From Hunter to Guardian: A Journey of Redemption

Chen Yuren, a former hunter who spent his life in the mountains, eventually served as a prison guard in the Ninth Hall of the underworld. After years of witnessing the laws of karma and cause and effect, he was granted the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview, recorded on November 21, 2020, captures his reflections on his past, his redemption, and the great compassion of Practitioner Su, who led him and his fellow guards to final deliverance.

Chen Yuren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I have always felt that life is a long, winding road, full of twists and turns. Now, I have finally reached the end of that road—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is the most beautiful destination one could ever hope for, yet few are as fortunate as I am. I am filled with endless joy and gratitude for the great compassion of Practitioner Su, who today has led me and fifty-nine other prison guards to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is overflowing with Dharma joy and endless gratitude."

The Distinctive Character of the Ninth Hall

"My experience is quite different from others. I would like to recount my life in reverse. I served as a prison guard in the Ninth Hall. The most striking thing about the Ninth Hall is that everyone's character is incredibly distinct. A dog has the traits of a dog, a monkey has the traits of a monkey, and a crocodile has the traits of a crocodile. To put it plainly, no one can escape the weight of their own 'personality' or the deep-seated attachments they carried in life.

"Those filled with violent energy are likely to be reborn as leopards, lions, or tigers. Beyond that raw aggression, there are subtle differences in their nature that determine which specific animal form they will take. In truth, entering the animal realm is largely a form of karmic retribution. It happens when one indulges their personality too much while possessing a human body, or becomes obsessed with a certain type of animal. Under these conditions, the King of Hell sentences them to the animal realm, where they must endure the consequences of their own delusions."

The Karmic Entanglements of Wang Asan

"The most memorable case I encountered while serving as a guard was a man named Wang Asan. In the human world, he was a cattle thief. He had many reasons for his crimes. His first excuse was that his wife had run away, and his newborn child had no milk; he felt he had to steal a lactating cow to feed the baby. His second reason was that the stolen cow was in heat and running wild, so he stole a bull to keep her company. The third time, the cow was about to give birth, but the calf was stillborn. To keep the mother from grieving, he stole another newborn calf to replace the lost one. Wang Asan, his son, and the three cows became a family.

"One day, the mother cow fell ill. She was listless and her eyes were filled with helplessness. Asan paced back and forth in his home, anxious and unable to heal her. Eventually, the cow died. Shortly after, there was a frantic knocking at his door. Asan, who had been sleeping, jumped up to answer it. To his shock, several officers were standing there. They had concrete evidence of his cattle theft and came to arrest him. While imprisoned, Asan missed his son and the 'cow family' so much that he began to mimic bovine behavior—he would low like a cow and eat grass just as they did. After he died, the King of Hell sentenced him to be reborn as a cow. Surprisingly, Asan nodded in immediate agreement, accepted the 'cow skin' to wear, and his consciousness truly believed he was a cow. Because he had never harmed the cows during his life, he was well-cared for by his owner in his next life—and that owner was none other than the mother cow who had died earlier. In the underworld, you can see how all these laws of karma and cause and effect are intertwined; there is not the slightest error."

A Hunter's Awakening in the Wilderness

"The reason I came to the Ninth Hall is also tied to my Causal Conditions with many animals. In the past, I was a hunter. Whether it was archery or tracking in the forest, my vision and reflexes were incredibly sharp. If there was the slightest movement in the grass, a glance was enough to identify the animal. I could shoot with deadly precision, or I could let the animal slip away right before my eyes. After a hunt, I would sell the game to merchants who would praise my 'top-quality goods.' They would sell them at high prices, and the merchants would laugh with joy, even giving me a share of the profits to encourage me to keep hunting.

"I never married, nor did I want to. Women didn't care for my rugged, animal-like appearance. For ten years, I hunted, and I knew every inch of the surrounding mountains and their connecting paths. I saved many people who had lost their way in the mountains, though I never gave it much thought. I lived in a dilapidated shack at the foot of the mountain. I was a simple man doing simple things. I didn't need luxury. I wore the most tattered clothes, and even during the New Year, I didn't buy new ones—who was there to see them? Once, a neighbor gave me a warm coat, but I gave it to someone who needed it more than I did. Every day, whether I hunted or not, I would climb the mountain and come back down to train my stamina."

The Miracle of Compassion

"Once, I was caught in a torrential rainstorm. The mountain paths became so slippery I couldn't move, so I stayed put. In the middle of the night, the cold wind chilled me to the bone. I found a large leaf to shelter under and survived the freezing night. At dawn, as the sun rose, I tried to carefully make my way down, but I slipped and tumbled into a ravine. As my consciousness faded, I felt intense pain and itching all over. When I opened my eyes, I saw ants crawling all over me, biting my skin. I wanted to shake them off, but my bones were so shattered I couldn't move. It was the first time I felt death so close. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply to dull the pain; the sensation of my body being torn apart felt exactly like the pain of the animals I had butchered.

"Suddenly, the grass in front of me moved. I knew it was an antelope. I couldn't even stand, let alone do anything. Night fell again. As I was dying of thirst, I felt the grass move. Through a haze, I saw that same antelope dragging a piece of wood with its mouth—a piece of wood that held water. It dragged it as close to me as possible and then vanished into the bushes. I managed to lift myself up and drink. The water revitalized my organs. When I was hungry, I could only eat the grass on the ground. Five days later, I was found and carried down the mountain. During those days, besides the antelope, an owl warned me of danger, and a fox brought me fruit. This experience was an 'Aha!' moment for me. I realized that animals have such high spiritual intelligence. These animals were the ones I had spared, or their families. That they would save me in my hour of need was truly inconceivable. From that moment on, I knew that animals are no different from humans; the only difference is their outward appearance. I began to cherish animals and even inanimate objects—everything, living or not, must have a spirit."

From Repentance to Deliverance

"During those days in the mountains, I decided to stop being a hunter. I wanted to care for these animals instead. I did my best to counsel the meat vendors, the hunters, and those who killed out of ignorance, urging them to turn back. I used my own life as an example. I became a water carrier, sharing my story with everyone I met, hoping more people would learn to respect life. I continued to live in that broken house, giving all my earnings to those in need, keeping nothing for myself. My life became even simpler and happier. As I aged, my strength faded. At sixty-one, my body grew weak. As I lay on my bed, drifting into unconsciousness, I saw many different animals walking toward me. Before I could react, I stopped breathing.

"In the darkness, I knelt before the King of Hell. My spirit was clear. The King of Hell struck his gavel and asked, 'Do you know the karma you created in this life?' I nodded and said, 'I deeply repent for the killing karma of my life as a hunter, and I have tried my best to make amends.' The King of Hell replied, 'Indeed. You stopped creating killing karma in the second half of your life and counseled others to change their ways. Your sincere heart has cleared away many disasters. The accusations that once filled the Ninth Hall have been resolved. Your virtue in counseling others not to kill has earned you the position of a prison guard.'

"I served as a prison guard for thirty-five years with great diligence. I also guided those who entered the Ninth Hall to repent, telling those who wore animal skins not to be foolish or attached. After thirty-five years, I received the notice that I could be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Golden light, incomparably bright. With a heart full of gratitude, I saw Practitioner Su's great hand reach out to lead sixty of us prison guards directly toward the light. I saw the lotus flowers of the Western Land before me, and my heart was filled with smiles and clarity. I am so grateful for the Buddha's guidance and Practitioner Su's compassion. We sixty prison guards bow our heads in gratitude."

Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin.