From the Suffering of Hells to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Li Yumei, the mother of Practitioner Ma, 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 journey from the suffering of the human realm and the retribution of the hells to her ultimate rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 13, 2026.

Li Yumei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Yumei. I have truly arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Buddha-land of Namo Amituofo. I have only been here for a short time—perhaps just a single day—but as I look upon everything here, a deep resonance stirs within my heart. I had heard the name 'Western Land of Ultimate Bliss' before; it always sounded so peaceful and serene. I longed for such a world, yet I never imagined that after so many twists and turns and so much suffering, I would finally arrive here. But it has all been worth it.

First and foremost, I must express my deepest gratitude to the Buddha. Namo Amituofo is of such great compassion; He did not hold my past actions—whether good or bad—against me, and He brought me here. I am also profoundly grateful to Practitioner Su. He is a student of Namo Amituofo, and it is through his mastery of the Buddha’s teachings that he possessed the ability to bring me to this place. These two are truly my greatest benefactors, and I cannot stop bowing in deep gratitude to them."

The Bitter Reality of Aging and Sickness

"If you were to ask me, Li Yumei, whether life is bitter, I would tell you without a moment's hesitation: life is truly bitter. I have walked that path. Especially in my later years, the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death—particularly the 'aging' and 'sickness'—are things one simply cannot bear. To be able to practise the Dharma and avoid the torment of birth, aging, sickness, and death is such an immense blessing. Unfortunately, I did not know this before. Like everyone else, I was caught up in the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness, and I harboured negative thoughts. When I grew old, sickness naturally followed; it is a natural progression of the world. At that time, my entire body was immobile. I was in such agony—I could neither live nor die. That profound sense of confusion, not knowing where I was going, haunted me until the very moment I passed away."

The Truth of the Hells

"Then, I truly died. In that moment, I thought I would finally be liberated, but not long after, I found myself standing in line before the King of Hell. As I waited and my turn finally came, I realised that everything I had done in my life had ultimately led me to the hells. You see, falling into the hells is not reserved only for the most heinous criminals or those who commit murder and arson. If a person is consumed by self-interest or harbours various selfish thoughts, these negative causes, combined with the arrival of karmic creditors seeking repayment—and one's own inability to change your ways or settle those debts—will naturally lead to being accused by them. Added to the mistakes I had committed over many lifetimes, I naturally found myself reporting to the hells to suffer retribution in hell."

The Universal Principle of Cause and Effect

"Only now do I understand that I have no one to blame but myself. Who has not made mistakes? But once a mistake is made, one must receive the corresponding retribution. This is the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way that Practitioner Su often speaks of during his Dharma talks. When I was in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I initially felt a little resentful, wondering why I had to suffer in the hells. But gradually, I became more and more joyful. Especially after listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, my heart was completely opened, and I finally understood that this is simply how life works."

A Final Plea to My Family

"I want to tell my daughter and my family: cherish this human life, for the opportunity to possess a human body is rare and precious. How many people, after death, become lonely, drifting spirits? Many others fall into the hells. While I was in the hells, I saw so many of our fellow Chinese people there. They all looked like ordinary people, yet they were just like me, suffering retribution in hell. This is the truth of life, and there is no point in hiding it from anyone.

But everything I see now makes me realise that the past was merely an illusion—it was all false. I will no longer cling to it. Here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, in this magnificent world, I will focus my heart and mind on following Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, practising diligently, and moving forward. As for the affairs of the past, I have set them aside. I am filled with gratitude for the great compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo."