Rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss — Zhao Xuzhi (Zhang Ruijuan's stepmother)

Interview by Chief Writer: Fa Ning

July 17, 2026

Lay Practitioner Zhao Xuzhi:

Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, I am grateful for your great compassion, which has allowed me, Zhao Xuzhi, to no longer suffer the torments of the hells, guiding my spirit from the hells to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and subsequently to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This journey is truly precious. I am also deeply grateful to my stepdaughter, Zhang Ruijuan; she is truly one with tremendous blessings, able to encounter the Buddha in this Five Turbidities and Evil World, and for registering me for the Chao Du Dharma assembly. I sincerely hope that she, too, may return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in the future; this is my heartfelt wish.

This transformation has not been easy. It feels as though many years have passed since I left the human world, and I suffered in the hells for eight long years. While alive, I did not understand the laws of karma and cause and effect, nor did I know that good deeds bring good rewards and evil deeds bring evil consequences. Although I did not commit evil acts while alive, Buddhist education explains this very clearly: as long as a person has selfishness and only thinks of themselves, without considering others, this is a negative habit.

I did not receive true Buddhist education when I was young, and I did not understand these principles. Now, having been saved by the Buddha, I must also express my gratitude to my good child, Zhang Ruijuan. You performed the Chao Du for your mother, and I am deeply moved.

Those of us who can be guided from the hells to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and subsequently be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, are truly those with the greatest of blessings!

In the past, I did not study the Buddha’s teachings and was ignorant, which led to many personality traits that were difficult for others to accept. My character was very strong and my speech was blunt, which often hurt others. Even though people liked me, I would still give rise to afflictions and feelings of comparison over others' affairs, which polluted my character and led me down an irreversible path.

People in the world often think that losing one's temper casually will not have serious consequences, but this is not the case! Having gone through this, I want to tell everyone: please do not think this way. In a person's life, every thought and every contemplation will have a profound impact. Although the physical eyes of people cannot see this, do not assume that these things do not exist. I now understand the laws of karma and cause and effect more clearly and thoroughly than anyone else.

Now, my body and heart are very light and comfortable. It is as if all the events of the past are sliding before my eyes, yet they leave no trace. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is so beautiful that it allows people to gradually forget everything that happened before. With only the Buddha-name of "Namo Amituofo" in one's heart, and no other thoughts, only such a person has the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss early.

It was because of my own character that I fell into the hells and suffered such intense punishment. The punishment in the hells is truly unbearable; that kind of deeply etched pain is something I must thoroughly change my ways from now on.

There are many feelings and emotions in the human heart, and these are the primary reasons why people suffer. I finally understand this principle now.

At this moment, I want to tell all my family members that you must seize the opportunity to study the Buddha’s teachings while you can; following the Buddha is the best thing you can do.

Gratitude to the compassion of Namo Amituofo, and gratitude to the compassion of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo

Words of Zhao Xuzhi