From Darkness to the Light of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with the grandfather of Lay Practitioner Li Ruizhen, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on June 27, 2025.

The Grandfather of Li Ruizhen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the grandfather of Li Ruizhen. I am so deeply grateful to the venerable Practitioner Su. I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to my granddaughter, whom I never had the chance to meet in my lifetime, for her efforts in securing my deliverance. It is because of all of you that I am now able to follow Namo Amituofo. Here, in the presence of Namo Amituofo, everything before my eyes is filled with brilliant light—a light that carries such immense, boundless energy.

Upon arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I was no longer the frail, elderly man I once was. I have been restored to my youth, appearing exactly as I did during the prime of my life—the time I always cherished most. When I was old, I would often sit and ponder, wishing that if I could only return to those younger years, I would have had the strength to accomplish so much more. Now, that wish has been fulfilled. I have regained that vitality, and I feel a profound sense of energy coursing through my entire being."

A Debt of Gratitude

"I know that my primary duty now is to repay the Buddha's kindness. I am incredibly fortunate to have been liberated from the sea of suffering. This is a treasure that no amount of wealth I accumulated in my previous life could ever have purchased. It is a gift beyond measure.

In my past life, I often felt that I lacked nothing, yet I never imagined that after death, I would be plunged into such an overwhelming, suffocating darkness. When that darkness surrounded me, I was truly terrified. As a man, I felt I had to maintain a facade of strength, but inside, I was trembling. Now that I have finally been saved, I stand before a world of such brilliant, eternal light—a world that will never fade or change again."

The Blessings of a Family

"I want to thank my dear daughter for raising such a filial daughter of her own. Because of her, we are all now citizens of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. When I think about it, this is the greatest blessing our family could ever receive. I am filled with such deep gratitude!

There are still many of my descendants living in the world today, but unfortunately, they do not yet have the good roots required to truly understand the Buddha's teachings. I understand that one must possess deep good roots to attain such a good fruit. Therefore, I cannot force this upon them. I can only wait patiently for the Causal Conditions to ripen for each of them, and in the meantime, I offer my sincerest blessings to every one of my descendants."

A Voice of Eternal Peace

"Now that I reside in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I am known as Miaoyin. My connection to my former world has largely faded; it no longer holds the same significance it once did. Even so, I continue to practise by chanting Namo Amituofo. Every single recitation of Namo Amituofo is like a prayer of blessing sent back to all of you.

Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su. And thank you, my dear granddaughter. Namo Amituofo."