A Young Life Lost in the Flames

This is a record of an interview with Li Fang-yun, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon her passing during the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on December 7, 2025.

Li Fang-yun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Fang-yun. How many days have passed since I left the human world? I have been resting on a lotus in the Western Dharma-Nature Land for quite some time now, and I have undergone a purification that has made me feel like a completely different person. When I was alive, I was a young, single woman living at Wang Fuk Court. Having only recently graduated, I never expected to rent a place in such a large residential complex primarily occupied by the elderly. However, my starting salary was modest, and I was eager to save money, so I settled for a place that was relatively affordable. Some people called me the 'flower' of our building because I was young, presentable, and had a good rapport with my neighbours.

The Life of a Dedicated Nurse

My work schedule was never stable. Sometimes I would work overtime for days, clocking in over a dozen hours at a stretch, while other times I would have several days off. As a nurse, this was simply the nature of hospital work, and I had long since grown accustomed to it. My young body could still handle such high-pressure, long-duration shifts, and I possessed a genuine passion for the field. Caring for patients and learning about medical science were things that truly interested me.

That late night, I returned from the hospital, dragging my exhausted body home. I washed up, ate a little something, and collapsed into bed. I had worked over eighteen hours of overtime, and I was completely burnt out. Being able to lie in my comfortable bed and sleep soundly—knowing I did not have to work the next day—was the best reward I could ask for. I had planned to spend my two days off resting well before heading into the city to visit my parents. I slept for a very, very long time, from the early hours of the morning until the afternoon of the next day. This was normal for me; I always needed to catch up on more than ten hours of sleep to regain my strength for the next day.

The Awakening of Terror

How did I wake up? I was woken by the heat. I had gone to sleep with the doors and windows tightly shut, feeling quite comfortable. After sleeping for over twelve hours, I suddenly jolted awake, drenched in sweat. At first, I thought I was dreaming because the air around me had become incredibly hot. It was not the heat of a summer day; it was a stifling, suffocating, and deeply uncomfortable sensation. I did not immediately realise it was a fire, but a sense of unease began to creep into my heart. I tidied myself up briefly and walked into the living room, only to find that my small lamp had gone out. None of the lights would turn on—the power was out. I sniffed the air carefully and realised something was wrong: it was the smell of something burning!

As a nurse, I was trained to be highly alert, so I knew how to prepare myself before attempting to escape. I thought of my parents and quickly grabbed my mobile phone, hoping to call them and let them know I was safe. At that moment, the fire had not yet spread to my floor, so I began to plan my escape route. Of course, using the lift was out of the question, but when I reached the stairs, I discovered that the stairwell was already ablaze! Someone had left cardboard boxes or similar items there, causing the fire to spread with terrifying speed. I put on a raincoat-style jacket, which I had heard offered some flame resistance, and tried to bravely push forward while the fire was still manageable. Not long after, the moment the flames licked my legs, I screamed out in agony! Even though I am a medical professional, I have always been terrified of physical pain. Tears streamed down my face, and the inner turmoil, panic, and helplessness made me lose my sense of direction.

The Final Moments of Struggle

I must have been too late to escape, which is why there were so few people around; most had already fled. I kept struggling, trying desperately to shake off the intense pain, while covering my nose tightly to breathe, hoping to inhale enough oxygen to hold on for a little longer. It turns out that when a person is in the greatest pain, they will keep calling out the names of their loved ones. I kept calling for my mother. Even though I knew she was thousands of miles away, it was my instinct in that desperate situation. I used those shouts as a way to find some small measure of release and comfort. Within my field of vision, I saw an elderly couple; they looked at me and shook their heads helplessly, as if they had already lost all hope. I did not want to go so soon! I was still so young, I had just started a good job, and I had not experienced anything in life yet. I was not as calm as the elderly.

