From the Underworld to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Lay Practitioner Wang Amei, the grandmother of Lay Practitioner Chen Jing. She sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her transition from the human realm and her eventual deliverance. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on March 7, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Wang Amei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wang Amei. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su for saving me, for it is through this compassion that I have been able to arrive here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I feel as though I have been fundamentally transformed. It is quite different from when I was still alive in the human world. I suppose this is because I have finally departed from my physical body. My spirit is no longer tethered to that shell, though I must admit, I still carry the personality and the habits that I cultivated throughout my many lives.

The Confusion of Departure

When I first stopped breathing, my spirit simply slipped out of my body. At that moment, I was completely unaware that I had passed away; I truly believed I was still alive. I remember feeling a desperate urge to return to my body, to jump back into it, but no matter how many times I tried, I simply could not re-enter. It was only then that the terrifying realisation dawned on me: I was dead. That physical body was gone, and I would never be able to return to it again.

I did not see the Buddha immediately. Instead, I found myself drifting into the underworld. It was a moment of profound regret, for I knew that Namo Amituofo had not come to receive me. I understood why, of course—I had not spent my life chanting Namo Amituofo. Although my spirit yearned to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, my body had never practised the chanting, and my consciousness had not been prepared for the journey.

A Golden Light in the Darkness

However, I did not have to endure that sorrow for long. I cannot recall exactly how much time passed, but suddenly, a brilliant golden light appeared before me. Then, I heard a voice calling my name. I felt in my heart that it was the Buddha coming to save me. I was immediately swept away, and in the blink of an eye, I arrived at the place where Practitioner Su resides—a place known as the Western Dharma-Nature Land.

The moment I arrived at Practitioner Su’s side, I knew with absolute certainty that I had been saved. Every single day, I could hear the Buddha-name being chanted, and my mind began to grow clearer and clearer. The Buddha-light shone upon me constantly, cleansing my heart and washing away the dust of my past. It was a feeling of such profound purity.

Transformation and Gratitude

The sensation of existing without a physical body is truly remarkable. I no longer feel like the old Wang Amei I once was. I feel as though my age has fallen away; I feel so much younger, so much lighter. Today, having arrived here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I am filled with such immense joy!

I am so deeply grateful to my descendants—my children and grandchildren—for performing the Chao Du for me. It was only through their efforts that I was given the opportunity to be guided here by Practitioner Su. I want them to know, regardless of whether they currently believe in the Buddha or not, that the Buddha truly exists. He is real, and His compassion is boundless.

The Law of Cause and Effect

I see things so much more clearly now. Having witnessed my own past lives, I have come to realise that whether or not a person can recognise the Buddha depends entirely on their own blessings. I must have performed many good deeds in my past lives, for I was blessed with such incredible fortune—to be rescued by Practitioner Su so soon after my passing.

Everything in this life is a matter of conditions and causes. My advice to those still in the world is simple: always do good. Helping others is, in truth, helping yourself. That is the only way to accumulate the blessings necessary for this journey. Namo Amituofo."