From Village Head to Guardian of the Hells

The chief writer, Shi Fa, records this interview with Zhou Jinhuo, 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 service in the underworld. Recorded on March 10, 2024.

Zhou Jinhuo speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I never imagined that one day I would arrive in such a beautiful place as the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am filled with gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su for granting me, along with fifty-nine other prison guards, the precious opportunity to be reborn here. I am overwhelmed with thanks; there is no way to truly repay such kindness. Today, I wish to share my story as a humble expression of my gratitude.

A Simple Life in the Countryside

I was a simple country man. I never had much schooling—I barely knew how to read or write, having only finished primary school. From a young age, I knew I was not cut out for books, so I decided early on that I would follow my father and mother and learn to farm. My parents were honest, hardworking people. They lived their lives with their feet firmly on the ground, always kind to others. They preferred to suffer a loss themselves rather than create bad karmic affinities with anyone. They taught my siblings and me to live the same way, and because of this, the villagers loved to interact with our family.

Although my parents hoped I would study hard, earn a high degree, and find a good job in the big city—so I would not have to sell my labour for a meager living like they did—they were very understanding. When they realised I had no desire to pursue further education and wanted to inherit the family land to become a farmer, they accepted my decision with open hearts. They never scolded me; they only wished for me to grow up healthy and happy.

The Village Head Known as 'Ah Huo'

The villagers grew accustomed to calling me 'Ah Huo.' Since I was a child, I loved helping the village elders with their chores. Because of this, everyone got to know me very quickly. When we met on the road, we would greet each other warmly, just like members of one big family. Beyond that, I knew the situation of every elderly person in the village like the back of my hand. I would often visit them in my spare time to ensure they were safe and that no accidents had occurred. As a result, I was very well-liked in the village. Everyone praised my parents for raising such a good child and told their own children to learn from me.

By the time I reached the age of twenty-five, many people began introducing me to potential wives. They would say, 'The girl in the next village is beautiful and filial; she would make a wonderful wife,' or 'That girl over there may not be literate, but she is kind and strong—she could help with the farm work so you would not have to work so hard.' I would joke with them, saying, 'Those girls are the apples of their parents' eyes. They were not born to be beasts of burden for me! How could they possibly be interested in an unremarkable farmer like me, working in the mud every day?'

A Life Dedicated to Others

'Besides,' I would continue, 'every father hopes his daughter will marry a doctor or a high-ranking official, someone who can provide a secure home and a life free from want. How could they agree to let their precious daughter marry a rough man like me, to live a life of hardship where we depend entirely on the grace of the heavens? Furthermore, I have no intention of marrying or having children in this life. I only wish to stay by my elderly parents' side, living each day in peace and stability. I would rather spend my time helping others; that is a life that suits me better.' Although I said this, people continued to introduce their daughters to me for a while, but I politely declined each one, treating them as new friends rather than potential partners. As time passed, the elders realised I truly had no intention of marrying, and they eventually stopped bringing it up.

The Old Monk and the Prayer Beads

When I was forty-five, an old monk suddenly arrived in our village. Habitually, I hurried to the village entrance to greet him and see how I could assist. As the village head, I arranged for some food and a place for the monk, who had been travelling a long distance, to rest before continuing his journey. The old monk had a compassionate face. He held prayer beads in one hand and a staff in the other, wearing a simple kasaya with a small bundle on his shoulder. Though he looked a bit tired, his spirit was vibrant. I believed that after a short rest and a meal, he would quickly regain his vitality.

When the village children heard that a guest had arrived, they curiously gathered around the house. With wide, round eyes, they observed the monk's attire and examined the items he carried—things they had never seen before. They blinked incessantly, feeling so excited, as if they had discovered a great treasure. They could not bear to look away. Seeing the expressions on the children's faces, I could not help but look in the same direction. On the table, there was a string of prayer beads inside a half-open wooden box. Under the light, each bead shimmered with a crystalline lustre, and paired with the elegant, exquisite box, they looked truly priceless. It seemed the children had a good eye; those beads were a rare treasure. To see such a thing in our remote village was an eye-opener for us who had seen so little of the world.

The Power of Namo Amituofo

The old monk was not bothered by the children's curiosity. Instead, he patiently taught them to chant 'Namo Amituofo' while walking. He told them that this Buddha-name has inconceivable power and can help sentient beings with karmic affinity to transcend their space. He explained that this was a form of Generosity, one that could increase their compassion. Beyond chanting, the monk kindly told stories about the Buddha’s teachings to the children. They listened with rapt attention, eyes fixed on the monk's vivid expressions as he brought each character in his stories to life, making everyone burst into laughter.

Seeing this, I initially felt a bit embarrassed by the children's lack of decorum. But seeing how harmoniously the monk interacted with them—even holding a young child on his lap while telling a story—the scene was filled with such warmth, like a grandfather with his grandchildren. My worries gradually faded. A joyful time passed, and after we treated him with hospitality, the old monk happily bid farewell to the villagers and continued to the next village, hoping to let more people know about the Buddha’s teachings and their benefits.

A Decades-Long Wait

Unexpectedly, the old monk left the prayer beads in the wooden box behind in our village. I did not know when he would return, so from that day on, I kept the beads safe in the village head's office. Decades passed. I waited for the old monk's return, hoping that one day I could safely return the beads to their rightful owner. But during all that time, the old monk never appeared again. It was as if he had vanished from the world. Even until the very moment my life was about to end, I kept those prayer beads in my heart. I never expected that after leaving the human world, my spirit would enter the space within those very beads.

I slept in that space for I know not how many years. Then, one day, someone opened the exquisite wooden box in the office and took out the beads. Seeing the six characters 'Namo Amituofo' carved on the box, they chanted them aloud. The entire space suddenly vibrated, and I gradually awakened from my daze. Hearing those familiar six characters, I followed suit and chanted the Buddha-name. My spirit finally departed from the space within the prayer beads.

Retribution and the Path to Deliverance

A golden light appeared, and I saw the Impermanence Spirits standing before me. They smiled and said, 'Zhou Jinhuo, the King of Hell has sent us to collect you. Please come with us!' I was confused. 'The King of Hell has business with me? I lived an honest life, doing good deeds everywhere. Why would he want to see me?' Despite my questions, I followed them to the Palace of the King of Hell. There, the King told me that although I had lived a kind life, I had sprayed pesticides to ensure better harvests, harming countless insects and aquatic life, which polluted the water and affected the local ecosystem. However, because I was kind and honest and had helped many people, he decided to give me a chance to serve as a prison guard, to continue accumulating merit for sentient beings and to resolve conflicts with my karmic creditors. I gladly accepted this position to help the beings suffering in the hells.

One day, while on duty, I happened to hear Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk. Upon hearing the sutras she explained, my heart was filled with Dharma joy. I finally understood that the human body is filled with many spirits—karmic creditors from many lifetimes, all waiting for the right moment to seek revenge. As long as one's evil thoughts manifest, these karmic creditors can awaken, and the body begins to suffer from illness. Only by maintaining righteous thoughts and changing one's personality can one keep them in a state of slumber and resolve these karmic debts.

Now, I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su and Namo Amituofo for giving me the chance to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, to escape the suffering of the cycle of rebirth, and to no longer have to suffer retribution. I, Zhou Jinhuo, along with the other fifty-nine prison guards, bow once more to thank Practitioner Su and Namo Amituofo. We are grateful for the Buddha's compassion, which allowed us to escape the sea of suffering and reach this beautiful Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo."