A Life of Service: From Firefighter to Prison Guard

Hu Guang, a former firefighter who later served as a prison guard in the underworld, sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. This interview, recorded on October 21, 2022, by Chief Writer Shi Faxin, captures his reflections on a life of service and his eventual arrival in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Hu Guang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. When I was born, my grandfather and father hoped I would grow up to have a vast mind-capacity, so they gave me the name 'Guang'—meaning 'vast' or 'broad'. Looking back now, my grandfather and father were truly far-sighted. I am Hu Guang, and today I have arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The vastness of this place transcends anything I could have ever imagined. No matter which direction I look, it is boundless. Suddenly, I truly realised that the heart of the Buddha is just as expansive, without any limits. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for bringing me and fifty-nine other prison guards to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, allowing my vision and my heart to become even more vast."

A Childhood of Smiles and Joy

"I am Hu Guang. My grandmother used to call me by my childhood nickname, 'Guang-er'. As her eldest grandson, she doted on me immensely. Once I learned to walk, she took me everywhere she went, always proudly telling everyone she met, 'This is my grandson.' My face was round and chubby, with rosy cheeks that people found very endearing. Many uncles, aunts, and elders loved to pinch my cheeks, and I often teased them to make them happy, hoping my laughter could wash away their worries.

My grandmother would take me to the temple, where people knelt with such sincerity to pray. Looking at their faces, I could see that everyone carried their own burdens and had their own wishes they desperately wanted to fulfil. I could tell they were not truly happy. So, whenever they turned to look at me, I would give them a big, bright smile. As soon as they saw me smile, they would smile back. When I did this, my grandmother would always say that I was a good child, the 'joy-bringer' for everyone."

The Path of Optimism and Service

"From a young age, I knew that life was full of hardships because many people would spontaneously share their troubles with me. Their conclusion was always the same: 'I wish I could be like you, without so many afflictions.' Whenever they said this, I would give them a big smile, hoping to bring them some positive energy and encouragement.

People often asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn't have an answer, but many well-meaning people were eager to explain the pros and cons of various careers. In truth, I didn't have any strong demands for my future. I felt that things would naturally develop in a direction suitable for me. This optimistic mindset kept me from feeling too much pressure. When people asked about my goals, I could never really say.

Everyone in my family had different expectations for me. My father wanted me to be a top student, my mother wanted me to live a stable life, my neighbours thought I had a talent for business, and others suggested I become a civil servant to serve the public. Faced with all these expectations, I simply smiled. I never set any limits on my own future."

The Firefighter's Calling

"I had a group of close friends, and we often discussed our futures. I could see the anticipation in their eyes. At the suggestion of my friends, I took the exam to become a firefighter. I was used to running errands for the elderly in my neighbourhood, so I was quite physically fit. To my surprise, although I wasn't the strongest, I passed every physical test. I was successfully accepted, but my friend was not. We went our separate ways; he wished me well, and I believed he would find a path better suited to him.

When I graduated and became a firefighter, everyone who knew me was happy, believing I had found a job perfectly suited to me. During my time as a firefighter, I participated in many rescue operations. I remember one massive earthquake that struck without warning, causing a landslide. An entire village was buried. It was raining, but our rescue team rushed to the disaster area immediately. The scene was chaotic. The experienced senior firefighters directed us, and we pulled the victims out one by one. The survivors were traumatised—some were in a daze, others couldn't stop crying, anxiously waiting for their loved ones to be saved. Every time we brought someone out, the villagers would crowd around to identify them. Out of 109 residents, only 75 were saved. Those 75 villagers—some had lost family, some their lovers, some their neighbours—they held each other and wept. Afterward, we helped rebuild the village, arranged temporary housing, and assisted the villagers in returning to their normal lives. After that rescue, I cherished the time I could spend with my family even more. Knowing my parents wanted me to settle down, I married through an arranged introduction and worked hard to start a family. Two years later, we had a son, who became the new darling of the whole family."

Facing Life, Death, and the Underworld

"During my service as a firefighter, I encountered many massive fires. In several moments of extreme danger, I relied on my willpower to push through, thinking of my family waiting for me at home. During those years, I witnessed so much life and death, so many partings. Several of my colleagues sacrificed their lives at different times. When I attended their funerals, I felt deep sorrow, but I also felt immense pride for them.

I was lucky enough to reach retirement. Throughout my career, I had accumulated a wealth of experience. After retiring, I volunteered to visit various communities to inspect fire safety equipment. While others might have seen this as a small matter, I knew it was crucial. When disaster strikes, these things are the key to saving lives. Because of my dedication, the Fire Department eventually invited me to give speeches every year, sharing my rescue experiences, and they awarded me many trophies and certificates of appreciation. I never took these to heart, because to me, it was simply what a firefighter was supposed to do.

After retiring, I received a monthly pension. As an old man, I didn't need that much money. Seeing that many areas suffered from severe environmental pollution, I volunteered to install water purifiers to ensure everyone's quality of life. I helped wherever I could, believing that serving the people was a truly joyful thing. I loved patrolling the village, and the villagers would greet me warmly; the whole village felt like one big, close-knit family. Some villagers would complain to me about their domestic troubles, and I would share with them the painful scenes of family separation I had witnessed, urging them to cherish their bodies and their families. Once I spoke, they usually had nothing left to say and would just listen quietly to my advice."

Deliverance to the Western Land

"I took my life lightly. At sixty-seven, I fell at home. It wasn't until a neighbour came to chat that they discovered I had stopped breathing; I didn't even know how long I had been gone. My spirit wandered in my home at first, watching everyone grieve for me. I wanted to comfort them, but then I saw the 'Black and White Impermanence' spirits, who brought me to the underworld. Walking along that dark path, I knew it was a road everyone must travel, and I was prepared to face it. Before long, I knelt before King Yama. He revealed the laws of karma and cause and effect of my past and present, and I admitted to everything and was repenting. My life had been quite ordinary, but fortunately, I had not create karma. Because of the merits I had accumulated in this life, King Yama appointed me as a prison guard. During my time as a prison guard, I served as diligently as I had in the human world.

While serving as a prison guard, I was fortunate enough to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. I learned about the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and longed for the opportunity to be reborn in that beautiful place. Today, I have finally achieved that wish. I am so grateful—thank you to Practitioner Su for your guidance, and thank you to the Buddha for your compassion."

Namo Amituofo.