The Deliverance of Lay Practitioner Gao Shiming

This is a record of an interview with Gao Shiming, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her transition from the human realm to the Pure Land, offering a poignant look at the reality of karmic retribution and the grace of the Buddha. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on December 8, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Gao Shiming speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Gao Shiming. I am truly filled with gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and I am deeply thankful to Practitioner Su and the entire Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Today, I feel an overwhelming sense of joy, for I have arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and have seen the Buddha with my own eyes. The Buddha is truly, profoundly compassionate toward me.

When my spirit was first brought to the Buddha-land, I was not yet fully conscious. It was only when the brilliant Buddha-light shone upon me that I gradually began to wake up. Seeing Practitioner Su and the fourfold assembly here, all working so purely and selflessly to help beings find liberation, I was deeply moved. My heart aches when I think of the countless beings still suffering in every corner of the world. Now that I have reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, my only hope is to dedicate myself to learning, so that in the future, I may truly be able to help those who are still lost."

The Weight of Past Actions

"In my past life, I always felt a deep, burning desire to help others. I wanted to keep doing good, to keep giving until I simply could not do any more. I used to think that this was the only way to truly help them. I did not understand that every single person is surrounded by their own karmic creditors, who are waiting for the right moment to interfere. I did not know that the only way to truly help someone is to counsel them to chant Namo Amituofo and to guide them toward liberation. Since arriving at this Buddha-land, it is as if I have finally woken up from a long, dark dream. My spirit feels so light, and I can see everything with such clarity.

I have even seen the scenes from when my heart disease took hold of me. At that time, a group of people I had harmed in the past—people I had treated without conscience—came to seek revenge. They pressed my spirit down into the hells to suffer retribution, for that was the only way to settle the debts I owed them. The karmic debts I shared with them were forged many lifetimes ago. In this lifetime, although I was happy to help others, I had not fully turned my karma around. What I was meant to suffer, I had to suffer; what I was meant to repay, I had to repay. Fortunately, I did not have to endure that suffering for long before my spirit was guided to this bright, radiant Buddha-land. Only now do I clearly see how precisely the laws of karma and cause and effect are recorded. Having walked this path, I want to share these truths with my family."

A Final Message of Peace

"Now, I want my family to set their hearts at ease. I have arrived in a truly beautiful world. I am so grateful to the Buddha, and I am deeply thankful to my sister-in-law, Lijie, for helping me receive Chao Du. I have departed from the human realm, but I hope that all of you can live your lives well.

I also hope that through this karmic connection, you will all come to know Namo Amituofo. I look forward to the day when we can be reunited here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My life has reached its completion. Namo Amituofo."