The Journey of Lay Practitioner Wang Caiqin to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Wang Caiqin, the mother of Lay Practitioner Zheng Wenhua, 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 ghost realm to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on January 19, 2024.

Wang Caiqin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wang Caiqin. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo, to Practitioner Su, and to everyone at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I am now in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My voice, my appearance—everything has become so youthful and vibrant. I am filled with such profound gratitude that words can hardly contain it.

Looking back now, my life seems to have passed in the blink of an eye. It feels as though it had only just begun, yet it ended so abruptly. The attachments I held for my family, the things I possessed in the human world—they are all gone now. I cannot reach out and grasp them anymore; they have slipped through my fingers like sand."

The Terror of the Ghost Realm

"I went through the process of death, and let me tell you, it was absolutely terrifying! It was filled with such unease and uncertainty. For a time, I wandered through the ghost realm, and my heart was burdened with a suffering that I could not even begin to describe. It was a cold, lonely, and desperate place. It was not until I was finally bathed in the Buddha-light and brought to the Buddha-land that my heart truly found peace. This is why I am so incredibly grateful to this holy place, and I am equally grateful to my granddaughter for arranging the Chao Du for me.

There is so much in my heart that I want to say, but for a moment, I find myself struggling to express it all. I look out at the scenery of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss before me, and every single inch is radiant with light. Everywhere I walk, there is a field of absolute peace. I hear the sound of Namo Amituofo teaching the Dharma, and the steady, comforting rhythm of the Buddha-name being chanted. There are so many lotus flowers, and so many holy beings surrounding me."

The Illusion of Control

"In the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I cannot help but gaze at my surroundings. The water in the lake is so clear and still; when I look at my reflection, I see that I have become so young again. Since entering this magnificent realm, my thoughts and my way of expressing myself have changed completely from how they were before. The reason for this shift is that, when I was still alive and possessed a physical body, I was so often controlled by other beings without even realising it.

Even when I felt exhausted or when my heart felt heavy and unmotivated, it was often because there were so many beings interfering with me. Now that I no longer have that physical body, I look back and realise just how frightening that truly was. It was only after listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks here in the Buddha-land that I finally understood what it means to 'not be able to be the master of one's own life.' It turns out that every one of us, while living in the human world, is largely unable to be the master of our own existence."

A Message to My Loved Ones

"My karmic creditors were the reason I could not let go, even at the moment of my death, which is why I ended up wandering in the ghost realm. I share these things not because I have forgotten the love I have for you, but because I want to tell you about the things I have experienced since passing—things that are far more important than the trivialities of the world.

Right now, you are all so busy—busy with your lives, busy with your work. So often, your hearts are tossed about by fluctuating emotions, and your minds are in such chaos. It truly pains me to see you living like that. I have arrived at a place of such cool, refreshing peace, and naturally, I want you to know that this exists for you, too.

This life passes by so quickly. I cherish the time we spent as a family, and I am so happy that we were together. I am doing very well here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and my deepest hope is that in the future, you will all be doing well, too. You must come to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to reunite with me.

I am so grateful for the compassion the Buddha has shown me, and I hope that all of you will take the time to truly come to know the Buddha. Namo Amituofo."