Life as a Performance: From the Stage to the Underworld

This is a record of an interview with Lian Zhongzhan, 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 as an opera performer and his subsequent service as a prison guard in the underworld. Recorded by Venerable Haize on January 1, 2020.

Lian Zhongzhan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Lian Zhongzhan, and on behalf of all sixty of us prison guards, I wish to express our most sincere and profound gratitude!" (Lian Zhongzhan stands at the front, and together with the others, he bows three times in deep reverence.)

A Life Upon the Stage

"I am Lian Zhongzhan. For most of my life, I was a performer in an opera troupe. From the time I was a small child, I followed my parents as we were travelling from place to place, performing wherever we were called. I learned to play various instruments from the uncles and aunts in the troupe—the wind instruments, the percussion—and I mastered many different singing styles. I grew up on that stage, transitioning from a child actor to a young man, and eventually taking on the heavy responsibilities of the lead role. Sometimes, I would even play female roles, which required me to train my voice to reach those high, delicate registers. It required constant care and discipline to maintain my voice.

"The audiences in the towns we visited often had their favourite plays and characters. When they requested more, we would add extra performances without ever charging them a penny more. We were truly welcomed wherever we went, and our presence was indispensable at temple fairs, especially during the celebrations of deities' birthdays. I also spent many hours with the puppeteers we often encountered, picking up puppets to perform duets with them. Those days on the stage occupied the vast majority of my life, and they were filled with a unique kind of vibrancy and connection to the people."

Life as a Play, and a Play as Life

"In those roles, I tasted the sweetness, the bitterness, the joy, and the sorrow of countless different lives. Truly, life is like a play, and a play is like life. In my own existence, I did not just experience one life; through my acting, I tasted them all. I learned not to be overly attached to any single identity, because in the very next moment, I might have to transform completely. I would change from a man to a woman, from an old grandfather to an old grandmother, from a hero with a white-painted face to a villain with a black-painted face. One moment I was a celestial being from the heavens, and the next, I was a criminal in the underworld, dragging heavy chains while my hands and feet were shackled. I went from being a vibrant youth to a frail, sickly elder.

"Although I was not a man of great formal education—I only knew a few characters—the opera troupe taught me the profound truth of impermanence. I learned that what one must grasp is the present moment. I learned not to complain, but simply to perform my role to the best of my ability. To be convincing in whatever role I was cast—that was my duty, my calling, and my life. It was the essence of my work, and it became the essence of my being."

The Fairness of the Heavens

"I have always believed that the heavens are fair. Whether one's life is good or bad is not determined by external circumstances, but by the state of one's own heart. Even though the life of an opera performer was exhausting, and everyone in our troupe carried their own stories of hardship and sorrow, I never let those difficulties shake my conviction. I strove to be a good person, to do good work, and to remain free from greed and complaint. I followed in my parents' footsteps, and I married a female lead from our troupe. We were not blessed with children, but perhaps that was the heavens guiding us toward a different path.

"Slowly, we began to wind down the troupe. A few of us settled in a quiet place and used the remainder of our lives to form a storytelling group. We combined simple performances with storytelling to share folk tales about loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness. We wanted people to understand that good deeds bring good rewards—if the reward has not yet arrived, it is simply because the time is not yet ripe. We were especially keen to teach children about the laws of karma and cause and effect, so they would understand that doing evil leads to retribution. We also emphasised filial piety toward parents and elders, as it is the very root and foundation of Chinese culture. Our days became busy and fulfilling, and we were welcomed by people of all ages."

A New Role in the Underworld

"When I was fifty-nine years old, my health was still quite good. I had no major illnesses, but one night, I was taken by two officials before the King of the Fifth Hall of Hell. The King carefully reviewed my life. He noted that I had performed many good deeds, but he also pointed out that I had inevitably harboured some evil thoughts. If those thoughts had been acted upon, my karma would have been even heavier. On balance, I still had some remaining merit, but my destiny for that lifetime was to serve in the underworld. The King asked if I was willing to take on the role of a prison guard. He told me it would be hard work, but it was a stable position with a salary. I accepted without hesitation; I had never been afraid of hard work.

"During my time as a prison guard, I witnessed the full spectrum of punishments and the suffering of those who were incarcerated. I truly felt the weight of the truth: one should never commit acts that lead to underworld retribution for the sake of momentary satisfaction, pleasure, or curiosity. The suffering there is intense and agonizing. I saw that those from wealthy families, those who enjoyed great blessings, and even highly educated intellectuals—those who knew better but chose to do wrong anyway—suffered even heavier consequences. You must be very careful!"

Deliverance to the Western Pure Land

"In my duties, I was diligent and never complained. I would often volunteer to work overtime to assist the other guards, and my efforts were recognised by everyone. When I received word that I was on the list of prison guards to be delivered to the Western Pure Land by Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I was overjoyed! I could finally escape the cycle of rebirth and no longer have to endure the bitter and sweet struggles of the six realms of existence. I waited for four and a half years, and today, that wait finally came to an end. My wish has been fulfilled; I have reached the Western Pure Land.

"To be able to enter this land of golden light, filled with such profound peace and harmony, is deeply moving. I am filled with gratitude. I thank Namo Amituofo, I thank Practitioner Su, and I thank the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and all of you!"

"Lian Zhongzhan and the sixty prison guards bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace! Namo Amituofo."