Breaking the Chains of Emotional Attachment

This is a record of an interview with Lin Jiaji, who sought 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 long journey through the cycle of rebirth and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on September 1, 2024.

Lin Jiaji speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lin Jiaji. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su and to all the Causal Conditions that brought me here. If I had not encountered the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I would never have had this opportunity for liberation. The salvation team led by Practitioner Su has saved immeasurable and boundless beings throughout the void. We all yearn for such a salvific power, yet those in the world who cannot see it do not understand. They do not know that this is truly a salvific power led by Namo Amituofo. We are all profoundly grateful.

I, Lin Jiaji, represent all the prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity in expressing my deepest gratitude for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

The Weight of Emotional Chains

"Before I became a prison guard, I was just like all other beings, trapped within the cycle of rebirth, suffering so intensely that I could not pull myself out. My suffering stemmed from my heavy emotions; I could not let go of any emotional attachments. Throughout my many lives, I have been spinning in a world of emotions. I wanted to awaken, but I could not break free from the entanglement of emotional karma. I was born and died, died and was born again—it was unbearable agony!

After listening to the Buddha’s teachings, I heard the truth that this was nothing but delusion! I truly was that deluded person. Now, I wish to share my story of delusion with everyone.

In the past, I was reborn as a woman for many lifetimes, a foolish and naive woman. For the sake of love, I cast aside my self-respect and even disregarded my own body. Yet, in the end, all I received in return was my own suffering, which no one else could bear for me.

In countless cycles of rebirth, I fell into the whirlpool of emotion time and time again. It was not just attachment to a lover, but also the constant worry for my children. These emotions were like a prison, trapping me tightly so that I could not escape."

Lives Lost in the Whirlpool of Love

"In one lifetime, I was a village girl named Huaniang. I fell in love with a handsome man. His sweet words intoxicated me, and I could not extricate myself. For him, I was willing to abandon my family and follow him into a life of wandering. But in the end, he abandoned me, taking the wealth I had painstakingly saved and flying far away, leaving me and my unborn child in the freezing winter without any support. I gave birth to the child in a dilapidated shack, and he became my only reliance. The hardships of life made me wither away, and I eventually died of illness, leaving my young child alone and helpless.

After I died, I was reincarnated again. This time, I was born as the daughter of a wealthy family named Yuhuan. In this life, I had two adorable sons; they were my entire life. I cared for them with all my heart, hoping they would succeed and live happy lives. My husband was a cold-hearted merchant who ignored me and the children, remaining indifferent even when I fell ill. In the end, I passed away early due to overwork, leaving my two children beside their cold father. On the road to the afterlife, my heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife, worrying about their future fate, yet I was powerless to do anything.

These lifetimes of rebirth made me repeat the same mistakes over and over, and kept me deeply trapped in my attachment to my children. Whether as a mother or a wife, I always gave everything for my family, only to receive endless suffering and loneliness in return. At the end of every life, I always had to face death alone, leaving behind infinite concern and worry for my children.

In another life, I was the wife of a wealthy merchant named Xiuzhen. I had a son and a daughter. The family seemed happy and complete, but deep down, I felt profound unease. My husband was a selfish man who did not care about the children's growth at all, and all the burdens fell on me alone. I poured all my heart and soul into the children, hoping they would succeed and live a life better than mine. But as they grew up, they gradually drifted away from me, becoming cold and distant. Because of their own marital problems, they even had fierce arguments with me. In the end, I passed away early from overwork, leaving this world alone, carrying endless regret and pain."

The Lightning Strike of Truth

"I drifted continuously in the cycle of rebirth. I was reincarnated into different species and even went to the underworld as a ghost. Even the pain of rebirth did not wake me from my emotional attachments. Until one lifetime, I finally encountered the Buddha’s teachings. That life, I was born as an ordinary farm woman named Cuihua. Although life was plain, it was stable, but the emptiness deep in my heart could never be filled. One day, a wandering monk came to the village and gave a Dharma talk under a large tree at the entrance. I heard what he said by chance, and my heart was greatly shaken.

The monk said: 'People in the world are lost because of love and attachment. Love is like poisonous wine; although it tastes sweet when drunk, it will inevitably lead to intoxication and sinking. Especially the attachment to children is even harder to let go of, making it impossible for people to transcend the suffering of rebirth. Only by letting go of these attachments and focusing on chanting Namo Amituofo can one truly attain liberation.'

These words were like a bolt of lightning, splitting the fog in my heart. I finally understood that the suffering I had endured for so many lifetimes was because I foolishly clung to love, especially the attachment to my children. These attachments prevented me from escaping the cycle of rebirth, causing me to experience the same pain over and over again. From that day on, I resolved to change myself, focusing on practising the Buddha’s teachings, hoping to liberate myself through the wisdom of the Dharma.

But change is not an easy task. Although I tried hard to practise, the attachment to my children deep in my heart was still hard to eliminate. Whenever I saw other mothers showing love to their children, a familiar emotion would inevitably well up in my heart. I knew that these feelings would only bring suffering in the end, but there was still a lingering reluctance in my heart, hoping to see my children happy. This contradiction made me suffer immensely.

One day, while I was practising in the temple, a sudden, intense pain struck me, as if I had returned to countless past lives, experiencing all those attachments and pains for my children. I completely collapsed in this pain, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just then, I heard the holy name of Namo Amituofo. The sound was so clear, so warm, like a beam of light shining into the dark corners of my heart.

I finally understood that the root of these pains was not in the outside world, but in my own internal attachments. Only by completely letting go of these attachments could I truly attain liberation. From that day on, I focused more on chanting Namo Amituofo, praying that the compassionate light of Namo Amituofo would shine upon my heart and help me completely clear away my internal delusions."

A Final Path to Liberation

"When I was reincarnated again, I was born as a man named Lin Jiaji. I had been indifferent to emotions since I was young, and the guidance of Causal Conditions allowed me to encounter the Buddha’s teachings at a very young age. In this lifetime, I finally let go of all emotional attachments and decided to use wisdom as my guide, persistently walking through the barrier of emotion.

I am no longer troubled by the suffering of lifetimes, nor do I have any expectations for any emotions. Of course, I also understand that this is not something that can be achieved overnight. I need to practise diligently to truly achieve real stability in my heart. After this life ended, I came before the King of Hell. My heart was no longer in a state of fluctuating emotional attachment, but in a state of calm.

The King of Hell told me that the journey here was not easy, and I smiled as two lines of tears flowed down. The King of Hell then said that everything was worth it. I am very grateful that the King of Hell arranged a position for me in the underworld palace, giving me the opportunity to serve and to become even more clear-headed through the stories of cause and effect. I have truly learned a lot from this, and my heart is even more determined to break through and attain liberation.

I am very grateful to have heard Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks recently; the principles Practitioner Su spoke of hit the mark in my heart. I know this is what I need to learn, and I truly want to seek liberation. I am very grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su, which has given me the opportunity to truly awaken. I will continue to practise diligently, and I will certainly awaken from the cycle of rebirth and no longer be a deluded person.

I am grateful for the opportunity today to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for her great compassion in helping immeasurable beings. I will practise diligently and make a vow to help all sentient beings. I, Lin Jiaji, represent all the prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity in expressing my deepest gratitude for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Lin Jiaji, with palms joined."