From Prison Guard to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Liu Yuanxiang, who sought spiritual deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his many lives and his subsequent roles in the cycle of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on March 28, 2025.

Liu Yuanxiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. As I face this brilliant light, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. I am deeply thankful to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su for the grace they have bestowed upon me, allowing me to awaken from the cycle of rebirth. Since arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have felt the compassion, warmth, and gentleness of the Buddha-light. My spirit has finally found a place of rest, and I now realise that everything before me is truly real.

In the past, whenever I experienced the cycle of rebirth, I was never able to enter it with a clear mind. Now I understand that it was not entirely that I did not know how to be clear-headed; for the most part, I was simply pulled away by my own desires."

A Childhood of Servitude

"Liu Yuanxiang is the name given to me by my foster parents. They told me that they found me on a hillside in the city. My foster father heard the cries of an infant while passing by, but could not find anyone else around. He waited with me until it was nearly dark, and when no one appeared, he had no choice but to bring me home.

When my foster mother saw him carrying an infant, she flew into a rage. 'Are you complaining that our life isn't bitter enough?' she shouted. 'You bring home another baby—do you have any idea how much it costs to care for one?'

She kept on scolding him, and the tirade did not stop all night. In desperation, my foster father finally said to her, 'We are always short of hands for our work. By investing in him now, we will eventually have a free, strong labourer to help with the heavy chores around the house. I am getting older, and I need a successor.' Hearing this, my foster mother finally felt it made some sense.

She took old, tattered clothes and cut them up to make garments for me. As soon as I was old enough to work, she piled endless chores upon me. From the moment I opened my eyes, I had to start working, and there was always more to do. If I did not do it well, I would be met with a barrage of insults or left without food. Seeing the children of other families going to school and receiving the love of their parents, I felt such envy in my heart.

Once I was old enough to understand, my foster mother told me that I was not their biological child and that my foster father had only brought me home to raise me as a long-term servant. I was deeply hurt when I heard this. My foster father was always nearby when she said these things. After she left, he would walk over to my side and pat me. Although he never said a word, I knew he was comforting me, hoping to give me some strength and solace. He was such a simple, honest man who never argued with anyone."

The Life of a Beast

"Our family raised many poultry. Every day, I had to carry their food—some of it feed, some of it slop. I did this several times a day, fattening the birds up. While feeding them, I often thought to myself, 'These birds have a better life than I do. They don't have to do anything but wait to eat. Once they are full, they just wait for the next meal. I, on the other hand, can only work and work. If I have to live like this for a lifetime, it is truly miserable.'

Sometimes I thought, 'If I died now, I wouldn't have to live this life anymore.' I imagined myself falling into a large ditch or simply falling asleep one day and never waking up. I never told anyone these thoughts because I was powerless to change my life, yet I did not want to continue living it, which is why I was so extreme.

My foster parents passed away as I grew older. After they were gone, I had the opportunity to choose the life I wanted, but being full of uncertainty about the future, I chose to settle for the status quo. I struggled with manual labour until my body became completely exhausted. At forty-one, I felt tired every time I woke up. One day, while walking to the feeding area, I collapsed. After I fell, this body never woke up again. But I did not know my life had ended; I was still caught in the scene of feeding the livestock. The only difference was that I no longer felt tired; every day, when the time came, I just ate. As it turned out, I had become a cow.

My mind had once told me that being a beast meant only having to eat. So now, that was all I had to do. I didn't have to do anything else. This went on for two or three years. When the gate opened, I was patted and pushed out. I was loaded onto a truck and taken to a place. Before me, I saw a person with a murderous look, holding a knife. I tried desperately to run, but no matter how I struggled, the knife eventually cut into me, and I died in agony. In that moment of pain, I detached. Following a spinning force, I was sucked into another place."

Guardian of the Forest

"I stayed in that place for I don't know how long before I saw the light. Before me lay a vast, green meadow, and my life began anew. I was a calf, full of vitality. I followed my mother through various forests; she searched for tender grass, and I drank her milk. Among the trees, I could hear many sounds—the wind blowing through the leaves, the sound of raindrops. It seemed I didn't need to strain my ears; every sound entered my consciousness naturally.

As I grew older, I learned to understand some languages—the language of all things. All beings often conversed with one another. Sometimes they would inform each other where fresh food could be found, but there were also many animals searching for food in the cycle of the strong preying on the weak. I was clever from birth. Although I saw clearly that the world was governed by the law of the jungle, this meant danger to life, so if I could help animals escape, I would do my best to communicate and warn them of potential danger ahead.

I helped many animals and plants, and thus I formed many good karmic connections. One day, I heard the noisy voices of a group of people from afar. They were arguing and heading toward the forest. I had a bad premonition. As I strained my ears to listen, I heard the keyword 'hunting.' These hunters had been sent to slaughter animals in the forest in exchange for a reward. I was very nervous; I could smell their scent, and I knew they would show no mercy.

Although I was not yet very large and could not run fast enough, I used almost all my strength to run through the forest, telling everyone the news, urging them to hide and not come out easily. I even found a safe cave with my mother to hide in. Not long after, loud gunshots rang out. After the shooting stopped, the outside was filled with a deathly silence. After waiting for a long time and confirming that the hunters had left, my mother and I emerged from the cave. I could see the hunters leaving, disappointed and furious. For them, it was a failed hunt, but for us animals, it was a narrow escape. In the time that followed, I used my sensitivity to protect this forest. From a calf to a bull, I became the guardian spirit of this forest. I remained steadfast in this task until the end of my life."

Deliverance to the Western Pure Land

"I died naturally in that forest. At the very moment my life was ending, I felt many spirits surrounding me, blessing me. My soul smiled at them amidst nature. After closing my eyes, I arrived at the Hall of King Yama. The King showed me the appearance of my many lives in the cycle of rebirth. After seeing these scenes, I let go of my attachment to life. King Yama told me that there would be a task for me. No matter what the task was, I would accept it willingly and with gratitude. Thus, the King appointed me as a prison guard in the hells.

Watching the various scenes in the hellish execution grounds, my heart would often ache. I hoped to help these suffering spirits awaken. I prayed constantly in my heart, and finally, the scriptures and Dharma of Practitioner Su reached that hell. I felt very peaceful and was deeply grateful for Practitioner Su's compassion for all beings. I came to know the great Namo Amituofo, and I hoped even more that I, along with many hell-bound beings, could go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

After waiting for a long time, my wish was finally fulfilled today. I, along with immeasurable and boundless beings, are heading toward the gates of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful to the Buddha for selflessly opening His arms to accept us. I am grateful for everything, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo."