This is a record of an interview with Xie Xiaolan, the mother of Lay Practitioner Liu Yaguo, 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 transition from the human world to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on January 23, 2026.
Xie Xiaolan speaks:
". I offer my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and my heartfelt thanks to Practitioner Su! Today, I, Xie Xiaolan, have finally arrived at the world of Namo Amituofo—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! I wish to first express my thanks to Namo Amituofo, and then share this joyous news with my family. Although I was never very good with words when I was alive, communicating here is done through mental notes, which makes sharing my thoughts so much simpler! Every single thought I have manifests into words, and I hope that my family and friends who read this can truly feel my presence. Although the tone of my voice is different from what you remember, my spirit has not changed. Or perhaps, I should say that this is the real me—the me that is finally authentic, which is quite different from the person I was before, who was not truly myself at all."
The Illusion of the Human Self
"Ah, this might be difficult for you all to understand. What is real and what is false? It is all so intertwined. I, Xie Xiaolan, only came to realise this after arriving at the Western Land of Nature and listening to the Dharma talks. When I was living in the human world, even though I appeared to be Xie Xiaolan, I was not actually the one in control of my own body! It is truly shameful to admit, but I had so many beings directing my actions, influencing my , and dictating my life. Because I did not receive a proper education in the Dharma when I was young, my thoughts became a bit skewed and selfish, which allowed these beings to use my body to carry out their own agendas. That is the harsh reality of life in the human world! You must believe me when I say this: you are not truly in control of yourselves either. Perhaps you think you are, but the real you has been locked away. It is the great tragedy of being human. I only learned this after I passed away, but please, do not be afraid. Because you have encountered the Buddha, there is hope for you! Finding your true self is not such a difficult task anymore. You must have faith in the Buddha, and you must have faith in yourself!"
A New Life in the Pure Land
"Speaking of which, I have only been in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss for a few hours by human time, yet I feel as though I have been completely renewed. When I chant Namo Amituofo here, I see golden lotus flowers everywhere. The people here are also constantly chanting the Buddha's name. There is no need to worry about anything, no need to plan for the next moment; everything is so natural, so relaxed, and so beautiful. Even when I happened to think of the food from my hometown, it appeared before me instantly! Yet, I find that I have no desire to possess it at all.
You do not need to worry about me, because this place is far too wonderful. I no longer dwell on the past unless someone calls upon me to remember it. Otherwise, I only focus on one thing: to realise my true nature and attain Buddhahood as quickly as possible. Wow! You might not believe that this is my goal, but this is the realisation I gained after listening to the Dharma talks in the Western Land of Dharma Nature! Of course, I was not as fortunate as you are—you have encountered the Buddha while you are still in good health! It is not too late to turn back and practise diligently. You must listen to your mother's words! It was only after arriving here that I suddenly saw everything clearly. I finally understood that everything in the human world is an illusion, and one should not hold onto it too tightly."
A Mother's Final Guidance
"Therefore, I have decided to follow the Buddha with all my heart. I am quite different from the person I used to be. Furthermore, I have taken on a male form; I am no longer the woman you knew as your mother. All of this is something you can verify for yourselves when you eventually arrive here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss!
Keep going! I am waiting for you here. I am so grateful for your filial piety; I can feel it. Once again, I offer my gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Thank you for your and wisdom in guiding us all!
