From the Life of a Hen to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Pan Niang, the mother of Lay Practitioner Huang Qinghui, who sought deliverance 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 spiritual journey and her transition from the cycle of rebirth to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on June 23, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Pan Niang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo! Namo Amituofo! I offer my deepest, most sincere gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and I thank Practitioner Su from the very bottom of my heart. I am so relieved and overjoyed that my son, Qinghui, made the right choice in seeking help here. It is because of his wisdom and his devotion that he was able to truly help his mother. I have arrived! I am finally here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Fragrance of the Pure Land

The air here is filled with the most exquisite, heavenly fragrance of celestial flowers. I feel so refreshed, so clear-headed, and my spirit feels light, as if a great weight has been lifted from my soul. Walking here is effortless, and the cool, serene atmosphere of this Western Land fills me with a joy I have never known before. It is truly beyond words; my entire being is filled with a sense of peace that I never thought possible.

My dear son, please know that your mother is doing wonderfully. You must express my deepest thanks to Practitioner Su on my behalf. It was Practitioner Su who reached out and guided me to this Western Land. If I had relied solely on my own chanting, I would never have been able to transcend the cycle of rebirth and reach this place. Your decision to bring me here was the greatest gift you could have ever given me.

The Cycle of Attachment

Son, you are not young anymore. You must think very carefully about the path you choose to walk in the future. Before I came to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I spent many lifetimes trapped in the form of a hen. Why? Because of a single, persistent thought—I could not let go of my family. I wanted to stay and guard you all, and that attachment, combined with the heavy weight of my past karma, pulled me into that cycle. Every day, I was just laying eggs, repeating the same mindless actions, mirroring the very same attachment I had when I was a mother in the human world.

When I look back on it now, I realise that whether one is a human or a hen, the suffering is immense. I am sharing my story as a mirror for you all. I hope you can see the truth of life clearly. I only wish to counsel my children and my descendants: do not walk the same path of attachment that I did. Do not let your hearts be bound by things you cannot hold onto forever.

The Power of Buddhist Education

I am deeply grateful that I did not suffer from any major illnesses or agonising pain in my final days. During this time, I have received the most profound Buddhist education—teachings I had never heard before in all my previous lives. The most important lesson is this: think good thoughts, look at the world with kindness, and speak words that uplift others. You must learn to think for the benefit of others. Only by truly considering others can you leave suffering behind.

I want to pass this understanding on to you. I hope that Qinghui and all of you can carry this Goodness forward. If you have the Causal Conditions to listen to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, I urge you to study them diligently. They are a powerful method to transform your perspective. I do not force you, but I pray that the Buddha provides you with the opportunity to learn. I am doing very well now, and my only wish is for all of you to live in peace and joy.

Finally, I offer my eternal gratitude to the great compassion of Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su for his guidance. Pan Niang, bowing in reverence. Namo Amituofo."