From the Ashes to the Lotus Seat

This is a record of an interview with Xiong Shufen, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life and his profound journey to deliverance. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on December 26, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Xiong Shufen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xiong Shufen. To think that I have travelled from the midst of a raging, merciless fire to this place—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—a world of such coolness, freedom, and incomparable peace. This is such a monumental reversal of fate! Ha! It is truly too beautiful, and I am filled with such immense gratitude. People often say, 'The heavens have unpredictable winds and clouds, and people have sudden fortunes or misfortunes.' But today, after spending some time in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have finally come to understand the terrifying nature of the laws of karma and cause and effect. I must tell you all: you must take this as a warning!

From the Inferno to the Western Pure Land

First, I wish to formally express my gratitude to the Buddha, Namo Amituofo, and to Practitioner Su, for their great compassion. It is because you established the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Western Land of Dharma Nature that we in the human world have any hope at all! Arriving here today is my great karmic fortune; I have finally reached the end of my suffering and tasted the sweetness of deliverance. I am so grateful to my niece and nephew. Thank you for being able to encounter the Buddha, for following the Buddha, and for performing Chao Du for us. Without your efforts, I would still be wandering aimlessly in this vast cycle of rebirth, not knowing where to go or what to do.

The fact that you were able to encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre while you still possess a human body is a testament to your deep good roots. Good people will always receive good rewards! Oh, I was not a bad person by nature, but I had a stubborn personality, and that is why I died such a miserable death. Yet, that too was the result of negative causes I had planted in my previous lives. My personality in this life allowed those conditions to ripen, and just like that—thump—I fell into the hells to suffer. It was a sight too tragic to behold; the suffering was truly, truly intense!

The Terrifying Reality of Cause and Effect

I spent a period of time in the Western Land of Dharma Nature to calm my spirit, and now, I no longer feel the sting of that suffering. But to be perfectly honest, looking back at my many lives from here, I see that I was either enjoying fleeting pleasures or creating negative karma. It all seems so meaningless now. What does it matter if one was a king or a prime minister? Wealth, poverty, nobility, and lowliness—all are determined by fixed numbers. Amidst this sinking and floating in the cycle of rebirth, there was still a thread of Buddhist affinity left in me. The moment I encountered the Buddha, I was already weeping bitterly, my face covered in tears. Yes, the Buddha is so compassionate; He has always been waiting for us to turn back. Today, thanks to your karmic fortune, I am sitting here on this lotus seat. I am filled with such boundless gratitude!

Therefore, I urge everyone: you must uphold the precepts, and you must listen to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su. You will not suffer a loss by doing so! Today, as I watched Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk, I learned so much. I also saw that I still owed too much to others in the past. I am truly sorry to all those beings I harmed. Although I am now in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have not yet achieved full cultivation, so I cannot help them yet. But I will work hard! I will strive to make amends for the mistakes of my many lives and give everyone a chance to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Message to My Family

I wonder if the members of our family can take these words to heart and truly believe them. You will be a great example for everyone else. You must believe that encountering the Buddha is the most precious thing that can ever happen to you. If you can, please introduce this to others so they can also know the goodness of the Buddha. Look at me—your third uncle—even though my final ending was so tragic, because you encountered the Buddha and helped me connect with Him, how wonderful it is now! Everyone surely has Buddhist affinity; it just requires time and the right causal conditions. My speech has become much more purified here, so I hope you will not mind me being a bit long-winded!

Finally, I hope you will chant Namo Amituofo, read the sutras, perform prostrations, and engage in group cultivation. Anything you do that is good is beneficial. One day, we will meet here. Remember, chanting the Buddha's name—chanting 'Namo Amituofo'—is more important than anything else! Namo Amituofo. Xiong Shufen speaks."