The Bamboo Spirit's Journey to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Zhu Cuilin, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now serves as a guard in the underworld and reflects upon his long journey from a bamboo spirit to a human, and finally to his current role. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on April 23, 2023.

Zhu Cuilin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhu Cuilin. I am filled with gratitude for the compassion of the Buddha and for Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the prison guards, I bow in deep thanks to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Words cannot express the depth of my gratitude! I will certainly engage in diligent practice, and I vow that in the future, I will save sentient beings to repay the Buddha's kindness.

I was once a stalk of bamboo, swaying in the quiet depths of a forest. I possessed a unique spiritual sensitivity, which allowed me to move freely through the grove, though the humans who passed by never truly noticed my presence. It was a simple, quiet existence, yet one filled with its own hidden life.

The Hidden Life of the Bamboo Forest

There were many fascinating occurrences within that bamboo forest. We were surrounded by a multitude of spirits, and because of this, those with a more sensitive nature would often remark that the forest felt particularly 'yin' or shadowy. Their intuition was correct. The forest was indeed a gathering place for countless spirits, and I was merely one among them.

Some might ask why a bamboo forest is so prone to gathering such energy. The answer lies in the nature of the bamboo itself; it possesses a cold, cooling quality, and the environment is often damp. This creates a space that is perfectly suited for spirits to congregate. We felt exceptionally comfortable and at ease dwelling there.

Usually, we would not interfere with the lives of humans. We would often watch them as they were travelling back and forth, and we could see right through their character. We knew what they had done, or what they were about to do. Sometimes, when we encountered someone who was on the verge of committing a wicked act, we would take it upon ourselves to intervene and block them. In truth, many of us were spirits with a kind heart, and we often felt compelled to stand up for justice when we saw something wrong.

A Compassionate Choice

I often watched a particular woman who frequented the forest. Her heart was incredibly kind, and I felt a profound karmic affinity with her, so I would frequently keep an eye on her movements. We could clearly perceive the inner thoughts of everyone who entered the grove. After many days of not seeing her, she finally returned, but I was shocked to find that she had aged significantly. Upon closer observation, I learned that her family had suffered a great tragedy, and her youngest daughter, who was the only one left by her side, had fallen into a long, incurable illness. The weight of this exhaustion had made the woman appear old and frail. We spirits in the forest felt a deep, aching sympathy for her plight, yet we were powerless to save her, for we understood that every human has their own destiny.

I continued to watch over her, and quite unexpectedly, I discovered signs of a new life beginning to grow within her. However, looking at her condition, it seemed she was not yet aware that she was pregnant. Fearing that she would overexert herself, I stayed close by her side, hoping to offer help at the right moment. But her pregnancy was unstable, and in my anxiety and concern, I acted impulsively and accidentally entered her womb. Later, I was born as her son, named Zhu Cuilin.

When I first entered her womb, I felt a sense of regret, for once I had entered, there was no turning back. I had to wait until the child was born, and through this physical body, I was reincarnated as a human.

The Lessons of a Human Life

Because of this unexpected turn of events, I transitioned from a spirit of the bamboo forest to the youngest son of this woman. Although I was not initially happy with this change, I was eventually moved by my mother's inherent goodness. I decided that I would live this life with sincerity and purpose.

From a young age, my mother raised me through immense hardship. Even though I had been reincarnated as her son, I never forgot my past memories. I would often return to the bamboo forest to be with the spirits I had once lived among, though I never let anyone know of my past to avoid unnecessary trouble.

My mother was truly a remarkable woman. Even though our lives were filled with poverty and we had to face countless trials and pressures, she always wore a smile. She taught all her children never to bow our heads to fate. She would often say, 'No matter how bitter life becomes, you must work harder and smile through every single day.' Her positive character successfully inspired every one of her children.

Under my mother's guidance, I grew up to be a good person. After I grew up and achieved a measure of success, I travelled everywhere to help those in need, spreading positive thoughts to every place I went.

Service in the Underworld

After my mother passed away, I did not bury her immediately. I brought her back to the bamboo forest, hoping that the spirits there could help her find a good destination. But despite trying many methods, we could not help her. We discovered that her spirit was no longer in her body; because of the hardships of her life and the entanglements of her karma, she was locked within her own space. We were unable to reach her. Although I felt a deep sense of regret, I respected the laws of karmic cause and effect.

After my mother left, I returned to live in the bamboo forest. I rarely appeared before the world, only occasionally revealing myself to help those in need. Because of this, there were rumours in the market about me; they said there was a deity in the bamboo forest who could help people. In truth, I did not deserve such praise. I was simply doing what I could, silently helping those who needed it.

Until the end of my human life, I never left the bamboo forest. Even after death, I intended to remain in that space, but I thought of my mother's passing and my own inability to save her. This drove me to seek the path to liberation. I decided to leave the forest and entered the underworld. I witnessed the many conditions of life and death there, and my heart was filled with complex emotions. I knew, however, that this is a process every life must face, known as reincarnation.

The Truth of Liberation

I am very grateful that after arriving in the underworld, I was recognised by King Yama, which allowed me to take on a position of service. In the blink of an eye, I have served in the underworld for several hundred years, learning much about the laws of karma. It was only in recent years that I finally heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the underworld. The principles Practitioner Su taught were exactly the Truth I had been searching for all these years—the path to liberation from life and death.

I am deeply grateful for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and for the Ultimate Vow and great power of Practitioner Su, which have allowed immeasurable and boundless beings to be saved and liberated from the cycle of birth and death. I will cherish this deeply, and I have begun to actively learn the Dharma and engage in diligent practice. I hope that one day, I too can be like Practitioner Su, helping all sentient beings.

On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's kindness and the kindness of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Zhu Cuilin, with palms joined."