The Long Journey Home: A Mother's Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Mao Fumei, 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 life in the early 20th century. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Ning, on May 15, 2026.

Mao Fumei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Mao Fumei, and as many of you know, I am the mother of Chiang Ching-kuo. I have only just arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and to be granted this interview with the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre so soon after my arrival is a truly staggering experience. First and foremost, I must express my deepest, most sincere gratitude. I am eternally grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su for their guidance. For many years, I languished in the suffering of the hells. For decades, I lived in a cycle of endless, repetitive agony. But at this very moment, I have finally found liberation, and I have set foot upon the path to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Glimmer of Light in the Abyss

"When I was struggling in the depths of hell, trapped in that suffocating darkness, I suddenly encountered a brilliant light. I heard Practitioner Su, here in the human world, calling out my name: 'Mao Fumei—mother of Chiang Ching-kuo.' The moment I heard that voice, I followed the light and was instantly transported to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. At the time, I was utterly bewildered. I did not understand what was happening, but I knew one thing for certain: all of my suffering had finally come to an end. Any place is a sanctuary compared to the hells, but as I settled my heart in the Western Land of Dharma Nature and looked around, I told myself, 'This must be the world of the Buddha.'"

"During my life, I was a believer in Buddhism, but I did not truly understand the teachings. While the concept of a Buddha-land was not entirely foreign to me, I could not fathom why I, of all people, had been granted such a magnificent fate. Later, while staying in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I gradually calmed my heart and began to listen to the lectures given by Practitioner Su. Only then did I begin to comprehend the truth of this place."

A Reunion Beyond Time

"Practitioner Su mentioned more than once that he had guided the mother of Chiang Ching-kuo to this place. It was only then that I realised my son had been saved by Practitioner Su long before I was. He had already reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I am certain that seeing his old mother arrive in the Western Land of Dharma Nature must have brought him great joy."

"It is truly so. Since arriving here, although I still remember the events of my past life, the heavy, clinging attachments I once held for my family have vanished. After my heart was purified, I have remained in a state of profound clarity and ease. Aside from chanting Namo Amituofo and listening to the Dharma, everything feels so natural—as if this is exactly what I was always meant to do."

The Illusion of Devotion

"Looking back, I remember reading sutras before the Buddha in my youth. But everything I did then—whether it was chanting, reciting, or bowing—was not done with a truly sincere heart. At the time, I was merely seeking blessings. I prayed that the Buddha would allow my son, Chiang Ching-kuo, to return to my side quickly, so he would not have to suffer in the Soviet Union. Every day, I recited sutras and the Buddha's name, dedicating all that merit to my son."

"Those years of waiting were incredibly long and arduous. Because my chanting did not come from the depths of my heart, I never felt any true Dharma-joy. But here in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, it is entirely different. Every lecture I hear, every sound of the Buddha's name, is so vivid and deeply moving; it touches the very core of my being."

"I am a perfect example of this truth. Although my life in the human world was filled with regrets and did not unfold as I had hoped, I have come to realise that if one can truly let go of the concepts of 'me' and 'mine'—if one can truly settle the heart upon the Buddha-name without any lingering attachments, without any desperate demands, and without any rigid goals that must be achieved—the heart becomes cool, clear, and tranquil. When the mind is in such a state, where could afflictions and suffering possibly find a place to take root?

A Mother's True Responsibility

I hope that my story can serve as a profound warning to mothers everywhere. Raising children is never an easy task, but if you choose to take on the role of a mother, you must be mentally and spiritually prepared. You need to embody the spirit of Practitioner Su: do not rely on your children for your own sense of worth or security. Instead, be independent, manage your own life well, and become a shining role model for your children to follow. Only by doing this can you truly help yourself and, in turn, help others. It is only after you have established yourself and found your own footing that you can truly save the family members and children around you.

If, like so many people, you pin your entire spiritual world and your happiness on your children, this bond of affection will only become a source of greater suffering and heavy burdens for both parties. It creates a cycle of attachment that is difficult to break, leading only to more pain in the long run.

The Living Reality of the Buddha's Compassion

Now, residing here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, where everyone is equal and free from the constraints of the human world, I have felt the true meaning of compassion for the very first time. The Buddha's compassion is a sincere heart that makes no distinctions among all sentient beings. It is a boundless love that only hopes for all beings to have the opportunity to leave suffering behind and gain happiness. No matter what a being has done in the past, the Buddha can infinitely tolerate and understand them. Although everyone has their own laws of karma and cause and effect to bear, when someone becomes an awakened being on Earth, they can carry out the magnificent work of saving beings.

This is exactly what Practitioner Su is doing right now in the human world. She is helping many suffering spirits find liberation and giving them the precious opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. All of this is built upon the premise that Practitioner Su has performed Chao Du for immeasurable and boundless beings and demon crowds. Only after accumulating this immense merit through diligent practice can such a monumental task be achieved.

Awe at the Work of Practitioner Su

After learning all of this, I, Mao Fumei, was truly astonished and dumbfounded. I never expected that the Buddha’s teachings could be so vividly manifested in the human world, performing so many acts of truly saving beings, rather than just being words on a page as I had experienced in the sutras. It turns out that everything written in the sutras, when brought to life in the presence of a Buddha, is so profound, so magnificent, and so incredibly real.

I now deeply admire the spirit and skills of Practitioner Su. I am not very good at expressing myself with eloquence, but the Dharma-joy in my heart right now is real. It is only after the purification I have undergone during my time in the Western Land of Dharma Nature that I can finally, deeply appreciate the beauty and the depth of the Buddha’s teachings.

A Vow to Practice and Save Others

Finally, I, Mao Fumei, here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, once again sincerely express my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. It is the compassion of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas that has allowed us—these helpless, unsupported, and wandering spirits—to finally have a day of liberation.

At this very moment, there are still too many beings suffering in the cycle of rebirth, unable to escape their own afflictions. As one of the lucky ones who has found this path, I must seize this opportunity to practice in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I must be diligent in my practice, putting in the work, so that in the future, I will have the ability to save the beings with whom I have karmic affinity.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su, and gratitude to everyone who has made this possible.

Namo Amituofo.

Mao Fumei"