The Journey of Miaoyin: From the Ghost Realm to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

The Joy of Rebirth

I am Miaoyin, a soul who has been saved and reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I wish to share the immense joy of my journey with you. Many of us were once wandering spirits, lost and without a home, until we were reached by the compassionate power of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony. Through this magnificent Dharma assembly, we were guided, group by group, to the lotus pedestals of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. There, we opened our hearts to witness the presence of Namo Amituofo. Although we were once forgotten souls, we are now filled with a joy that surpasses even that of many living practitioners. I have taken the name Miaoyin, and I am here to share the happiness of our rebirth.

A Life of Stoic Duty

I once lived in the human world, where I had a family and children I could not bear to leave behind. That life feels like a distant memory now. Life in my time was incredibly arduous, far removed from the conveniences of the modern world you enjoy today. In those days, even securing a simple, nourishing meal was a significant challenge. I grew up as a child in a rural village during a time of war. Because my family could not afford to raise me, I was sent away at a very young age to be a child bride. My husband and I were not well-matched, yet fate had its way, and I remained committed to his family for my entire life.

I arrived at his home when I was only six years old. Throughout my life, I dedicated every ounce of my energy to serving that household. Even though there was little affection between us, I fulfilled my duties as a wife with complete sincerity. I gave birth to more than ten children, though some were given away because we could not afford to feed them, and others passed away in their infancy. I have even lost count of the exact number. My husband was a civil servant in the government at the time, and I knew he sought pleasures elsewhere, but I never questioned him. I chose to remain silent, pretending not to know, as we each led our own separate lives. I learned to view the world with detachment from a very young age, knowing that everything in this life is ultimately transient.

The Virtue of Gratitude

I lived my life with virtue and kindness, and those around me treated me with respect. I raised my children well, and I have few regrets. Although I never formally studied the Dharma, I lived with an honest and simple heart. I passed away at the age of ninety-one without any illness, save for the occasional cold. Until my final moments, I remained independent and never wished to be a burden to others. My mother-in-law taught me how to be a good wife and how to manage a household, and I was always willing to do what was required. Many might think she was harsh, but I felt she was kind. Without her guidance, I would not have known how to navigate life. I hold a heart of gratitude for my family and the life I was given.

Life in the Ghost Realm

When I passed away, I did not know where to go. I found myself residing within the ancestral tablets of my home, where I saw my mother-in-law. I stayed there, joining a large family of spirits spanning many generations. It was like living in a vast, sprawling mansion. We did not always interact, but we knew we were kin. Each of us wore the clothing of our respective eras, and the space within that realm was far larger than anyone in the human world could imagine. When our living descendants made offerings, we would partake in the essence of the food. However, I refused to consume the meat of chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, cows, sheep, fish, or seafood. I felt deep compassion for these creatures, as I could see their spirits huddled beside the meat, weeping in sorrow. I chose to consume only the rice and vegetables, and naturally, I became a vegetarian in the ghost realm.

The Illusion of Attachment

Although ghosts do not require physical sustenance, we are bound by the habits we cultivated while living as humans. We do not feel hunger, nor do we have physical needs, yet the urge to eat is a deeply ingrained habit. I spent nearly a century in the ghost realm, and in many ways, it was no different from the human world. The faces of the spirits were pale, and the realm was shrouded in an endless, cold night without a single ray of sunlight. I found joy in helping others and encouraging them to perform acts of Goodness. The ancestral tablets served as our homes, and the streets were filled with vendors and commerce, mirroring human life. Those who are overly attached to the human world will inevitably find themselves in the ghost realm after death. I had heard of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I even encountered groups of people who claimed to be chanting the Buddha's name while in the ghost realm. I asked them why they had not reached the Western Land, and I realised it was because they had not truly let go of their worldly attachments. I urge all of you to truly let go.

The Call of Namo Amituofo

I did not understand the Western Land at first, but once I did, I knew with absolute certainty that I wanted to go there. I waited for an opportunity, and I occasionally chanted the name of Namo Amituofo with a sincere heart. My prayers were answered. I heard the sound of the Chao Du, accompanied by the light and the melodious chanting of the Buddha's name. I had heard of Practitioner Su, who is very famous in the spiritual realms. Though I hesitated at first, after witnessing the power of the light and the compassion of the ceremony, I made the firm decision to follow the path to the Western Land. I chanted along with the others, and to my amazement, I was brought to the human world to see the true Buddha. I followed the assembly in chanting, and I wept—not out of sadness, but out of the profound realisation of the cycle of rebirth I had finally escaped.

The Splendour of the Western Land

I have now reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Although I am at the lowest level, I am filled with immense gratitude. The magnificence of this place is beyond words:

• The ground is paved with gold, radiating a brilliant, steady light.The Dharma is proclaimed through the sounds of nature at all six times of the day and night.The precious trees stand in orderly rows, shimmering with jewels.Heavenly Mandarava flowers rain down from the sky, filling the air with fragrance.The water in the Eight Virtues Pools is cool, clear, and refreshing, washing away all impurities.

Through the genuine power of the Chao Du performed in the human world, I have been reborn. I have taken the name Miaoyin, and I am now a resident of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, living a life of pure, spiritual joy.

A Precious Land for All Beings

I look upon Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia and see what a truly magnificent bodhimanda it is. All beings in the spiritual realms can clearly see the light emanating from this precious land. It is only the human world that has yet to fully grasp its value. This is not because humans lack the karmic fortune, but because they are often clouded by suspicion and doubt, which creates infinite karma that entangles them. If only more people could see the truth of this place, reaching the Western Land would be so easy. I share this with you today because I am a living—or rather, a spirit—testimony to the power of the Chao Du performed through the memorial tablets. Namo Amituofo. I hope that my story can bring benefit to many more beings.