A Young Life Transformed: From Resentment to Gratitude

This is a record of an interview with Li Fengwei, 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 life and his passing during the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Jing, on December 8, 2025.

Li Fengwei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Fengwei. I am thirteen years old, and in my life on earth, I was a student. Even now, thinking back to the day of the fire makes me feel terrified; it is a nightmare I never wish to revisit. My state of mind now, sitting here on a lotus seat in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, is worlds apart from that day. After listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks for a few days, my heart has gradually returned to a state of calm. I am incredibly happy. The warm Buddha-light continuously shines upon me and all those who lost their lives in that fire alongside me. The Buddha is truly so compassionate and so great. Now, none of us feel panicked or afraid anymore. Here, there is nothing to worry about. My previous life in the world simply cannot compare to this; to me, this place is even better than heaven.

The Burden of a Fragile Life

Let me tell you about what happened on the day of the fire. Since I was young, my health was never good. I often had to ask for leave from school, unable to attend classes like a normal child or run, jump, and play with my classmates on the playground. Every time I saw other children playing so joyfully, I felt deeply envious. I felt sad that I could not possess a healthy body like theirs, so eventually, I chose to study at home and stopped going to school altogether. That is the reason why I was at home when the fire broke out.

I never expected that my life would end after only thirteen years because of this fire. However, I am content; I do not feel regret or anger. Having dragged this unhealthy body through life for so long, I truly feel that it was enough. Ending it early was, for me, a form of liberation. The moment my spirit left my body, I felt instantly much lighter. It turns out that I had been carrying a heavy burden of sentient beings and karmic creditors I had harmed in my past lives. Now that I have been saved by Namo Amituofo and brought to the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I am truly filled with gratitude.

The Day the Smoke Rose

When the fire started, I did not notice it at first. It was only later that relatives and friends sent me messages telling me that a massive fire had broken out at Wang Fuk Court and that I should run for my life. I was completely taken aback. Given that my health was already poor, the thought of trying to escape the fire scene successfully—heavens! It was such a difficult task. Furthermore, I lived on a higher floor, making it even harder to reach the ground safely. I thought to myself, 'Perhaps halfway through the escape, my asthma will flare up, and I will die not from the fire, but from an asthma attack and difficulty breathing.' I kept these thoughts to myself. However, since I had received the news, I decided to summon my will to survive and try my best to escape. After all, whether I lived or died no longer mattered much to me. I simply took a wet towel to cover my nose and mouth, grabbed the medicine I always carried with me, and prepared to leave.

When I opened the front door, a pungent, acrid smell drifted toward me. I began to hear the screams and cries of the residents. I never imagined that this fire would be so severe. Thick smoke billowed from the stairwell, and flames had already spread to the corridor. However, there were still some areas not yet touched by the fire, so I dragged my weak body forward, step by step, hoping to reach a safe place to wait for the firefighters to rescue me. Anything was better than staying in place, doing nothing, and watching helplessly as my body was burned alive by the fire.

A Final Moment of Clarity

Although life and death were no longer of great importance to me, the thought of the pain of my body being burned still made me feel afraid. I did not want to die in such a miserable way; I would have preferred to pass away peacefully, without any pain. As I thought this while slowly moving forward, a wave of thick smoke suddenly rushed toward me. I instantly found it difficult to breathe. Before I could even gasp for air, my life ended, and I became a spirit drifting at the scene of the fire.

Even though I did not experience the pain of flesh being burned while I still had my human body, watching my body being consumed by the fire later on made me feel incredibly sad. I watched it turn into a charred corpse, unrecognizable. My original features were gone. I wondered if my parents would be able to find me, and if they knew I was no longer in this world. Thinking of this, I suddenly felt that I was not a filial child for causing them such grief. This was something I had never considered while I was alive.

A Heartfelt Apology

In the past, I only thought of myself. I hated them for not giving me a healthy body, for making me spend my childhood alone on the sidelines watching other students play, unable to join them. I felt only resentment toward my parents; it seemed I had never been grateful to them. I know that they did not want to give birth to an unhealthy child; they, like all other parents, hoped their child would grow up healthy and strong.

I wanted to apologize to my parents, but they could no longer hear me because I no longer had a body. I was so selfish, so selfish. It was only after I became a spirit that I realized my own problems. From a young age, I only thought of myself. When I was alive, I never considered your feelings; I only knew how to throw tantrums. Mom, Dad, I was wrong. I am truly sorry. As I thought this, a golden light suddenly appeared, and a voice said, 'Those who lost their lives in the fire may come up.' The voice was so compassionate, and the golden light was so warm. I, along with other spirits, flew toward the light. Everyone was saved. We arrived at a very bright place where the chanting of 'Namo Amituofo' could be heard. My heart, which had been filled with fear and anxiety, gradually calmed down upon hearing this Buddha-name. We no longer felt pain. We all sat on lotus seats, quietly listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks.

The Magnificence of the Dharma

Although I did not know what this place was at first, it seemed very safe, with no danger, so I did not leave. After sitting on the lotus seat and listening to Practitioner Su for a few days, I learned that this place is called the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It was given to Practitioner Su by Namo Amituofo because Practitioner Su has saved countless sentient beings and possesses a compassionate mind as vast as the Buddha's. That is why the Buddha gifted this Dharma-Nature Land to her.

Now, after listening to Practitioner Su's teachings, I realise how vast the Buddha's teachings are. This is something I never knew in my past life. I did not have the magnificent Causal Conditions to hear such wonderful teachings before. If it were not for this fire accident, I might have gone to the hells to suffer retribution after I died! Education in the Buddha's teachings is truly important. If I had had the opportunity to be guided by the Dharma while I was alive, and if I had met a noble person like Practitioner Su, my thinking would not have been so extreme. I would not have been filled with resentment toward life; I would have been grateful to my parents and everything I encountered. Finally, I am grateful to Namo Amituofo for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed and to share my story with the public. I hope everyone can be a filial child who knows how to be grateful, cherishing everyone around them. Do not let your parents worry, and do not be like me, waiting until you no longer have a body to feel regret. Namo Amituofo."

Li Fengwei