A Mother's Journey to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Chen Xianping, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and her journey to liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on September 15, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Chen Xianping speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, I have finally arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am waving to my children, letting you all know that I am perfectly fine. My body no longer suffers; I feel incredibly light and free. I have become young again, and a gentle smile rests upon my lips. I listen to the birds singing and breathe in the fragrance of the flowers. The Buddha is right before my eyes, filling my heart with profound peace and deep emotion. Seeing you all now, I am filled with such joy.

Reflecting on a Life of Attachment

Looking back at my Past and Present Lives, I realise that my heart was often burdened by petty calculations. I wanted to save more money and avoid hardship. I held onto so many thoughts that I never voiced. Like so many others, I prioritised myself and my family above all else. Now, I understand that it was my every thought and intention that caused my karmic creditors to manifest one by one. When they began to surround me, my heart grew anxious and restless. Yet, to fulfil my role as a mother, I tried my best to hold it all together. My heart rose and fell, and each time I had to suppress those feelings, the force required became greater and greater. This is why so many of my karmic creditors were awakened, and why my body had to endure such suffering. When I was about to depart, I was surrounded by a great crowd of them. That painful experience—I now understand that it was a debt I owed, and it was time to repay them.

A Mother's Final Guidance

I am sharing these things with you, my family, my children, because I hope you will use my life as a mirror. I hope you will take good care of your every thought and intention. Think well, look well, and do not let yourselves fall into illness. I can see the karmic creditors moving within your own lives, and this causes me some worry. The only method I can think of now is to encourage you to listen to the sutras more often. Through listening, you will learn that you must change. I do not want you to walk the path of suffering that I once did. Treasure your bodies; you still have so much potential to contribute to the world. But remember, do not live only for yourselves—you must also help others.

Reunion in the Western Land

Mother has departed, but I believe you will think of me from time to time. Now that I am in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, my entire being is filled with light. I long to shine that light upon you, but I cannot do it for you—to become a Buddha, one must rely on one's own efforts. My life has passed, and there were so many things I could not let go of, but now I understand the necessity of letting go. I hope that each of you carries a seed of Goodness in your heart. If the Causal Conditions align, I hope you will study the Buddha’s teachings, understand the principles he has taught us, and make the vow to come to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to reunite with me.

I am filled with gratitude to the Buddha, and I am deeply thankful to Practitioner Su for the Chao Du. Namo Amituofo."