From the Depths of Hell to the Light of Namo Amituofo

This interview was recorded on December 13, 2024, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The speaker is Tu Anran, a spirit who sought deliverance after enduring the suffering of the hells. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, having been saved by the compassion of Namo Amituofo.

Tu Anran speaks:

"I am deeply grateful to the Buddha for His compassion, which has allowed my spirit to undergo a complete and profound transformation today. This change has filled my spirit with energy, and I am now facing the boundless light of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I have waited for this light for such a long time. In the past, I was shrouded in the darkness of human nature, but now, finally, things are different. I have realised that I truly could find a way out. It is not just me; fifty-nine other prison guards and immeasurable and boundless spirits have also been purified through this extraordinary Causal Conditions. We are now enjoying the serenity of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the gratitude and emotion in my heart are truly beyond words."

A Life of Venom and Solitude

"I am Tu Anran. Before I attained a human body, I was a snake living on a vast grassland. I was accustomed to slithering through the grass. My prey consisted mostly of lizards and other reptiles. I would often fixate on my targets, staring at them with intense focus, training myself over and over to be precise. I preferred to hunt alone, because if I discovered something good, it would belong entirely to me; I did not have to share it with anyone.

Whatever I considered mine, I would grasp tightly and watch over with vigilance. If anyone tried to snatch it away, I would wait for the perfect moment, approach slowly, and strike when they were least prepared. My sharp fangs were filled with potent venom. Once the venom took effect, even the largest animals would inevitably collapse, unable to rise again. I was fearless, sparing no cost and showing no mercy. Consequently, the animals I targeted never met a good end."

The Cage and the Loss of Self

"When I challenged these animals, I often put myself in danger, yet I do not know where I found such audacity. I was never afraid; I always wanted to challenge, always wanted to pursue what I desired. I roamed the grassland, proud of the unique dark red lightning-patterned markings on my skin. I considered myself a truly remarkable creature of the plains.

One day, while I was moving through the grass, my head was suddenly clamped by something. No matter how I struggled or thrashed, I could not escape. I felt tense and uneasy, my eyes turning bloodshot, for this was the first time I had ever been treated this way. Before long, I was placed in an enclosure. I tried desperately to crawl back to the familiar grassland, but no matter how hard I tried, I always ended up in the same spot. It was then that I realised I had been imprisoned within a limited space. When I understood this, I became furious. I felt I did not deserve such treatment. Because I remained in a state of constant anger, my eyes turned from yellow to red and never changed back.

In this enclosure, I no longer had to hunt for food; it was provided for me. Although it was not always what I liked, I had no choice. I could see the coming of day and night. During the day, crowds of people would appear and stare at me. It was only when I heard a child speak that I understood where I was. The child said, 'Mommy, look! This zoo is so fun. Look at that snake, it is so thick, and the patterns are so special.' The mother replied, 'The sign here says this snake is venomous.' The child asked, 'If it bites someone, will they die?' The mother said, 'Yes, they probably would.' As their voices faded, I recalled my life on the grassland and compared it to my current plight. I longed to escape, but I could not. My heart was heavy, and because I had been fed for so long, I gradually lost the ability to hunt. I knew I was degenerating. I was stifled and angry until the very moment I died."

The Cycle of Suffering

"After my life ended, my spirit floated away, becoming a snake spirit. I did not know where to go. I was bullied by fierce spirits and trapped in a space from which I could barely escape. It was then that I realised my attitude could no longer be so rigid. I softened my heart, and as I did, I encountered fewer obstacles. I only hoped to find a place where I could rest. I walked and walked until I finally found it. I saw a red-brick building radiating a gentle magnetic field. I decided to approach it. To my surprise, as I drew near, I heard warm, melodic music. I followed along, humming a few notes, and my entire body was filled with immense energy. A light appeared and guided me. The light shone upon me, bringing peace to my heart. I moved into the light, and soon, those memories faded. I attained a human body and was born as a child named Tu Anran in South Africa. I was born with a distinct red lightning-shaped birthmark.

