This is a record of an interview with Zhuang Yunzhi, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition from a local deity to a practitioner of the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 13, 2026.
Lay Practitioner Zhuang Yunzhi speaks:
". I am Zhuang Yunzhi. Ha! I never expected that I would be the first person to be interviewed today after having attained rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is truly such a profound honour!
I have only just arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—it has probably only been an hour or two in the human world, hasn't it? And yet, here I am, being asked by the staff at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to share my story. I am absolutely overjoyed. Let me tell you all: although I have not been here for long, the life here is simply magnificent. The Western Land of Nature was already wonderful, but I never imagined that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss would be even more supreme and beautiful.
A Heart Overflowing with Gratitude
Everything here fills me with such deep gratitude. The moment I arrived, I could not stop myself from kneeling down to kowtow before Namo Amituofo. I kept saying, 'I am so incredibly grateful to the Buddha. In this entire lifetime, I never imagined I would actually be able to arrive in Your Buddha-land.' I am also deeply grateful to Practitioner Su. If Practitioner Su had not called out my name and guided me, pulling me out of that space where I was serving as a local deity, I would still be trapped there even now.
Yes, it is true—I actually served as a local deity! It is truly an inconceivable thing to think about! In the past, I only knew that people worshipped local deities, but I never imagined that after I passed away, I would actually become a happy, contented local deity myself. Perhaps it was because I was a good person during my life; people always enjoyed being around me. I did not have many afflictions, and I was able to get along harmoniously with everyone. I never criticised others, nor was I overly harsh or demanding. I lived my life in that simple way, and after I passed away, I naturally became a local deity.
The Duties of a Local Deity
You might wonder, what does a local deity actually do? Well, when people came to worship me, I would listen to the innermost thoughts of their hearts. I would listen to what they were truly wishing for. If the things that person was seeking were rooted in Goodness, I would do my absolute best to help fulfil their wishes. Of course, everyone has their own laws of and cause and effect, so I could not directly provide them with material things. However, I could help them on a spiritual level. I could help them see things more clearly, think more positively, and assist them in finding a little more happiness in their lives.
I would take the happiness I felt, along with my own easy-going and optimistic nature, and transmit those positive qualities to them. That is exactly what I did during my time as a local deity. It was a simple life, but it was a life of service.
A Grandson’s Blessing and a Grandfather’s Hope
Now, after expressing my gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, the next person I must thank is my grandson, Wang Quan. I have always loved the sound of that name; it sounds like a name filled with great fortune. I am so incredibly grateful that he chose to perform Chao Du for his grandfather, the local deity. He even found his way to Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It is no wonder that I have always felt he was such a fortunate child.
But being fortunate is one thing; I also want to say a few more words to him directly. I truly hope he can seize this very moment—he is young, capable, and has the rare opportunity to know the Buddha’s teachings. This kind of opportunity is not something everyone encounters in their lifetime. Since you have such great fortune, you should study diligently and work hard to change all your old habits. Besides, following the Buddha and being happy and smiling every single day—what could be more wonderful than that?
You must take the responsibility to properly promote the work that Namo Amituofo is doing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Let the whole world know, and especially our fellow Chinese people—they must know about this. China cannot thrive without the Buddha’s teachings. As a Chinese person, this is your duty. I believe in you, and I know you can do a great job with this task!
Well, I have said enough for now. I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their boundless .
