From the Butcher's Blade to the Western Pure Land

This interview was recorded on January 19, 2024, by Chief Writer Shi Fa-xin. The speaker, Guang An-san, was a former butcher who later served as a prison guard in the underworld. After enduring the consequences of his past karma, he sought deliverance through the teachings of Practitioner Su and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, having been guided there by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Guang An-san speaks:

"To me, every life I have lived feels like a passing cloud—entirely unreal. It was only until I saw the Buddha that I finally felt a sense of true stability; my spirit finally found a place to rest. With the single phrase of the Buddha-name, 'Namo Amituofo,' I arrived at the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Here, golden light is scattered everywhere; it is an incredibly beautiful realm. In this magnetic field, my spirit has no worries, and I have returned to my original nature."

"I am filled with endless gratitude for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and for the Causal Conditions that allowed Practitioner Su to lead me to the Western Pure Land. I speak today as a representative of sixty prison guards, to express our collective gratitude."

A Childhood of Hardship and Resolve

"I am Guang An-san. In my past life, my profession was that of a butcher. I chose this trade simply because it paid better, and I needed the money to support my family."

"I had elderly parents. When I was six years old, my father lost both his legs in a work accident. After he lost his ability to work, the entire burden of the household fell upon my mother. In the era I grew up in, the societal norm was for men to work outside and women to manage the home. Because of this, when my mother went out to work, she was often looked down upon. She took on physically demanding labour, such as helping sell vegetables at the market. Every day, she had to move heavy crates of produce. Even when the crates were far too heavy for her, she would use every ounce of her strength to lift them."

"I remember hiding in a corner of the market, secretly watching my mother work. Seeing her struggle, a wave of heartache would surge within me. I secretly vowed to myself that as soon as I was strong enough, I would find work to share the burden for her."

The Butcher's Apprentice

"When I turned thirteen, I decided I was old enough to work. I asked my mother to take me to the market to see who would be willing to hire me."

"Uncle Yong’s stall sold pork. He was very close with my mother and knew a little about our family’s situation. When he saw how thin and small I was, he wasn't entirely satisfied, but he was still willing to hire me. I was incredibly grateful to Uncle Yong."

"The very next morning, I arrived at the stall early. I followed him everywhere, learning where to place items and what tools needed to be prepared. When I saw Uncle Yong moving heavy things, even though I didn't have much strength, I would rush forward to help him."

The Compassion of Uncle Yong

"Once the pork stall was set up, I began to learn about the different cuts of meat. I had to know which part of the pig each piece belonged to; otherwise, when customers came, I wouldn't know anything, and I wouldn't be able to help. When the first customer of the market arrived, I asked enthusiastically, 'How can I help you?' The lady said, 'Five catties of pork.' As soon as she spoke, I watched Uncle Yong select the meat from the display. By pressing and touching it, he could tell exactly how firm the meat was."

"The next customer was Mother Cai. As soon as she reached the stall, she told Uncle Yong, 'Pick the best black pork for me; my daughter is coming home.' Uncle Yong replied loudly, 'You got it! The best black pork. And I’ll throw in a pig’s trotter as a gift for her.' Mother Cai was so happy; she took the pork and left with her hands full of other vegetables."

"Uncle Yong was a man of great mind-capacity. Every day, after the market closed, he would cook whatever pork remained unsold. The fragrance of the soy sauce during the cooking process was enough to make anyone hungry. After the pork was cooked, he would distribute it to poor families, especially to children whose families couldn't afford to eat meat. Seeing the joy on those children’s faces, Uncle Yong would smile with such satisfaction. Every time I witnessed this, it stirred my heart."

The Karmic Retribution of the Butcher

"Uncle Yong would always save a portion of the braised pork for me to take home. My whole family was deeply grateful to him. Uncle Yong never married; sometimes on holidays, he would go around trimming trees and maintaining the environment in various places. He taught me so much and took great care of me. He shared his knife skills and all the details of processing pork with me. Staying by his side, I learned a great deal and saw how kind he was to everyone. I continued working at Uncle Yong’s pork stall for twenty years. Eventually, his strength began to fail, and he decided to hand the stall over to me. The people in the market were long accustomed to seeing both of us there."

"After Uncle Yong retired, he had intended to go hiking with friends, but he discovered that his legs became severely swollen after he stopped working. Some people even joked that his legs were as swollen as pig’s trotters. Uncle Yong had hoped to enjoy a peaceful retirement, but his health began to decline rapidly. I would often visit him after closing the stall, and I noticed his eyes had become dull. I was shocked by the changes in his body. Several times, Uncle Yong fell from his chair because he claimed that many pigs were approaching him, crowding toward him. But because his legs were weak, he couldn't stand up, and in his panic, he would fall. One day, when I went to visit him, he was muttering to himself. I didn't disturb him; I just squatted in front of him to watch."

"Suddenly, he seemed to wake up. His eyes brightened, and he grabbed my hand, telling me, 'San, I have been sought out by so many pigs. Some are crying and begging me not to kill them; others are filled with deep resentment toward me. I didn't know any of this before. So, San, don't run the pork stall anymore. We were wrong to harm these pigs.' I was somewhat frightened by what Uncle Yong said, but I knew that what he was saying was true."

Repentance and Rebirth

"The next day, I went to the stall but did not open for business. Looking at the knives and tools, I recalled the cries of the pigs that Uncle Yong had described, and I felt how cruel I had been. I couldn't help but shed tears and repent to those pigs. After ending my work as a butcher, I devoted myself to community service for the elderly. Seeing one elderly person after another, in all their various states, I gained a profound realisation. While caring for them, I did my best to do things that would make them happy, so that they would have no regrets in their remaining years."

"Day by day, I too walked the path toward old age. I lived to be sixty-one. In my final years, my health was poor, and I frequently visited the hospital. In my heart, I prayed for my life to end quickly so I could escape such suffering. Then, one day at the age of sixty-one, I fell at home, hit the back of my head directly on the ground, and died from a brain haemorrhage."

"After death, I arrived in the underworld. As soon as I arrived, I saw many pig spirits waiting for me. I constantly apologised and repented to them, but many were unwilling to forgive me. Therefore, King Yama ordered me to undergo the punishments of hell—the suffering of being dismembered. After my karmic retribution was finished, I was reincarnated as a pig. Due to my karma, I lived five lifetimes as a pig. During the process of being slaughtered and dismembered, I felt no resentment, because my soul knew that this was what I had to repay. My soul never stopped repenting until I stood before King Yama in the underworld once again."

A Second Chance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

"Seeing the sincerity in my heart, King Yama decided to give me a chance and appointed me as a prison guard serving in the Ninth Hall. After seeing those livestock who were constantly reincarnated, I would speak to them, hoping they could awaken from their state. Some listened, and some did not."

"During my time on duty, I was fortunate enough to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. Every word of the scriptures entered my heart-fields, and I longed for an opportunity to be liberated. Finally, I was fortunate enough to wait for this day—the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su."

"Guang An-san, with palms pressed together."

※ Note: After receiving his karmic retribution, the spirit of Uncle Yong was unable to leave the space he was in. Today, Practitioner Su has guided him to the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo.