The Path of Remembrance and Light

This is a record of an interview with Gao Fenglan, who sought deliverance 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 and her transition from the underworld, recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 27, 2025.

Gao Fenglan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I have been given today. It is an opportunity I could never have attained on my own, and I am truly, profoundly thankful. I know that I must cherish this moment, grasp it firmly, and begin to practise diligently, following the Buddha with all my heart.

I offer my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the prison guards in the underworld, I bow in thanks for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Simple Life in the Countryside

"My name is Gao Fenglan. A very long time ago, I was just an ordinary, simple old woman. I was born in the countryside and lived a quiet life, never seeing the grand spectacles of the world, yet I worked diligently and honestly for most of my years. When I was young, I farmed the land and raised my family. In my old age, I would sit at the village entrance, basking in the sun, watching my grandchildren chase each other and play. In my heart, I felt that this was enough. It was a complete life.

I never considered myself a great saint, but within our village, if someone needed a helping hand, I never refused. Before I passed away, I would join the villagers in offering prayers, and whenever there was a Dharma assembly, I would make offerings according to my means. I did not understand profound philosophies; I only knew that to be a human being, one must keep a heart of kindness."

The Darkness of the Underworld

"Later, when I grew too frail to walk and fell ill, I passed away in my bed. Even as my last breath left me, my heart was still lingering on the smoke rising from my kitchen chimney and the laughter of my children. I had assumed that after death, things would be as the village legends described—that I would be reincarnated or perhaps guided by my ancestors. But I never expected to arrive in such a grey, damp, and desolate place. There were cold winds blowing constantly, and everywhere I looked, there were faint, flickering shadows of people walking with their heads bowed, silent and motionless.

This was the place people call the underworld. At first, I kept wondering: would my children come to visit me in my dreams? Would someone burn incense or offer food for me? As it turned out, before long, I felt a connection. In the human world, someone was burning paper money for me, setting up an altar, and reciting sutras. They called my name and worshipped at my spirit tablet. Every time they performed these rites, I could vaguely sense a familiar presence."

The Desperation of the Lost

"But the strange thing was, I could not see their shadows, nor could I touch their offerings. Those paper offerings and sacrifices, the moment they arrived in the underworld, would vanish like steam, snatched away by lonely spirits coming from every direction. I have a soft nature and never dared to fight with others, so I could only watch as what was meant for me was snatched away, leaving me empty-handed once again. As time passed, I grew more and more depressed.

Every time a ritual was performed in the human world, the other lonely spirits would go mad, scrambling for the offerings like starving dogs. I could only sit in the corner, weeping as I thought of my family. I understood that their offerings were born of filial piety, but this piety could not truly deliver me. On the contrary, the more they performed these rites, the more I missed them, and the deeper I sank into this dark, sunless place."

The First Glimmer of Light

"One day, after a ritual, I was sitting quietly when I suddenly felt a faint glimmer of light around me. It was not the light of a candle, nor the smoke from burnt paper; it was a warmth that seemed to well up from within my own heart. I looked up, but I could see nothing. I only felt a sudden release in my chest.

After that day, every so often, I would feel that subtle light again. At first, I did not understand what it was; I simply assumed it was the power of my descendants' offerings. But every time the light appeared, my mood would lift, and the heaviness in my chest would dissipate a little. Now I know that it was the power of my descendants learning the Buddha's teachings and chanting Namo Amituofo. Every time they chanted a single Buddha-name, I received a measure of help."

The Call to Liberation

"Later, in that underworld realm, I suddenly saw several familiar friends and relatives from my past. They wore warm smiles, and their bodies were glowing with a soft light. As they passed by me, I hurried to stop them. I asked, 'Where are you going?' They replied with a smile, 'We are going to be liberated.' Liberation? I did not understand what they meant. But they were moving very quickly, and I did not dare to follow them blindly. That time, I did not keep up.

Some time passed—perhaps only a few days there, though it might have been a year in the human world. I saw another group of relatives and friends, carrying the same light, walking from afar. This time, I felt a sense of urgency, but I still lacked the courage to step forward. I watched helplessly as they walked further and further away, leaving me alone, trapped in the same spot. Just as they vanished, I heard a voice resonate in my ears: 'Why did you not follow?' The voice was gentle yet firm."

The Yama King's Intervention

"I was stunned and could not answer. I only lowered my head and murmured, 'I do not know.' At that moment, a force brought me before a grand hall. Sitting in the hall was the Yama King, majestic yet compassionate. He asked me, 'Gao Fenglan, what are you attached to in your heart?' I bowed my head in silence, though my heart was in turmoil. The Yama King continued, 'Your descendants in the human world are now chanting Namo Amituofo at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to deliver their ancestors. You have had several opportunities to be liberated; why do you still linger and hesitate?'

I was shaken to my core. That familiar light, I realised, was the power of my descendants chanting the Buddha-name. The Yama King said compassionately, 'Because you performed good deeds in your past life, you have the seed of the Buddha within you. Now, because of your descendants' sincere chanting, you have gained this opportunity. If you can awaken, you should follow the others and no longer sink into this cycle of suffering.' At that moment, tears streamed down my face like rain."

A Heart Awakened

"I finally understood that my lingering all these years was not because I had unfinished business in the world, but because of my deepest longing: to return to the Buddha-light and to find my true home. Seeing my awakening, the Yama King smiled and said, 'Since you have realised the truth, you should first assist others, and in doing so, increase your own merit and wisdom.' Thus, I was assigned to perform small services in the Yama Hall, organising records and guiding newly arrived souls. During this time, I often heard the sound of Dharma talks echoing through the halls.

That voice came from a compassionate and dignified master named Practitioner Su. Practitioner Su explained the truth of the Buddha's teachings, teaching beings to let go of their attachments and guiding them to take refuge in the light. I listened quietly, and every word, every sentence, seeped into my heart like water into parched soil. My heart gradually became clear and bright."

The True Meaning of Deliverance

"I began to understand that true deliverance is not about how much paper money is burnt in the human world, nor how many offerings are made. It begins the moment someone chants a single Buddha-name for you, opening the path home that you had long forgotten. I am still in the hall now, but my state of mind is entirely different. When the next opportunity comes, I will not hesitate again. I am ready to walk toward the true light.

All of this is because my descendants in the human world have sincerely chanted that one name for me: Namo Amituofo. I am also deeply grateful to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia for holding the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies every week, helping more beings in distant places gain the opportunity for liberation. Many people only receive the chance for true deliverance because their descendants perform Chao Du for their ancestors here. We are all truly, deeply grateful.

I am so thankful that I can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in thanks for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Gao Fenglan, with palms joined."