A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Inferno

This is a record of an interview with Ma Li-nan, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on December 2, 2025.

Practitioner Su speaks:

"Ma Li-nan, you were a victim of the fire at Wang Fuk Court, 3821 Tai Po Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong. You were there when the fire broke out, and you lost your life in that disaster. You are now in the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. With the compassion of the Buddha, I invite you, Ma Li-nan, to recount the events of that disaster exactly as they happened, so that your family may hear your story and connect with you here at the Centre. I respectfully invite Ma Li-nan of the Western Dharma-Nature Land to speak."

Ma Li-nan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Ma Li-nan. I am forty-four years old. In my life, I was a quintessential workaholic. I spent more nights sleeping at the office than I did in my own home. On that day, because I had a report to finish and needed to organise a great deal of important data, I chose to bury myself in my work at home. I wanted to achieve something significant, to earn those bonuses so that I could finally afford to move. I had been preparing to leave that place for a long time; I even had my luggage packed.

A Life Plan Interrupted by Impermanence

I never expected that I would lose my life there. My heart is filled with such despondency, and I still carry a sense of resentment and injustice. How could that fire be so heartless? The company I had painstakingly built became nothing more than a dream. I cannot help but sigh at the impermanence of life; no matter how many plans one makes, they can never outrun the sudden stroke of fate from the heavens.

The fire occurred because I was far too focused on my work. I did not take even the slightest warning to heart. I had poured all my consciousness into organising my data. When I smelled a pungent, acrid smoke filling the space, I simply assumed that a neighbour was cooking and had carelessly burned something. Soon after, I heard the clamour and screams of my neighbours, but I impatiently thought to myself, 'How could their upbringing be so poor?' I paid no attention to what they were arguing about, and in doing so, I lost my first chance to escape.

The Final Moments of Normalcy

I was utterly exhausted. Having worked overtime for three days, I had dark circles under my eyes. I couldn't go to sleep yet because I was just one final step away from making my report perfect and error-free. I decided to take a shower to wash away the drowsiness.

Who would have expected that as I stepped into the bathroom, I would hear the harrowing cries and weeping of my neighbours through the drain? I wondered if they were watching a horror movie, but the sounds were far too real! I didn't dare to think too much; I just wanted to finish my shower quickly so I could return to my work.

While I was in the bathroom, I heard someone knocking on my door. Before I could even turn on the tap, the knocking was interrupted. Someone shouted urgently from the other side: 'Run! The fire is here!'

The Reality of the Inferno

I was completely bewildered. I was covered in soap suds! I thought the neighbour was playing some kind of 'truth or dare' game. I thought to myself, 'What is going on today?' I just wanted to relax, but there was no water to rinse off the foam. I was furious and desperately wiped the soap off my body with a dry towel, intending to go find the building manager to complain, as I was a person who always paid my utility bills on time.

When I left the bathroom and touched the iron door handle, the contact shocked me. My hand immediately developed large blisters, and the skin peeled away. I began to worry—was I truly facing a fire? At that moment, a thick, black, foul-smelling smoke drifted toward me, carrying intense heat. My mind went blank.

I began to calculate how I should escape. Should I hide in my home and wait for the firefighters to come for me? Suddenly, the power cut out completely. My computer files hadn't been saved yet. 'Damn it!' I thought. 'Was my three days of hard work all for nothing?' My heart was still preoccupied with the engineering report!

A Glimmer of Hope for the Innocent

But the stench of smoke pulled me back to reality. Within minutes, the fire had already reached our floor! My hand was in unbearable pain, a constant burning and stinging sensation. I had no other thoughts; I just had to run straight ahead. I packed my things haphazardly, thinking only of escaping with my life.

It turned out that the woman knocking on my door wasn't playing a game; she was truly kind. I was the one who had been arrogant. Looking back now, I feel deep regret. My floor was already engulfed in flames, and the air was thin. I stood between the elevator and the stairwell corner; it was the only place not yet swallowed by the fire, so I could catch my breath. My head was throbbing, likely from the high temperature. I reached for my phone to contact the outside world, but to my shock, the battery was dead. I began to blame myself. I couldn't even manage such a small task! As I berated myself, the tongues of fire began to lick toward me.

I lowered my head, crouched down, and looked at the floors below. There was no fire, only thick smoke. I wore a double-layered mask and carried a 2000cc water bottle—because I had a good habit of exercising, I had grabbed the water bottle while fleeing. I even put on a safety helmet. I didn't even have time to think; I just had to run downward!

