From Earth Deity to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Wang Zhishang, a former Earth Deity who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition from a local land spirit to a being of the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on January 16, 2026.

Wang Zhishang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wang Zhishang. Ha! I honestly have no idea what happened. One moment I was there, and the next, a brilliant golden light accompanied by the thunderous, resonant sound of a chime bowl suddenly enveloped me. In a single heartbeat, I was transported from Mount Tianmu directly to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Even for a spirit like me—a ghost deity of the spiritual realms—this is absolutely mind-boggling! It feels as if a pie fell from the sky. One second I was still guarding that tiny patch of land on Mount Tianmu, and the next, I had transformed into a holy being of the Western Pure Land."

A Sudden Transformation

"Ha! It seems I must have accumulated quite a bit of merit in my past lives. This is truly a tremendous blessing! Once I arrived in the West, I quickly realised that it was the couple, Wang Chunming and Ma Zhongming, who had performed the Chao Du for me. But let me tell you, this was no ordinary deliverance. In the world I came from, I have never heard of anyone—no matter who was leading the ceremony—who could deliver a spirit directly to the Western Pure Land in one go. It sounds like something out of a fantasy novel, completely unreal! Yet, this incredible, unbelievable event actually happened to me, Wang Zhishang. It just goes to show that in the spiritual realms, anything is possible."

The Power of True Deliverance

"Coming back to the point, it is truly astounding that Wang Chunming and his wife were able to find a bodhimanda where a true Buddha abides—the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. To perform a Chao Du at this temple and have it result in a direct rebirth in the Western Pure Land? I had never even heard of such a thing! I really must express my deepest gratitude to Wang Chunming and his wife. If it weren't for their wisdom and their tremendous blessings in finding the only bodhimanda in the world where Namo Amituofo abides, and the only one where an awakened being resides, I would not be here today, sitting in the Western Pure Land and accepting this interview from a Venerable."

Karmic Connections Across Time

"Upon arriving in the Western Pure Land, my spiritual quality was instantly elevated. As an Earth Deity, I already possessed the five supernatural powers: the heavenly eye, divine hearing, knowing past lives, reading minds, and the divine foot. However, once I reached the Western Pure Land, because Namo Amituofo shares all His power with the residents of this land, my abilities were enhanced significantly. Naturally, I was able to see my own past lives. I, too, was once a sage who descended from the Western Pure Land. I saw the suffering of sentient beings with karmic affinity and made a vow to descend to the human world to save them. But alas, I became lost in the ocean of karma in the Saha world and forgot the way home. As it turns out, Wang Chunming and Ma Zhongming were my Dharma protectors back when I was a monastic. So, you see, the relationships between beings in the six realms of rebirth are never separate from the Law of Cause, Condition, and Effect."

The Infinite Energy of the Pure Land

"For an Earth Deity like me, the most obvious beauty of the Western Pure Land is that I no longer need to worry about my source of energy. In the spiritual realms, whether you are a ghost deity, a lonely wandering spirit, or even a demon, every spirit needs energy to survive. If a spirit lacks sufficient energy, or if that energy drops below a certain level, the spirit will wither. It is much like the death of a human, though the difference is that a spirit is neither born nor destroyed. However, for a withered spirit to return to a normal state is incredibly difficult. Therefore, for every spirit, maintaining a certain level of energy is a critical issue. Here, under the pervasive golden light of Namo Amituofo, there is no darkness. Energy is infinite and inexhaustible. This is a gift of great compassion from Namo Amituofo to all the residents of the Pure Land. Here, I, the former Earth Deity Wang Zhishang, will always have an endless supply of energy. Surrounded by the Dharma sounds of Namo Amituofo that flow everywhere, my spiritual quality continues to rise. I am so incredibly grateful for everything in the West."

A Message to My Benefactors

"I am so grateful to my Buddha, Namo Amituofo, for compassionately establishing the Western Pure Land. I am also grateful to Practitioner Su. Without Practitioner Su, who, as an awakened being, made the vow to save all beings, this inconceivable event of leading a spirit into the Western Pure Land would never have happened. Practitioner Su is truly a Buddha—a Buddha of the past, a Buddha of the present, and a Buddha of the future. I had heard in the past that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would descend to the world to manifest in various forms, but I had never witnessed it with my own eyes. After being suddenly led to the West by Practitioner Su, and seeing it with the supernatural powers of a being of the Western Land, I cannot help but sigh in wonder. To think that I, Wang Zhishang, would personally encounter a Buddha or Bodhisattva descending to save beings! And to be delivered to the Western Pure Land by this very Buddha? One must truly praise the unceasing compassion and the unwavering vows and actions of the Buddhas and Tathagatas in saving beings from suffering."

"I want to say to Wang Chunming and his wife: in this lifetime, you have been able to encounter Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, and you have found the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. You are truly blessed beyond measure. You must seize this opportunity, follow the teachings strictly, and stay close to the Buddha. Introducing others to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a tremendous help to them; you must continue this work. Propagating the Dharma is also a way to resolve conflicts with your own sentient beings with karmic affinity."

"How many people are fortunate enough to encounter a bodhimanda where Namo Amituofo abides? And of those, how many truly believe? Wang Chunming and Ma Zhongming, I ask you: do you believe in the Buddha? I believe you do. Since you believe, you must be single-minded. Follow the Buddha's footsteps with all your heart and soul. Only then will you be able to return to the Western Pure Land with Namo Amituofo in this lifetime. I, Wang Zhishang, will be waiting for you in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"Namo Amituofo."