The Lightning Spirit's Path to Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Gonda Yuzan, a spirit who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Queensland, Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life approximately several centuries ago in Japan. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on February 15, 2026. Representing 1,967,060 sentient beings who came to seek deliverance after seeing the Namo Amituofo signage in Japan, Gonda Yuzan speaks:

Gonda Yuzan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Gonda Yuzan. You ask where I have been? Imagine a bolt of lightning striking from the heavens. I saw the clouds split open as if torn asunder, only to knit themselves back together again. That lightning, which struck a withered tree and scorched it until it snapped in two—that lightning was me. That was my existence as Gonda Yuzan.

The Legacy of the Gonda Clan

In the Saitama Prefecture of my time, the Gonda family was a household name, renowned for our mastery of weaponry. Whether it was blades, swords, daggers, hammers, throwing stars, or long spears, we were the ones who forged them. Because our family held the secret techniques of weapon manufacturing, we were highly valued and relied upon by the authorities. I was the leader of a branch family, responsible for the research, development, and management of our forging techniques. I was constantly researching and experimenting, hoping that a breakthrough would earn our branch family greater recognition and resources from the main house. It was a competitive life, and because such breakthroughs were rare, our family’s dominance remained unchallenged for a long time.

We were, in essence, the government’s official weapon manufacturers. Our growth was fuelled by the state, as they provided us with massive orders to suppress the rebels who were rising in power. For most of my kin, this was a cause for celebration—it meant immense wealth. But my younger brother was deeply troubled. He feared that a family thriving on the profits of war would eventually attract the wrong kind of attention. I agreed with him, but under the pressure of the family’s collective decisions, we felt powerless to change our course.

A Secret Betrayal and a Final Act

One stormy night, I finally achieved a breakthrough in my forging technique. I was ecstatic and rushed to the main house to report the good news, hoping to secure more resources for my branch. However, when I arrived, I unexpectedly discovered the head of our family in a clandestine meeting. I dared not reveal my presence, so I waited outside, curious to see who he was meeting in such secrecy. To my horror, it was a high-ranking official of the rebel faction! My body trembled. Could it be that the Gonda family had been profiting from both sides of the war all along? This was a grave taboo. If the government found out, we would be destroyed; if other families discovered it, they would surely unite to attack us.

I could not bear to think further. I returned home and consulted my brother. He was remarkably calm; he had suspected this for a long time but did not know how to convince me. We decided that the only way to stop the conspiracy was to destroy the family’s main iron-forging workshop. To prevent my brother and other clansmen from being implicated, I staged an explosion to look like a tragic accident. I vanished from the world along with the workshop.

From Lightning to the Western Pure Land

After death, I became 'lightning.' Whenever a storm raged, I was there. The Thunder God could command me to carry out his tasks. One day, while I was manifesting in the sky during a storm, something changed. I saw a brilliant golden light—something I had never encountered in all my time as a lightning spirit. I looked closely and realised it was a Namo Amituofo sign erected in Japan by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. The light emanating from the sign was immense, and it bore the words: 'Please chant Namo Amituofo.'

Curiosity overcame me, and I began to chant. As I chanted, I was suddenly released from the space of lightning and entered a state of pure spirit. It was as if I had been given a new life. I kept chanting, followed the information on the sign, and decided to come to this Buddhist Centre to seek deliverance.

The Power of Practitioner Su

Wow! So many spirits! That was my first impression upon arriving at Hsiang Kuang. I was shocked to see so many beings seeking deliverance. Even more staggering was seeing Practitioner Su. He could manifest countless identical clones of himself, each radiating golden light. They moved with such incredible speed that in the blink of an eye, all the spirits were sent to the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the temple. I soon became one of them.

Listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks in the Dharma-Nature Land, I finally understood that all things have a spirit. I realised how terrifying the cycle of rebirth is. I am so grateful that Namo Amituofo created the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, allowing us to escape samsara and attain Buddhahood.

A Message for the People of Japan

Gonda Yuzan now understands that the human body is precious. We spirits cannot practise or realise our true nature. If I had known back then that one could be free from aging, free from illness, and that the spirit does not die, I might not have chosen to perish with the workshop. Instead, I would have encouraged my entire family to learn the Buddha’s teachings. I would have told them that we could attain Buddhahood! I believe that if people knew this, the wise would willingly set aside worldly pursuits to seek spiritual elevation.

I hear that the foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion. Practitioner Su attained Buddhahood because of his immense compassion and his desire to help all beings. I must admit, I lack confidence in that regard. In the Japan of my time, the ideals of selflessness, no-self, and compassionate service were rare, though perhaps that was a product of the environment.

Japan today is truly different. The advancements in forging and technology are remarkable. However, I hope the Japanese people can gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual realms; the Buddhist education provided by Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can effectively help everyone in this regard. Why do I say this? When I existed as lightning, I often appeared over Japan during storms. In the world, lightning is a force of extreme 'yang' energy. If a place is filled with dark, negative energy, lightning can dispel and eliminate those harmful magnetic fields. These negative fields are often composed of spirits—ghosts. As a lightning spirit, I was extremely sensitive to these unhealthy, distorted energy fields, and there are many such places in Japan, even within the cities.

If everyone could accept the Buddhist education from Hsiang Kuang, it would be of tremendous benefit to Japan. People would learn how to coexist peacefully with the spiritual realms and even develop their innate human potential. They would have the opportunity to attain the same benefits as Practitioner Su: to be free from aging, free from illness, and to realise that the spirit does not die.

I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for allowing Gonda Yuzan to be reborn in the Western Dharma-Nature Land.

Namo Amituofo.

Gonda Yuzan"