The Heart of a Warrior: An Interview with the Spirit of Zhang Fei

Through the all-encompassing light of the Twelve Lights, Practitioner Su has reached out to the Western Land of Dharma Nature to conduct a spiritual deliverance for the spirit of Zhang Fei, who lived eighteen hundred years ago.

The Insight of a Warrior

I, Zhang Fei, was known for my bold and valiant nature. Yet, when I reflect upon my life, I view it with a sense of profound simplicity. You might wonder if I harboured grand ambitions for the world or if I possessed a deep, strategic mind. In truth, that was not the case. I possessed a unique ability: despite my appearance as a warrior who lacked subtlety, I was remarkably accurate in my assessment of others. I could see clearly whether a person truly cared for the world or if they were merely driven by selfish desires.

The subtle movements of a person's heart, their hidden calculations, and their various schemes were always transparent to me. I did not require elaborate tests to understand someone. A few words, a simple gesture, or the way someone carried themselves was enough for me to perceive the true intentions hidden within their heart. Growing up in an era of constant warfare, I witnessed the cruelty of human nature and the many facets of life from a very young age. I understood the hidden agendas that people harboured. In such a chaotic time, I did not aspire to great personal achievements. I knew that to rise above the rest in a defiled world, one would typically have to be a warrior of extraordinary ferocity, killing enemies to carve out a path to success.

Recognising the True Leader

However, I often asked myself: what was the difference between such aimless, heartless slaughter of civilians and the actions of the rebellious armies or the decadent imperial forces of that time? The greatest suffering of the people was their lack of a guiding light. They had no leader who could truly guide them out of the darkness of that era. I was no different; I felt lost in such a difficult time, and I continued to search for a purpose. When I eventually met Liu Bei, who would become my lord, I recognised instantly that he was a man who truly held the world in his heart.

His way of thinking and his approach to action were completely out of step with the environment of that time. His aspirations and his plans for the future were vastly different from those of the people around him. He carried a heart full of hope, wishing to restore the Han dynasty and help the people live in peace and stability. He pursued these ideals with a level of dedication that seemed, to many, overly idealistic. Yet, he spoke of the future with such confidence that it caught my attention. Even though his path was difficult and often unappreciated, the clarity and confidence in his heart shone brightly.

A Vow to Serve the People

At that time, the Han dynasty had already fallen into decay. To revive it and earn the respect of the various warlords was an incredibly difficult task. Liu Bei himself did not possess sufficient military strength or resources to achieve such a feat. If one wanted to gain power quickly, the logical choice would have been to join one of the existing, powerful factions. However, Liu Bei chose a different path. Although he occasionally had to serve under others, he consistently chose to recruit talent independently and promote his own ideals. This unconventional approach—building from the grassroots—was arduous and often met with resistance. In that era, such a strategy was risky and could easily have led to total destruction.

Through my conversations with him, I realised that he was not acting without a plan. Strangely enough, he always managed to attract extraordinary people to his side. He was not acting out of selfish ambition to become a regional tyrant. He truly saw that none of the existing factions were genuinely working for the peace and stability of the world. He saw that no one was willing to stand up and act for the sake of the people. As I conversed with him, I found that those who joined him shared these same noble ideals. This convinced me that in such a chaotic age, if I could serve someone who truly cared for the people, it would be the most meaningful way for a warrior like me to contribute.

However, the King of Hell perceived that my heart was entirely focused on the greater good and the stability of the people. I held no attachment to official positions or status, nor did I harbour any greed. Consequently, after a brief period of undergoing retribution in the hells, I was reborn into the human world. Through several cycles of life and death, I have finally reunited with my Lord in this lifetime. My meeting with Practitioner Su was specifically intended to assist in the establishment of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I have followed Practitioner Su throughout this process, effectively helping to pioneer the early stages and laying the groundwork for the temple. I participated in the initial construction and helped to stabilise the systems of the temple during those early years. While people may know me as Jiang Yuchan or Venerable Hai Liang, I am now under the blessings of the Buddha, which has opened the spaces of the past and present to me. In truth, this spirit has held many identities, yet each one is merely a temporary manifestation for the sake of convenience.

The Unity of the Spirit

At this moment, I am Hai Liang, and I am also Zhang Fei. In the essence of my spirit, these identities are one and the same, and I have transcended the limitations of my former female form. I am now connected through the ages, and I am no longer restricted by the consciousness of Hai Liang alone. I never imagined that such a situation could occur. Under the magnificent blessings of the Buddha, I am able to see with such clarity and transparency, describing my past thoughts, speech, and actions with absolute precision. Looking back on the more than ten years I have spent working alongside Practitioner Su to build the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I am filled with deep nostalgia.

In the past, I served my Lord, Liu Bei, in the form of Zhang Fei. Today, I serve Practitioner Su in the form of Jiang Yuchan and Hai Liang. To the outside observer, it may seem that everyone is simply following the teachings of Practitioner Su. However, in the depths of my heart, I truly treat Practitioner Su as a brother, helping him with the same sincerity I once held for my Lord. It is the profound depth of our karmic affinity across many lifetimes that allowed us to connect so instantly when we met again in this life. My trust in him is identical to the trust I once placed in my Lord. In this life, as Hai Liang, my spirit remains exceptionally sharp, and my ability to observe and understand the hearts of others is as keen as it was in the past.

