From the Depths of Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Hou Peilin, a university classmate of Lay Practitioner Guo Pinling, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her transition from the depths of suffering to the light of the Buddha. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on December 17, 2021.

Hou Peilin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Hou Peilin. I have waited so long for you to arrive, Pinling! I am currently standing upon the soil of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was the compassionate Practitioner Su who took us by the hand and led us in. Seeing everything here, so incredibly beautiful and pure, I am overwhelmed with a thousand emotions. Tears are streaming down my face, and I cannot stop them. Every detail of my past life is surfacing in my mind. I never imagined that such a day would come for me; these are the tears of one who has finally tasted the sweetness after enduring the bitterest of ends."

The Agony of the Hells

"From the suffering I endured while alive to the even greater agony I faced after death, no one knew the extent of my pain. No one could have imagined that a woman like me would have to bear such heavy karmic retribution. I know my own faults. I suffered before I died, and after I passed, I fell directly into the hells. I had to accept all of this; there was no room for complaint, only the crushing reality of the hells, which are truly, unimaginably painful.

Yet, here I am now, standing in a place where the radiant light of the Buddha shines everywhere. This is all because of your compassionate heart, Pinling. You helped me by performing Chao Du, and it was that very act that allowed a beam of Buddha-light to reach down into the hells and pull me up. Back then, I was a spirit covered in scars, filled with unbearable agony. But look at me now—I am full of vitality, my heart overflowing with gratitude. I am eternally thankful to the compassionate Namo Amituofo and the compassionate Practitioner Su for saving me."

A Life Transformed by Compassion

"Everything that happened in the past is too painful to look back upon. Fortunately, in the days before I passed, I was able to know you. You are such a kind, intelligent, quick-witted, and empathetic person. It is precisely because of these virtues that you were able to encounter Practitioner Su amidst the endless cycles of life. During my time at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, my initial terror—the fear I felt when I was first rescued from the hells—gradually transformed into a profound sense of peace.

Here, listening to Practitioner Su deliver Dharma talks and chanting the name of Namo Amituofo, I have come to understand the laws of karma and cause and effect. I understand now that everything in the unseen world has its own arrangement. Before one can transform their karma, one must simply follow the flow of these arrangements and the path of destiny. The way I ended my life was a bitter fruit I had to bear due to the laws of karma, and I have finally come to accept it all with a peaceful heart."

A Message to My Dear Friend

"In the Dharma-Nature Land of the temple, I have been waiting for you. I believed with all my heart that you would eventually come to the temple, and I wanted to thank you in person. That is why I stayed there for so long. I hoped that with your blessings, I could step into this sacred Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and today, my wish has finally been realised.

I see you now, along with your two lovely children. They are your 'sweet burdens' in this life. But you must ensure that they are always under the protection and guidance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Life is full of hidden dangers, and as your children grow, they need the education of the Buddha’s teachings so they do not stray onto the wrong path. I believe you will arrange everything well for them. Even if you encounter obstacles or confusion, with your intelligence, I am certain you will be able to break through them. Lead your two children well on the Buddha’s path, listen to the words of Practitioner Su, and with her assistance, the children will be able to pass through any difficulty smoothly.

Once again, I offer my deepest gratitude and blessings. Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su. Thank you to all the Venerables, Lay Practitioners, and volunteers at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."