From the Depths of Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lan Minzong, 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 journey from the depths of hell to liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on July 23, 2021.

Lan Minzong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lan Minzong. I want to express my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to Practitioner Su for pulling me out of the darkness and leading me to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I also want to thank my sister and my brother-in-law—thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and your efforts on my behalf."

The Agony of the Hells

"To be honest, even now, I find it hard to believe that I have truly been saved. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that a day like this would come for me. During those long, dark, and suffocating days in the hells, I lived in absolute agony. Every single second was filled with unbearable suffering. I could not even bring myself to think about my family still living in the world; the distance between us felt like an eternity, a chasm that could never be bridged. It was only then, in the midst of that torment, that I realised everything in the world—everything I had once clung to—is truly an illusion. It was all fake."

The Light of Deliverance

"From the moment Practitioner Su called my name and pulled me out of the depths of hell, I was saved. At that time, I was so traumatised and broken that I could not even speak without my entire body trembling. It was only after I began listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, and as the warm, healing Buddha-light shone upon me, that I slowly began to recover my senses. My decision to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss was one I had to weigh carefully over time, as I was still processing the weight of my past."

Overcoming the Fear of Return

"Every day here, I listened to Practitioner Su’s teachings and watched how she works tirelessly to deliver sentient beings. In truth, I should have awakened much sooner, but I was gripped by a profound fear. I was terrified that I would not be able to reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I had finally arrived in such a magnificent, peaceful place, and I was petrified that I might be dragged back into the hells if I made a single mistake. It was this fear that kept me from speaking up about my desire to go to the Western Land. But today, I finally made up my mind. I chose to trust that the Buddha would save me. And now, I have truly arrived safely in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A New Beginning

"I am doing very well now. I am completely liberated. My heart is constantly chanting Namo Amituofo, and I am filled with such immense gratitude toward the Buddha. I no longer dwell on the past; those things are gone, left behind in the cycle of rebirth. For me, this feels like a brand-new beginning. If you ask me to speak, I find I have few words, but I must tell my family who are still in the world: everyone must learn Buddhism. When I was suffering, I finally understood that everything in this world is fake. No one can suffer on your behalf—not even your family can stay by your side in those dark places. Everyone must learn Buddhism to save themselves. Please, do not let your life pass by in vain. You must listen to my words."

"Thank you, my sister Yuying, and thank you to everyone for your help. Namo Amituofo."