The Lessons of Reincarnation: A Journey to the Western Land

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Lin Damei, the aunt of Lay Practitioner Huang Xiufang, 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 spiritual journey and the lessons learned from her past lives. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on September 29, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Lin Damei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lin Damei. When I first beheld the Buddha, I knelt upon the ground, overwhelmed with gratitude toward the Buddha and Practitioner Su. Without your profound assistance, I would still be wandering aimlessly in the cycle of rebirth even now. I am truly, deeply grateful.

A Profound Spiritual Transformation

Coming to this Buddha-land has been a monumental turning point for my spirit. I have been able to see clearly the things I never understood before—the true nature of samsara. I have witnessed my own past lives; I have been a chicken, and I have been a woman for many lifetimes. The blessing and empowerment of the Buddha’s light have allowed me to reflect from the very depths of my heart on why I ended up in such states.

I sincerely sought the answers, and I discovered that, deep within my heart, there remained a lingering sense of calculation and comparison. Sometimes this manifested in my actions, but most of the time, it was simply suppressed, festering within my inner being. This became a poison within my spirit, one that would inadvertently manifest throughout my many lives. Sometimes, I truly did not intend to act that way, but my body simply would not listen to my control. Because of this, I harmed many beings. My body had to suffer the consequences, and it was a debt I was required to repay to them.

The Weight of Cause and Effect

Only after I became a spirit did I truly understand that every single thought, every tiny mental note, carries the weight of the laws of karma and cause and effect. There is no escaping the truth of our own actions.

Today, I speak these words for the sake of my descendants. My physical body has vanished; no matter how much you may miss me, I cannot return. Since we had the karmic affinity to be family, I have a responsibility to share with you what I have realised and what I have seen, so that you may avoid walking the same path of suffering that I did.

A Call to Cherish the Present

The suffering of the cycle of rebirth is something one cannot control. It is like being a piece of discarded waste, tossed aside at will. I hope that you, who still possess a human body and still have the opportunity to change, can grasp every single moment of the present. When you have the chance, you must learn the Dharma and listen to the sutras. This is not superstition; it is the path to transforming your own life. I hope you will all try to do this. As long as you are willing to make the effort, the words I speak today will not have been in vain.

I am so thankful to the Buddha for allowing me to realise these truths. The life of Lin Damei has already come to an end, and I am now a resident of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am deeply grateful to Xiufang for helping me achieve Chao Du. I feel so cool and refreshed now, sitting upon a lotus flower, and I hope that one day we will be reunited. I will follow the Buddha to practise diligently, and I will begin to chant Namo Amituofo at all times.

Namo Amituofo.

Lin Damei, kneeling in gratitude."