This is a record of an interview with Hong Dai, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transition from the cycle of rebirth to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on December 31, 2021.
Hong Dai speaks:
". Xiuli, my dear daughter! It is your father, Hong Dai. I am filled with such immense today—I have finally arrived! This place is the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was Practitioner Su who guided us here. I had originally intended to wait for you, but after waiting for such a long time and witnessing so many others joyfully departing for the Western Land, I decided that I could not wait any longer—I had to come here first!"
The Radiance of the Western Land
"Let me tell you, it is truly magnificent here. Everything is so vibrant, so luminous, and so peaceful. It is beyond anything I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams. I often see Yating and her two sons here as well. My great-grandchildren are absolutely adorable, though I must admit, they are quite mischievous! I have watched them give Practitioner Su and the Venerables quite a headache at times. They are so young yet so incredibly sharp; they truly need to be guided with great care so they do not stray onto the wrong path."
Wisdom and the Path of Practice
"Children today are not like we were in our time. Back then, we were simple—we just ate, grew up, and lived our lives without much fuss. Your mother grew up in that same simple way. But now, one must follow the example of Practitioner Su and use true Wisdom to guide the younger generation. Only then will they listen and understand. You should tell them that today, their great-grandfather was brought to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su. Tell them that Practitioner Su possesses profound skills and that they should study hard so that, in the future, they too can be like Practitioner Su and save countless beings, guiding them all to the Western Land."
"I even had the chance to taste the steamed buns you made today. You are just like your father—you have a real talent for cooking, and you have clearly inherited his skills. You are currently serving everyone at the temple, and I want you to continue doing so with all your heart. Cultivate your merit and your virtue; that is how you become a true disciple of the Buddha."
A Narrow Escape from the Cycle of Rebirth
"I must express my deepest gratitude to my daughter. Although we are father and daughter and there is no need for such formalities, I must say this: if you had not helped me perform the Chao Du, I would still be trapped in the form of a rooster right now. The laws of and cause and effect are truly terrifying! I never in my life imagined that I would end up being reborn as a rooster. It was all so sudden—a brilliant light appeared and brought me to the temple. Only then did I realise what had happened to me; it felt as if I had been living in a dream. I am so relieved to have finally escaped that existence. I shudder to think how much longer I would have been trapped there if not for this deliverance."
The Path to Ultimate Bliss
"I am doing very well here at the temple. I have been listening to the sutras and chanting Namo Amituofo. I never knew how to do these things before, but now it has become a natural part of my life. Now that I see the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I realise it is even more magnificent than the temple itself. It is so bright, so fragrant, and so beautiful. If it were not for Practitioner Su guiding us, we would never have been able to enter this realm. I have learned here at the temple that one must chant Namo Amituofo to be able to enter the Western Land. During the assembly, I saw everyone striving towards that golden light, and I knew then that the Western Land was a place of true refuge, so I kept chanting Namo Amituofo. Chanting is truly a wonderful practice; it clears the heart and brings such peace. I hope you will also continue to chant Namo Amituofo diligently. Father has arrived in the Western Land first. You are getting on in years now, so please take good care of yourself. Each generation has its own destiny and its own , so do not worry too much about the descendants."
"Now that I have arrived in the Western Land, you can finally set your heart at ease. Thank you so much, my daughter. I also wish to express my gratitude to Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, and everyone at the temple."
