From the Depths of Hell to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Sun Ruichen, 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 transition from the hell realms to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Fajing, on September 27, 2024.

Lay Practitioner Sun Ruichen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. My relative by marriage is truly the most courageous among us. We are all spirits now, but his spirit is the most clear-headed and lucid; he was the first to see through everything and awaken. When the Venerable asked us if we wished to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, he immediately declared that he was ready to go. Initially, I was still hesitating because I was afraid that I would not be able to make it. However, seeing how confident he appeared, I decided that I would follow him.

The Bitter Cycle of Samsara

Now, we have truly arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so deeply grateful. It is fortunate that I followed his lead and expressed my desire to come here, for that is the only way we could be liberated from the cycle of rebirth. Samsara is incredibly bitter. One has no control over where one goes; you must go wherever your karmic retribution dictates. You reap exactly what you sow—it is truly a miserable existence.

In this lifetime, I never imagined that I would end up in the hells. I simply did not understand the laws of karma and cause and effect. My heart harboured negative thoughts, and through that, I uncovered all the karma from my past lives. I saw so many of my karmic creditors waiting to seize me. Each one of them looked incredibly ferocious, as if they wanted to swallow me alive. When we appear in the world as humans, we forget everything from our past lives. Now that I no longer have a physical body, I can see clearly all the karma I have created over the past several lifetimes. My legs went weak with terror; I had no idea that I had been so malicious and had created so much negative karma.

The Weight of Selfishness

Throughout this life, I also did not understand the need to change my personality or transform my heart. I was still governed by the habits of my past lives. My heart was selfish, always thinking only of myself. To people in the world, this might seem normal, but it is not acceptable. My karma was found by me in this way, and so all the beings I had harmed were accusing me. After I died, I was dragged straight into the hells.

It was my grandson who saved me, and only then did I have the opportunity to emerge from the hells. Otherwise, I would have had to endure punishment for nearly ten more years before being sent to the next place to suffer in the cycle of rebirth.

A Glimmer of Golden Light

When I was in the hells and heard someone calling my name, I shouted out as quickly as I could. It was not just that I heard my name being called; I also saw a vast expanse of golden light ahead of me. I knew then that I was saved. Even though my entire body was devoid of strength, I had to cry out. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for saving me.

I also know that I was wrong, and I am truly repenting. I beg my karmic creditors to forgive me. I hope that today, they can all follow me into the memorial tablets. Do not wait for me any longer; I have already arrived in the Western Land. As long as they are willing to be saved through Chao Du, the Buddha can save them all. Therefore, I continue to chant Namo Amituofo, constantly apologising and repenting to them. I am communicating with them, hoping that they, too, can soon let go, leave suffering behind, and seize this opportunity to attain liberation.

Sun Ruichen bows in reverence. Namo Amituofo."