The Bitterness of Life and the Joy of Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Lu Li Jin-ye, the mother of Lay Practitioner Lu Jin-yu. She sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her transition from the human world. Recorded on February 17, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Lu Li Jin-ye speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lu Li Jin-ye. Being a human being is truly a bitter experience, filled with endless struggles, exhaustion, and hardships. It was only after arriving here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss that I finally understood the true meaning of the word 'liberation'. It is a state of being that I could never have imagined while I was still trapped in the cycle of rebirth.

A Debt of Gratitude

I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for reaching out and guiding me to this beautiful Western Pure Land today. I am filled with such profound gratitude, for he has spared me from having to endure further suffering in the lower realms. It was my daughter, A-Yu, who knew Practitioner Su and understood the importance of inviting him to help lift my spirit. It is only because of her actions and her devotion that I have been blessed with this incredible opportunity. Without her, I truly do not know where I would have ended up or what kind of suffering I would be facing right now. I am so lucky to have a daughter who cares for my soul so deeply.

The Path of True Dharma

When I was alive in the human world, I knew that A-Yu was always studying the Dharma. However, I never really understood what kind of Buddhism she was practising, and to be honest, I never felt the urge to ask her about it. I was too caught up in the daily grind of life. Now that I have passed away, I have come to realise that what she was studying was the true, authentic Dharma—a practice so powerful that it can help so many spirits find liberation and leave their suffering behind. It is a miracle that she was able to connect me to this path.

Learning in the Western Dharma-Nature Land

During the time I spent in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I did not see my daughter at all. At first, I thought that if I just waited a little longer, she would surely come to visit me. I waited and waited, but she never appeared. In the beginning, I even felt a little angry, wondering why she had left me there all by myself. But as time went on, I gradually calmed down and began to listen to Practitioner Su giving his Dharma talks. It was then that I truly realised what a wonderful, magnificent place this is. My anger melted away, replaced by a sense of peace I had never known before.

The Importance of Chanting

Every day here, I have learned to join everyone in chanting the name of Namo Amituofo and reciting the sutras. I was not used to these practices at all, and in the beginning, I could not chant well, nor could I keep up with the rhythm of the group. But I kept at it, chanting every single day, and slowly, I began to improve. Now, I can finally keep up with everyone else's pace, and the sound of the chanting brings me such comfort.

A Message to My Peers

People of my generation, especially those of us from the countryside, rarely chant the Buddha's name. We do not really understand the purpose of chanting, often thinking that it is something to be left for the very end, just before we die. How could we have known that chanting Namo Amituofo is actually the most important thing we could ever do? If it were not for the compassion of Namo Amituofo, it would have been impossible for us to ever reach this beautiful Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This place is so much better than the human world. I truly hope that everyone will have the chance to come here and experience this joy for themselves.

I am not a person who is good with words, and I do not have much else to say. I am simply filled with gratitude for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the kindness of Practitioner Su. Please accept the humble prostrations and gratitude of your disciple, Lu Li Jin-ye."

"Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo."