Chen Mingyu, a former servant who later served as a prison guard in the underworld, sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on November 6, 2019, and transcribed by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.
Chen Mingyu speaks:
". I am Chen Mingyu. Together with fifty-nine other prison guards, I prostrate three times to express our deepest gratitude to Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, and all the virtuous ones at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. As we speak, one can see the Buddha’s light shining upon us and within us, with a brilliant radiance emanating from behind our heads and throughout our bodies."
A Life of Service and Devotion
"I was sold as a long-term servant to a wealthy household when I was just a child. My master treated me with great kindness, watching me grow into a tall, upright man. When the family coachman fell ill, I was temporarily assigned to the task. Because I had spent so much time in the stables feeding the horses, I understood the temperament of every single animal. Driving the carriage felt natural to me, and the journey went perfectly. From that day on, I became my master’s personal coachman."
The Philosophy of Loyalty and Sincerity
"Time flew by. I was twelve when I started, and I remained by my master’s side for thirty years, until I was forty-two. I transitioned from a simple servant to a coachman, then to a steward managing the household, and finally to the head steward. I performed my duties with unwavering loyalty and treated everyone in the household with respect and courtesy. Whenever I encountered a maid or worker who was difficult to manage, I would keep them by my side, showing them my way of interacting with others and my attitude toward life. My master taught me two principles: loyalty and sincerity. Loyalty means remaining steadfast, never letting one's heart be swayed or one's resolve be altered. Sincerity means never deceiving, being genuinely kind without anger, and facing others with complete honesty. These two virtues became the portrait of my life."
Taming the Wild
"Because I lived by these principles, I could often transform those who were difficult to manage into obedient and cooperative individuals. It was just like how I cared for the horses in the stable. By treating them with patience and gentleness, even the most wild and powerful horses would become docile and obedient the moment they met me. I found that when you approach a living being with a sincere heart, the resistance they hold often melts away."
A Path Toward the
"I was not only loyal to my master and his wife, but I also frequently visited temples to listen to the teachings of the masters, gaining a basic understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. I once harboured a desire to become a monk, but my master persuaded me to stay, promising that I could decide my own future after he passed away. A few years later, after my master passed, I resolutely headed to a temple. Unexpectedly, I met an old master on the way who told me that my affinity for monastic life had not yet ripened and that I should travel and walk the path of a wandering practitioner. I traversed many great mountains and heard many teachings on Goodness, but I never focused on chanting the holy name of Namo Amituofo. Life is unpredictable; I fell ill and passed away in the mountains. It was cold, and that old master accompanied me through the final moments of my life. I was forty-eight years old."
The Sixth Hall and the Path to Deliverance
"After I passed away, I arrived before the King of the Sixth Hall of Yama. I did not suffer much interrogation in the first five halls. When the King of the Sixth Hall examined me, he asked if I would be willing to serve as a prison guard. Because my background was clean, I had been loyal and dutiful in my life, and I had the potential to be included in the group delivered to the West by Practitioner Su. I waited for five years, and finally, that day has arrived. I prostrate to express my gratitude for the Buddha’s grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Chen Mingyu and the sixty prison guards offer our deepest thanks. Namo Amituofo."
