The Long Journey Home to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lu Wang Baozhen, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her journey and her message to her daughter, Lay Practitioner Lu Shuling. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Jing, on March 17, 2023.

Lu Wang Baozhen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lu Wang Baozhen. When I first arrived in the Western Pure Land, I wept with such overwhelming intensity. I knelt before the Buddha and bowed my head to the ground, saying to Him, 'How could I have been so foolish? For the sake of worldly emotions, I have been reincarnated until this very moment.'"

The Overwhelming Joy of Returning Home

"Today, I am here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss alongside my husband from this lifetime. It was the boundless compassion of Practitioner Su that guided us here, and I am filled with such profound gratitude towards him. Throughout my life, I did not truly practise the Dharma. Yet, the moment I arrived in the Western Pure Land, I was struck by a sense of familiarity so deep it shook my soul. It was only then that I realised I had actually lived here a very, very long time ago. That is why I wept so uncontrollably. It is a feeling that words simply cannot capture—it is like a wanderer who has been away from home for an eternity, finally finding the path that leads back to the doorstep."

"In this lifetime, I was born as a woman, and I lived a very simple, quiet life. However, I did not understand the importance of seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Many of my friends and relatives who are still living in the world are just like I was; they do not keep the Western Pure Land in their hearts. They are far too preoccupied with the people around them, thinking only of their immediate family. Now that I have arrived in the Western Pure Land, I finally understand how vital this place is for all of us. We have all departed from the Western Pure Land, and once we left, we never managed to find our way back until now."

The Trap of Worldly Attachments

"When I was alive, I had a husband, I had children, I had my own home, and I had people I loved dearly. Every one of them was so important to me. I carried them all in my heart, especially my children. I never once imagined that the emotions of the world would become such heavy shackles, binding my soul so tightly. I did not understand—while I was alive, I simply did not understand. Even if someone had tried to explain it to me, I likely would not have grasped the meaning. I was just an honest, simple woman who did not know much of the world; I only knew that I had to take good care of my family."

"Now that I no longer have a physical body, I have come to realise that within that body, there was a soul that had been reincarnated throughout countless lives. Only now, having arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, has my soul finally been saved. If Practitioner Su had not reached out to save me, I would still be a chicken wandering aimlessly, knowing only how to eat and lay eggs every single day, completely unaware that I needed to wake up from the space of a chicken's existence. It was the attachments of worldly emotion that caused me to fall into the animal realm. I have no complaints; it was my own ignorance that led me to such a state."

A Mother's Final Lesson to Her Daughter

"I am so deeply thankful to my daughter, Shuling, for saving me. After such a long, long time, I have finally awakened. I want to tell my daughter: 'Remember, being a human is full of suffering, and being a woman is even harder. You must never let your soul be bound by worldly emotions. You must strive to come to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; this is your true home.' Mother is doing very well now, so please do not worry about me. Just focus on chanting Namo Amituofo, listen to your mother's words, and make sure you return to the Western Pure Land."

Gratitude to Practitioner Su

"Please thank Practitioner Su on my behalf. Practitioner Su is truly great. Without him, so many spirits would never have been saved, and your father and I would never have been able to reach the Western Pure Land. You must follow the teachings of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su diligently. You must also develop the heart to save others, to save all beings. Now, I can see everything so clearly; these are the things we are meant to do. Otherwise, having this human body is of no use. Only by helping others can we find what is truly important."

"Namo Amituofo."

"Lu Wang Baozhen bows in reverence."