The Rebirth of Lay Practitioner Guo Shuikui

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Guo Shuikui, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition after passing away. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on May 24, 2024.

Lay Practitioner Guo Shuikui speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I, Guo Shuikui, have finally arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! A massive, magnificent lotus appeared before me, and upon it, my own name was clearly inscribed. Everything here is so brilliant, so filled with light. Namo Amituofo stands right before me, and I immediately prostrated myself, overwhelmed with gratitude for the Buddha.

I am deeply thankful to the compassionate Practitioner Su for guiding both my wife and me to this Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. We did not know the Buddha before, but now we realise how incredibly compassionate He is—truly, His great compassion is boundless, always working to save all beings. We have learned to chant Namo Amituofo now. While we were with Practitioner Su, we chanted incessantly. Whenever Practitioner Su gave a Dharma talk, we listened intently, filled with such profound Dharma joy. It is such a pity that I did not have the blessings to hear the Dharma while I was alive, but I am so fortunate that even after death, I had the blessings to encounter the Buddha and be saved by Practitioner Su."

The Darkness of the Unknown

"After my physical body died, I truly did not know where my spirit would go. Once I took my last breath, my spirit was wandering everywhere, feeling completely panicked. I could not find my home, and I could not see any path forward. Everything in front of me was pitch black, and I was terrified. Eventually, I drifted into the ghost realm. It was a place where every day was grey and dim, one day dragging on after another in misery. Now that I have arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, everything is entirely different. Here, it is so bright, so full of dignity and splendour.

The moment I arrived here, my heart naturally wanted to chant Namo Amituofo. I chant continuously without a single break, and every Bodhisattva here chants as well; it is such a beautiful, harmonious sound."

Life is but an Illusion

"My wife and I were married in that lifetime, and now we are each our own individual spirits. We are aware that we were husband and wife in that life, and that we shared such a karmic connection, but that is all there is to it. There are no other attachments; we are both simply focused on chanting Namo Amituofo. Life is truly an illusion. I hope that all my descendants will understand this—that life is truly, truly an illusion.

I am so grateful to my granddaughter for remembering us two old folks and for working to save us and bring us to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, where we will never have to suffer again. I also hope that she can encourage the rest of our family to learn the Dharma, to practise chanting Namo Amituofo well, and to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss together with us."

Guo Shuikui bows in reverence.

Namo Amituofo."