From a Wandering Spirit to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Zhang Houkun, who sought Spiritual 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 journey and transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on January 23, 2026.

Lay Practitioner Zhang Houkun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhang Houkun. There is a saying that 'one day in heaven is one year on earth.' I have always believed that time flows at different speeds across various dimensions of space. Now, having been guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have personally verified this truth. From the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I can observe the situations in the human world, the conditions of other Buddha-lands, and even the states of the heavenly realms with absolute clarity. This is a gift bestowed by Namo Amituofo upon all residents of the Pure Land.

The Nature of Time and Purity

I once heard that the days of celestial beings are far longer than those of humans. Now, seeing it from the perspective of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I can confirm that it is indeed true. I have come to realise a profound principle: the more pure, clean, and virtuous a space is, the slower time flows within it. Conversely, the more chaotic, mixed with good and evil, or even evil a space is, the faster time flows.

I am filled with gratitude for the great compassion of Namo Amituofo and the great compassion of Practitioner Su. I am also deeply grateful to my daughter-in-law, Juli, for arranging my Chao Du. I prostrate myself before my compassionate father, Namo Amituofo, and the great Practitioner Su from here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. If not for the extraordinary skills of Practitioner Su, I would never have had the opportunity to transform from a deceased spirit into a being of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, living a life free from all suffering and receiving only all happiness.

The Inconceivable Power of Namo Amituofo

In truth, I was already living very well when I was in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I had assumed that the Western Dharma-Nature Land was the best place in existence, but upon arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I finally understood that the merit and vows of Namo Amituofo are truly inconceivable. In the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, everyone appears the same—possessing the thirty-two marks of a great being—yet one could also say we look different, as our past spiritual histories can manifest in unique ways. Everything is natural; it is a world without any barriers. Residents of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss naturally understand each other's hearts without the need for spoken language. As I mentioned, we can perceive the conditions of various worlds, including the lives of humans on Earth, and we can even know the states of beings on far-off planets.

The Ultimate School of Awakening

This inconceivable world is like the finest school, where everything is of the highest quality. The Teacher of this school knows exactly what every student is thinking. He knows our personalities, our tempers, and exactly what kind of guidance or teaching material we require. This Teacher never loses patience with His students; He is always as patient and loving as a parent. This supreme Teacher is none other than the Greatly Compassionate Namo Amituofo. In this magnificent, pure, and virtuous world of light, everything is a manifestation of my compassionate father, Namo Amituofo, created solely to help the children of the Western Land awaken and eventually find their true nature to attain Buddhahood.

The Seeds of the Path

I feel so incredibly blessed. What merit could I possibly have to deserve to be in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss? Ha! As soon as I voiced this wonder, the answer appeared before me: in my past lives, I did not just study Buddhism once, or even become a monastic once; I had chanted this name, 'Namo Amituofo,' for many lifetimes. This six-character name is such that 'Once it enters the ear, it becomes a seed for the Path forever.' As long as one chants this Buddha-name, there will eventually come a time when one is saved by Namo Amituofo and guided back to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is no wonder that Practitioner Su has been so vigorously promoting the Namo Amituofo billboards. Thinking about it, the immeasurable and boundless human beings and spirit realm beings who see these billboards—regardless of whether they come to the temple to seek Chao Du—will all surely have a day when they are saved and brought to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is truly compassionate! Only a person who has realised their true nature, like Practitioner Su, could possess such high Wisdom.

A Debt of Gratitude

I must thank Juli for arranging my Chao Du. Only through the Chao Du performed at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can a spirit truly be saved and sent to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the truth I have witnessed from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. You, Juli, were fortunate enough to encounter the only true Buddhist bodhimanda in this world, and in doing so, you completely turned around my destiny. This is the inconceivable nature of the laws of karma and cause and effect that the sutras speak of. It is because of your tremendous blessings that this magnificent interview of mine has come to be.

I hope that anyone who has the karmic affinity to read these words will come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This place truly leads people to be free from aging, free from illness, and ensures their spirit never dies. This is what I witnessed daily while listening to the Dharma in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It awaits those with the karmic affinity and the blessings to come to the temple and experience all of this for themselves.

I am grateful for all the Causal Conditions! Namo Amituofo."

Zhang Houkun