From the Shadows of Samsara to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Qiu Xingzhe, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his long journey through the spirit realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on April 24, 2026.

Lay Practitioner Qiu Xingzhe speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qiu Xingzhe, and today, I am truly a resident of the Western Pure Land. Time flows so differently here; the days I have spent in the Western Dharma-Nature Land have passed in the blink of an eye. When the Venerable at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre asked me if I wished to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I nodded immediately. I told him, 'I am ready. I have been ready for a long time.'

The Path to Ultimate Deliverance

In truth, after I arrived in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I quickly prepared my heart for the journey to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The Buddha has been constantly counselling us: although the Western Dharma-Nature Land is beautiful and peaceful, it is not the final destination. To truly achieve complete perfection and to escape the suffering of the six realms of rebirth, one must commit to chanting one Buddha's name to the end—Namo Amituofo—and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the teaching I have been hearing constantly, and it has become the core of my existence.

I am filled with gratitude toward Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for granting me this precious opportunity. I was a man with almost no background in Buddhist practice, yet suddenly, I was given the chance to elevate my spirit. I must also express my deepest thanks to my descendants, especially my wonderful daughter-in-law, Gu Yu. Thank you, Gu Yu, for performing such a vital act of Chao Du for me. You have changed my entire destiny.

The Truth of Samsara and Connection

This matter of deliverance is equally important for every single person. Only by attaining rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss can one truly be free from suffering, and only there can we be reunited with our loved ones from our past lives. Although we are gathered here now, it is not with the attachments of worldly emotions, but rather through the purity of karmic affinity. Every resident of the Western Pure Land hopes that all those with whom they have had a connection will eventually find their way to this place of ultimate joy.

To have a karmic connection with someone—or some spirit—means that in the long, winding history of samsara, you have shared countless stories of love and conflict. We have experienced so much together in the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. Therefore, the suffering of the other is, in essence, my own suffering. Human beings are fundamentally one. We can be deeply connected to everyone, or we can be connected to no one at all; this is the true essence of the Buddha’s teachings.

Reflections on the Darkness of the Ghost Realm

I, Qiu Xingzhe, see this clearly now, having looked back from the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Once a person passes away, how many people will truly believe in the reality of what I am saying? It all depends on one's karmic affinity. I lived for such a long time in the human world, yet I still followed the same old path of birth, aging, sickness, and death that everyone else walks.

Before I died, I could already feel a crushing weight upon me. Everything around me turned pitch black. At the time, I thought it was merely a hallucination, but in reality, it was the very scene I would encounter after death. The terror of it! I was suddenly completely alone, with no friends or family to rely on. I was a solitary spirit, struggling to survive in the world of ghosts. Was it painful? I suppose I just became accustomed to it. Living as a ghost is certainly not as fortunate as being a human; you do not have the chance to see the sunlight or feel the warmth of hope every day. But the suppressed, heavy heart I carried at that time forced me to keep striving, even in the darkness.

A Final Message to My Family

After all I have been through, I want to tell my family: do not worry about me. I am living better now than I ever did before. Although I spent twenty years as a wandering spirit, I have now reached the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I no longer feel like an eighty-year-old man; I feel like I am back in my prime, full of vitality and spirit.

Here, I appear with great dignity, just like every other resident of the Western Pure Land. After the purification we undergo here, everyone’s countenance becomes radiant and perfect, returning to our original, true nature. My personality, my temperament, and even the way I speak are vastly different from before. This is the incredible power of purification.

You must seize the opportunity of this human life to practise diligently. Recognising the Buddha is the greatest blessing you can receive. You must work to transform your personality and live each day with joy; if you do this, you will surely be free from illness. Do not end up like me, waiting until old age to seek help, causing trouble for others. That is a truly unfortunate ending. Everyone must take my story as a mirror. Chant Namo Amituofo to the end; only Namo Amituofo can truly help you and bless you. This short life passes by so quickly. Even though I lived a long life, it was still just as illusory as a dream.

Finally, I want to say once more: gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their infinite compassion, and gratitude to my family. We have a karmic bond, and I look forward to seeing you all in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo.

Qiu Xingzhe speaks."