From the Depths of Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Zhao Mingfeng, who sought deliverance 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 human world to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on April 17, 2022.

Lay Practitioner Zhao Mingfeng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Father, Mother, I am doing very well now, so please do not worry about me. I am so grateful to my uncle for helping me; it is only because of his intervention that I could be rescued by Practitioner Su and brought to this beautiful Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Pain of a Life Cut Short

Before I had the chance to listen to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, my heart was filled with profound sorrow. I was deeply saddened that my life in the human world had ended so abruptly. I had not yet grown up, nor had I experienced a full life like others. Instead, I was consumed by the relentless torture of illness, and then, the grim reaper came to claim my life.

In truth, during the period when I was suffering from my illness, a part of my spirit had already descended into the hells to suffer retribution. The hells are truly, absolutely terrifying! I cried out incessantly, hoping that someone might hear me and save me. But no matter how loudly I screamed, no one could hear me, and no one could rescue me. This was because I still had heavy karma that needed to be repaid. My rebirth into the human world in this lifetime was merely one stop on a journey of debt repayment. In just a few short years, I was made to endure every kind of suffering, only to be cast into the hells after death to continue suffering the consequences of my actions.

A Turning Point in the Cycle of Rebirth

I am incredibly fortunate that, along the path of my cycle of rebirth, there were noble people who could assist me. The first of these noble people to appear was my uncle. It was my uncle who reached out to help me, and because of his efforts, I was given the opportunity to be rescued by Practitioner Su. When I was first saved, I was still trembling, overwhelmed by fear. It took quite some time before I could finally calm down.

Afterward, I began sitting on a lotus seat every day to listen to the Dharma. At first, I could not understand what Practitioner Su was saying. It was only after I received the illumination of the Buddha-light every day, which purified my spirit, that I began to comprehend the truths she taught. I finally understood what the laws of karma and cause and effect are, what the cycle of rebirth means, and what karma truly is. When I looked back at my own past, I realised that I had created immense negative karma. Among my many sins, I had once been involved in selling drugs. These substances caused addiction and destroyed many lives. The suffering those people endured at that time was all reflected back upon me as karmic retribution.

Repentance and Ultimate Deliverance

When I witnessed my own past, I wept for a very long time. I could not believe that I had been capable of such things, but the reality was undeniable—I had indeed committed these grave sins. From that point on, I spent every day in deep repentance, begging those beings I had harmed to forgive me. During the weekly Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, I chanted Namo Amituofo without ceasing, hoping that my efforts could help all those beings I had harmed to find liberation as soon as possible.

I thank my uncle for his help. My uncle is a truly good person; he helped me constantly while I was ill. However, my karma was so heavy that it was not simply a matter of my uncle wanting to help me; I had to be worthy of salvation. Yet, now I am truly saved. I am already in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is so beautiful here! Whatever I need, it is provided. I can listen to Namo Amituofo give Dharma talks, and I can listen to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks as well. Everything is possible. I can do whatever I wish; it is a state of absolute freedom and ultimate joy.

In the years since I left the human world, I have gradually learned to let go of my attachments to that realm. Now that I have reached the Western Land, I am no longer bound by those past emotions. I have begun to transform into a true resident of the Western Pure Land, spending my days listening to the Dharma under the seat of Namo Amituofo. I ask my father, my mother, and everyone else not to miss me anymore. I am doing very well. I truly hope that my father, my mother, and all of you will also chant Namo Amituofo, so that we may all meet again in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo."