Returning Home to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Chen Daning, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his karmic journey and his eventual deliverance. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on July 4, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Chen Daning speaks:

"I am finally home. I have returned to my true home in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is a feeling beyond words, a peace that I have been searching for throughout countless lifetimes.

For so long, I mistakenly took this human world to be the only reality. I treated the endless cycle of rebirth—the samsara that has trapped me for aeons—as if it were the absolute truth. Because of this ignorance, I wandered from one life to the next, lost and drifting. In this current lifetime, I was on the exact same path. I was not awake; I had no idea that I needed to find my way home. Fortunately, I had a wonderful wife. She helped me by seeking Chao Du, and it was only through her devotion that I was given the precious opportunity to be led back to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su.

The Fear of Missing the Path

Today is the day I finally returned home. I am filled with such immense joy, a joy I have been anticipating for a very long time. I have been waiting for this moment, counting the days. I knew deep down that this day was the most important event of my existence. I must admit, I was terrified—I was constantly afraid that I might not make it, that I would miss this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime chance. That fear lived in my heart, a heavy shadow that I could not easily shake off.

But then, the time arrived. The Dharma Body of Practitioner Su reached out and took my hand. In a single, miraculous instant, I was back in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was so swift, so complete—I truly could not believe it was happening. It was as if a heavy veil had been lifted from my eyes forever.

A History of Karmic Debt

Looking back at my life, I did not commit any major crimes in the eyes of the world, but I was guilty of a lack of virtue. I simply did not understand the importance of doing good. The karma I had accumulated in my past lives was immense, and it was this heavy burden that caused me to suffer from such a debilitating illness in this lifetime, leading to my sudden and hurried departure from the human world.

I have seen visions of my past lives, and I was shocked to discover that I was once a butcher. To earn money to support my family, I fell into the trap of greed. I began to raise more and more animals, and the more I raised, the more I slaughtered. My heart hardened. Eventually, I even fell into the grip of a gambling addiction. I started associating with the wrong crowd, and to pay off my mounting debts, I created even more negative karma. I committed many acts that were truly harmful and against the laws of nature.

The Final Reckoning

What I have just described is only one of my past lives, yet even for that single lifetime, I had not yet finished paying my karmic debts. Those karmic creditors from that time manifested in this life to seek revenge. That is why, in my final moments, I felt them physically gripping my heart, pulling me down until I collapsed. It was a terrifying, visceral experience of cause and effect.

Seeing the scenes of the karma I had created in the past was incredibly painful. I felt such deep regret, and I was so angry with myself—how could I have done such things? After listening to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su, I finally began to understand what it means to repent with a sincere heart. During every Dharma assembly, I seized every opportunity to chant Namo Amituofo with absolute sincerity. I begged my karmic creditors to forgive me, and I pleaded with them to follow the Buddha and leave this suffering behind. I saw some of them finally depart, but there were still many who were searching for me, unwilling to let go of their grievances.

A New Beginning in the Pure Land

Now that I have returned to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, these karmic creditors can no longer find me. However, I will not let them down. I will continue to chant Namo Amituofo, and I will pray for the Buddha to lead them to this place as well. My deepest hope is that they, too, can soon leave their suffering behind and find peace.

In closing, I must once again express my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su, and I thank my wife for her unwavering support. Thank you to everyone who helped me along this path.

Namo Amituofo.

Chen Daning bows in reverence."