The Awakening of Lay Practitioner Yang Yongsheng

This is a record of an interview with Lay Practitioner Yang Yongsheng, the father of Lay Practitioner Yang Huan, who sought Chao Du 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 journey toward liberation and his newfound clarity. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on August 4, 2023.

Lay Practitioner Yang Yongsheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I feel truly fortunate. After navigating the long, winding path of a human life, I have finally been able to follow the footsteps of the Buddha. Looking back, I realise how much I once misunderstood about the nature of existence.

In the past, my philosophy was simple: as long as one is honest and helps others when they are in need, that is enough. I did not speak much, preferring to teach my children through my own actions. However, it was only after I experienced the true threshold of life and death that I deeply realised how helpless we truly are. No one can dictate their own destination. Once the soul leaves the physical body, it is like a tiny leaf dropped into a vast, turbulent ocean—completely adrift, with no idea where it might be swept next."

The Illusion of Worldly Attachments

"Human life is filled with suffering, a cycle of joy and sorrow, reunions and partings. It is fleeting; one moment you are here, and the next, the play is over. Most people are lost in this delusion, believing that these worldly experiences are the ultimate reality. I was no different. I used to believe that everything I touched was solid and permanent, so I obsessed over my reputation, my social status, and above all, I poured every ounce of my energy into my family. Without someone to guide me, this was a normal reaction—after all, this is what everyone else is doing.

Now, I see it all clearly. In the end, all of these things are empty. Many people are aware of this truth, yet they still cling to their attachments. Of course, there is the interference of karmic creditors, but the most critical factor is that one has not yet brought forth a truly sincere heart."

A Debt of Filial Gratitude

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to my child, Yang Huan, for helping me receive Chao Du. If you had not stepped forward to help your father, my spirit would never have attained this level of clarity. I would never have been able to realise these truths, nor would I have known to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

To my child, and to anyone who is willing to believe that these are my true words, I hope you will take the opportunity to study the Dharma. The ultimate purpose of studying the Dharma is to escape the cycle of rebirth. We have wandered through samsara for countless lifetimes, and yet, until now, we have remained asleep."

A Call to Liberation

"I am finally awake, and I am so fortunate to be here, chanting Namo Amituofo with all my heart, filled with gratitude for the Buddha's boundless compassion. I truly hope that my family, my friends, and any person connected by karmic affinity who reads this interview, will come to understand the urgent need to seek liberation.

This human body is precious, and it is the perfect vessel to help elevate your spirit. I am now a clear, awakened soul. I am Yang Yongsheng, and I offer my deepest gratitude to the Buddha, to Practitioner Su, and to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for this salvation.

With my head bowed in humble gratitude, Yang Yongsheng."