A Hairdresser's Final Act of Kindness

This interview was recorded on December 10, 2025, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The subject is Liu Ruixiang, a 76-year-old hairdresser who perished in the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. Having sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of the Centre, she now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account was documented by the chief writer, Fa Jing.

Liu Ruixiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Hello to everyone reading this. I am Liu Ruixiang, though most people in the neighbourhood simply called me 'Ah Xiang.' For most of my life, I worked as a hairdresser. I truly loved the craft of styling hair; there was something deeply satisfying about taking a client who felt worn down by the world and, through my own hands and tools, helping them leave my shop looking absolutely radiant, refreshed, and joyful. That was my greatest reward. I loved chatting with my clients, building genuine connections, and listening to the stories of their lives. Through these long, intimate conversations, I would learn about the struggles in their families or the hidden difficulties their children were facing. I would often keep a watchful, protective eye on those children, doing my best to assist them in solving their problems from the shadows. Of course, I never let them know I was intervening. I wanted them to learn through the process and cultivate the ability to solve problems independently. That is the only way to provide real, lasting help. You cannot always rely on others, nor should you choose to escape when faced with challenges. That is how I grew up, and that is how I learned my skills—these abilities were not just handed to me. Seeing the smiles on their faces when they finally overcame an obstacle brought me such happiness. I would always offer them praise and encouragement. Witnessing the joy of those children was my greatest delight."

A Routine Day Turned to Chaos

"On the day of the fire, I was in my shop as usual, waiting for customers. When someone arrived, I would focus entirely on my scissors, using my hands to quickly and skillfully trim their hair. In a matter of moments, messy, unkempt hair would become neat and stylish, and the person would look completely refreshed. When there were no customers, I would sit on the bench by the door, watching the people pass by, looking for anyone who might need a helping hand. It was a simple life, but it was a life filled with purpose and community.

"When familiar faces greeted me, I would often hear, 'Ah Xiang, you look wonderful today!' I would always respond with warmth and a genuine smile. Seeing people full of vitality and wearing sunny expressions made me feel truly happy. But on the afternoon of the fire, I was just about to doze off when I suddenly saw flames erupting from the floor. I let out a loud cry, and in an instant, I was wide awake. My heart raced—how could this be? Where did this fire come from? I immediately began running from door to door, pounding on them and shouting at the top of my lungs, 'Fire! There is a fire! Get out and run for your lives!' Because I loved chatting with my neighbours, I knew exactly how many people lived in each household and who was home at that time. I used every ounce of my strength to help as many people as I could. I hoped my voice would reach as many as possible so they could escape the scene safely. Although I was getting on in years, my body was still relatively sturdy, though I certainly could not move as fast as I did in my youth."

The Final Moments

"'Ah Xiang! Ah Xiang!' I suddenly heard someone calling from behind me. I turned around and saw an elderly neighbour who had mobility issues; he had been walking too fast and had tripped. I rushed over with all the speed I could muster to help him up. Once he was steady, I asked a strong young man nearby to help him get to safety, and then I continued my rounds, knocking on doors, especially those where I knew there were young children or infants. I felt a deep sense of responsibility to ensure that no one was left behind in the encroaching darkness.

"As time passed, the smoke and the fire grew more intense. The situation changed drastically in just a few minutes. Seeing this, I realised it was time for me to leave as well. Suddenly, I heard a creaking sound from the ceiling. I looked up, and before I could react, the entire ceiling collapsed onto me. I felt a surge of pain, and then I lost consciousness. I do not know how much time passed, but eventually, I felt light—as if I were floating. My body no longer felt heavy, and I could move with incredible speed, almost as if I were flying. It was then that I realised I had lost my physical form and had become a spirit drifting through space. I flew around, searching for my body, wondering, 'Where is it?' I recalled my final moments, the ceiling collapsing. I looked down at the ground; the fire had spread everywhere, and the area was a sea of flames and thick smoke. I guessed that my body must have been reduced to ashes, no longer recognisable as human. With that, I silently left the scene, not knowing where to go."

Deliverance into the Light

"Just then, a golden light appeared, illuminating the entire fire scene. I flew toward the light, and many other spirits were doing the same. We did not know where we were going, but the light felt so warm and comforting. As we entered the light, we were each placed onto a lotus seat. I could smell a faint, delicate fragrance—a scent unlike anything I had ever known, far superior to any shampoo I had ever used. My initial anxiety and unease slowly faded into peace. It was only after sitting there and listening to the Dharma for a few days that I learned this place is called the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I realised that it was Namo Amituofo who had saved us spirits who had lost our lives in the fire.

"Although I did not understand the Dharma talks at first, I could hear the Buddha-name 'Namo Amituofo' echoing around me. I became curious and began to chant along, 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo.' To my surprise, the more I chanted, the calmer my heart became, and the more joyful I felt. Now, I can chant the Buddha-name with ease, and I spend every day in true happiness."

The Truth of Karmic Creditors

"Here, I do not need to worry about life, and there are no afflictions. It is truly a wonderful place, completely different from my life at Wang Fuk Court. I feel much younger here, and I have no illnesses; all my old ailments have vanished. It is truly inconceivable. Later, I heard the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su and learned that those ailments were actually sentient beings—my karmic creditors from past lives. I never knew that the human body is filled with spirits. These karmic creditors are always waiting for an opportunity to seek revenge. They can erupt from within at any moment, and even a single evil thought can awaken them.

"I feel so fortunate that in this lifetime, I was an optimistic and cheerful person. I always looked at the bright side of things and never liked to argue or hold grudges. If I had not been that way, at my age, my body might not have been so healthy. I might have been found by my karmic creditors long ago due to negative thoughts and emotions, and my body would have been riddled with pain. I heard this by chance while listening to the Dharma here, and I wanted to share it with those who knew me and anyone fortunate enough to read this interview."

A Call to Persevere

"I am currently at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Every morning, I see the person everyone calls 'Practitioner Su' inviting spirits for deliverance. There is a machine here called the 'Body and Mind Therapy' device that can heal illnesses, but one must change their personality traits for it to be one hundred percent effective. Every time the large chime bowl rings, I see many spirits being lifted up—it is truly inconceivable. However, I also see that as soon as people start thinking, if a negative thought arises, a large group of spirits enters their body, or they are found by another batch of karmic creditors. Honestly, changing one's personality is truly difficult. But there is a way to avoid these situations from repeating: chant one Buddha's name to the end. Yet, I have observed that apart from Practitioner Su, no one else has been able to achieve this yet. I hope the fourfold assembly of disciples at the temple will continue to work hard. I, Ah Xiang, believe that everyone will eventually reach the day when they can chant the Buddha's name perfectly. I will share this much for today. Gratitude to Namo Amituofo."

"Liu Ruixiang"