A Voice from the Flames: Deliverance from the Wang Fuk Court Fire

This is a record of an interview with Wang Qifa, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his passing during the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on November 30, 2025.

Venerable HaiZe speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am inviting Wang Qifa, who is currently in the Dharma-Nature Land. You have been here for two days now. You have seen that Namo Amituofo truly abides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre! Namo Amituofo has initiated Buddhist education here. Lay Practitioner Wang Qifa, during the Wang Fuk Court fire disaster in Hong Kong, the Buddha’s compassion led you to the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Though your physical body perished, your spirit did not. Here in the Dharma-Nature Land, you have witnessed the salvation team of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. You have influence; your family can come to communicate with you and join this salvation team.

Wang Qifa, although your body is gone, your spirit has been elevated and can now be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, ending the cycle of rebirth for ten thousand kalpas. This is a rare opportunity, difficult to encounter in millions of years; it is your ray of hope. Even after death, you have the chance to transform your karma. Wang Qifa, please actively support the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

Wang Qifa speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wang Qifa, a ninety-two-year-old man. I have seen many things in this world—big scenes, small scenes, scenes of affection, and scenes of heartlessness—I have seen them all. But I have never seen a scene like that massive fire. It was absolutely terrifying! Absolutely terrifying! I understand that life is inherently suffering. No matter how happy things may seem, compared to the suffering we endure, it is insignificant. We all want to live a good life, but there are always those who, for the sake of their own convenience and profit, make those who are already suffering suffer even more.

A Life of Wealth and the Reality of Aging

I was once a wealthy man. When I went out, I travelled in a car—a convertible, so I could enjoy the breeze. Back when many people in Hong Kong did not have cars, I already had one. I was once quite prosperous, and the people I associated with were all prominent figures. Yet, today, I have ended up burned to death. This fire was truly a life-stealing inferno!

Everyone grows old. Young men grow old, and beautiful girls grow old. Newborn babies are treasured by everyone, but one day they too will grow old. Who does not grow old? Who can escape birth, aging, sickness, and death? I have tasted the suffering of aging and sickness, but I never imagined that my death would be in a fire! Who would expect to go like this? This is what they call an accidental disaster. I have seen many deaths—on television, in the media, among my own relatives and close friends. Even the younger generation has left before me. I have tasted the pain of the white-haired person sending off the black-haired person. Now, I have been sent off by everyone else, amidst raging flames, with my body in excruciating pain. The pain of the world—being cut or slaughtered—is truly painful, but let me tell you: the pain of being burned alive is even worse!

The Moment the World Turned to Ash

Although I am ninety-two, my body was still decent. I could move in and out on my own, unlike many elderly people who need to be pushed in wheelchairs. That day, I was at home as usual and did not go out. If I had gone out, perhaps I would have escaped this calamity. But it is meaningless to say that now; I simply did not go out, I stayed at home.

My hearing is a bit poor, so sometimes people have to speak loudly for me to hear. By the time I heard that something was wrong, it was already too late! I felt strange; there were never such panicked sounds before. Why were there so many voices? Adults and children were screaming, 'Mother! Mother!' The fact that a child's voice could reach my ears meant the sound was deafening.

I listened carefully; it sounded like the child from next door. Why were they so panicked? At that moment, there were strange occurrences in my home—things seemed to be shaking. My feet were not good, and I walked slowly, with a limp. I opened the door to look, and it was horrific! There was a raging fire right before my eyes!

A Desperate Struggle for Survival

My heart panicked: How could this happen? Naturally, my first thought was to run—I could not stay in this house, I had to run. Just then, the screaming child from next door appeared in front of me. Heavens, half of his body was on fire! Perhaps his parents were not home, so the child was left alone, as was often the case. But when a child encounters a fire, what can he do? I was stunned. I quickly said, 'It is alright, do not be afraid, do not be afraid, do not be afraid. Grandfather is here, follow Grandfather.' The child could not walk at all; he had already collapsed on the ground, crying until he was unrecognisable, with no strength left. I could not carry him, and the fire on his body sprayed onto mine. This fire was truly heartless! Usually, people would show some respect to a ninety-two-year-old man, but now this fire was consuming me too!

I looked at the child again, and he was no longer breathing. I could not bear to look any longer. I turned my head, and I felt pain in my own body; the fire had started burning from my feet. My feet were already bad, and with the fire burning like that, could I walk? I could not walk, but my hands could move, so crawling would have to do, right? At that critical moment of life and death, you have to crawl if you have to, or roll if you must. At that time, I was truly desperate. The only things I could think of were the stairs and the elevator. I could not take the elevator, but the stairs should be passable, right? Fortunately, I found the stairwell, but something was blocking it. Usually, I could dodge past and go downstairs; I was too familiar with this place, having lived here for many years.

