From the Ghost Realm to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Jiang Kaichang, the father-in-law of Lay Practitioner Wei Qin, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on April 19, 2024.

Jiang Kaichang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Jiang Kaichang. It is truly remarkable—Practitioner Su has actually guided me all the way to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss! If this had not happened to me personally, I would never have believed that a human being could possess the power to lead a spirit directly to the Western Land. But now, I am speechless. I truly believe it. It is absolutely extraordinary!

I am filled with such deep gratitude to Practitioner Su for saving me. During my life, I never once stopped to consider where my spirit would go after I passed away. I always held the belief that as long as a person lived an upright life, there was nothing to fear. Now, I think very differently. I have come to realise that the existence of karmic creditors is a very real and serious matter. If one does not resolve their karma, when the time comes for those karmic debts to be collected, the suffering is immense. I have seen this clearly at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and it is absolutely terrifying!"

The Grey Reality of the Ghost Realm

"While I was wandering in the ghost realm, I did not even realise that I had passed away. Life there felt remarkably similar to life in the human world; there were no significant differences, except for the colour of the sky. Everyone looked slightly different than they did when they were alive—they lacked vitality and a certain spark in their eyes. I looked just like them, and I did not find anything strange about it at the time.

I spent my days there, one after another, and I did not even feel bored. It felt as though I was reading a book, or perhaps as if my mind was constantly preoccupied with some vague, lingering thoughts. In any case, I did not really do anything; the days simply drifted by, one by one, in a monotonous cycle."

The Golden Light of Deliverance

"Then, on the very day Practitioner Su saved me, I suddenly saw a brilliant golden light appearing before me. I did not know what that light was, and I had no intention of investigating it further. Suddenly, I heard someone calling my name. Before I could even stand up, I was completely enveloped and drawn into that light.

The next thing I knew, I had arrived in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I found myself sitting upon a lotus flower, and I began to listen to Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. It was only then that I understood: I had been saved by the Buddha. Once I began to understand the truth of so many things, I realised that the Buddha truly exists, and that He is compassionately travelling everywhere to save suffering spirits. I am one of those spirits who was rescued. Without the Buddha, it would have been impossible for me to attain liberation today. This is something I never could have imagined in my entire lifetime. No matter how clever I thought I was, I could never have calculated that such a day would come for me."

A Debt of Gratitude and a Joyful Reunion

"I want to express my deepest thanks to Wei Qin for arranging my Chao Du. Her heart is so kind and pure. To be able to encounter the Buddha in this lifetime is truly her greatest blessing. It is entirely because of her merit that I have been able to come to the Western Land, and I am so deeply grateful. Everyone must follow the Buddha closely and lead their families to practise the Dharma as well. It is hard to believe that someone like me—who was so sceptical of the Buddha—would be saying these things now. But I have truly been saved by the Buddha, and you must believe me: you must diligently chant Namo Amituofo.

I have also seen Jiang Li here. He is smiling so brightly; it is clear that he is doing very well in this place. I can see that his smile is genuine—it comes from the very depths of his being—and I cannot help but smile along with him.

Together, we offer our deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su for giving us the opportunity to meet again, and for allowing us to attain eternal liberation. Namo Amituofo."