From a Grain of Sand to a Pearl of Light

This interview was recorded on June 10, 2023, by the chief writer, Shi Fa-jing. Wang Guang, who once suffered in the hells, sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, having completed his journey from a life of profound karmic retribution to ultimate liberation.

Wang Guang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, I, Wang Guang, along with fifty-nine other prison guards, have the immense honour of standing here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. We owe everything to the boundless compassion of Practitioner Su, who reached out to pull us from the depths of the hells and guided us here. The distance between those dark realms and this pure land is unfathomable, yet in the human world, it took less than a second to arrive. This is the power of the Buddha—truly inconceivable.

I am Wang Guang. Once, I was but a single grain of sand in the vast ocean, and later, I transformed into a pearl. Think about it—a grain of sand left on a table is ignored by everyone; no one even notices its existence. But a genuine, lustrous pearl placed on that same table? That is a completely different story. I have been both, and I have felt deeply the stark difference in how the world treats these two states. It is quite a profound realisation to look back upon.

A Life of Lost Potential

When I still possessed a human body and went by the name Wang Guang, I committed grave sins. I engaged in drug smuggling and trafficking. Although I made a great deal of money, I destroyed countless lives in the process. The weight of the karma I accumulated throughout that life led me, after my death, to become nothing more than a grain of sand.

I was not born a bad child. When I came into this world, people often remarked on how adorable I was. I had large, round, pure eyes, prominent ears, and full, rosy cheeks. I was truly a delightful child. However, I was born into a wealthy and privileged family. My entire family doted on me, pampering me to no end. This environment allowed the negative tendencies I had carried over from countless past lives to manifest once again. Without any proper guidance or discipline, these habits began to wreak havoc on my character. I became an arrogant, fearless person who would stop at nothing to satisfy my desires, committing evil deeds wherever I went.

I harmed many people and spent time in prison. My appearance, once so innocent and lovely, became distorted and deformed, reflecting the darkness of my evil thoughts and corrupt mind. The blessings I was born with had completely vanished. No one could remember the child I once was, because the man I became was a total stranger to that innocent boy. The contrast was absolute.

The Finality of Darkness

The last crime I committed before my death involved drug smuggling. I had foolishly believed that I could spend the rest of my life living off the wealth generated by this path. I never expected that after only a few attempts, I would be caught. I was helpless, and I was immediately thrown into prison. This time, I never walked out. I fell gravely ill while incarcerated, and the authorities refused to provide me with medical care. They simply left me to suffer in the dark. Even my fellow inmates, who were also suffering, could do nothing but watch helplessly as I withered away. I took my last breath right there in front of them.

In those final moments, I looked back on my life and felt a crushing sense of regret. My parents had given me a handsome face, healthy limbs, a sharp mind, and a comfortable, affluent home. Yet, I had allowed my own stubborn nature to destroy everything. I lived a life devoid of light. No matter how my family tried to counsel me, I could not turn back. I did not want to face the truth, so I kept running further and further away. If only I had listened to my parents' advice from the beginning, my life would not have ended in such misery.

But it was too late. I held on to that final breath, knowing that once it left me, my life would be over, and I would have no further connection to the world. I struggled, filled with regret, but regret alone could not save me. At midnight, my final breath ceased. My spirit left my body and was immediately cast into the hells to face the consequences of my actions.

The Humility of a Grain of Sand

The suffering in the hells was intense. Because my sins were so heavy, I was sent through several different hells, enduring retribution for three hundred and fifty years. Before I was finally released from the hells, King Yama told me that my karma had not yet been fully repaid. He informed me that I would become a grain of sand to continue my atonement. He said that if I could truly repent and maintain a pure and good heart, I might be able to leave that state sooner. It all depended on my own efforts. I took his words to heart.

I became a grain of sand in the ocean. Compared to the vastness of the sea, my existence was so insignificant that no one would ever notice me. Yet, even as a grain of sand, I kept sending out thoughts of goodness. My heart remained in a state of constant repenting. While in the ocean, I could sense the magnetic field of the water, and I often felt a powerful, dark force gathering in the depths. This evil force came from the spirits trapped in the sea, and they were growing stronger, preparing to cause a great catastrophe. I wanted to stop them, but I was just a grain of sand—my power was negligible. Still, I did not give up. I continued to project thoughts of kindness, hoping to change the energy of the entire ocean.

The Pearl's Silent Practice

The first to be transformed by my thoughts were the other grains of sand around me. Then, the stones, the small fish, the shrimp, and even the water molecules began to be influenced by my right-mindedness. They joined me in projecting goodness. Though our combined strength was still tiny compared to the ocean, we persisted. One night, during a violent storm, the dark forces in the sea whipped up massive waves, intending to drag all the ships into the depths and kill everyone on board. As the waves rose, we small forces of goodness worked desperately to weaken that evil energy. We managed to delay the disaster just enough to allow for human rescue, saving several lives.

This act of merit was enough to flip my karma. The next day, I was drawn into an oyster shell. For five years, I remained there, never ceasing my practice of sending out thoughts of goodness. Finally, I transformed from a grain of sand into a beautiful, lustrous pearl. Humans eventually harvested me and crafted me into a necklace. I was fortunate enough to be worn by an elderly woman who was a devout Buddhist. She chanted the Buddha-name every day. From within the pearl, I could hear her chanting, and I could feel her immense kindness. I felt so comfortable in her presence. Whenever the Buddha-light shone upon her, I, too, was bathed in that light.

I remained in the pearl for about ten years. In the tenth year, the grandmother passed away. As her spirit left her body, I was released from the pearl. It was a truly miraculous causal condition. After leaving the pearl, I returned to King Yama. He nodded at me, praising my efforts. This time, I did not return to the hells to suffer; instead, I was assigned the role of a prison guard. I began to serve in the hells, continuing to accumulate merit.

Serving in the Hells

Seeing the beings in the hells is like seeing my past self. I know that everyone’s original nature is good; it is only through temporary confusion, ignorance, or lack of understanding that they end up in such dark places. If they could start over, I believe they would all choose to change. I truly wanted to help them, but my own abilities were limited. Through my sincere vows, I was blessed by the arrival of Practitioner Su.

I began to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks within the hells, and I saw his Dharma Body entering those dark realms to rescue the suffering beings. I was so happy—it felt as if I were the one being saved! But it was not me; it was these criminals who had finally learned to repent, change their ways, and were willing to chant the Buddha-name. Through their sincere repentance and vows, they were rescued by Practitioner Su and led out of the hells.

Seeing these beings achieve liberation moved me to tears. It inspired me to make an even greater vow to help others. That sincerity gave me the opportunity to be placed on the list for deliverance to the Western Pure Land, which is why I am here today. My heart is filled with infinite gratitude.

Namo Amituofo."