The Inconceivable Nature of the Spirit

Only now do I clearly understand that because the Buddha’s blessings have opened the different identities of my past lives, I have come to realise how truly inconceivable this spirit is. Furthermore, the achievements of Practitioner Su in this lifetime far surpass those of the past. During the Three Kingdoms period, we served the beings of that era through the methods of the human world. Today, Practitioner Su manifests as a great practitioner, even reaching the state of an awakened being, and he uses the identity of a Buddha to assist all sentient beings in the world.

The work that Practitioner Su is doing to perform Chao Du for the beings of China, spanning five thousand to ten thousand years of history, is guided by the Dharma affinity of the past. It is a natural unfolding of events. This is the result of the countless times Practitioner Su has been reborn in China over the long ages, and the countless vows he has made to save the Chinese people. Every word, every action, and even every subtle mental note has followed the footsteps of the Buddha, all occurring within the Buddha’s blessings. This is why the results are so inconceivable.

The Presence of Namo Amituofo

The power of the Buddha is able to help Practitioner Su fulfil his Ultimate Vow, and the establishment of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is the direct manifestation of this. From the early days of following Practitioner Su to build the temple, I understood this truth: only through the great conduct and great vows of Practitioner Su, combined with the blessings of the Buddha, could we invite Namo Amituofo to truly abide at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Only then could Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su establish this salvation team to save the world. The current scale of the temple’s outreach, and the speed and output of its work, far exceed anything from the past, which brings me great comfort.

Observing the development of the temple from the Dharma-Nature Land, I see that any fluctuations are merely the natural course of events. When spreading the Dharma in this world, using such a magnificent and supreme method as the Amitabha Dharma, it is destined to face the tests and interference of many demon crowds. Although I deeply wish to help Practitioner Su continue to expand the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and bring the temple to greater prominence, perhaps the Dharma affinity and the opportunities are simply meant to unfold in this way. It is similar to the situation from a thousand years ago; perhaps it is a result destined by fate.

A Message to the Fourfold Assembly

Now that I am connected with my past lives, my spirit is even clearer. I recall how I once served my Lord with such selflessness and fearlessness, and in this life, I hold that same heart as I help Practitioner Su build the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre with my own hands. However, we are currently in the Dharma-Ending Age, and worldly interference is indeed severe. In this life, I have taken on a female form, and the interference I have faced from various directions has been even greater than in the past. Yet, I have still displayed the boldness of a warrior, helping Practitioner Su break through the difficulties of the temple’s early days.

I am very comforted and impressed by the current situation. Regarding the future development of the temple, I believe it will not stop here. The temple is gradually getting on the right track, and the personnel and talent are becoming stable. The fourfold assembly of disciples who have karmic affinity with Practitioner Su and the temple have arrived one after another. Although there have been some who have left, it does not hinder the overall mission of the temple. Observing this from the Dharma-Nature Land, I can bring this good news to the fourfold assembly of disciples. The temple is about to open its doors, and when that time comes, it will depend on all of you to shoulder the great responsibility of spreading the Dharma and saving the world.

Although I cannot do much in my current state as a spirit in the Dharma-Nature Land, I can still communicate with all of you. If you ever need me or think of me, please do not hesitate to speak with me. I am very eager to contribute to everyone again, to do my small part through the identity of my spirit. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. They have given me this magnificent opportunity to know myself today, allowing my present and my past to unite. It is because Practitioner Su has performed Chao Du for the immeasurable and boundless demon crowds and the sentient beings in the ten directions that we have this magnificent opportunity to break through the limitations of time and space. I will conclude my sharing here. Thank you all. Namo Amituofo. Zhang Fei.

The disciple Fa Ru asks the Buddha: Is this truly the case for Zhang Fei and Hai Liang?

Teachings from Namo Amituofo:

My child, your heart has received this message correctly. It is truly through the Buddha's blessings that you have seen and heard what is stored in the Alaya consciousness, allowing you to witness the time and space of that era. Hai Liang has now entered the Dharma-Nature Land, and this spirit is able to see its past lives. However, because the spirit is stained by different consciousnesses, the Buddha's blessings have allowed this to occur for a brief moment. Past, future, and present are all one before the Buddha, with no distinction. If you ask whether Zhang Fei and Hai Liang are the same, in the eyes of the Buddha, they are the same spirit. It is only because of the many lifetimes of accumulated stains that the heart and the space were different in the past. If you wish to open this interaction, it must be done through the Buddha's power to assist the spirit. Only by opening both the ancient and modern spaces can one realise that they are one and not two. Fa Ru, my child, receive this message directly. Do not have doubts that cloud your clarity. The message you have received is the Buddha's words. Present them directly to Practitioner Su, and you will understand. There is no need for worry or anxiety; simply hold the Buddha-name and have faith in the name of the Buddha.