The Architect's Final Blueprint: From Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Guang Jianxing, 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 architect and his subsequent journey through the hells. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on July 14, 2023.

Guang Jianxing speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. I, Guang Jianxing, have finally arrived at the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The moment I arrived, I was absolutely stunned by the magnificent scenery. The golden ground, the exquisite pavilions and towers, the jewelled trees—everything was so breathtaking. The very space of the Western Pure Land is so soft and gentle, and the celestial music calmed my heart instantly, bringing a profound peace that I had never experienced before. There were no turbulent thoughts, just a serene stillness.

The Architecture of Ultimate Bliss

In my previous life, I was an architect. Seeing the architecture here in the Western Pure Land, I am truly humbled. The intricate details, the way every decorative element is seamlessly integrated into the structure—it is all so majestic and grand. These are the kinds of buildings I spent my entire life dreaming of creating, yet I could never quite achieve such perfection. To see them here, in reality, was a complete shock to my system.

I could not help but observe every single detail of these structures. The craftsmanship is far beyond anything human technology could ever hope to achieve. While I was still marvelling at the buildings, I saw the Buddha—a magnificent, towering figure—teaching the Dharma. I was still so caught up in the beauty of my new home that I had not yet settled down, but I know that once I give myself a little more time to adjust, I will sit properly before the Buddha to listen to the teachings and hear the Dharma."

A Life Built on Precision and Ambition

"I was an architect in a second-tier city in China. Before I even entered the industry, I travelled to many countries to study various styles of architecture. Whether it was traditional Chinese design or Western structures, if I looked at a building closely just once, every detail would be etched into my mind. This became my greatest advantage when I started designing for others.

I was incredibly diligent in my work. When I first joined an architectural firm, I worked overtime constantly. I had to collect the most complete information possible before I would even begin to push a project forward. Because of this dedication, my designs—down to the finest details—always satisfied both my supervisors and my clients. I never felt proud or arrogant about it; I simply did what I loved. When I first entered the field, I did not take a single day off. I was always striving, always pushing. That feeling of constant effort made me feel grounded and secure.

I started in a small firm, but after a few years, I was recognised and moved to a large architectural firm. I became even busier, taking charge of massive, high-stakes projects. Bit by bit, I accumulated experience, and architectural design became my true profession. After completing several famous works, my design fees grew higher and higher."

The Turning Point: A Return to Roots

"After years of hard work, I had earned both fame and a significant amount of money. Every year, I would arrange to travel abroad to study different architectural styles—some modern, some ancient. Each trip was a harvest of knowledge, and I would synthesise these features to create my own unique designs.

However, when I reached my thirtieth year of work, a sudden sense of weariness washed over me. That exhaustion completely extinguished the joy I once felt for architecture. I decided to take a month-long leave of absence. On the first day of my break, I did not know what to do with myself. I did not know what to do at home, and I did not know where to go if I stepped outside. Eventually, I decided to return to the countryside to visit my parents. I had barely been home since I left for my studies and started working; I had not even called them. Thinking back, I was a rather failed son. I decided to use this opportunity to return home and fulfil my filial duties, so I packed my bags and headed to the countryside.

When my parents saw me walk through the door, they thought they were seeing things. They knew I had always been working hard. Although I had not returned home, I had been sending money back—more and more as time went on—so they knew I was becoming successful. They told me they were very happy for me, which is why they had always let me focus on my work without bothering me. When I returned this time, they asked with great concern, 'Has something happened?' To keep them from worrying, I told them the company had given me a long leave to rest. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief."

Building a Legacy of Compassion

"In truth, the high-pressure work environment had taken a toll on my health. The doctor told me that due to long-term sleep deprivation, my liver function had declined, and if I did not rest properly, my condition would deteriorate rapidly. Hearing this, my heart sank, but I could not show it in front of my parents. During that rare time, I accompanied the two elders to buy groceries and chatted with them. I could see that they were happy from the bottom of their hearts.

One day, I accompanied my parents to visit an old neighbour. Because this neighbour had no children and had not earned much in his youth, his living conditions in retirement were poor. I heard he was renting a room and often could not pay the rent, frequently facing eviction. My heart ached for him. Looking around at this old community, I saw many elderly people in similar situations. A thought began to grow in my mind, waiting for the right time to be realised.

After resting for half a year, I returned to work, but I adjusted my pace to balance my body, mind, and spirit. I began to gather resources and used my years of connections to plan the construction of a 'Love Community.' I used high-quality, simple, and honest materials, hoping this community would help the vulnerable in society. I collaborated with government officials to set up criteria, allowing them to pay rent at a reasonable price that the vulnerable could afford, or even receive full government subsidies. Once we raised the funds and finished building the Love Community, we handed it over to the government to manage.

Not long after the Love Community was completed, it was full of residents. I mobilised all my human resources and built five phases of these communities, housing five hundred households. We included a comprehensive medical team that would assist the elderly every week, and even a team to help handle funeral arrangements. Because the community was mostly elderly, we had to consider these aspects thoroughly so that they could truly live in peace."

The Final Project and the Transition

"After each phase of the Love Community was completed, I let the donors stand on stage to receive recognition from the government and society, while I retreated behind the scenes. I thought to myself, 'I am just the one who does the work. As long as people have a place to live in peace, that is enough.' My life had a guiding principle: 'Use every brick and tile to build the home of everyone's dreams.' Therefore, I always demanded the highest quality in my architecture.

When I finished the fifth phase, I received a major project: to design a unique building. The top of the structure featured a dragon's head, symbolising that the Chinese people are descendants of the dragon. While constructing this building, my health went into a rapid decline. But no matter what, I wanted to finish it, so I pushed my body to the limit. On the day of the ribbon-cutting, even though I had no strength left in my body, my heart was incredibly happy. A week later, because my liver enzymes were too high, I was admitted to the hospital and never came out.

In my final moments of consciousness, I looked at the building I had completed, and my heart was filled with joy. It was the pride of my life. Just as I breathed my last, I entered the dragon's head of that building. For decades, I watched the changes in the world, but I could not help with anything. Through these bits and pieces of realisation, I decided to let go of my attachments and wanted to try to help people once more."

From the Dragon's Head to the Hells

"With that thought, I left the space of the dragon's head and arrived in the hells. After being judged by King Yama, because I had a kind heart and good intentions, I was granted the position of a prison guard. During my time on duty, I heard the wailing of so many beings in hell every day. The sound of their suffering was incredibly intense. I knew this was the fruit of the causes they had created themselves, so I would look for opportunities to counsel them, hoping that after they finished their retribution, they would wake up.

In the hells, I also had the good fortune to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. I learned about ultimate liberation and the importance of chanting the Buddha's name to escape samsara. So, I began to chant Namo Amituofo diligently every day. Today, I finally received the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is filled with gratitude. I am grateful to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su for their compassion toward me and the other fifty-nine prison guards, allowing us all to be reborn in the Western Pure Land today. I kneel and offer my thanks to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Guang Jianxing, with palms joined."

Namo Amituofo.