From the Depths of Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Peng Bingkui, the father of Practitioner Peng Jiahao, 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 suffering to the light of the Buddha. Recorded by Venerable HaiZe on November 19, 2021.

Peng Bingkui speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Peng Bingkui. I am filled with such profound gratitude for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the grace of Practitioner Su. It is only through their intervention that I have been able to arrive here, in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Everything feels as though I have been caught in a long, arduous dream, and I have only just awakened. In that dream, I lived a life of marriage and parenthood. I laboured tirelessly to raise my children, and then watched as they grew, married, and had children of their own. Then, I grew old, and eventually, I passed away. I never imagined that after death, I would fall into the hells to suffer such excruciating, unimaginable pain. It was a darkness so absolute that I thought it would never end.

The Light in the Darkness

Then, quite suddenly, a brilliant light appeared. It pulled me away from that place of agony and brought me into a realm of pure radiance. From that moment on, I was finally free from those days of darkness. In this bright place, I saw a figure who looked familiar, yet I struggled to recognise him at first. He seemed older, and perhaps a bit heavier—could that really be my son? Practitioner Su referred to him as 'Venerable'. He had a shaved head and wore the robes of a monastic. I was stunned. This was a temple, a place of the Buddha. When did he become a monk? I thought he was a Taoist practitioner! How did he end up in robes? Was it because of these changes that I am here today, finally able to leave the hells behind?

These questions swirled in my mind, but as the days passed, I received the answers one by one. Yes, my son had met Practitioner Su, and that was why he had taken the vows of a monastic. My son performed the Chao Du for me, and Practitioner Su rescued me from the hells, bringing me here to the temple. I spent a long, peaceful time here. I watched as, during every Dharma assembly, so many beings were guided to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. So, when the temple asked me if I wished to go there myself, I did not hesitate. I said yes.

A Realm Beyond Belief

I had always wanted to stay here longer to be with my son. After all, it was because he met Practitioner Su that I was able to escape the hells. But now, Practitioner Su has guided us here, and this truly is the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! I never could have imagined that such a place could exist in the world. I stare at everything around me with wide, disbelieving eyes. Is this really where I am to stay? The Western Land of Dharma Nature was already a place so wonderful that it could not be surpassed, yet this place seems even more magnificent than that. I, Peng Bingkui, have suffered and endured hardship my entire life. To think that this time, I truly do not have to suffer ever again. Is this really not a dream?

A Father’s Final Words

Son, is all of this truly real? Father thanks you for your immense filial piety. I am also deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for bringing us all of this. I know that you, too, have lived a life of great hardship. But no matter what has happened, all of that is now in the past. Here, I see you working so diligently to clear the weeds and prepare the ground. Let that be a symbol of clearing away all the past unhappiness and sorrow, allowing a new earth to grow—a new beginning for you.

Continue your practice with sincerity, and follow Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su! Do not worry about the future; your choice to follow this path is the correct one. Chant Namo Amituofo with a focused heart. This place is where you, too, shall come in the future."