The Choice to Save Another

As I ran from the eighth floor to the seventh, I looked around to see if anyone else was escaping. I thought that if I had forgotten to lock a door, perhaps I could hide inside. Just as I thought this, I heard someone calling me: 'Young man... young man, please, have mercy! Help me save my grandson. My legs are pinned by a large pillar, and I cannot move.' The grandmother said there was an iron hanger by the door and that I could use it to pull open her old lock. Seeing the urgency of the situation, I did as she asked. I used the hanger to hook the lock and pulled the iron door open. The old woman was in a terrible state; her lower body was pinned by a collapsed pillar. I was powerless to lift it. Inside the room, a little baby was sleeping soundly in a stroller. The grandmother used her last breath to entrust the baby to me. 'His parents are away on business,' she said, 'but this fire has given my grandson a glimmer of hope, and you must be his saviour.' There was a baby carrier, a towel, and a pacifier by the bed. I thought, 'I, Ma Li-nan, should see this good deed through to the end.' I quickly picked up the infant, carefully strapped him to my chest, and ran to wet the towel to cover his nose and mouth. The baby began to wail loudly—perhaps he was crying for his grandmother. I couldn't stay long; I had to leave as quickly as possible. Looking at the infant in my arms, I began to pray to Namo Amituofo: 'Buddha, if there is any chance of survival, please transfer it to this child.' I sincerely meditated on this.

A Journey Through the Ruins

My efforts were also in vain; my home was completely swallowed by the fire. I was penniless, and a wave of sorrow welled up within me. I couldn't tell if it was sweat or tears. Covered in soot, I had to find another way out. My heart was set on getting the child to safety. Ignoring the pain in my hands, I focused on the escape map. I held the baby tight and ran desperately toward the stairs. White smoke swirled around my feet, but thankfully, there was no fire yet. I studied the escape map and realised that my floor was very close to the adjacent building. I must have been on the wrong floor. I began to calculate how high the fire brigade's ladder truck could reach to rescue me from this terrifying building. The smoke on the ground began to turn black, and there were flickers of fire; I could not stay here any longer!

I began to head toward the windows of the adjacent building. The fire was merciless, burning my shoes. I could smell the scent of scorched leather, and my skin was being scalded, but I could only keep running toward my goal. The baby began to cry, perhaps feeling the heat and my sweat. I was so afraid of him crying because there wasn't enough oxygen. I tried to soothe him as I ran.

I was in a bad state myself. Having inhaled a large amount of toxic smoke, my lungs were in agony. My throat began to tighten, and my mouth became dry. My eyes were stinging from the ash, but I could not collapse! This child and I had a karmic connection; I had to do my best to get him to a safe place. I endured the pain and kept chanting the Buddha-name, begging for the Buddha's blessing.

The Final Sacrifice

I reached the floor I was aiming for, but it had collapsed severely. I watched my steps carefully, terrified of falling into the fire. I shouted, 'Is anyone there? Is anyone injured? Don't be afraid!' I took a bold step forward. There were still flames, and I could hear the sound of explosions. The air was filled with the smell of death!

I couldn't be afraid. I tried my best to keep my eyes open. I hadn't heard the baby cry for a long time, so I checked his breathing with my finger; the little guy had fallen asleep. My heart settled. Just then, the roof of the other building collapsed above us. Falling stones injured my shoulder, but I hunched over, terrified of hurting the baby. I tried to avoid the danger zone, but there was a raging fire ahead. Yet, this was the only way for the baby to leave safely. I shouted into the space, 'Please, save us!' The fire brigade used a megaphone to say, 'Comrade, don't worry! The collapse ahead is severe. You can crawl along the scaffolding to the other area, and we will use the ladder truck to rescue you.' But the firefighters didn't know that the interior had already turned to rubble. Thankfully, I wasn't a heavy man.

I took the risk. Although my strength was failing and I needed food, there was no clean water or food in the ruins. I survived on sheer willpower. I did not fear the fire because I still held onto my faith! I chanted, 'Namo Amituofo.'

I carefully used a wooden board I found on the ground to place them on the muddy ground, and I crawled toward the direction they guided me. But the fire grew more and more ferocious. In many places, it was impossible to stand. The fire burned directly beneath us, and the temperature was like a heatwave. My face felt so dry. When I reached the designated spot, I tied the baby securely in place.

At that moment, it was like a living hell. Sparks kept flying, setting my clothes on fire. My clothes couldn't withstand the high temperature and began to burn. My skin felt excruciating pain. I screamed and rolled on the ground; the agony felt as if I were being skinned alive! Because the foundation had been distorted and deformed by the fire, I fell into the floor below. Several of my bones broke, and the fire did not spare me; it swallowed me whole.

Deliverance in the Golden Light

I became a charred husk, but I felt no pain. My soul had already left my body. My heart was still tied to that little boy, so my spirit watched as he was rescued by the firefighters, which finally allowed me to set down the heavy burden in my heart!

At that moment, Namo Amituofo emitted light, illuminating Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong. Many souls were able to be liberated because of the Buddha's light. They flew toward the golden light, running into the Buddha's embrace, no longer attached to those false bodies. Upon arriving in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, there were no more afflictions. Listening to the Dharma, our wisdom opened, and we gained the joy of the Dharma and true coolness.

For all of this, I must thank the Buddha. Without the rescue of Namo Amituofo, we would still be suffering in that fiery space. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for discovering us and helping us.

The sound of that great chime bowl brought us into a state of receptivity. I am grateful for the Twelve Lights!

Namo Amituofo.

Ma Li-nan bows in gratitude."