From the Battlefield to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Mai Yonghui, 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 life as a veteran of the Korean War and his subsequent spiritual transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on June 5, 2026.

Mai Yonghui speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. My name is Mai Yonghui, though I was once known as Mai Bingfan. Today, however, I much prefer the name that Namo Amituofo has bestowed upon me: Miaoyin, meaning 'Wondrous Sound.' Here, we are all equal; we are all Wondrous Sound, and we are all Buddhas! Think about it—what a beautiful and perfectly equal world this is.

I never could have imagined that my life would take such dramatic turns after death. I have experienced everything from the deepest, most agonising hells to the supreme joy of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I passed away in the human world less than a month ago. After my death, I was swiftly cast into hell to suffer retribution. Yet, just as quickly, I was guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This sudden transformation has left me deeply reflective.

The Clarity of the Western Land

It was only when I arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land that I began to slowly comprehend the laws of karma and cause and effect. Through listening to Practitioner Su’s lectures again and again, I received guidance that allowed me to gain a profound understanding of the Buddha’s teachings.

I have not yet described what it was like when we first arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. There were seven of us in total. After Practitioner Su sounded the great chime, we were directly guided to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I was one of those who had just passed away in the human world. We all knelt before the Buddha, kowtowing to express the deep gratitude within our hearts. If the Buddha had not compassionately established such a magnificent world, I believe that countless beings would have no way to rely on their own strength to walk the path to Buddhahood, let alone find liberation from the suffering of the cycle of rebirth.

The Weight of a Soldier's Past

I, Mai Yonghui, never expected that after living to the age of ninety-five and serving my country, I would be dragged straight to hell to suffer for my actions. In truth, before I passed away, I felt that something was wrong. As I felt my body failing, I experienced many hallucinations. In those visions, many beings appeared to demand retribution from me. I knew then that I must have offended many people in my life.

When I think about it now, it makes sense. I was a veteran of the Korean War, and during the execution of my duties, many people died by my hand. At the time, we were a group of patriots, but from the perspective of the Buddha’s teachings, if the word 'patriotism' is used in the context of war, it signifies that one has entered into a state of hostility against others. This act itself does not conform to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, especially since we were inevitably taking lives on the battlefield.

Many people might find this difficult to understand: Is it wrong to defend one's country? Or, is it wrong to help the weak resist foreign aggression? In reality, any action that creates opposition with others, if it results in the loss of life, how could it not lead the other party to suffer just as we did after death, and then come to seek retribution from us? This is a natural consequence; the ledger of cause and effect is perfectly clear.

A Patriot's Regret

As an old soldier, I often forgot about my own body, striving to fight until the very end. For the sake of the country and the people, I believed that only by defeating the enemy could our nation truly stand tall in the world. Although we were not fighting directly for the country, the Korean War was, in itself, an effort to resist the American invasion of the Korean Peninsula. If the United States had won at that time, would that not have caused trouble for the northeastern part of our country?

Moreover, the ambitions of the United States were certainly not limited to the Korean Peninsula. Looking back, those Western nations occupied positions in many countries across the globe, even directly seizing the territories of others as their own. Thinking about it now, it seems unthinkable, yet it was a reality that occurred. Oh, look at me, rambling on and on—I almost forgot to express my gratitude to my goddaughter. It was she who registered me for the Chao Du Dharma Assembly at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, which gave me the opportunity to avoid the suffering of hell and reach the Western Dharma-Nature Land. She had long known of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and understood that this place could deliver deceased spirits to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. After I passed away, she actively took care of this matter for me. This is her tremendous blessing, and it is my great fortune as well!

A Miraculous Turn of Events

I never expected such a beautiful ending to all of this, which is why I call it a 'great reversal.' When I arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land from hell, I was already astonished. A beam of light truly and naturally guided me from the depths of hell up to the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This is the compassion of the Buddha, and the compassion of Practitioner Su, giving us beings a chance at rebirth.

Thinking back to how I walked the path of a soldier without knowing right from wrong, I certainly harmed many lives, so it is understandable that I was sent to the hell of knives and mountains. Please, do not feel sad for me. My goddaughter is truly wise; she has witnessed all these miracles happen at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

The Wisdom of Mituo Village

Not only that, but she also invested in a Mituo Village here. This is a very wise method used by Practitioner Su to save beings. It allows people to spend their later years here in peace, to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss without worry, and it also uses the funds raised by the Mituo Village to invest in education and expansion projects.

Those who are able to come here and invest must be people of tremendous blessing. Especially in their later years, when people are at their most vulnerable, they can stay by the Buddha’s side. They do not have to suffer through the pains of aging and illness, but can instead be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss with ease. I believe all of this is possible.

I also hope that one day my goddaughter can come to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss where I now reside, just as freely. I hope she will diligently practise in the human world and not waste this hard-won human body. She is a good person, just a little sentimental and prone to overthinking; she often has too many worries, but in truth, these are all unnecessary. I hope she can let go of these feelings and live more lightly and freely.

A Final Word of Advice

Her health is not very good, but as a kind person, she should know that the state of one's body is born from the heart. She must take good care of her heart, look at everything from a positive perspective, and avoid dwelling on the negative; then, she will not have so much pain and illness.

I advise her, and everyone who reads this interview, to take the opportunity to walk this bright path to the West. I am deeply grateful for everything that has happened, and I hope my life can serve as a mirror for everyone. The matter of war is truly not to be pursued; this is the truth of the matter.

Well, I have said enough. I hope everyone can continue to diligently practise in the human world, and we shall meet again in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in the days to come.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su, gratitude to the people of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and gratitude to my goddaughter, He Huiping!

Namo Amituofo.

Words of Mai Yonghui."