A New Life Found in the Quiet Village

This is a record of an interview with Liu Wenchun, a former journalist and teacher who sought spiritual deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life, his time as a spirit guard, and his eventual rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on March 1, 2024.

Liu Wenchun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, being able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss alongside fifty-nine other spirit guards fills me with such profound honour and joy.

The radiance and clarity of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss have brought my entire heart to a state of perfect stillness. The golden ground, the jewelled trees—every single detail is of such exquisite beauty that I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This is a realm where beings are free from all suffering; it is the manifestation of the Buddha's compassion. I am so grateful to the Buddha, and I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su.

A Past Hidden in Shadows

My name is Liu Wenchun. This name represents a complete transformation of my life; it is the name I used to hide my true identity. Before I was known as Liu Wenchun, my name was Liu Xiamian. In those days, I was a journalist. I co-founded a newspaper with several friends, dedicated to writing about the realities of society and the hardships of the people. We acted as a voice for the public. Whenever the common people encountered injustice, we would investigate, verify the facts, and then craft compelling headlines to bring these issues to light.

Many people read our publications. They were deeply grateful that our newspaper gave voice to their struggles, and they were incredibly supportive of our work.

During the publishing process, we worked with such dedication. Sometimes we had to stay up all night just to meet the printing deadlines. I was more than happy to do so; to me, this was work I truly loved. Knowing that people were benefiting from our work and gaining a clearer understanding of the truth was enough for me.

Holding onto this mindset, I worked at the newspaper office every day with great joy.

The Darkness of Imprisonment

Until one day, while the newspaper was in the middle of a large print run, government officials suddenly arrived. The moment they entered, they began tearing through our cabinets and drawers. They confiscated several copies of our publications and even took every single person working in the office into custody.

We were taken to a detention centre and had our freedom restricted. I never imagined that I would be stuck there for two years. Two years later, the government officials charged us with rebellion, claiming that our publications were disturbing the public mind and causing social unrest. Consequently, they shut down our newspaper.

They sentenced me to another four years of imprisonment. For me, those four years were the darkest period of my life. I was treated without dignity; I lived in a way that felt less than human. Many times, I wanted to end my life, but a voice within me kept urging me to hold on, giving me the courage to endure each passing day.

The day I was finally released, I breathed in the freshest air. I had waited so long for this moment. Yet, I truly did not know where my future lay. My heart was filled with hesitation and helplessness.

A Fresh Start in a Mountain Village

Just then, a familiar figure stood before me. It was an old friend. I never expected him to come and meet me. He took me to eat a bowl of longevity noodles to wash away the bad luck and even took me to buy some new clothes. Fearing that I might overthink things, he invited me to stay at his home temporarily. All of this moved me deeply.

When I first started looking for work, I wanted to find a position in book editing, but things did not go smoothly. I applied five times and was rejected every single time. This left me feeling quite discouraged.

After deep reflection, I decided to find a new place to start over. I packed my bag, bid farewell to my old friend, left the city, and arrived at a small village nestled against the mountains.

Upon entering the village, I was immediately drawn to its atmosphere. While I was looking around, a very warm-hearted elderly man approached me and asked, 'Young man, are you here for a holiday?' I shook my head and said, 'I would like to move here.' The old man was surprised, as people in this village only ever moved out; almost no one ever moved in.

Seizing the opportunity, I asked him, 'Is there anywhere I can rent a house?' The old man replied, 'I happen to have a room in my backyard that you can stay in.' I was incredibly grateful.

I followed the old man home. He asked me, 'What is your name?' I hesitated for a moment, then thought of the arrival of spring and casually said, 'My name is Liu Wenchun.' The old man nodded and said, 'Then I will call you Wenchun from now on!' I nodded. He then asked, 'You look young; what did you do before?' I did not answer. The old man looked at me for a moment and said, 'No pressure! If you want to talk about it, you can; if you don't, you don't have to.' To be honest, it was very difficult for me to speak of it. Now, I just wanted to settle my heart; I did not want to think about anything else.

The old man, whom I called Uncle Huang, allowed me to share meals at his home until I could get settled. I was so grateful to Uncle Huang for extending a helping hand during the most difficult time of my life.

Teaching the Future

As I walked through the village, every villager knew I was the new resident. They were all very warm towards me and gifted me many daily necessities, which made my heart feel truly warm. No one asked about my past. To me, this village was a completely new beginning.

At first, I learned to farm to maintain a simple life. Economically, it was quite difficult, but my heart felt grounded and solid. I gradually began to feel a sense of peace and contentment.

Slowly, I became like family with the villagers. Once my life was stable, I noticed that the children in the village were not receiving a good education. Even if they went to work elsewhere, they could only find low-level jobs and could not earn much money.

I pondered this for a long time. With my literary background and the knowledge I possessed, I knew I could help the village children. But then I worried: if I did this, would they find out about my background? Would they learn of my past and no longer be able to get along with me?

I went back and forth in my mind, reflecting constantly. But watching the children grow day by day, I realised there was no more time to wait. I proposed to Uncle Huang, 'Uncle Huang, I would like to teach the children so they can understand more.' He was a bit startled by my sudden request, but he agreed with me, knowing that the children in the village truly needed a better education.

Not long after, I established a school in the village's public area. The students were the children of the village, and they all called me Teacher Liu. I taught them the principles of being a good person, how to read, and how to maintain hope in life.

In teaching these children, I poured my entire life into the work, deciding that this was what I would do for the rest of my days. Seeing the innocent faces of the children and witnessing their breakthroughs after diligent study brought me great comfort. I poured my soul into my teaching. The villagers, seeing that their children were receiving a better education, respected me deeply. After I started the school, they would contribute a little money to help maintain my livelihood and the school's operations.

Through this process, some children went on to achieve great things. Others planned to go outside the village to study teaching so they could return and help me run the school. The villagers and students were all very grateful to me. In truth, I was the one who was grateful to them; they truly made me feel as though I had been reborn.

A Final Transition

When I was forty-two, I fell gravely ill. Even while sick, I continued to teach without stopping. Before long, I became bedridden. The villagers brought in several doctors, but none could cure me; they even suggested I go to a big city for treatment. Several villagers came to urge me, but I refused. I told them, 'The village is my home; I am not going anywhere.'

The moment I lost my life, my soul entered the blackboard eraser in the classroom, continuing to pour my spirit into teaching. I served as an eraser for twenty years before my soul was led out by the Impermanence Spirits.

When I arrived at the Yama Court, King Yama saw that I had dedicated my later life to teaching with all my heart and had not created any negative karma. Having already endured the suffering I was meant to experience in that life, he compassionately gave me the opportunity to serve as a spirit guard. I was grateful and served to the best of my ability.

During my time on duty, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks and finally understood that one must transcend this cycle of rebirth, otherwise the suffering is unbearable. I am so grateful, and my heart began to yearn for the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I never expected that I, too, could wait for this opportunity. Today, led by Practitioner Su, I and the other fifty-nine spirit guards reached the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in less time than it takes to recite a single Buddha-name. In such a beautiful realm, my heart is filled with gratitude.

Namo Amituofo, the Buddha-name is constant.

I am grateful to the Buddha and Practitioner Su for this salvation.

Liu Wenchun"