The Awakening of a Prison Guard

This is a record of an interview with Liu Anna, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her journey through multiple lifetimes, including her time as a prison guard in the spirit realms and her eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on July 6, 2025.

Liu Anna speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I know that I must change, and I am deeply grateful for every opportunity I have been given to learn and grow. I cherish these moments dearly and am actively moving forward on this path.

I am filled with gratitude that today I can finally achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so thankful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the prison guards in the spirit realms, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha’s grace and the kindness of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

The Burden of Unyielding Pride

"In a past life, I was known as Li Dachun. From a very young age, I harboured an inexplicable attachment to being the best; I was never willing to lose, nor was I willing to suffer even the slightest loss. On the surface, I appeared to have good relationships with others. I would often call people 'brother' and engage in small acts of kindness, even donating money during festivals. But deep down, I was calculating everything with cold precision. If someone else gained an advantage while I suffered a loss, I would hold onto that resentment for a long time.

My greatest flaw was my inability to admit defeat. Whenever someone criticised or questioned me, I felt compelled to prove them wrong at any cost. Over time, this personality trait made me increasingly paranoid and competitive. In my work, I simply could not tolerate anyone surpassing me.

As I grew older, my body began to fail. I suffered from chest tightness, intense anger, stomach pain, insomnia, and a volatile temper. I would fly into a rage over the smallest inconveniences. I did not take these signs seriously until one day, during a work-related outburst, I berated a partner I had worked with for years. The sheer intensity of my anger caused me to suffer a stroke on the spot, and I collapsed.

I died in a state of deep resentment and unwillingness to let go. In my final moments, my mind was still calculating: 'Who harmed me? Where did I go wrong?'"

The Weight of the Beast

"When I awoke, I discovered that I had been reborn as a cow. I was forced to toil in the fields, whipped under the scorching sun, my body feeling as heavy as a mountain. I could see humans, but I could not speak; I could only grit my teeth and endure. My temper became even worse. Whenever someone forced me or struck me, I would charge at them, butt them with my horns, or even try to bite. People called me an untamable beast, and eventually, they sold me to the slaughterhouse.

On the night before I was to be slaughtered, I was tied under an old tree. From the distance, the sound of an old monk reciting the Sutras drifted toward me. That sound was like a sliver of light piercing through the thick fog of my resentment.

The repeated chanting of 'Namo Amituofo' suddenly made me quiet. Why was there no anger in that sound? Why was there no desire to compete? In that moment, for the first time, I thought: 'I was the one who was wrong.' When this single thought arose, it was as if my entire being as a cow had been transformed. The next day, before I could be slaughtered, I simply collapsed and breathed my last, finally leaving the realm of animals."

A Life of Charity and Exile

"When I was reborn again, I became the only daughter of the Liu family. It was a nouveau riche household, possessing vast wealth and spending money like water. From childhood, I lacked nothing, yet I felt a strange, profound emptiness in that life. My family loved to drink, gamble, and squander money, while I would always hide in the study, reading the Sutras and practising calligraphy. I did not know why, but whenever I saw others wasting food or bullying the servants, my heart would ache.

I wanted to do good deeds, but my family would scold me, calling me foolish and weak. They would say, 'We did not earn this money for you to give away to charity!' Still, I persisted. I began to secretly use my own pocket money to help the poor and build bridges and roads. Later, when they discovered what I was doing, they were furious. They not only froze my assets but eventually cast me out of the family home. I moved into a dilapidated house in the suburbs and made a living by writing. Though I lived in poverty, I never regretted my choice.

Years later, the family business collapsed. Some of my relatives were imprisoned for corruption, while others died on the streets. Only I lived in peace, and the local people came to call me a 'kind person.' I helped the poor and the sick and cared for the elderly until I grew old. On the night of my passing, I lay quietly, gazing at the moonlight, and whispered, 'Namo Amituofo...' I knew that my life had not been in vain."

The Duty of a Spiritual Guide

"After that life ended, I arrived at the Hall of King Yama. The King looked at me and said with profound meaning, 'Liu Anna, after many lifetimes, you have finally awakened from that fire of attachment. You were willing to suffer, willing to change, and willing to do your best in the human world. This is true merit.' He paused and continued, 'Your vow has been planted. Now, I will give you an opportunity to serve as a messenger, to act as a guide between the human world and the underworld, leading those souls who are lost in desire and resentment. You do not need to force their salvation, but you must light a lamp to show them the way, so that they may realise for themselves that it is time to turn back.'

I accepted the order and began to travel between the human and spirit realms. Some souls were trapped forever in the illusory world of their mobile phones; others were caught in a cycle of hatred, resentment, and repression. They could not see me, but I could clearly see the fog in their eyes. I discovered that although this work was meant to be a form of guidance, almost no one was willing to turn back. People are so addicted to pleasure and attachment that their souls have wandered deep into the mist of desire, to the point where they have even forgotten their own names. Most people have long since lost the memory of how to return home.

I did not hold any resentment; I simply lit the lamps in silence. Then, one day, I heard a familiar sound—it was the voice of Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk. 'The reason people sink into suffering is not because of their sins, but because they do not believe in the possibility of purity.' This insight allowed me to truly understand the truth. The voice of Practitioner Su was as clear as water. In an instant, the darkness within my heart dissipated, and I suddenly remembered that night as a cow, and that brief moment of hearing the Buddha-name.

I knelt down and wept bitterly. I began to follow the practice, reciting the Buddha-name, listening to the Dharma, and fulfilling my vows. I am so grateful that today I can achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha’s grace and the kindness of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Liu Anna, with palms joined."