The Journey of Lay Practitioner Gu Xumin to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Gu Xumin, 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 spirit realms to the Western Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing.

Lay Practitioner Gu Xumin speaks:

"I have arrived in the Western Land! I am so incredibly happy. I am filled with gratitude to the compassionate Practitioner Su for taking my hand and leading me here to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Today feels just like the Lunar New Year; everyone is so joyful, and I am truly happy as well. I have dressed myself in such dignified attire, wearing pure white robes, as I wait to meet the Buddha. In my past life, I never realised how beautiful white clothing could be. I only ever thought about how difficult it was to wash and keep clean. Now, seeing everyone here dressed in white, I have finally discovered how pure and dignified this colour truly is.

The Fog of the Spirit Realms

It has been such a long time since I have spoken to anyone. During that period I spent in the underworld, I did not even know what I was doing. Every day, I would just walk back and forth, often with my head bowed low, never looking at what the people around me were doing. Sometimes, people would try to speak to me—grandfathers and grandmothers around my own age. I remember seeing them selling vegetables, and as I walked past, they would call out to me, asking me to buy some. I cannot even remember if I had any money on me, but I seem to recall taking a bunch of water spinach from one of them. What happened after that, I have completely forgotten. Life there was just like that—everything I did felt so vague, so hazy, and nothing was ever clear.

A Chance for Deliverance

I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to come to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was my descendants in the human world who performed the Chao Du for me. Looking back, it seems my grandson did not have much faith, though my granddaughter-in-law was a bit more believing. Now that I have arrived, I know for certain that Namo Amituofo is the greatest treasure of all. I want to introduce this treasure to them, to let them know that they must learn the Dharma.

The Reality of Life and Death

I want to tell my descendants in the human world: if you do not learn the Dharma, then after you die, you will simply be a wandering spirit. No one will know where you are going; it all depends on your own laws of karma and cause and effect. I am quite fortunate; I did not suffer much while living in the underworld, and now I have the blessings to be brought to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su. If it were not for Practitioner Su, I would still be trapped in the cycle of reincarnations, and it is not certain whether I would even have the chance to reincarnate as a human again.

Being a human is truly full of suffering. Regardless of how much or how little you earn, you spend your entire life struggling for the sake of your family, for the sake of just getting by. You work yourself to the bone for a lifetime, but in the end, it is all nothing left. Once that final breath leaves your body, you must let go of everything.

Do not be foolish any longer. It is far more important to hurry and learn the Dharma. Time is running out, and you must remember the words of your grandmother.

With deepest reverence, Gu Xumin."

Namo Amituofo.