From a Wooden Statue to the Western Dharma-Nature Land

This is a record of an interview with Matsuda Itaki, a spirit who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life approximately five hundred years ago and his eventual journey to the Buddha. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on February 15, 2026.

Matsuda Itaki speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Matsuda Itaki. You ask where I live? 'Home' is such a distant, fading concept. Think about it—the wailing cry of a newborn baby signifies health and vitality. A mother touches her belly with a gentle, loving smile; that is the embodiment of maternal love. A father stands behind her, his broad, steady shoulders and firm hands showing that he is a pillar of support. What is a home? It is a small group where we take what we need from one another. If a person does not need to rely on anyone, then they do not need a home. Look at Practitioner Su; he takes nothing from this world and is not stained by any worldly affair. He truly lives by the words, 'I want nothing; I only want Namo Amituofo.' This is because Practitioner Su's home is not in this world—it is in the West.

The Eternal Home

The homes we build in this world are subject to the cycle of gathering and scattering, of birth and decay. However, the home in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss will never dissipate or change. The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss represents true eternity, and entering it means that your spirit will never die. I am Matsuda Itaki, and I am currently a spirit residing in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I aspire to be a student of Namo Amituofo. Every day, I chant 'Namo Amituofo' while sitting on my lotus seat, listening to the Dharma. I hope that one day, I, too, can learn the spiritual power of Namo Amituofo, just as Practitioner Su has.

A Life of Craftsmanship

In my past life, I was a master carpenter. Any wooden furniture or tool you could name, I could build. I lived in a small town near what is now Hokkaido. You could say that every wooden implement in that town was crafted by my hands. Because I was honest and eager to help, people were always happy to seek my assistance—and of course, this was built upon the fact that everyone knew my skill. I did not marry until I was forty-eight. My wife was much younger than I, and I cherished her deeply. I had avoided marriage for so long because my health was poor, but as I continued my carpentry work, my body seemed to grow stronger. My wife admired my simple, honest nature, and after much consideration, I decided to build a family with her.

The Tragedy and the Statue

One stormy night, a massive landslide struck the mountainside. The disaster was catastrophic. A large part of our town was situated at the foot of the mountain, and many homes were swept away by the mudslide. It was a heart-wrenching sight. My wife and I watched in disbelief, as if we were in a nightmare. Just minutes before, everything had been fine, and then, in an instant, it was swallowed by a torrent from the heavens. So many people were weeping because they had lost everything. My wife and I could not bear to see them homeless, so we opened our courtyard to them. I used my carpentry skills to quickly build temporary wooden shelters using interlocking joints. Everyone was so surprised and grateful. Later, I helped everyone rebuild their homes. Since we were at the foot of the mountain, we had an abundance of timber, which was a stroke of good fortune. I helped everyone rebuild for free. They were so thankful that they built a statue of me as a symbol of the village.

The Guardian of the Village

After I died, I became a spirit residing within that very statue. I was shocked! I had spent my whole life working with wood, and yet, in death, I did not become wood—I became a spirit trapped inside a statue that represented me. I lived inside that statue like a guardian deity, protecting the village from further disasters. I stayed within that statue for five hundred years. Eventually, the statue was destroyed, and my spirit left it, only to enter another statue. Wherever I went, the statues I inhabited brought peace and blessings to the location. It was a strange, lonely existence, watching the world change while I remained tethered to the stone and wood of my own likeness.

A Golden Light in the Darkness

Today, my spirit entered yet another statue. But this time, the place where the statue stood was bathed in a brilliant golden light. It turned out to be a Namo Amituofo billboard installed by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Japan. I followed the instructions on the billboard and chanted, 'Namo Amituofo.' Just like that, I was freed from the space of the statue. I followed a vast number of Japanese spirits who had also seen the billboard and come to seek deliverance. We arrived at the temple, and Practitioner Su sent us into the Western Dharma-Nature Land.

The Irony of Attachment

Listening to the Dharma here, I finally realised that a person cannot afford to have even a shred of selfishness. Every space—the earth, the deep ground, the high mountains, the vast oceans—can be a destination for a soul. I lived my whole life as an honest, kind man, even helping villagers rebuild their homes for free. Yet, because of a tiny, lingering attachment to the good deeds I had performed, I ended up trapped inside a statue built by the villagers. It is truly ironic and quite humorous when you think about it. Fortunately, I encountered the Namo Amituofo billboard from the temple, which gave me the chance to be interviewed here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land today. Practitioner Su says that if I chant the Buddha's name diligently, I can be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is a blessing that one could search for in vain for a lifetime, yet I, Matsuda Itaki, have stumbled upon it. Perhaps this is what they mean by 'good deeds bring good rewards.'

A Message to the People of Japan

The Japanese people today are much like they were in my time—mostly simple and kind. The difference is that people are now further removed from nature and more familiar with technology; their characters lack some of that natural openness and breadth. I want to tell the Japanese people: hurry to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to find the Buddha. Namo Amituofo is truly here. Namo Amituofo can teach everyone how to leave suffering behind and gain happiness. He can even teach you how to be free from aging, free from illness, and ensure your spirit never dies. Just look at Practitioner Su, who saved me; he has attained these real benefits, which is why he is so actively introducing Namo Amituofo to the whole world. He wants everyone to receive the same benefits.

The Truth of Chanting

The Buddha's teachings tell us that even when doing good deeds, we should not leave any impression in our minds. Do it, and then forget it. The only thing that matters is the present moment of chanting 'Namo Amituofo,' and we must keep doing it, again and again. Such simple, clear words contain such profound truth. After hearing this, I have come to a deep realisation: all other good deeds are ultimately empty; only chanting 'Namo Amituofo' to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is real.

Namo Amituofo.

Matsuda Itaki"