The Journey to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss: Lay Practitioner Liang Zhenshun

This is a record of an interview with Liang Zhenshun, the father of Lay Practitioner Liang Mucai, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his journey to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 27, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Liang Zhenshun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I have finally arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! It is truly beyond words—so magnificent, so incredibly beautiful. It is even more breathtaking than what I witnessed while I was residing in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. I owe everything to Practitioner Su. If it were not for his immense compassion in reaching out to guide both my wife and me, we would never have had the chance to step foot into this glorious realm. I am filled with such profound gratitude. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am eternally grateful to Practitioner Su."

The Beauty of the Western Land

"Every single day, I listen to Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, and during the Dharma assembly, I chant Namo Amituofo along with everyone else. Think about it—in my past life, such a thing would have been impossible. I had to struggle just to survive. I never had the luxury of time to sit quietly, to listen to the Dharma, or to focus my mind on chanting. I was constantly worried about my children going hungry. That was the reality for so many families back then. We worked ourselves to the bone just to earn a few coins, gritting our teeth and forcing ourselves to endure one gruelling day after another."

The Hardship of the Human World

"Now, when I look back at my past, I can only shake my head in sorrow—ah!—a long, heavy sigh escapes me. I often think to myself: if only everyone could understand the importance of learning the Dharma, how wonderful that would be. I am not suggesting that people should stop working, but one must learn to keep the Buddha in their heart. Even after a long day of work, if you could just listen to a little bit of the Dharma, understand a few simple truths, and realise that your ultimate destination after death should be the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, that would change everything. It is so vital.

I am not a man of many words, and I truly struggle to find the right way to explain this to others. I want them to understand that the cycle of rebirth, this samsara, is truly, truly bitter. Please, do not let yourselves be trapped in this cycle any longer! Every day of our lives in the human world is fleeting; the moment we draw our last breath, everything we have worked for simply vanishes. Where does the spirit go then? No one knows. Even we ourselves do not know until it is too late. It is absolutely terrifying! You must take advantage of the time you have while you still possess a physical body. Chant Namo Amituofo, work on changing your personality traits, and seize this precious opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Only then can you escape the suffering of the cycle of rebirth."

Life as a Fleeting Performance

"In this lifetime, I was just an ordinary, honest man. Yet, when I looked back at my past lives, I was shocked to discover that I had once been a government official, and in another life, a wealthy man. It was all just a performance, a play that I acted out life after life. It was all an illusion, completely unreal. If my daughter-in-law had not reached out to guide me, my wife and I would never have found our way to the West.

I want to thank my daughter-in-law. You are such a kind and virtuous person, always eager to help others. Seeing that you have become a monastic brings me such joy; I am so happy for you. My own son did not have the same blessings that you have cultivated. Helping beings reach the Western Land is the most important work of all. Without it, I see so many spirits wandering with nowhere to go—it is so pitiful, so full of suffering."

A Debt of Gratitude

"Practitioner Su has truly guided so many spirits to the Western Land. To have the blessings to encounter the true Buddha is the greatest fortune we could ever hope for. We must cherish this opportunity with all our hearts. Namo Amituofo."

Lay Practitioner Liang Zhenshun bows in reverence.