From the Hells to the Western Pure Land: The Testimony of Guang Zhengxiang

This is a record of an interview with Guang Zhengxiang, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and her time serving as a jailer in the hells. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 15, 2023.

Guang Zhengxiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. When I was led by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the beauty before my eyes filled me with such immense joy and Dharma-bliss. I was so happy that I could not stop smiling; at times, I even laughed out loud. I felt incredibly fortunate to be among the fifty-nine other jailers who were all reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss on this very day.

The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a place of profound purification. Upon arriving here, one's spirit becomes remarkably clear and bright. I can now see the various scenes of my past and the laws of karma and cause and effect that governed them.

A Clear Vision of Cause and Effect

I saw that the reason I was blessed with a pleasant appearance and good relationships in my human life was due to the simple, unintentional merit I accumulated by daily tidying the offerings of flowers and fruits. The entire space of cause and effect is like a great rotating wheel, and now, from the perspective of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I can see it all with absolute clarity.

I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am grateful to the Buddha, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su.

I am Guang Zhengxiang. I lived in a small village where my family produced sesame products. From the time I was a young girl, the scent of roasting sesame seeds was the smell of my life. My mother would use a massive pot, stirring the seeds incessantly—first the black sesame, then the white. I would dance around her, helping her pack the finished product into paper bags. I was her little helper, and my presence brought her enough joy to help her forget the exhaustion and hardship of our daily life.

The Life of a Village Girl

I was the only child in our family. My mother gave birth to me when she was eighteen, and she never conceived again. The pressure to have more children was immense, but in the end, we had no choice but to accept our reality. I grew up as an optimistic, cheerful, and well-liked child. Because I was considered quite beautiful, I was popular with everyone in the village—adults and children alike.

There were even young boys who would tell their mothers they wanted to marry me. Our neighbours would often joke that I was the most sought-after bride in the village. Despite this, I knew in my heart that as the only child, my parents' hopes for the future rested entirely on me. Even at a young age, I decided that whoever I married would have to live with us and help me care for my parents. When I told my mother this, she would exclaim, 'Oh my! That would be a matrilocal marriage! Who would be willing to marry into our family like that?' I didn't truly understand what she meant by 'matrilocal marriage' at the time; I simply held onto the desire to stay by my parents' side.

Marriage and the Weight of Betrayal

I finished primary school and then stayed home to help with the sesame business, waiting for the wholesaler, Uncle A-Huo, to come and collect our goods. The men in the village loved to talk to me. I didn't have to say much, yet they would laugh heartily and constantly offer to introduce their sons to me. Whenever they did, I would tell them my condition for marriage, and one by one, they would retreat. In their traditional view, such an arrangement was like 'selling' their son, and in an era where men were valued above women, it was seen as a loss of face for their families.

Days turned into years. When I was twenty-one, Uncle Huang from the neighbouring village heard of my reputation and my wish. He had eight sons and had always longed for a daughter but never had one. He was willing to let his third son marry into the Guang family to carry on our name and care for my parents. He introduced me to his third son, Wang Youliang, who was a very honest and kind man. We liked each other immediately. At twenty-one, I was ready to settle down, and after meeting three times, we decided to marry.

My husband, Youliang, was a truly good person. After we married, we worked in the shop, hoping to ease the burden on my parents so they could retire early. A few years later, we took over the business and had three children. I thought our family was complete, but Youliang began working away from home to earn more money. He would be gone for months at a time, and our time together dwindled. I didn't think much of it, focusing only on the reality of our survival.

Then, the whispers began. People said Youliang had taken a mistress in the city. At first, I didn't believe it; he was so honest and simple, I couldn't imagine him betraying me. But six months passed, and the rumours grew—they said his mistress was pregnant. When Youliang finally returned, I observed his every move and felt that his heart was no longer in our home. I finally decided to ask him. That night, I said, 'People tell me you have a mistress away from home, and that she is pregnant. Is it true?' Youliang froze, silent for a long time, before nodding slightly. It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me. I was shattered, not knowing what to do or how to decide my future.

Choosing Strength in the Face of Heartbreak

I asked him, 'So, you intend to abandon this family?' Youliang was torn and couldn't answer. I watched him break down in tears. It was the first major trauma of my life, a pain so deep it felt as if my existence had been torn apart. After that night, we slept in separate rooms. I needed to be calm and think clearly about how to proceed. I was miserable, and even the food I ate tasted bitter. But my clear, calm consciousness told me: 'Let him go.'

My parents were furious when they found out, but the damage was done. I let Youliang take his earnings and leave, and I took over the sesame shop myself. When he left, our children were still in primary school. It was difficult to explain why their father was gone, but I decided to teach them to face life head-on. I told them their father had a new family, but I urged them not to blame him. I explained that in life, one must inevitably encounter the 'white-haired person sending off the black-haired person' or other forms of separation and death. When these moments come, even if it hurts, one must choose to be strong, to continue living, and to grow into a stronger person. I told my children that life is not always perfect, but one's mindset can always be sound.

When I spoke these truths to my children, my own heart opened up, and I felt younger than I had in years. Some middle-aged men pursued me, but I had seen through the nature of marriage and emotion. I decided to raise my children independently. I stayed by my parents' side until they passed away, and once my children were grown, I handed the family business to them. They expanded the shop into three locations and created many new products like sesame candy and sesame cakes. I felt my life had no regrets; I was ready to let go of everything at any moment.

The Journey Through the Hells

When I was sixty-one, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart while lying in bed. From that day on, the pain became frequent. I refused to see a doctor, feeling that this was simply a part of life's journey. This went on for three years until one night, the pain was so intense that I curled into a ball and stopped breathing. Before I passed, I saw myself walking into the sesame shop—the place where I had grown up. Unexpectedly, I turned into a single sesame seed, spinning endlessly in a void. I don't know how long I spun in that chaotic state, but when the causal conditions of being that sesame seed ended, I was led into the underworld.

I waited in line for judgment. During the interrogation, King Yama told me that both my marriage and my heart pain were the result of my karmic creditors lining up to seek retribution. Because I had not complained while I was in a human body, my karmic creditors were able to calm their anger. I listened intently and accepted everything. Seeing my good attitude, King Yama appointed me as a jailer to serve other beings. I was sent to the Iron Bed Hell, where I saw suffering spirits still clinging to emotional attachments. I felt it was a pity for them, but they were not awakened by their suffering. This pained me deeply; I knew it was their karma, and I longed to help them.

During my time on duty, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. I found them incredibly beneficial and tried my best to share them with the suffering beings in the Iron Bed Hell. Although I tried hard, few truly listened. After hearing the Dharma, I understood that leaving suffering and gaining happiness is the ultimate goal of the spirit, and I prayed that the Buddha would one day lead me to the Western Pure Land.

Finally, today, I waited for it—I waited for the deliverance of Practitioner Su, and I have entered the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is filled with gratitude. I am grateful for these causal conditions, grateful to the Buddha and Practitioner Su, and grateful to the fifty-nine jailers who accompanied me, along with the infinite number of beings. The causal conditions of the Buddha-land are truly magnificent. I hope that many more beings can be saved. Namo Amituofo. Guang Zhengxiang bows in gratitude."