As it turned out, no matter how I tried to dodge, I could not get past. I could only crawl, supporting my body with both hands, sliding down the stairs one step at a time. I was lucky not to fall or tumble, but there was something blocking my path. There was a small gap to the side, a path I usually took, but even that small path was blocked by fire.

The Final Cry for Help

My heart went cold: there was no way forward, so I would go back! Perhaps I could find another way out. Think about it—would the fire get smaller? Only if rescue personnel appeared. I prayed in my heart, begging. At that moment, it did not matter if it was a celestial deity, a land spirit, a water god, or a fire god—anyone would do. I begged them, 'For the sake of this old man, even if I must die, do not let me die so miserably! Please, give me a way to live.'

I screamed this in my heart. But as I crawled, the fire on my body had already reached my waist. It was agonizing, but the willpower to escape was stronger than the pain, and I actually managed to crawl upward. But ahead was a sea of fire. Everyone, I believe you have seen it; the media must have reported it. Having seen the raging flames, what could this old man do? There was no way; I could only sit and wait for death.

There was no road left, unless a miracle descended from heaven to pull me out, I would have no chance to leave this sea of fire—it was truly like a sea! Usually, one sees small fires, but this could not be described as a small or large fire; it had to be described as 'fire like ocean waves.' Humans are just flesh and bone, and this flesh was being burned by fire right down to the bone. That kind of pain—at that moment, I thought I could not escape. What could I do? Once, when a person is in despair, the only thing they can think of is the Lord they believe in. I shouted, 'Lord, save me!' I did not hear any response. Later, I chanted, 'Buddha, Buddha, save me!' There was also no response.

I thought: 'Fine! I have seen what people look like when they are burned to death, and I am about to become that.' Just like that, in the stairwell, with fire in front and behind, I ended my life. If the firefighters or rescue personnel saw a corpse on the stairs later, one of those bodies was me, Wang Qifa.

The Spirit Released

I do not know if people will remember my name. I changed my name, but my memory is not very good, and I do not even remember what I was called at the time. I was a helpless old man. At the time, my son bought this house for me and then left; he left me a little money and told me to live well. This is a very sad thing. However, I believe there are too many such elderly people in this world; it is just a matter of whether they have the chance to be helped. Among the deceased this time, one elderly person was just like that.

It is truly unexpected that now that I am dead, I am still able to speak about the situation at that time. Actually, I do not usually speak this fluently. I am old! My speech is sometimes stuttering and incoherent. But now, I am speaking so smoothly. Is this the difference between the spirit and the body? I do not understand either. But I know that at this moment, I am able to express my meaning so clearly; it is truly surprising.

I just described my experience in the fire. Afterwards, I was confused, and I screamed and cried, but later I stopped crying and screaming. Begging was useless. Is the last breath of life spent like this? Desolate, is it not? It is desolate. But I thought of the child next door; that was even more tragic! A life of only a few years just disappeared like that. But although my ninety-two-year-old life was eighty years longer than his, what difference did it make? We both lost our lives in a sea of fire.

What meaning did those extra days of life have for me? Suffering—I just tasted more of life's suffering! That child was better off; he was quite well-behaved and sensible. Sometimes he would bring something for his 'grandfather' to eat, and he called me grandfather, and I would give him something to eat too. But we both ended up in the sea of fire...

A New Realm of Light

My spirit was infinitely sorrowful, as if my body and soul were being torn apart. This power was completely uncontrollable, and I was useless; at that time, I could only let myself be at the mercy of fate. My body was also in great pain; I could no longer distinguish between what people call the spirit leaving the body, the pain of death, or the pain of being burned alive. I could not figure it out.

In any case, my soul came out. It would have been better if it had not; at least then I would only have been suffering myself. When I came out and looked, it was horrific—this fire was not just in this building; other buildings were on fire too. Heavens, I was so sad I could not speak. I looked to the left and right; actually, many spirits were crying and grieving just like me. I closed my eyes. In the world of spirits, this fire did not seem to burn me. I do not understand how that works; perhaps it is because the space is different. Although the flames were raging, I did not feel the pain of being burned, and I breathed a sigh of relief. However, that kind of pain and suffering seemed to remain on me.

After a long time, I heard the sounds of firefighters on the ground, and the water being sprayed into the fire. I also saw many family members grieving in the space outside the scene. There were many vehicles at the scene; they must have been reporters. The scene of a disaster is something one can usually see on television, and although my eyes are not very good and I see things blurrily, I could still see a little. I never expected that I would witness it with my own eyes, and be one of the victims in the middle of it.

I watched my body still being burned by the fire. How long can a human body be burned by fire? I learned later that because the fire was continuous, the body was no longer a body; it was just like a piece of wood or a stool.

