Letting Go of the Past to Reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner He Maoyuan, the seventh uncle of Lay Practitioner He Huiping. He 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 his transition from the cycle of rebirth to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on June 17, 2022.

Lay Practitioner He Maoyuan speaks:

"(Respectfully bowing) I never realised that life could offer a different choice. For so long, I found myself constantly dwelling on the past. I could not let go of the identity of 'He Maoyuan'; I wanted to cling tightly to everything I possessed. When I made that choice in my heart, it kept my thoughts trapped in a cycle of endless rumination. I never imagined that after death, I would fall into a dark corner of the underworld, still thinking, still calculating what more I could strive for on behalf of this physical body.

The Light of Deliverance

Then, a brilliant light shone upon me. It touched my head, my back, and eventually my entire body. As I stood up, a powerful force guided me toward a place of radiance. I heard someone calling my name, and that was when I realised it was you, Huiping—my child—who had invited Practitioner Su to help me.

In that instant, I left the space I had been so stubbornly clinging to, and I looked back at the reality of this world. After I departed, even though my family might still think of me, I could no longer return to the way we lived together in the past. My departure, and the departure of others, meant that while our roles in the family remained, they could no longer function as they once did. This is the barrier of space, and it is the transformation of samsara. Nothing lasts forever, and nothing can be held onto, no matter how desperately you try to grasp it.

Clearing the Fog of Attachment

In the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I have been continuously clarifying these truths, using them to counsel myself to stay awake and clear-headed. I say this because there were still too many moments where I felt nostalgic for the past, unwilling to let go. But finally, I saw it clearly: there is not a single thing that I can truly hold onto. Clinging to the past is far less meaningful than moving forward.

By listening to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su and witnessing the Chao Du ceremonies, I came to understand that I was merely a spirit. I saw so many other souls who had guarded their pasts, letting hundreds or even thousands of years slip by in the blink of an eye. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity in this lifetime to encounter the Buddha and reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I must seize this present moment.

A Heart at Peace

Once I understood this, I decided to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, I am already there. So many of my afflictions have been purified and have vanished completely. My heart is now incredibly light and at ease, and I wish to follow Namo Amituofo to study diligently. It took me quite some time to realise these truths, and I share them now with my family, hoping that it might shorten their own journey through the confusion of life.

I am deeply grateful for the help of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and I thank Practitioner Su. Thank you, Huiping, for arranging this Chao Du for me. I leave this gratitude behind in the human world. Namo Amituofo.

He Maoyuan bows in respect."