From the Burden of Karma to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Wu Fuhua, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his karmic journey through the six realms of rebirth and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on July 14, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Wu Fuhua speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wu Fuhua, and I have now arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is filled with an infinite sense of gratitude that I cannot even begin to put into words.

I would not dare to claim that I was anyone of great importance during my time in the world. Now that I have passed away, I realise the truth: no one in this world is truly 'great' or 'powerful.' Everyone must face death, and once we die, we are carried away by our own karma to wherever we are destined to go. No matter how powerful a person might think they are, no one can escape the ironclad laws of cause and effect.

The Weight of Past Deeds

When I look back at my past, I see that I created a tremendous amount of negative karma. In several lifetimes, I was blessed with the fortune of being born into wealthy and influential families. However, I did not know how to cherish those blessings. I squandered my wealth, lived with reckless abandon, and caused harm to many people. Because of those actions, I had to continue paying off my debts in this lifetime.

My spirit was taken away quite early to face the consequences of my actions. I was forced into the body of a cow, toiling in the fields. Every time I finished ploughing a plot of land, it was as if I were paying off a portion of my debt. It was a meticulous, soul-crushing process of settling accounts, one by one. I had no idea when my time as a beast of burden would finally come to an end.

A Debt of Gratitude

In this lifetime, my greatest benefactor is my niece, He Huiping. It was she who sought Chao Du for me, allowing my spirit to be saved by Practitioner Su. Without her intervention, I would still be trapped in that cycle, suffering as a cow. My heart is deeply thankful to her, and I am profoundly grateful to Practitioner Su for his boundless compassion.

Since arriving here at the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I listen to the sutras every single day. During the Dharma assemblies, I join in the practice alongside the others. It is heartbreaking to see so many spirits suffering, yet it is a blessing that they have finally encountered a place where the Buddha can save them. They all come here seeking help; during every Dharma assembly, the space is so packed with spirits that there is not even a tiny gap left. As I sit upon my lotus seat and witness such a magnificent and moving scene, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I am so thankful that I still have the opportunity to sit here, to chant Namo Amituofo, and to help other sentient beings.

The Truth of Letting Go

I never had any grand ambitions in my life, but now that I have come to know the Buddha and have seen the immense suffering of so many beings, I truly wish to help them. Before I passed away, I did not understand what it meant to have the mind-capacity to help others; I was filled with selfishness. Now, I understand that this physical body is merely an illusion, and everything we possess in the world is equally transient and false. I want to dedicate my efforts to helping these beings.

I have made a vow: I hope that all my descendants will learn the Dharma. Learning the Dharma is not for one's own sake; it must be done with a sincere heart for the sake of all beings. When we work for the benefit of others, we naturally help ourselves in the process. We all carry heavy karma, and the only way to dissolve it is to constantly help others and introduce more people to the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo.

A Final Message to My Niece

Finally, I want to say thank you to my niece. Thank you for saving your uncle. The connection we shared in this lifetime was forged in our past lives. I hope she will continue to follow the Buddha closely. Most importantly, she must work on changing her own personality. I know this life has been full of suffering for her; the pain of a heart that cannot let go is truly unbearable. I see it all so clearly now—please, just let it all go! Now that I no longer have a physical body, I realise that everything is empty. No matter how tightly you cling to things, in the end, you must let them go. It is far better to let yourself be at ease now, to chant Namo Amituofo with a pure heart, so that you may suffer less.

Wu Fuhua bows in reverence.

Namo Amituofo."