This is a record of an interview with Lin Huanda, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life as a farmer and later as a prison guard in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on May 1, 2026.
Lin Huanda speaks:
". I am Lin Huanda. Today, I have finally arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I feel as though my entire being has been renewed. I did not come alone; fifty-nine other prison guards accompanied me. All sixty of us were guided to this magnificent place by Practitioner Su on the very same day.
A New Beginning in the Western Pure Land
In truth, we had known for some time that this day would come. Practitioner Su allowed us to undergo a period of purification first. Even while we were in the hells, we were able to listen to the and remain aware of everything occurring at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Today, on the first day of the , as Practitioner Su struck the great chime, he instantly guided all sixty of us to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. We knelt beside the lotus pond, bowing our heads to the Buddha in gratitude for this extraordinary Causal Condition, which has finally provided our spiritual lives with a perfect, eternal home.
Although my days as a prison guard were not without their own sense of purpose—for we were helping others—my heart was often heavy with struggle. Watching the sentient beings in the hells suffer was painful; it truly hurt to witness their agony. Because of this, we would often whisper 'Namo Amituofo' to them, hoping that, just as we had found our way to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, they too might one day have the chance to awaken and be freed from the torments of the hells. I, Lin Huanda, sincerely pray that all sentient beings with karmic affinity, including those still suffering in the hells, may soon leave suffering behind and gain happiness."
From the Fields to the Underworld
"I served as a prison guard for only a little over a decade—it was not a long time in the grand scheme of things. When I still possessed a human body, I was a farmer in Northern China. My family had been farmers for generations, so it was only natural that I followed in their footsteps. Throughout the decades of immense change in China, I witnessed the transition of agriculture from traditional methods to modernisation. I was one of those farmers, and as technology evolved, we all worked hard to adapt. Eventually, I became known as an agricultural technician and an agricultural practitioner.
When the nation began developing various technologies and high-end agricultural products, we were right there in the thick of it. It took generation after generation of reform to reach the scale of agriculture that existed before I passed away. This is the very reason why the people of China can now eat their fill. Think about it—our country has a massive population. If we are to be self-sufficient and not rely on foreign grain, our food supply must have a stable foundation so that everyone can eat well and stay healthy."
The Legacy of the Rice Fields
"I held this mindset throughout my entire life as a farmer. Although technological changes transformed everything we did—from hand-sowing and transplanting to fully modernised methods—I lived for a long time. Over those decades, I witnessed the many changes in China from the early days of the Republic to the end of the twentieth century. We endured many ups and downs; when the country was unstable, we faced food shortages and famine. During those various reforms and transitions, such hardships were common.
The person I admired and felt most grateful to throughout my life was Mr. Yuan Longping. You may not be familiar with him, but in the hearts of the Chinese people, he is a truly great figure. We call him the 'Father of Hybrid Rice.' He helped us improve our rice cultivation techniques significantly, allowing the Chinese people to eat their fill. He was a kind, gentle grandfather who cared deeply for the people and gave his all to his work. He based his life on science, helping people rely on technology to boost agricultural production. While I, Lin Huanda, was far from his level of expertise, I must say that in spirit, I took him as my role model. I worked hard my entire life, hoping that the masses—regardless of whether they were rich or poor—would have a bowl of rice to eat and would no longer have to endure the hunger and pain of the past."
A Life of Sacrifice
"I experienced so much in my life, including times of national famine and failed rice crops. As one of the specialists at the time, I worked tirelessly, often without sleep, hoping to find a way to ensure everyone was fed. Following the guidance and policies provided by Mr. Yuan, we implemented changes step by step.
I lived a very happy and grounded life. I married and had two sons. The only thing I feel I owed my wife and children was my time; for the sake of this great cause, I often neglected them in our daily life. This was a sacrifice I had to make, and it remains a source of deep regret in my heart. Today, I have been chosen as a representative to share my story.
In truth, there is nothing particularly spectacular about it. I simply stood my ground in the field of rice cultivation and led many young students to stand up and work for agricultural development. Although we were farmers, by the time we finished our journey, we were quite different from the farmers of the past. We were agricultural practitioners and technicians. As the times developed, we worked hard to keep pace with the progress of our nation."
The Call of Duty in the Hells
"Eventually, due to extreme exhaustion, my body could no longer cope, and I passed away peacefully in my sleep. I was quite old by then. My sons had long since left to pursue their own careers elsewhere, and it was my elderly wife who saw me off. That must have been a tremendous blow to her, and I feel a sense of guilt that I cannot make amends for.
Throughout my life as a farmer and agricultural practitioner, I held a deep attachment to the land and the grain. I hoped that the food would not be wasted and that people would cherish it, using it for good. Driven by these thoughts, after I died, I naturally entered the 'rice space' of the earth. Looking back, it was not a long time—only about a decade.
Soon after, following repeated thoughts of kindness, I was taken away by two officers. I thought I was about to be judged and sent to my next destination, but to my surprise, the King of Hell appointed me as a prison guard. I did not know what that position meant at the time, but after training, I realised it was a position of great responsibility.
I performed my duties faithfully. I not only guided people to where they were supposed to go, but I also tried my best to counsel them to turn towards Goodness and develop a heart of repentance. It was not until I heard Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk in the hells that my emotional entanglements were finally unravelled. That was when I learned that one could chant the Buddha-name, chant 'Namo Amituofo,' and that there was a Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to go to. This was something I had never heard of in my entire life as a farmer.
From then on, I began to counsel the prisoners in the hells differently, urging them to chant the Buddha-name with me. Some of the suffering beings with good roots truly persisted in chanting this Buddha-name and gained the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."
Gratitude for Deliverance
"At this very moment, my deepest gratitude goes to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for leading so many of us prison guards to know the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and the practice of chanting the Buddha-name. Because of this Buddha-name, many beings can leave suffering behind. And because of this Buddha-name, the sixty of us prison guards were directly received by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss the moment we chanted 'Namo Amituofo,' sparing us from the suffering of the cycle of rebirth.
We now know the magnificence, dignity, and beauty of the Buddha-land; it is incomparable to any ordinary world. Since arriving here, each of us has recovered a dignified male form. We are filled with as we follow the Buddha, wanting to purify ourselves step by step and work for the Buddha. This is the shared aspiration of all sixty of us prison guards. We have no other thoughts; we simply chant 'Namo Amituofo' to the end, hoping to attain Buddhahood as soon as possible so that we may have the opportunity to save immeasurable and boundless sentient beings with karmic affinity.
This is what I, Lin Huanda, think, and the other prison guards feel the same. We bow our heads once more to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su to express our gratitude.
