From the Depths of Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Liang Zhisheng, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent spiritual transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on February 9, 2024.

Lay Practitioner Liang Zhisheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I, disciple Liang Zhisheng, kneel and bow my head in profound gratitude. I am eternally grateful to Namo Amituofo, to Practitioner Su, to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, to my seventh aunt, and to every single person who has extended a helping hand to me.

Thanks to the boundless compassion of Practitioner Su, I have now arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I cannot stop weeping; the tears simply will not cease. I struggle to find the words to express how I feel right now—it is a complex, overwhelming mixture of emotions.

A Lifetime of Suffering and the Agony of Hell

My life was truly filled with suffering. In just a few short decades, it all came to an end. Before my spirit was rescued, I was trapped in the hells, enduring endless, ceaseless torture. I spent my time crying out in agony, yet there was no one to help me. I knew deep down that this was the result of the karma I had created, and I felt such profound regret, but it was already too late.

In my past lives, I was a truly wicked person. I committed every evil imaginable—murder, arson, stealing, and sexual misconduct. I caused so much harm to so many people. I destroyed countless families, leaving them broken and shattered. When you add the misdeeds of this current life to that mountain of past sins, the karmic retribution was inevitable and cruel—I was reduced to a vegetative state.

The Prison of the Physical Body

While I lay there, unable to move a single muscle, my soul was already suffering in the hells. My entire being was crushed under the weight of my karmic creditors. Even my true self was held captive; no one wanted to let me go. I was trapped in a prison of my own making.

I feel such deep remorse for my parents. I do not even know where they are now. When Practitioner Su guided me to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I wept every single day. I was such an unfilial son, causing my parents so much worry and pain. Now, I have no ability to save them, and I have no idea where they have been reincarnated in the cycle of samsara. Speaking of this, I find myself weeping uncontrollably once again.

The Path to Deliverance

I am so deeply grateful to my seventh aunt for saving me; it is only because of her that I could be liberated from the hells. After listening to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su, I finally understood the truth: the laws of karma and cause and effect are never empty. Every ounce of suffering I endured was deserved. I owed so much to others—a debt so vast that I could never hope to repay it all.

Although I have now reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I can still see those I harmed; they are still filled with hatred, still waiting for me. I wish with all my heart that my parents and all my karmic creditors could be saved. It pains me to realise that I no longer have the power to help them directly. I can only pray for the Buddha’s compassionate blessings to save them.

Once again, I offer my deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. Seventh Aunt, I will never forget your kindness.

Namo Amituofo.

Liang Zhisheng bows in reverence."