On the 2nd of June, 2017, the disciple Shi Hailiang performed ten prostrations to the Buddha and respectfully invited the spirit of Lay Practitioner Li Muyuan, the former President of the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, to speak. Venerable Shi Hailiang addressed him, explaining that this interview was intended to document his process of practice and the true circumstances of his passing. By sharing this account to repay the Buddha's kindness, we hope to provide guidance and clarity to many beings who are seeking the right path.
Venerable Shi Hailiang observed that Lay Practitioner Li Muyuan was already waiting, a gentle smile upon his face. He invited the practitioner to speak with .
The Heart of a Practitioner
Lay Practitioner Li Muyuan began by expressing his at being present in the Buddha-land. He shared that he always cherished listening to Practitioner Su expound upon the . He explained that his purpose in coming forward was to clarify the nature of his practice. During his lifetime, his greatest happiness was found in caring for the members of the Singapore Buddhist Lodge. He loved to walk the grounds, greeting the volunteers and joining his fellow practitioners in the diligent chanting of .
He reflected on his dedication, noting that after the Venerable Master departed, he felt a deep responsibility to support every person at the Lodge who truly wished to practise. He wanted to ensure they could cultivate without worry, so that they might truly be reborn in the . He spoke of his own physical struggles, noting that his illness served as a test of his willpower. During his dialysis treatments, he often thought that if he were granted more time, he would dedicate it entirely to the Dharma. Although he survived several hospitalisations, he was ultimately unable to withstand the demands of his . He passed away due to heart failure, but he did not achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land at that time.
The Hidden Reality of
He described the harrowing experience of his final moments in the hospital. He fell into a coma, and his karmic creditors seized him. They caused him to become deeply drowsy and severely controlled his brain, tightening their grip around his throat. He was no longer the master of his own mind or body. Those who hear this news might wonder how he arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. He expressed his deep gratitude to Practitioner Lihong from mainland China, who kindly saw the news released by the Singapore Buddhist Lodge and contacted Practitioner Su to inform her that Li Muyuan had passed away.
He offered his heartfelt thanks to the compassionate Practitioner Su. Upon hearing the news of his passing, she decided to seek out his spirit to see if he had truly reached the West. To her discovery, he was actually suffering retribution in hell, where he was forced to lecture on the sutras. Practitioner Su rescued his spirit from the hells and brought him to the Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to listen to the teachings. She attempted to contact the relevant personnel at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge to inform them that he had not actually attained rebirth, but the Lodge had already announced his passing and performed a cremation, claiming that sarira relics had been produced. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre made several attempts to convey the truth, but no one would believe them. Finally, through the compassion of Practitioner Su during the , he was guided to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
A Call to Believe in the Pure Land
He expressed a deep longing for someone to visit him, yet he has waited until now without anyone coming. After listening to the Dharma, he realised that the actions he once believed to be correct were, in fact, the creation of negative karma. He had been incited by other masters to reject the very teacher who was expounding the sutras at that time. Though he had considered himself a talented lecturer, he paid a heavy price for the karma he created. He described his experiences in the heart-gouging hell, the enema hell, and the tongue-pulling hell. In truth, long before his death, during a stroke that kept him hospitalised for over thirty days, his three hun souls and seven po souls had already departed, and his spirit was already undergoing retribution.
Many might ask: Why would Li Muyuan, a man who was strict with himself, kind to others, and a promoter of harmony among the nine major religions, fall into the hells? This doubt is precisely why no one has come to seek him out. Today, his primary message is to let those at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge who care for him know that he is truly in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They must not doubt this any longer. They are welcome to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to communicate with him. He hopes that all who see this message will believe that the Western Pure Land truly exists and that Practitioner Su has the power to guide beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.
Venerable Shi Hailiang concluded: Namo Amituofo. We are grateful for the testimony of Lay Practitioner Li Muyuan. Namo Amituofo.
This interview was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Hailiang.
