From the Sculptor's Chisel to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Guan Hanxian, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent spiritual journey. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on December 29, 2023.

Guan Hanxian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am filled with such immense joy to have arrived in this Buddha-land of golden light. My spirit feels truly at ease, liberated, and carefree. I am deeply grateful to the Buddha for granting me this precious opportunity. As for the many chaotic entanglements of the human world, I have long since let go of them, and because of this, my heart is now wide open and clear. I am profoundly thankful for the Causal Conditions that allowed me to become a Buddha, and I offer my deepest gratitude to Practitioner Su and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

A Childhood of Solitude and Nature

"I am Guan Hanxian, originally from Guangdong. My family operated an iron factory, and as the only son, I was given a great deal of freedom to do as I pleased. My parents were always busy with work and rarely had the time to discipline me, so from a very young age, I spent my time playing alone around the factory grounds. Without any playmates, I had to learn to entertain myself.

I would spend hours stacking stones—building them up, watching them fall, and stacking them again. I would dig deep into the earth, unearthing countless earthworms, gently handling them, and then carefully burying them in different sections of the soil. I would jump into the nearby lake to swim or catch small fish and shrimp. I found my own ways to interact with nature, and because of this, my natural disposition became quite wild and free-spirited; I simply did not like to be constrained by rules or expectations."

The Weight of Responsibility

"When I turned twelve, my parents began to insist that I learn the technical skills of the iron factory. I was naturally quick-witted, and I mastered their requirements with ease. Once I had completed my father's tasks, I would immediately slip away to play. There were several times when my father caught me red-handed on the street, and there was no way to escape. I would just grin at him foolishly. He would stare at me with wide, stern eyes, and I already knew exactly what he was thinking without him saying a word. I would quickly nod and say, 'I am going back now.'

When I returned to the factory, I would pretend to be working diligently. My father would walk over to inspect my work and test my knowledge, but fortunately, my sharp mind allowed me to answer his questions correctly every time.

My parents operated that factory for nearly fifty years. Then, one day, while working, my father suddenly dropped a heavy piece of iron. It hit the ground with a deafening crash, and everyone rushed over to see what had happened. To our shock, my father’s hands could no longer grip anything; they were shaking uncontrollably. We were all terrified by this sudden change.

My father had always been responsible for the most critical tasks in the factory, and before he could pass on his technical expertise to anyone else, his body had already begun to fail him. The factory suffered a devastating blow, and the business became nearly impossible to sustain. The long-time employees had no choice but to leave, their hearts filled with sorrow."

Turning Scrap into Sacred Art

"From that point on, my father’s condition deteriorated; his hands weakened, and eventually, his legs lost their strength as well. The iron raw materials in the factory began to rust, turning into piles of scrap metal. After my father fell ill, my mother had to care for him every single day, and within a few years, she looked incredibly haggard and worn out.

Once my father could no longer work, I went out to find employment, earning enough to support our family of three. My once wild and rebellious nature was gradually suppressed; as a son, I knew I had to shoulder the burden of our household. Remembering how much my father had sacrificed to give me a carefree life, I knew that caring for my parents was my duty.

Sometimes, my father would grow nostalgic for the factory he had built with his own hands. I would find time to push his wheelchair there so he could visit. Every time, his eyes would be filled with such desolation and sadness, especially when he looked at the rusted scrap metal; tears would inevitably well up in his eyes.

After several visits, I had a sudden flash of inspiration. I wanted to do something with that scrap metal, to turn it into something useful. I searched everywhere until I finally found the right materials to fuse with the rusted iron. I mixed the scrap with these new materials and invited master sculptors who specialized in crafting deity statues to help me. We sculpted the metal into statues of the Jade Emperor, Wenchang Dijun, Guan Sheng Dijun, Mazu, Jiutian Xuannü, the Eight Immortals, and the Tiger Deity. One by one, these statues were crafted until they looked vivid and truly sacred.

