From the Hells to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Gu Zhongshan, 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 life and his subsequent journey through the realms of reincarnation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 11, 2025.

Gu Zhongshan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am filled with such profound gratitude today—gratitude to the Buddha and gratitude to Practitioner Su for allowing this long-wandering spirit to finally find release. I have now arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The moment I arrived, my eyes were drawn to the many lotus flowers within the Jewelled Lotus Pond. Each one radiated a brilliant golden light, and I found myself unable to look away. Then, I beheld the Eight Virtues Water. I could not resist reaching out to touch it; the moment I did, a refreshing coolness washed over me. I leapt into the water, allowing it to purify my entire being—cleansing the spirit that had been trapped in the cycle of reincarnation for so long.

When I saw the dignified appearance of Namo Amituofo, I knelt in reverence, offering my deepest thanks to the Buddha for accepting and purifying me. Everything in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is so magnificent. To have such Causal Conditions is a blessing for which I am eternally grateful.

The Lonely Bird Seeking a Home

I am Gu Zhongshan. From the time I was a child, as soon as I developed a sense of self, I felt like a lonely bird. I was always searching for a place to land, but I did not know where that place might be. When my elders took me out, I would constantly gaze into the distance, wondering which direction led to the place where I truly belonged.

My father had already mapped out the path I was to take. He would tell me of his plans for my life with such joy, and from the moment he hired teachers for me, he began to implement his vision for who I should become, step by step. I was a very obedient child. Although I felt a sense of resistance growing within my heart, I dared not speak of it openly; I was terrified of disappointing my family. My mother, having lost my father’s affection, knew how much he doted on me and hoped that my achievements would finally draw his attention back to her.

The world of adult emotions was complex and burdensome to me. I longed to cast off these heavy shackles, but I could not find a way to let them go. I did not know how long I would have to carry this weight. Many times, I felt as though I were being crushed, yet I chose to accept and endure. I was waiting—waiting for the day I could have a bright future, hoping that everything would change then.

The Burden of the Physician

My father was a physician and insisted that I follow the same path. Even though my heart was not in it, I followed the road he had paved. I am the type of person who gives everything my full effort once I commit to a task. The path to becoming a professional physician was arduous. Often, one must make split-second, accurate decisions at the final, critical moments of a patient’s life to stabilise a precarious situation. Because of this, I was always intensely focused during my work.

I spent seven years as a physician. I saw many different patients—those with chronic illnesses, those in acute distress, and those requiring long-term care. I also observed the families of many patients, and these experiences left a deep impression on my heart.

The patient who left the deepest mark on me was a twenty-three-year-old man who had suffered brain damage in a traffic accident. To most people, his life was effectively over; he would be bedridden for the rest of his days. Yet, this young man had a remarkably strong mother. She was a single parent, and her strength was evident from the moment the doctor declared her son brain-dead. Her legs buckled for only a brief moment, and though she wanted to weep, she steeled herself. She knew her son relied solely on her, so she chose to face the reality.

Every day that her son was hospitalised, she worked during the day and treated the hospital like her home, keeping a constant vigil by his side. The nurses told me that even after it was announced that there was only a ten percent chance he would wake up, this mother never gave up. She would patiently turn her son over and speak to him as if he were fully conscious, knowing he could hear her. She always spoke words of positivity. During this time, I arranged for several volunteers to assist her, and she was very grateful to me.

Searching for the Ultimate Answer

For five years, this mother waited. Miraculously, her son finally regained consciousness. To him, it was as if he had merely been sleeping for a long time. His mother had aged significantly over those years, but she could not stop the tears of joy from streaming down her cheeks. This was a true story that moved from sorrow to a happy ending. However, I also witnessed many patients abandoned by their families due to long-term illness, or families collapsing under the weight of the future. I often saw scenes of heart-wrenching grief. While many physicians eventually become numb to such things, for me, it always caused a profound tremor in my heart.

This led me to search for the meaning of life. I asked myself, 'Is life merely a process of birth, aging, sickness, and death? Or is there some other answer?' This question circled in my mind. I wanted to change the course of my life, but I lacked the practical motivation to do so until my mother was diagnosed with dementia. Her heart became filled with panic. It was then that I realised those around me were beginning their final journey, and I needed to make some sacrifices and changes.

Because of my mother’s condition, I resigned from my job and moved her to the countryside, hoping that the sight of the green fields would brighten her spirits. After we settled in, our neighbours learned the true reason for our move. Seeing my mother’s fear and tension as she felt her faculties slipping away, they suggested that I bring her to learn the Buddha’s teachings.

Through the Causal Conditions of my mother, I came into contact with the Buddha’s teachings. I learned of Namo Amituofo and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. To bring my mother peace, I introduced her to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, hoping she would make a vow to reach that place where there is no suffering. But before she could fully embrace the faith, her condition took a sharp turn for the worse, and eventually, she could not even recognise me. Although I knew this was an inevitable progression of the disease, when it actually happened, my heart ached deeply.

The Cycle of Retribution

In her illness, my mother returned to the memories of when she first met my father. She would often mistake me for him and act coquettishly, but after a while, she would fly into a rage. It was physically and mentally exhausting. I accompanied her for ten years until she passed away. After her passing, I devoted myself entirely to the Buddha’s gate, sharing my experience of caring for her with others who were in need. My sharing resonated deeply with many people. Unexpectedly, at the age of sixty, I began to experience the same symptoms as my mother. Before it became too severe, I moved into a nursing home.

Looking out the window at the nursing home, I often had strange thoughts and saw many visions. One day, I imagined myself at the seaside, walking and seeing many crabs, which I began to chase. My final moment in that life lingered on that scene. My body ceased to breathe, and my spirit became a crab. In my consciousness, I had no idea I had become a crab; I thought I was still chasing them. Unconsciously, I felt a searing, burning sensation in my body. I did not understand it at the time, but after living as a crab for several lifetimes, I realised that the burning sensation was the result of being caught and thrown into boiling water to be eaten.

After wandering through the cycle of reincarnation, I finally stood before the King of Hell and understood the laws of karma and cause and effect in my life. The King of Hell revealed the connection between my mother and me. In a past life, I had incited my mother to poison a water source. We were business partners who chose to harm others for profit. Those we harmed had been following us, seeking revenge, and we had to repay what was owed. Seeing the sentient beings I had harmed, I wept uncontrollably, offering my sincere repentance. Some of these beings chose to let go after seeing my genuine remorse, but many others were still waiting to seek their due.

The Call to Liberation

The King of Hell, seeing my sincerity, was willing to give me an opportunity to serve as a jailer to accumulate merit and repay my debts. I was deeply grateful and served with a sincere heart. Seeing the suffering of so many spirits as they underwent their retribution caused a great tremor in my heart; I hoped that the beings in hell might also have a chance to wake up and find liberation.

It was while these thoughts were arising that I heard the voice of Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk, which reached into the hells. She introduced Namo Amituofo and expressed the hope that all beings could seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This reminded me that I had studied the Buddha’s teachings during my life, though I had never truly practised them properly. Now, I had to make a sincere vow and recite every single Buddha-name, hoping for liberation. I am so grateful that today, I finally received the opportunity to be delivered.

The magnificence of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss fills my heart with Dharma-joy. I am grateful to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su for providing a place of rest for us sixty jailers and for the immeasurable and boundless sentient beings."

Gu Zhongshan, with palms pressed together.

Namo Amituofo.