From Ordinary Life to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

Lay Practitioner Lin Shiqi, the father of Lay Practitioner Lin Shusi, sought deliverance through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This interview, recorded on July 7, 2023, by Chief Writer Shi Fajing, captures his reflections on his transition from an ordinary life to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Lay Practitioner Lin Shiqi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, I am able to reside here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I must express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su. It is through the great compassion of Practitioner Su that I have been helped, and only through this grace have I been granted such a precious opportunity.

Throughout my life, I was a very ordinary person. I did not perform any grand, virtuous deeds, nor did I commit any major evils. After I married, my entire existence was dedicated to my family—to my wife and my children. That was the sum of my life. Many people live exactly the same way I did, believing that as long as their own family is well, that is enough. But in truth, we should expand our mind-capacity. We should help others more, allowing more people to live better lives, and helping them understand the importance of chanting Namo Amituofo to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Long Cycle of Samsara

From the moment I left the hospital until now, I have been following the Buddha. I sit upon a lotus seat, chanting Namo Amituofo every day, listening to the sutras, and participating in the Dharma assembly. During this process, my spirit has been continuously undergoing purification. Only then did I truly see that throughout my many lives, I have been trapped in the cycle of rebirth, never having the chance to escape. It is so painful, so truly tragic. I am incredibly fortunate to have encountered Practitioner Su in this lifetime. As long as I said, 'I am willing,' Practitioner Su would help me, guiding my spirit to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is just as it is now; this is the only reason I have had the chance to attain liberation and leave suffering behind. Otherwise, I would still be trapped in the cycle of rebirth, continuing to suffer. My children do not know any of this.

Letting Go of Attachment

My children are quite naive; they do not believe in these things. At first, I was unhappy with them for being this way, for not knowing how to be grateful. But as I listened to the sutras day after day, my heart gradually let go. I learned to no longer hold onto attachments, and I stopped dwelling on thoughts of them. I only remember the great compassion of the Buddha, and I have come to understand that one should simply follow the conditions of life.

A Message to My Family

Now, I follow the Buddha with a single-minded heart. Having arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I will continue my diligent practice. I will not let down the compassion of Practitioner Su who saved me. I will work hard to ensure that my spirit continues to elevate. As for the human world, it feels as though it is already very far away from me. Although it has not been a very long time since I departed, the purification I have undergone in the Western Dharma-Nature Land has made my spirit feel as if it is a great distance from the world. Nevertheless, I still wish to say to my family: you must believe in the Buddha, for only then will you avoid suffering. I have departed, and I am becoming a Buddha in the West. I look forward to the day when we may have the opportunity to meet again in the Western Land.

Namo Amituofo.

Lin Shiqi bows in reverence."