Rebirth in the Western Pure Land: The Testimony of Lay Practitioner Li Chen Tai-mei

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Li Chen Tai-mei, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and her transition to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on September 26, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Li Chen Tai-mei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Chen Tai-mei. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su for granting me the precious opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is overflowing with thankfulness.

I have experienced so much throughout my life, and I have endured a great deal of suffering. As my life drew to a close, I reached a point where I no longer wished to argue or bicker with anyone; I simply lived one day at a time, taking each moment as it came.

The Struggle of the Heart

At that time, although I believed that the Buddha would eventually lead me and take me away, I realise now that my heart was not firm enough. Because of that hesitation, I was unable to follow the Buddha immediately upon my passing. I am so grateful to my granddaughter, Venerable Xiu Ai, for helping me realise my deepest wish, allowing me to finally arrive here in the Western Pure Land. After wandering in such a long, winding circle, I have finally reached the West, where I can properly follow the Buddha and learn the Dharma.

When my spirit was guided to the Buddha-land, I beheld the Buddha. The Buddha is so immense, so magnificent, and filled with such profound compassion. At that moment, I asked myself: 'Are there still things in the world that I cannot let go of?' I knew then that I had not yet fully released my past experiences, or even my attachment to my own identity. Because of this, I have spent this time purifying myself, coming to see the truth of the world more clearly than ever before.

Letting Go of the World

Those people I once cared about the most have all departed from the world, one by one. I know now that only when one is truly willing to let go from the very depths of the heart can one make the sincere vow to follow Namo Amituofo wholeheartedly.

While listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, I witnessed the Ultimate Vow of Practitioner Su—to save all suffering beings. Thinking of her, a fellow woman, and comparing her strength to my own inability to even let go of my own attachments, I felt truly ashamed! But when I saw these things clearly, the knots in my heart finally unravelled. This world is truly not worth lingering over; everyone is suffering, and everyone is trapped in the cycle of samsara.

A Message to My Granddaughter

My granddaughter has great wisdom; she has chosen to follow the Buddha! I hope you will continue to persist on this path of following the Buddha and achieve your own vows. Your grandmother is now becoming a person of ever-increasing wisdom as well.

I hope that on this path, you can help even more people. Always believe in the Buddha, and believe in yourself. Gratitude! Namo Amituofo."

Li Chen Tai-mei, kneeling in reverence.