The Rebirth of Lin Chen Yu-chu in the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Lin Chen Yu-chu, who sought Chao Du 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 of rebirth and her gratitude for the deliverance she received. The interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on October 27, 2019.

Lin Chen Yu-chu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I have arrived. I am Lin Chen Yu-chu. I have a daughter named Lin Su-hua, whom Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and several other lay practitioners know well.

I was a close friend and fellow practitioner of Practitioner Su. Back when he was at the Pure Land centre, I already recognised his great cultivation. I knew he possessed both practice and virtue—he was no ordinary person. My intuition proved to be correct! I trusted that he could help me, and I hoped that after my death, he would be able to perform Chao Du for me. It is truly because of him that I was delivered to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss! If he had not helped me, I would still be lingering in the space of my own home, watching my son and grandchildren. That is the typical fate of people in the human world. I am so fortunate that I did not follow the path of reincarnation like so many others. If I had not reached the Western Pure Land, all my years of chanting Namo Amituofo would have been in vain."

The Power of Compassionate Intervention

"Years ago, when we were volunteering together at the Bao En Tang in Kuching, Malaysia, Practitioner Su led us in chanting Namo Amituofo. Many inconceivable things happened during that time. He helped resolve the grievances of many beings, including my own struggle with stomach cancer. Beyond the blessings of Namo Amituofo, it was his assistance at that time that helped me. He invited the karmic creditors to leave, which stopped my condition from worsening. I passed a great deal of long-accumulated black stool, and my stomach shrank significantly. I finally regained the strength to perform prostrations and felt alive again. Several people knew about this incident back then, but Practitioner Su never took any credit. That is his inner character. In truth, those with discerning eyes knew even then that he had the ability to help people and resolve their illnesses. That was about ten years ago, was it not?

I volunteered in Kuching for many years, and I longed to return to Taiwan to see my children and family. Although a small bird once warned me that I would die if I returned to Taiwan, I believe that was a compassionate manifestation of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas trying to warn me. However, I did not listen. Not long after I returned home, my illness began to worsen. Before I passed away, because I was reluctant to leave and was distracted by the desire to see my son, my heart was not sincere. I did not focus on chanting Namo Amituofo. Even though others were there to assist me with chanting, I failed to invoke the Buddha's presence."

Rescued from the Void

"Just like that, after my spirit left my body, I became a wandering ghost in the space of my own home. I remained there until I heard Practitioner Su calling my name, pulling me out from that space. At that moment, I was carried by a beam of light and immense power to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I knelt before the Buddha, and Practitioner Su instructed me to repent and chant Namo Amituofo. Suddenly, the Buddha-light shone upon my entire body. I felt as if I had awakened. I chanted Namo Amituofo incessantly. I was terrified, heartbroken, and I wept as I repented, begging the Buddha to take me to the Western Pure Land. I did not want to reincarnate again! I chanted the Buddha's name loudly, and suddenly, a pair of great hands reached out to hold me. In that very instant, I entered a place of extreme brightness, a place where the melodious sound of the Buddha's name echoed continuously. When I looked closely, everything was resplendent with gold and jade, and the ground emitted a brilliant light. I understood—this was the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss! I shouted, 'Namo Amituofo, this is the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!' Tears of gratitude streamed from my eyes. After chanting for so many years, this was the Western Pure Land of my dreams. I had finally arrived!

To this day, I have not left this place for even a single moment. There are so many things here that one could never encounter or imagine in the human world. I am wearing my favourite clothes, which are light and comfortable; it is so wonderfully cool! I have become taller and younger, unlike my former self, who was frail, small, and weak. I listen to the sutras before the Buddha. The Buddha's auspicious characteristics are so dignified, and his voice is gentle and kind. All beauty resides within the Buddha. This is the purpose of learning the Dharma; everyone can become like the Buddha. There is no suffering from illness here, and there will never be anything that goes against one's wishes, because here, everything is fulfilled."

A Debt of Gratitude

"Practitioner Su, thank you! I understand in my heart that without your assistance, I would certainly be trapped in the cycle of rebirth, and I would have no opportunity to share my experience of rebirth with everyone here. Practitioner Su is a Buddha or Bodhisattva who saves people and guides them to the Western Pure Land. Many beings have already been reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss because of his Chao Du. Many people in the human world do not know him, and some who do still do not believe in his abilities. It is truly heartbreaking that a Buddha or Bodhisattva who manifests in the human world, who has the ability to save people and possesses the true cultivation to rescue beings, is questioned and even slandered! Without great power and great vows, how could one possibly save us stubborn beings who, even knowing that the matter of life and death is of the utmost importance, remain burdened by heavy karma?

Namo Amituofo, thank you. Practitioner Su, thank you. To the Venerables and lay practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, thank you all.

Namo Amituofo."