From Wandering Spirit to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Sun Lishi, who sought Chao Du 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 transition from the cycle of rebirth to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on April 3, 2026.

Sun Lishi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I had only just arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—it had been such a short time—when suddenly, I heard someone calling my name. Heavens, could this truly be an interview from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre? It has all happened so quickly; I have barely had a moment to adjust to everything here. Although the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Western Land of Dharma Nature, where I was previously, are both Buddha lands, the transformation is truly immense.

A Miraculous Arrival and a New Form

After I first arrived, I did not have any specific thoughts or desires. I simply knelt before the Buddha and offered my deepest gratitude. I looked up at the Buddha, and for the very first time, I saw the towering, magnificent form of Namo Amituofo standing right before my eyes. There were so many people who had arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss just like me. We all looked quite similar, and to my utter astonishment, I found that I had transformed into a male body. This change in identity was truly shocking! Although I had heard that such things were possible, witnessing it happen to my own body was absolutely inconceivable.

There were five others who arrived here with me, including my husband from my time in the human world. We are truly blessed with such immense good fortune. When I first arrived in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I spent some time reflecting on how I had come to be in such a place. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I saw the name of my grandson, Sun Caixia, appear before me—it was truly magical. It turned out that he had registered us both for Chao Du. I am so incredibly grateful for your filial heart! My heart is overflowing with gratitude and emotion. Later, I discovered that no matter what I thought of or what I wished to know, the answer would naturally appear before my eyes. Whether I was in the Western Land of Dharma Nature or now here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, it is exactly the same.

The Process of Purification

What is even more remarkable is that here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, my mind is clearer and possesses far more Wisdom than ever before. The few hours I spent in the purification process have made me feel like an entirely different person. Perhaps this is the stage-by-stage purification process—moving from the world of the cycle of rebirth, step by step, to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and finally arriving here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It feels as though I have shed one layer of a shell, and then another.

Now that I have arrived here, I feel completely renewed. I do not have many thoughts, and it is impossible for me to have any afflictions. Everyone here is so peaceful and joyful. All we think about relates to the Buddha’s teachings—either chanting Namo Amituofo, reading the sutras, or listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma. Thinking about how I can now walk, step by step, on the same path as the Buddha, my heart feels incredibly grounded and at peace.

Reflections on the Wandering Spirit

I am Sun Lishi—I realise I have not yet introduced myself properly. I left the human world quite a long time ago, and I have almost forgotten the events of my past life. For a very long time, I was lost in confusion, eventually entering a space that felt very familiar to me; it seemed to be the space of my hometown. I wandered through the land of my hometown, as if I were walking in circles, unable to find my way out. I just kept turning and turning in that small patch of land. Decades passed in the blink of an eye, and looking back now, I am truly astonished.

I never imagined that time could pass so quickly. When I was trapped in that space, I knew nothing; I only knew where I was, but everything else was a blur. I suppose this is the fate I share with so many others. Now, I see that many people in the world share this same destiny. If one does not know the Buddha’s teachings before death, and if one has not done anything particularly evil or particularly good—just living an ordinary life—there is a very high probability that one will end up wandering in that same space. That was my fate, and it is the fate of many others.

A Message to My Family

I want to express my gratitude once again to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Without your practice and achievements, you could not have guided us; without everything you have sacrificed for all beings, we would not have had the opportunity to arrive in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss today. For all of this, I, Sun Lishi, am grateful from the bottom of my heart for the great gift you have bestowed upon us.

I also want to say to my family still in the human world, and to my grandson who performed the Chao Du for me: I am very safe here, so please do not worry. This is the world where I will live from now on, and it will be your world in the future as well. We will all be gathered here together, and that will be a very joyful thing, will it not?

I hope that everyone can learn to let go of everything in the world and return to the seat of Namo Amituofo in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss as soon as possible. Then, you will all understand everything I have said today and feel the same peace that I feel now. Well, I feel that I would like to return to continue my purification, so I will stop here for now. Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and gratitude to you all.

Namo Amituofo."