At that moment, I remembered the critically ill patients in the ward. They were often delirious before death, but at least they did not struggle as miserably as I did. In my despair, my mind became a chaotic mess. I was no longer clear-headed; the smoke choked me until I could not speak. My mind uncontrollably replayed trivial fragments of my life—is this what people do before they die? In any case, my heart sank to the bottom. Because I wanted so badly to live, and thinking of how sad my family would be for me, I could not stop the tears from falling. The pain in my heart combined with the pain in my body; it felt as if I had tasted all the bitterness of life in an instant. It can only be described as 'too bitter, far too bitter.'

Deliverance to the Western Dharma-Nature Land

The fire began to burn me. I slapped at the flames, trying to extinguish them, but it was useless. I knew I was very, very close to death. I felt as if my entire body was burning from within—it was so painful, so incredibly painful. My throat felt like it was on fire, and my heart was pounding with a stifling heat. Not long after, I died. I was just another young person consumed by the massive fire. The fire is heartless; it does not care what kind of life you are. We were all burned to a crisp, just like meat on a grill. I felt as if I were struggling to rush upwards, and a force pulled me out, though there were some obstacles. It turned out to be my soul. In an instant, I jumped out of that painful space, as if I had been elevated—ejected from the suffering.

But even then, I was heartbroken. I kept thinking of how desperate my parents would be when they saw this scene—their daughter burned beyond recognition. They had taught me to be independent, so I could face the trials of life with strength, but 'impermanence' was something none of us had ever considered. To face death, and for the 'white-haired to send off the black-haired'—it was truly tragic beyond words.

I stayed quietly in the sky above the fire scene, crying and stopping, not knowing how much time had passed. I longed for someone to accompany me, just to vent my sorrows, but the spirits around me seemed to be like me—souls who had perished in the fire. They were all orbiting in their own grief, each lost in their own misery, ignoring everyone else. Later, I saw many people beginning to leave the fire scene, all heading in the same direction. When my thoughts turned toward a light I saw, miraculously, at that very moment, I seemed to connect with that light and was directly carried away by it. Thank goodness I had somewhere to go!

A New Beginning

Later, I arrived at this place, here in Australia. I saw a spiritual world called the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It is a very relaxed and beautiful place, filled with lotuses everywhere; it is fragrant, happy, and peaceful. There is also a place where I can see a vast grassland—the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Both places are breathtaking, and my whole being felt as if it had been opened up. My sorrowful heart slowly began to weaken and fade, and the things of the past no longer bound me. I am now in this relaxed and happy space, among the lotuses, enjoying this tranquil world. There is a voice that is always comforting us—it is the voice of Namo Amituofo. I also frequently hear Practitioner Su, the senior sister at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, constantly speaking about 'what happened at Wang Fuk Court,' as if she were reporting on the situation. I know this has to do with me, so I listen carefully. That is how I learned that she is the one who saved us from Wang Fuk Court. She is actually a Buddha, just like Namo Amituofo, though she still possesses a human body, appearing as a lay practitioner. I am amazed at how she does it, but if she is like Namo Amituofo, then surely nothing is impossible! So, I chant 'Namo Amituofo,' because the sound of the Buddha-name here is so captivating; it makes one want to keep chanting forever.

I do not know how long I will stay here, but it seems I can stay indefinitely because it is truly comfortable and peaceful. There is even the possibility that one day I will go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, with no worries at all.

To my parents: I only want to say that I hope you can slowly let go of me. Do not be too sad, because if you were to come to this world, you would surely see the affairs of the human world with much more detachment. If you still have life, live it well. It would be even better if you could come to know the Buddha; just like me, if you follow the Buddha, you will have no worries and a wonderful future. If you can see these words of mine, you are welcome to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This place can help you unburden your hearts and discover that the Truth is right here. Otherwise, a journey through life is mostly suffering, and it lasts only a few short decades; it is truly not worth being busy your whole life for all of this. I hope you can see what I have said.

I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for saving us. I am also working hard to listen to the Sutras so that one day I, too, can do the work of saving others and elevate myself to help those who are lost. Thank you, thank you!

Namo Amituofo.

Li Fang-yun"