From the Depths of Suffering to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Wei Guangfan, husband of Lay Practitioner Zhang Shouqin, 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 karmic journey and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on February 28, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Wei Guangfan speaks:

"My heart is overflowing with gratitude. I truly do not know how to express it in words; I am just so deeply, profoundly grateful. I want to offer my sincerest thanks to Practitioner Su for saving my spirit. It is only because of this compassion that I am able to be here today in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I never once imagined that I would have the opportunity to be rescued. For so long, I believed that I was destined to suffer indefinitely, and the weight of that despair was crushing. My heart is truly filled with gratitude beyond measure.

The Sudden Departure and the Weight of Karma

I still remember the day I left the human world. It happened so suddenly, so unexpectedly, that even I did not understand why my time had come so abruptly. It was only after I listened to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su that I finally began to understand the Law of Cause, Condition, and Effect. I realised that for every cause I planted, I had to reap the fruit. In my past, I had harmed so many people. I caused countless families to be torn apart from their families, leaving them broken and destitute. Because of the pain I inflicted, there were so many who wanted justice, so many who were waiting to claim my life in return.

In truth, my heart had always been heavy, filled with a suffocating, bitter sorrow. It is difficult to describe that feeling to those still in the world. Later, I came to understand that my spirit had already been suffering the consequences of my actions long before I realised it. My physical body was unaware, but the soul was already paying the price. Everything I experienced was the result of the karma I had created in the past; in this lifetime, I was destined to repay those debts. I am so deeply sorry to those I harmed. I am truly sorry for the pain I caused them.

A Message to My Family

I also feel a deep sense of regret toward my family in this lifetime—my wife and my children. I am so sorry for what I put them through. After I passed away, their entire world changed in an instant. They must have suffered so much, and for that, I am truly sorry. At that time, however, my spirit was already trapped in the cycle of retribution. The intensity of that suffering made it impossible for me to think about anything in the human world. Once the spirit leaves the body, the world becomes a completely different place, and everything that happens in the human realm seems to drift into a distant, unreachable past.

I want to say this to my wife and my children: Namo Amituofo is truly compassionate. You must study the Dharma. Without the Buddha, I would still be suffering in the hells today. We have the blessings to know the Buddha, so you must hold fast to the Buddha. In this lifetime, you must ensure that you return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Reality of Samsara and Final Liberation

During these past days, I have witnessed so much of the cycle of rebirth. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where Practitioner Su resides, one can see spirits from all walks of life. It was only then that I truly understood how terrifying the cycle of rebirth is. You have no way of knowing where you will end up in your next life. Especially when you fall into the hells, the suffering is unimaginable. It is just like my experience—no matter how much I cried out, there was no one who could save me.

But now, I am truly liberated. All of that suffering has been laid down, and I have let go of the past entirely. Now, everything is a fresh start. I will follow the Buddha forever, listening to the Dharma talks here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I also sincerely hope that all sentient beings with karmic affinity can leave suffering behind as soon as possible.

Wei Guangfan bows in reverence.

Namo Amituofo."