From the Burden of Karma to the Western Pure Land

Lay Practitioner Li Bingjiang, the maternal grandfather of Lay Practitioner Wei Qin, sought deliverance through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This interview, recorded on July 5, 2024, captures his reflections from the Buddha-land, where he now resides under the guidance of the Buddha.

Lay Practitioner Li Bingjiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lay Practitioner Li Bingjiang. When my spirit first arrived at this Buddha-land, I was completely dazed and confused; my mind was clouded, and I could not see clearly. However, as the Buddha-light of this place provided purification day after day, I began to see myself with increasing clarity. It was only then that I truly realised I had been suffering the consequences of my past actions throughout this lifetime.

I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to finally wake up. I am even more fortunate to have been able to follow the Buddha. Even now, when I think back to the moment when I was a pig and my owner raised a knife to slaughter me, my entire body still trembles with fear. It took me quite a long time to convince myself that I am safe now, that I am already resting within the radiant, luminous embrace of the Buddha-land.

The Weight of Karmic Debt

I understand now that what I owed in the past must be repaid. The way I treated the pigs I raised in that lifetime is exactly how I must now settle my debts. I am repenting; my killing karma was far too heavy. Yet, I was not a malicious person by nature; in fact, there were times when I saw others in need, and my heart would soften toward them.

If I had known about the laws of karma and cause and effect back then, I would never have chosen to harm the lives of other beings. Beyond the harm I caused to the pigs in that specific lifetime, I have many other debts accumulated throughout my many lives. My karmic creditors are all waiting for me in the space between realms. When I look out, I see them waiting for me in vast numbers—they are densely packed, as far as the eye can see.

Facing the Truth with Responsibility

At the very beginning, I truly wanted to escape. I did not want to face them. But I knew that running away would be unfair to my karmic creditors. Right now, I am under the protection of the Buddha here in this Buddha-land, so they cannot approach me. However, as a person who wishes to be responsible, after working hard to clear my mind, I have decided to follow the Buddha and learn diligently. I will settle the debts I owe, one by one.

When I was shown the scenes of my many lives throughout the cycle of rebirth, I realised how insignificant each individual lifetime truly is. Because of this, one should never cling tightly to anything in this world. Once I saw the truth clearly, I decided to let go of all worldly attachment and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Message to My Family

I am also deeply grateful to my granddaughter, Lay Practitioner Wei Qin, for helping me receive Chao Du. The world is full of suffering. I hope that my family members who are still living in the dust of the world will have the chance to wake up. Do not be trapped by attachment, do not cling so tightly, and do not let yourselves be trapped by the immediate circumstances of the present moment.

Believing in the Buddha is not superstition; it is the Buddha helping everyone to transcend this cycle of suffering. I hope that all of you can practise chanting Namo Amituofo and wait for the arrival of good conditions.

With palms joined, Li Bingjiang."