The Deliverance of Ancestors at the Thrice Yearning Ceremony

On the thirteenth of August, 2017, during the solemn and magnificent Thrice Yearning Ceremony, a dialogue took place between the practitioner Shi Faxi and the ancestral spirits of the Indonesian Chinese practitioners, Shi Fawei and Wu Richang. The atmosphere was filled with the profound grace of Namo Amituofo, as the boundaries between the seen and unseen worlds softened, allowing for a rare moment of connection and clarity.

The Long Wait in the Ghost Realm

When asked about their origins and their experience, the ancestral spirits spoke with a mixture of humility and relief. They explained that while they had been devout followers of Guan Yin Bodhisattva throughout their lives, they had lacked the specific guidance of the Pure Land path. For many years, they had remained in the ghost realm, unable to partake in the offerings made by their descendants. Though they were inherently kind-hearted, they remained deeply attached to the memory of their physical bodies and the worldly concerns they had left behind. Because they had not encountered the True Teachings, they remained trapped in the cycle of rebirth, unable to find the path to liberation.

They described the long, arduous wait, watching over their descendants from the shadows of the ghost realm. They felt the struggles of their family members, who often faced lives that were not as smooth or as prosperous as they had hoped. The spirits expressed that they had waited for an eternity for this moment of connection, longing for the day when the barriers of karma would finally be broken.

The Power of Sincere Practice

The turning point for the family came through the sincere devotion of their descendants. The spirits revealed that the ceremony was a joyous occasion, a feast to which they had been invited by the heartfelt calls of their children. They were moved to witness that one of their own descendants was now on the path to becoming a Buddha. They spoke with great pride of Shi Fawei, whose Dharma name they found to be truly magnificent, and of the young descendant, Wu Richang, whose life had finally begun to show signs of improvement and hope.

The spirits explained that the merit generated by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre was vast beyond measure. Through the practice of Chao Du, the heavy karmic burdens that had kept the family in suffering were lifted. They emphasised that the transformation of their family had begun the moment their father was saved, and that this change was a direct result of the family's commitment to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

A Legacy of Devotion and Future Reunions

The ancestral spirits offered a final, earnest message to their descendants. They urged them to remember the source of their salvation and to continue their dedicated practice. They reminded them that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a place where Namo Amituofo truly abides, and that supporting this sacred environment is a vital duty. They encouraged their descendants to remain steadfast, to never forget the teachings they had received, and to continue their efforts until the entire family could be reunited in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

As the interview concluded, the spirits expressed their profound gratitude to Guan Yin Bodhisattva and Namo Amituofo. They shared that, due to the varying levels of their past blessings and Causal Conditions, some of the ancestors had reached the human realm, some the heavenly realm, and others had already arrived in the Western Pure Land. Regardless of their current state, they felt a deep sense of satisfaction and peace, knowing that the cycle of suffering had been broken and that the path ahead was clear. They left with a heart full of Dharma joy, ready to continue their journey toward ultimate liberation.

This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi.

Namo Amituofo