The Rebirth of Lay Practitioner Wei Defu

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Wei Defu, who sought Chao Du 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 life and his subsequent journey through the realms of suffering. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on September 22, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Wei Defu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am eternally grateful to the compassionate Practitioner Su for leading me, his disciple Wei Defu, to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I have never witnessed such breathtaking beauty as I see here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I was so moved that I could not stop the tears from flowing; I simply could not contain the complex surge of emotions within my heart. It is truly astonishing to realise that even though I no longer possess a physical body, my original nature and temperament remain the same.

The Joy of Deliverance

When I discovered that it was my daughter, Wei Qin, who had performed the Chao Du to save me, I was overcome with such immense joy. I am deeply thankful to her for still remembering me, her father. My life in the human world was incredibly difficult, and I spent so much of it filled with resentment. However, after listening to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su, I finally understood that all of that suffering was self-inflicted. It really was all of my own making. If I had not harboured so many negative personality traits, how could I have experienced so much suffering?

I took the world far too seriously while I was alive. Only after death did I realise that everything in the human realm is an illusion. Even the family I had in that lifetime was merely a temporary manifestation; it was simply the Causal Conditions of that specific lifetime that brought us together as a family. But while I was alive, I was completely unable to see through these things. In truth, I simply did not understand. I constantly placed immense pressure upon myself, often feeling that I was inferior to others or that I was not doing well enough. Every time I lost my temper, I would be furious with myself, wondering why I was always like that. But as Practitioner Su says, I truly was not able to master my own mind.

The Weight of Karmic Creditors

After my spirit was rescued by Practitioner Su, the Buddha-light shone upon me, and my head finally began to clear. I could listen to the Dharma and understand it much more deeply. There are so many truths I only know now, including the fact that I was not in control of my own actions. When I look back at my physical body, I see that countless spirits were covering me. They had almost completely replaced me, causing my temperament to deteriorate further and making me prone to many negative thoughts.

After I died, I suffered in the hells. It was truly agonising. It was my own personality that awakened the karma I had accumulated throughout my many lives, eventually leading me to suffer retribution in hell. I acknowledge every single sin I ever committed, and in the end, I obediently accepted the cruel punishments of hell. I had assumed that I would continue to suffer like that forever; I never expected that my daughter would save me. At that moment, I heard someone calling my name, and a beam of golden light quickly lifted me out of hell, bringing me immediately to the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

A Father's Message to His Daughter

During this time, I have listened to the Dharma talks by Practitioner Su, and I have had many profound realisations. I have finally decided to let go of everything completely and allow myself to become a happy inhabitant of the Western Land.

I want to tell my daughter, Wei Qin: Father knows that you are also suffering greatly, and that you have many things tangled up in your heart. Do not think about them anymore! Let it all go! Your health is not good, and many of your karmic creditors have been attracted to you because of your personality and habits. This body is very precious; do not let your heart remain burdened by things you cannot let go of. The world is nothing but an illusion. Your karmic creditors are truly suffering; do your best to perform Chao Du for them. Saving them is, in fact, saving yourself.

Listen to your father's words: let go of everything, chant Namo Amituofo diligently, and eventually, we will be reunited in the Western Land. Wei Defu bows in reverence. Namo Amituofo."