The Journey of Lay Practitioner Xie Zhangxing to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the late Lay Practitioner Xie Zhangxing, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition and his profound hopes for his daughter, Lay Practitioner Xie Qunjing. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 3, 2025.

Lay Practitioner Xie Zhangxing speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xie Zhangxing. I am filled with immense gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su for their boundless compassion, which has helped me to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today.

Beyond the overwhelming joy of returning to the Western Pure Land and finally achieving true liberation—meaning that I will never have to be reincarnated again—the other thing that brings me the greatest happiness is knowing that my daughter has come here to this centre to practise the Dharma."

A Father's Greatest Joy

"I hear everyone calling my daughter 'Jingjing'. It is such a warm and endearing nickname. It is so lovely and sweet, and it immediately reminds me of when she was a little girl; she was such a wonderful child. My daughter has always been a good person, but she has always possessed a very strong and distinct personality. We never really noticed it back then, and we certainly never imagined that these personality traits would one day affect her spiritual path so deeply. However, I am so incredibly fortunate that she has the blessings to come to this Buddha-land. Having the Buddha here to teach her is far better than anything we could have ever taught her. Seeing her practise here makes me truly happy for her, and I feel a sense of peace knowing she is in such capable hands."

The Burden of the Physical Form

"From the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I can feel that my daughter’s heart is heavy with suffering, and her spirit is even more burdened. Seeing her like this, I feel a deep sense of heartache. I want to tell her, 'You must let go.' You must let go of everything—let go of it all, and most importantly, you must even let go of yourself. Do not hold onto the past or the pain.

Since arriving here, I have listened to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks. The more I listen, the clearer my mind becomes. Only now do I realise how foolish we were in the past. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that we simply did not understand. We did not realise that this physical body is essentially an illusion. Everyone knows that the body will eventually die, but they do not truly feel that the body is false. They still treat it as if it were real, suffering every single day for the sake of this temporary vessel. Now that I no longer have a physical body, I look back at my past self and the people I once knew, and I realise how truly lost we all were—how much we suffered. This includes my daughter, Jingjing. I urge her to let go of the body, to stop clinging to it, and to stop dwelling on the past. She must be brave and continue to move forward. The Buddha is right here in this Buddha-land, watching over everyone with such infinite compassion. I am so moved by this!"

A Reunion in the Western Pure Land

"Right now, both her mother and I are doing very well. Today, we arrived together in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Although we do not speak in the way humans do, we both understand the karmic connection we shared in that lifetime. She is doing well now, and we are all doing well.

I have only just arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, yet I know I never want to leave. It is so comfortable here, so pure, and so joyful! I love living here; it is infinitely better than the world I left behind. I hope that everyone can return to the Western Pure Land, including my children and grandchildren. I truly hope that everyone can come back home.

Namo Amituofo. Xie Zhangxing bows in reverence."