your willingness to perform the Chao Du for me, that made the 'me' of today possible. I am also grateful to every single lay practitioner at the temple. It is because of your dedicated support that these Dharma assemblies can be held and brought to such a perfect completion. Throughout these sessions of Chao Du, I have witnessed your tireless efforts and your hard work. Because of your presence, the human world is made all the more beautiful.

I, Yu Menglong, offer my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude, and I say to you all, 'Namo Amituofo.' Thank you, everyone!"