A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Flames

This is a record of an interview with Fan Gang-cheng, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his experience during the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on December 7, 2025.

Fan Gang-cheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Fan Gang-cheng. Life has always been precious to me, and I truly believed I would live to a ripe old age, surrounded by children and grandchildren. Many beautiful visions for my future were already playing out in my mind the moment I purchased my home at Wang Fuk Court. I was a man who paid great attention to my health, believing that as long as I maintained my physical well-being, I could live a long, fulfilling life and enjoy a higher quality of living. But I never, ever expected that I would be consumed by such a massive, merciless fire. The raging, intense flames cremated my body directly—there was no need for any funeral arrangements! That fire was like a giant incinerator, swallowing up both the elderly and the young in an instant."

A Life Cut Short

"If you ask me how old I am, I am no longer young. At forty-five, I once had a wife, but she passed away early in her life. I had considered remarrying, but the timing was never right, so I simply waited. I felt that for a man, finding a life partner in his fifties would not be too late. Having already experienced the storms of life, I poured my energy into my single life and felt quite at ease, without many attachments.

I was an office worker, living a regular nine-to-five life. It just so happened that this day was part of my annual leave, and I had planned to spend it at home—I intended to do some minor renovations to add a bit of colour to my small home. At that time, if outsiders passed by Wang Fuk Court, they might have thought it was a new building still under construction! The entire exterior was sealed tightly with renovation netting, leaving no ventilation inside or out. I kept myself stifled in that room, turning on the air conditioning and enjoying my solitude."

The Smell of Disaster

"I had a habit of sharing the food I cooked with my neighbours, and we would often swap our favourite recipes. That day, I planned to make one of my signature stir-fry dishes to bring to a neighbour. I knew how to make crayfish, so I had prepared some crayfish soaked in wine, intending to give some to the auntie next door to taste. As I stepped out of my room, I began to sense that something was wrong. The smell was foul—it was as if something was burning, or perhaps a fire had started somewhere. The auntie next door was also opening her door to look out, shouting in her native Sichuan dialect for her grandson to come back quickly, saying that the smell was unbearable and certainly bad for one's health. I quickly ran out to investigate, but I hadn't taken more than a few steps before I was choked by thick, pungent smoke. I couldn't help but cough and tear up; my head felt heavy and dizzy."

The Panic of the Escape

"I realised then that this was not a small fire; perhaps we needed to prepare to flee. The neighbours were still watching, thinking perhaps the situation wasn't as serious as imagined and that the smoke would clear away in a moment. I surveyed our floor as quickly as I could, confirming that this was no ordinary smoke. The heat in the air was becoming increasingly intense; we were like beings trapped in a furnace, beginning to gasp for air. I hurriedly notified my neighbours, and we all began to flee together. We lived on the twentieth floor, so it was not easy to reach the ground floor quickly. Moreover, as more people realised the danger, everyone began to scramble for safety. We tried our best to maintain order so that no one would fall or get hurt. I also helped the auntie's grandson take precautions, preparing a wet towel for him to cover his nose."

A Final Struggle

"By this time, the fire had begun to spread from one side of the building. While some parts had not yet caught fire, the speed of the spread was visible to the naked eye, as if something was fuelling it. I could only try my best to avoid it. Many people knew to take precautions, but the risks of being on a high floor were too great, especially for the many elderly residents. Everyone began to move slower and slower, showing symptoms from inhaling large amounts of thick smoke. I was terrified of death, too! Only when a crisis is at your doorstep do you realise that most people are afraid of dying and think mostly of themselves. Cries for help could be heard constantly. I desperately told myself, 'Fan Gang-cheng, you will not die!' I felt I had a strong fate and was capable enough; surely heaven wouldn't take me so soon?

Just when there was a glimmer of hope for escape, I suddenly tripped. That fall left me momentarily stunned. I desperately tried to move forward, but the people passing by were all busy trying to save their own families; no one could look after anyone else. By the time most people had escaped, I was still dragging my weary body, gripping the stairwell railing to move forward slowly. My hands were in agony; the heat had numbed my limbs, and they were beginning to stiffen. I wanted to breathe properly, but the density of the smoke made it impossible to open my eyes, and my mind was no longer clear. Seeing that the fire had already consumed most of the stairwell, I wasn't even sure which floor I was on. I had never imagined that my life, which I hadn't yet fully lived, would end in such a way. There was so much uncertainty, and my body was no longer under my control. I felt a surge of energy stuck inside, wanting to vent—was I still angry at this moment? Yes, I was angry at myself for not being able to master all of this. At that moment, I remembered my grandmother, who was a Buddhist. She had told me about the law of cause and effect, though I couldn't recall the details. But I vaguely knew that perhaps this was my destined end."

The Light of Deliverance

"Before I died, I remembered the four characters my grandmother taught me: Namo Amituofo, as well as the Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. She said that when encountering any calamity, I should not forget them. I wanted to try to chant the Buddha's name, but my mouth was slurred, and my whole body felt like it was burning up. I lost consciousness while trying to chant. It happened in an instant—from the feeling of being roasted in a furnace to losing consciousness, and then to feeling my whole body become light. It was all just a fleeting moment.

After my soul left my body, I still retained some physical sensations. For instance, I still felt very uneasy and afraid, and I was watching people—or rather, watching this world of spirits. My curiosity led me to keep observing this world. Half of the place I could still see the fire scene, while the other half was grey and hazy, which seemed to be the place where ghosts reside. Everyone lived their own lives; there were no conflicts, and no one cared about each other's existence. I was just like I was when I was alive—a very curious person—only this time, it felt as if I had become the protagonist, the 'victim' in other people's stories. My body disappeared into the thick smoke; perhaps it was carried away later, but I never saw it again. However, I still remember the location in that stairwell, because the pain at that time was so profound that a part of me remained fixed in that corner, unable to detach."

Entering the Western Dharma-Nature Land

"I was taken away by light; I am certain of that. A very bright light suddenly shone upon our building, and the entire space instantly became vast. My thoughts quickly decided to move towards the light. I felt as if I were swimming upwards, rushing straight up in a standing position, and then I saw the blue sky and golden light. I had many companions with me; everyone looked a bit dazed, not yet clear about the situation, and we entered a place called the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It took us some time to slowly get to know and become familiar with this place.

I have been here for quite a few days now. I am not sure how many days have passed since the fire. I have been integrating into this world, and I have finally seen the true Namo Amituofo, though I am not sure if my grandmother who practised Buddhism has also arrived in this world. There are not many people here I recognise, but by their appearance, I know they are from Wang Fuk Court. Their 'fleeing' state of mind only eased after a few days. After everyone came to know Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, our hearts became much more at peace. We knew we had been saved and brought to such a beautiful place, so we were no longer afraid. The memories of the past have gradually faded away, bit by bit. Namo Amituofo is truly wonderful; His voice is so gentle. Although Practitioner Su occasionally uses the 'lion's roar' towards the people at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, He helps them with great compassion, and His smile is very kind. Our hearts opened up, little by little. So, this is what it feels like to have no afflictions.

I feel that my wishes have been fulfilled, just in a much better place. I didn't know the burden of having a body before, but once I was without it and settled here, I realised how relaxed one can be. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for leading me here, and I am grateful that so many people remembered us victims, performed Chao Du for us, and gave us the opportunity for this interview. We are all very grateful and content. My heart is very calm; I have nothing more to say."

Namo Amituofo.

Fan Gang-cheng