From childhood, my personality was extremely unruly. If things did not go my way, I would fly into a rage. I was the second child in the family, with an older brother. My father was a miner. We were not wealthy, but we were not lacking either. Being the youngest, I felt that my family should always yield to me and follow my wishes. I often clamoured for various things. I also loved to compare myself with others; if my brother had something, I had to have it, and if my classmates had something, I had to have it too. No one in the family knew how to handle me. Eventually, to keep me quiet, they simply gave in to my demands. When my family chose to yield, I felt that getting whatever I wanted was an easy matter. As I grew older and my family could no longer satisfy me, I resorted to stealing and robbing. At the time, I felt I was not wrong; I felt that I deserved these things. No one could correct me because I would not listen to anyone."

The Final Reckoning

"Ultimately, I committed a grave mistake. I stole a gun and hurt someone. At the moment I pulled the trigger, I felt no fear. Even when I was arrested by the police and thrown into prison, I refused to admit my fault. On the day I was sentenced to be executed by firing squad, I still held my head high, looking toward the sky, bidding farewell to my body. The moment the shots rang out, I lost my life. My spirit was pulled downward, into a place of deep darkness. I felt countless blades cutting into me. I was terrified, for every cut was agonisingly painful and deep. I wailed and cried, hoping someone could help me.

As I suffered through this retribution, one day I finally realised that no one could help me; only I could help myself. I began to calm down and reflect on my actions. When I was willing to do this, the frequency of the blades cutting me decreased. I began to repent for my past deeds. When I was willing to bow my head, I saw that the reason I had been so fearless throughout my life was the revenge of my karmic creditors. They had made me lose the ability to distinguish right from wrong, determined to see me destroyed. Indeed, as they wished, I suffered a humiliating and painful retribution.

Only now do I know that I had tortured my karmic creditors in the past, which is why they hated me so much. It was my personality—I never left any room for others, whether in words or actions; I always had to win. Anyone who became a thorn in my side, I would drag down. Such a heart caused me to be reborn as a snake to suffer retribution. Even as a snake, I did not know how to repent, and when I had the chance to be human, I still did not know I should change. This led to my current state, suffering the agony of a thousand cuts in hell. Seeing these past scenes, I completely collapsed in pain. It was the first time I had accepted such a true version of myself."

A Path to Deliverance

"When I did this, the King of Hell compassionately allowed me to come to his palace. I begged the King of Hell to let me see the scenes of my many past lives. After seeing so many, I knelt and wept bitterly. I knew it was my own personality that had killed me. I hoped for a chance to make amends to the beings I had harmed. My heart was truly sincere in this wish. Some of my karmic creditors, seeing my heart of repentance, chose to let go and be reborn. Others still could not forgive me. The King of Hell, seeing my desire to make amends, gave me a chance to become a prison guard. While performing my duties on the execution platform, I saw clearly all the laws of karma and cause and effect.

I am very grateful to the King of Hell, for this journey allowed me to see clearly that every hell-bound being who comes to suffer retribution looks as though they are in great pain, but the cause is always their own actions. I, too, was a person full of sins, but I have walked out of it. I hope to use my own experience to touch them, so that the beings in hell may know how to repent and find a way out. I have been working hard in this direction. Furthermore, during my duties, I was fortunate enough to hear Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, and I learned of Namo Amituofo and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It became the place I sought in my heart. After knowing the Buddha, I often recited the Buddha-name 'Namo Amituofo,' hoping that one day I could follow the Buddha.

Finally, today, I have waited for this day—the day to follow the Buddha and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. When I truly entered the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, my heart was filled with gratitude, and then more gratitude. The boundless light of the Buddha purified me, making my spirit clear and expansive. Thank you, Buddha. Thank you, Practitioner Su."

Tu Anran, with palms joined.