Truly, without the spirit, the body is useless. In any case, I was in the air, actually quite close to the scene. Only then did I discover that the spirit can move around. I did not know where to go; my eyes were dull and helpless, thinking about where I would go next. Having left the human world, where was my spirit to go?

The Compassion of Namo Amituofo

In my helplessness, I suddenly saw the whole sky shining with great light, very bright, as if time had stopped. At that moment, the screaming sounds also suddenly stopped. How did the raging fire seem to have nothing to do with us? We were completely enveloped by the light.

In the midst of this, I saw a blurry figure, quite tall, stretching out both hands, as if telling us, 'Come to me!' At that critical moment, it was as if we had received a great salvation, so we kept walking toward this light. Actually, we did not need to run; the light directly brought us toward the tall figure, and the speed was quite fast. But, strangely, my eyes were originally unclear, so why could I see so clearly now? So the spirit and the body are two different things! In any case, my spirit could see very clearly. Perhaps I had done some good deeds in my life; although they were not earth-shattering things that everyone knew about, I did my best to help others. Well, that is a digression.

I believe in the laws of karma and cause and effect: good deeds are rewarded with good, evil deeds with evil; it is not that there is no retribution, but that the time has not yet come. This is what I understand. At that time, I was stunned. Could it be that my prayers... whether to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, or celestial deities, they had heard my voice? So, I quickly followed everyone and rushed forward; I wanted to leave this place, to leave this place quickly. At that time, everyone's heart must have been the same as mine; we did not have time to think, it was terrifying, and we wanted to leave that terrible world.

As a result, in a very short time, we were brought to this place by the light. After being brought here, many of the cries continued, because they probably still thought they were in the fire! Although the space had changed, it was different. I am old, and perhaps I have seen through human nature and worldly affairs, so I calmed down very quickly. Looking around, this place is quite different. How could there be such a big change? Were we saved? I knew this place was different from ordinary places, and it was not a place in the human world.

Only then did I realize that I had died. In that short time, I had died. I realized that I am now a spirit, so this place must be a place where spirits can go. When a person dies, they become a ghost, right? Is this where ghosts stay? This is such a good place. I heard that the places where ghosts live are dark and gloomy. This should not be a place for ghosts. But in any case, we were finally saved. Being saved is so important to us.

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

When I calmed down, I discovered the truth: there is a gate here with the words 'Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre' written on it. I saw many people with yellow skin and black hair like me, but I also saw foreigners who spoke other languages. This place is in Australia, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The place where I am now is called the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Because I can listen to the Dharma here, this is a Buddhist temple, and the person giving the lectures is very bold; I understood the Dharma he taught. How long have I listened? Since we were brought here yesterday, it has been a Dharma assembly. We can see the affairs of the Buddhist temple.

This is a Dharma assembly; yes, this is what people in the human world call a 'Dharma assembly.' In the assembly, I saw many spirits, so many spirits; some are very clean and bright, and some are very pitiful, suffering just like us. It turns out that the world of spirits is also so different. There are so many spirits, some looking very fierce, looking very much like demons, but they do not seem to have any intention to attack; this is a very special place. This place and the Buddhist temple are two completely different spaces. I understand now; we can stay here with peace of mind. This is not the fire scene; we have already moved far away from the fire scene.

And I saw that, at the scene, the one who released the light and took us away was Namo Amituofo, the Greatly Compassionate Namo Amituofo. When I was young, or in my middle age, I also followed others to go on pilgrimages to Buddhist mountains. So I knew there were Buddhas. But, until now, when I saw Namo Amituofo, I knew that there really are Buddhas! Buddha, I am so grateful to you, there are so many of us. Once the Buddha-light shone down, many spirits ran toward the Buddha-light. It is definitely not just like what is said in the Dharma assembly; you said 128 people, it is more than that! When the Buddha released the light, those of us who rushed forward were densely packed; it was definitely more than 128! I am talking about spirits, hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands; it is truly like that. Buddha, you are too compassionate!

We are now in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The place where we are sitting is quite good, very comfortable, the view is excellent, very vast, quite bright, and we can hear clearly what is said at the Dharma assembly. It turns out that the spirit and the body are two different things; I can hear now, and my eyes can see too. This is very good news; perhaps this is a healing for us suffering souls.

Gratitude and Final Reflections

I am considered a solitary elderly person. Whether anyone remembers me now is not important, and how my body is handled is also not important. What is important is that my spirit is still alive. I tell everyone that I did not die. When Wang Qifa was in his prime, many people might have known me. But now, in the sunset of my life, who would recognize me? Today, as a deceased person, I speak of these things to let you all understand the suffering at the Wang Fuk Court fire scene, which can be considered doing a good deed.

The Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre here is a very good place. Many spirits who died at the scene have already been saved by Namo Amituofo to this place. This is the report I want to make to everyone. I believe many family members are still anxiously looking for their loved ones. But we do not know each other; we really do not know each other at all.

I am quite surprised that Namo Amituofo actually knows me, Wang Qifa. Namo Amituofo knows me. Thank you, Namo Amituofo, and thank you to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for having the Western Dharma-Nature Land to take in us souls who were burned by fire.

Words cannot express everything. It turns out that the difference between a person and a ghost is like this; it is too easy for a person to become a ghost—once the breath is gone, one can become a ghost. But a ghost cannot become a person, cannot return to the body, because there is no body.

Thank you to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, thank you to Namo Amituofo, and thank you to the person performing the Chao Du at the Dharma assembly. By the way, that person performing the Chao Du looks very kind and has great cultivation. He is truly saving sentient beings. His spirit not only has a human body, a good human body that can walk, but his spirit can also leave his body. This is a practitioner, a practitioner with great cultivation; he has this ability to leave his body after the spirit leaves, and he is truly flying in the sky, and he keeps pushing the spirits who come here forward, pushing them forward—pushing them to whom? Pushing them to Namo Amituofo in front. Namo Amituofo is in front, leading us.

Wow, it is truly amazing. It turns out that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has such ability. This is called a Chao Du Dharma assembly, to deliver the deceased. It is great; I am so happy for everyone. Everyone is saved, the deceased are saved. And there are many deceased from the Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong who were also saved by Namo Amituofo to this place. Although we do not know each other, I am happy for everyone, and I also say thank you to Namo Amituofo; truly, thank you. I do not know what will happen next, but that is no longer important. I believe Namo Amituofo will properly arrange for us suffering souls. I do not know whether to call myself a ghost or a soul now; perhaps they are the same!

I will briefly describe the situation at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This place is quite quiet, there are no cars, no people, no noisy sounds; the only sounds are the 'Namo Amituofo' Buddha-name chanting from the Dharma assembly, and the sound of chanting sutras. The Buddha-name 'Namo Amituofo', 'Namo Amituofo' is the sound I have heard since I entered here more than a day ago. Hearing it now makes me feel so at peace; it turns out that the Buddha-name is so soothing to the human heart.

I understand now that the leader of the Dharma assembly, besides Namo Amituofo, is the one they call 'Grandma', some call her 'Practitioner Su', and I heard some call her 'Su Fo'. Wow, it seems she has multiple identities; she is a practitioner with great cultivation. I am very grateful to her. My intuition tells me that Namo Amituofo being able to save the spirits who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire should have originated from Su Fo! Why do I feel it is more appropriate to call her Su Fo? For us, only a Buddha has such ability and compassion, not abandoning any sentient being.

Furthermore, there are many spirits at the site of the Buddhist temple's Chao Du, because the light of Namo Amituofo shines on this place as well. This place is too happy, very bright. Su Fo's Chao Du surprised me; a person can actually chant the sutras and the Buddha-name at the Dharma assembly site, while the spirit can fly into the sky to deliver these spirits, including spirits that look like demons. Demons, excuse me! I do not know what name is appropriate. My knowledge is very limited.

The Buddhist temple is quite large, very large. The Western Dharma-Nature Land where we are now is also part of the Buddhist temple. Everyone should know about such a good place. People today are too miserable; children suffer from birth, and the pressure is even greater when they grow up. When they get married and have children, that is the peak of life's suffering, which is the time to work hard, without a moment to settle down. Not to mention when the children grow up and they themselves get old, and illnesses appear one after another; this is called birth, aging, sickness, and death. There are many ways to die. People say that those with blessings will have a good death and a good appearance, hahaha! It seems that although I did not have a good death or a good appearance, my blessings are great, because I could encounter the Buddha; I truly encountered the Buddha!

I think my life ahead, even if I stay here, is very good. This is not an ordinary place. Looking closely, actually, many spirits are very well settled here. Because I see that everyone's face shows a satisfied smile. Some spirits, however, are crying and grieving alone, or even screaming. I believe these must be the souls who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire and were sent here, still remaining in the sorrow of the great fire.

There is a middle-aged woman. I say, looking at her appearance, she also came out of the great fire. She still has a look of terror, but at least her heart should be much calmer; it seems that no words need to be spoken, and we can understand what each other wants to say.

This is the general situation in the Western Dharma-Nature Land.

I believe the Dharma assembly here is not something that can be done in ordinary places. Because the cultivation of monastics is different. Those with true great cultivation can really save many sentient beings. One thing is certain: Namo Amituofo is truly at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Everyone can come and see how the Buddha saves sentient beings.

I only have full gratitude and more gratitude. The impermanent suffering I endured before has already become the past. I believe the souls who have experienced this fire are quite exhausted, and here they can be saved and rest.

Wang Qifa"