This is a record of an interview with Huang Shen, the maternal grandmother of Practitioner Su Yue'e, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her transition to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on November 15, 2019.
Venerable HaiZe speaks:
"I respectfully invite Huang Shen, who has attained rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and is the maternal grandmother of Practitioner Su, to accept this interview."
Huang Shen speaks:
". Hello to you, and hello to everyone. I am Huang Shen, the grandmother of Ah-E. I am currently residing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."
A Humble Beginning in the Pure Land
"In my time, we women were not very good at speaking. If I say something wrong, please tell me so I can correct it, otherwise, I would feel quite embarrassed. In the past, my husband would always be the one to speak up because he was much better with words. But here, there is no distinction between men and women. We are all equal. There is no such thing as men having higher status and women being looked down upon. Namo Amituofo is truly fair and impartial; it is wonderful! Because of this, I am even able to study here."
Learning at the School of Namo Amituofo
"I am listening to the sutras and learning to read at the school of Namo Amituofo, studying alongside my daughter, Ah-Dan, who is Ah-E's mother. Namo Amituofo is so patient and explains the so clearly. Words that we could not understand before, we can read now! We are still learning, and the Buddha says as long as we are willing to learn, he will teach us. To have such a wonderful teacher without even needing to pay tuition—the Western Land is truly magnificent!"
The Filial Piety of Practitioner Su
"My granddaughter, Ah-E, possesses such incredible skills and is so filial! Even though we had already passed away, she was still able to bring us here. What a marvellous place this is! Everything you could ever want is here. The food is delicious, and the water is sweet and refreshing. In fact, you never feel thirsty; your mouth always feels sweet. You never feel tired, your spirit is always bright, and you never fall ill or suffer from the confusion of old age. Since I arrived here, I have never heard of anyone getting sick, catching a cold, or needing to see a doctor. The air is fresh, and everything is perfect. Everyone you see looks radiant, smiling, and in good spirits. There is nothing to worry about. Namo Amituofo takes such good care of us in every single way!"
A Life Without Suffering
"In the past, I would endure toothaches until I couldn't bear it anymore, and only then would I see a doctor—by then, the pain was unbearable! Here, such things do not exist. It is truly wonderful! They say Namo Amituofo is the Great Physician, and it is absolutely true! Not only is there no sickness here, but everyone’s body is healthy and strong. There is no such thing as the ailments of old age, no body aches, and our complexions are naturally radiant. There is no 'next life' here; you don't have to fear death because there is no death! You can live on forever, settling down in peace. It is truly wonderful!"
"Ah-E, because you encountered Namo Amituofo and learned the Buddha’s skills, you were able to deliver us here. Such a wonderful thing! You must tell everyone about it so they know, and you must teach them how to come here as well. We elderly ones have all become young again since arriving here. It is truly wonderful! Everything here is perfect; there is not a single bad thing. How could such a magnificent place exist? I hope everyone can come and live here."
"I am truly grateful to Namo Amituofo and to my granddaughter, Ah-E! Namo Amituofo."
