This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Lu Yan, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her journey through the cycle of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on December 31, 2021.
Lay Practitioner Lu Yan speaks:
". Huiping, thank you. So many words are stuck in my throat, and I truly do not know where to begin. This connection we shared, despite all its flaws and gaps, was still beautiful. Your aunt cherishes it deeply, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
The Unimaginable Grace of the Western Land
"Coming to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is something I never dared to imagine. My heart was not clear; I was prone to dark thoughts and negative impulses. I never believed I was qualified to enter such a magnificent and dignified world as this. It was your mother’s counseling that gave me the courage to follow her path. Without her, I would still be trapped in the , lost and wandering.
In the past, I created so much heavy . Looking back from the vantage point of the Western -Nature Land, I can see it all so clearly. Lifetime after lifetime, I wore different faces, but I was always creating karma. Even when I was fortunate enough to be reborn into the human world in this life, I did not cherish it properly. After I passed away, I fell into the animal realm, suffering endlessly, over and over again. It was only when you, Huiping, provided my name to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre that I was finally rescued by Practitioner Su."
The Terror of the Spirit Realm
"When I was first rescued, I was still terrified. My entire spirit was trembling—that was the state of my soul back then, filled with such profound fear. I desperately wanted to escape, but I had no way out and no opportunity to change my fate. That is why, when Practitioner Su saved me, I felt such overwhelming gratitude. However, because I had lived in fear for so long, I could not recover immediately. The Head felt dull and clouded; I had not yet fully awakened to the truth.
Huiping, you are such a good child. You have so much emotion for others, and you even remembered your old aunt. Looking back through the ages, we were once mother and son in a previous life. That was such a long time ago that I can barely see it clearly—just shadows of what once was. It turns out that every connection between people is built upon karmic ties from the past. Every relationship is the result of many lifetimes of causes and conditions. But no matter what the relationship is, on the long road of reincarnation, you are ultimately always alone."
The Only Path to True Freedom
"Huiping, walk through this world lightly. It is best for you to focus your heart and mind on your practice. There is no such thing as a permanent life. Whether your family life is good or bad, there will come a day when you lose it all. When that time comes, where will you go? Where will you be reincarnated? No one knows. While you are still alive, seize every single day. Be diligent in your practice and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Do not let yourself be held back by worldly emotions; after death, all those attachments turn to nothingness. I see this so clearly now.
The path of learning the Dharma is the best, the most correct, and truly the only choice for you. Please, on my behalf, thank Practitioner Su and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I thank you, too, my dear.
