From the Shell of a Turtle to the Western Pure Land
An Interview with the Spirit of Chen Chiquan
Recorded on August 14, 2018
Chen Chiquan, the father-in-law of a practitioner at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, sought deliverance after his passing. Through the compassionate intervention of Practitioner Su and the teachings provided at the Centre, his spirit was guided to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on August 14, 2018.
The Spirit of Chen Chiquan speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. Ah Chang, you must work diligently! The days we have as human beings are incredibly precious. Do not squander them.
A Life Saved and a Connection Made
My name is Chen Chiquan, and I am the father-in-law of Wu Richang. My daughter married a good man. When he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery, he came to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek healing. It was truly fortunate that Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su saved him, allowing him to continue his life. Without their intervention, my daughter might have lost her husband, and he might no longer be in this human world today.
After Ah Chang arrived here, he witnessed how the Centre could invite the spirits of the departed to listen to the sutras and chant Namo Amituofo, eventually guiding them to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. He submitted my name for this deliverance. I never imagined that after I passed away, I would have reincarnated as a turtle. Because I was slow in my movements, hesitant in my actions while alive, and often held back rather than being generous, I failed to accumulate enough to be reborn as a human. Consequently, I ended up in the miserable state of being a turtle.
The Urgency of Cultivating Goodness
This is why I urge everyone: while you are still in a human body, you must cultivate blessings and perform good deeds. Ah Chang, you must let my daughter, Chen Xiaolan, know about my situation. Do not worry about whether she will believe it or not. If she is truly filial, she should feel happy for me. I am now in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, living a wonderful life. I have no illnesses, my mind is clear and refreshed, and I have everything I could ever need. Everything—from my food and clothing to my dwelling—is magnificent. In fact, I do not even need to eat anymore, yet my spirit remains vibrant and full of energy.
By the way, I want to counsel everyone to adopt a vegetarian diet. If you are currently eating meat, you must change to a vegetarian lifestyle! All animals and sentient beings possess life; they are all spirits that have reincarnated. You must not eat them!
The Wisdom of the
Now, I understand that one must listen to the sutras to truly grasp the principles of the universe. In the past, I was ignorant. I did not know how to accumulate blessings, and I did not know that one must chant Namo Amituofo to achieve rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now that I understand, I hope my family will prepare early. Do not end up like I did, falling into the cycle of rebirth as a turtle after death. It is truly a tragic and sorrowful outcome.
A Final Plea to the Living
Ah Chang, you must work diligently! The days we have as human beings are incredibly precious. Once a person dies and the final breath leaves , you can no longer be the master of your own destiny. If you truly care for my daughter, you should encourage her to study the Buddha's teachings and chant Namo Amituofo. Let her know about this place; once she visits, she will understand how wonderful it is. She should be the one to lead the rest of the family to study Buddhism together. Finally, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su. Thank you, Practitioner Su.
Namo Amituofo."
This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library