The Liberation of Lay Practitioner Chen Yunliang

This is a record of an interview with Chen Yunliang, 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 life and his path to liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on August 25, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Chen Yunliang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I, Yunliang, have finally arrived at the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. As I kneel before the Buddha, my heart is overflowing with such profound gratitude that I cannot help but let the tears fall. It is a feeling of release that words can barely capture.

The cycle of reincarnation is truly, deeply painful. I am so incredibly grateful to the Great Compassionate Namo Amituofo for establishing this Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Without the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su, who reached out to pull us—beings burdened by such heavy sins—from the darkness, I would never have had this precious opportunity to return home to the Western Land.

The Mercy of Namo Amituofo

I want to express my deepest thanks to my daughter in this lifetime. It was she who saved me. Because of her, I was given the chance to be rescued by Practitioner Su. I spent time listening to the Dharma within the Western Dharma-Nature Land, and today, I have finally made the decision to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I sat upon my lotus seat, listening to the teachings. It did not feel like a long time, but during those moments of listening, I saw my past lives unfolding before me, life after life. My soul has been reshaped so many times. Although every life was technically 'me,' each one was so heavily influenced by the different realms into which I was cast. In this lifetime, I was reborn as a human in China. Life was incredibly difficult, and because we had never encountered the Buddha’s teachings, we did not understand the necessity of seeking to leave suffering behind.

A Debt of Regret

I want to speak to my wife from this lifetime. My dear, you have suffered so much because of me. The Causal Conditions of the past brought us together as husband and wife, but our time together was so short, and our parting was so abrupt. I left you with nothing but pain, forcing you to live day and night in agony. It was my fault. I could not overcome the karma that was seeking retribution against me.

In a past life, I used sticks to strike others to death, and in this lifetime, all of those debts came back to find me. They were all there, waiting to seek revenge. I did not realise that life was so fleeting. If I had known earlier that my destiny in this life would unfold this way, I would never have wanted to hurt my wife and cause her to endure such immense suffering. I am so deeply sorry to her.

A Final Plea for Liberation

Now, I have arrived in the Western Pure Land to become a Buddha. I remember that in past lives, I had also studied the Buddha’s teachings, but in this lifetime, I had forgotten everything. Fortunately, even after my death, I was still able to return once more before the Buddha. I am filled with gratitude. I thank Practitioner Su, I thank everyone at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, and I thank my family from this lifetime.

I hope that everyone will take the time to practise the Buddha’s teachings. Please, save your own soul. Return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and find true, eternal liberation from all suffering. Namo Amituofo."