When the work was nearly finished, I pushed my father to the factory once more and whispered, 'Father, I have turned that scrap metal into these respected statues so that they can form karmic connections with people.' My father looked at each statue, and he could not hold back his tears. He never imagined that such waste could have such a future. He gripped my hand tightly, expressing his gratitude, and I patted his hand, smiling with joy."

The Path of the Sculptor

"From that day on, I began to learn the art of sculpting from the masters. During the learning process, I felt no pressure or distracting thoughts; I was simply immersed in the craft. I began to feel that my life had changed, and I gradually wanted to shift my entire focus to sculpting Buddha statues, though my daily life did not yet allow for it. It was only after my parents passed away, one after the other, that I was left alone with no economic pressure or burdens. I lived simply, eating only what I needed, and I decided to give up my job to dedicate myself entirely to sculpting. Each statue I carved helped me rediscover the person I was meant to be, and I returned to my carefree, authentic self.

At forty-seven, I had little money and looked somewhat dishevelled. On my way home one night, I suffered a heart attack and died suddenly on the side of the road. In the midst of my painful struggle, I saw colourful clouds in the sky, and the Eight Immortals appeared before me, playing music. I joyfully rushed toward them. At that very moment, I entered into the Eight Immortals statue I had sculpted, becoming one of them.

Many people had wanted to buy that specific set of statues, but I had been reluctant to part with them because their expressions reflected the very things I longed for in my own heart. I never expected that after death, I would actually enter into the statue."

Service in the Hells

"After I died, the statues I had sculpted were one by one taken home by people with karmic affinities. The person who took the Eight Immortals home was a middle-aged man with a temperament very similar to mine. He worshipped the statues with great sincerity, and because he could sense my spirit within them, he knew that this statue belonged in a more suitable place. After searching for a long time, he found a temple dedicated to the Eight Immortals and donated the statue there. Thus, my spirit entered the temple along with the statue.

Within those statues, each immortal figure housed a different spirit, each representing the personality of that figure. In the temple, we served those who came to worship. I used my sincere heart to help people feel a sense of relief when they looked at the statues, hoping they would no longer feel so stifled or repressed.

I brought a sense of ease and a lighthearted perspective to the people, and as their hearts opened, I felt more at peace. I knew this was the natural reward for helping others.

I remained within that statue for thirty years. Many of the other spirits in the statues eventually left due to their own karmic conditions, and finally, it was my turn. After leaving the statue, I reported to King Yama. At first, he was expressionless, which made me quite nervous. Fortunately, King Yama eventually spoke: 'You performed good deeds and held a good heart while in the world. Now that your karmic conditions in the human world have ended, since you have such a heart, you shall serve as a prison guard in the hells to assist sentient beings.' I was surprised, but I immediately thanked King Yama for his compassion.

While serving at the execution platforms in the hells, I felt deeply saddened to see the various ways beings suffered for their retribution. I also witnessed the stubbornness of these beings—even in the volcanic hells where flames scorched their entire bodies, or the mountain of knives where blades pierced them through, the constant agony could not wake up those with such strong, unyielding personalities. It is clear that one’s own stubbornness can truly be one’s downfall."

Deliverance to the Western Pure Land

"It was while I was having these realizations that I was fortunate enough to hear the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su. The content of the teachings revealed various ways to adjust one’s personality and the urgent need to seek liberation. The teachings were so direct and straightforward that they left me feeling completely shaken to my core.

Listening to these teachings over and over again, I gained deep insights, which filled my heart with immense gratitude. I prayed that with the Buddha’s blessings, I might have the chance to be liberated. I never expected that the Buddha would truly hear my prayer. I was placed in the ranks of those to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude. Today, while chanting Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su reached out and guided me to the Western Pure Land. I have finally experienced the beauty and ultimate joy of the West. This Western realm allows us to escape the cycle of samsara forever. I thank the Buddha, I thank Practitioner Su, and I thank all the Causal Conditions that brought me here."

"Namo Amituofo."

Guan Hanxian