The Bird-Lover's Journey: From Earthly Attachment to Liberation

This interview was recorded on April 29, 2023, by the chief writer, Shi Fajing. Pan Jinhua, a man who once lived a life defined by an intense, singular affinity for birds, shares his extraordinary journey through the cycle of rebirth. After his life as a human, he spent decades as a spirit within the avian realm before serving as a prison guard in the hells. Ultimately, he sought deliverance through the guidance of Practitioner Su and now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Pan Jinhua speaks:

"Today, the cycle of rebirth has finally come to an end. It is truly over. All sixty of us prison guards attained ultimate liberation on the same day, guided by Practitioner Su back to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Many memories of the past have faded into history. Looking back now, it feels as though it happened an eternity ago, yet simultaneously like it occurred only a moment ago. The feeling is quite hazy, but what I am certain of is that we have all returned to our true home in the Western Land."

A Handsome Face and a Singular Passion

"I am Pan Jinhua. Everyone used to call me 'Pan An-jin' because I was remarkably handsome, just like the legendary beauty Pan An. However, my good looks did not last long; by the time I reached thirty-five, they had vanished.

Thirty-five is not old, but my appearance had changed so drastically that it was as if I had acquired a completely different face. My family and friends did not think much of the change, assuming it was merely 'natural aging.' Yet, many lamented that it was a pity I had lost my youthful charm before even taking a wife. My neighbour, an elderly man, once told me, 'Young man, it is such a shame. If I had your looks back in my day, I would have certainly married several beautiful women by now.' I just smiled and replied, 'I have never had any interest in women; my heart belongs entirely to birds.'

It is true—I have loved birds since I was a child. I remember when I was three years old, I had just learned to speak. A bird flew into our house from outside; it was terrified, flying frantically and crashing into things until it finally fell right in front of me. I hurried over and picked it up. It was not large—just a small sparrow that had only recently learned to fly. It lay there in my palm, breathing, and it felt as if I were breathing along with it, my heart thumping in rhythm with its own. That was the first time I had ever touched a bird, the first time I had looked at one so closely. A joy, inexplicable and profound, filled my heart. From that moment on, my fascination with birds began."

The Artist of the Avian World

"My passion for birds grew year by year. By the time I was old enough to go out on my own, I could spend entire days in the forest just watching them. Whenever I spotted a species I had never seen before, I would be overjoyed for the rest of the day, constantly replaying the image of the bird in my mind and sketching it in my sketchbook.

I filled many sketchbooks with drawings of every bird I had ever encountered. To ensure that I could understand my own drawings when I looked back at them, I constantly worked to improve my artistic skills, striving to make every image look as lifelike as possible. I eventually succeeded. It was a powerful vow; when you have such a strong intention in your heart, you will exhaust every method to achieve it, and in the end, I truly did. If you were to compare my early works with my later ones, the difference is night and day. One could clearly see my technique advancing by leaps and bounds, all for the sake of preserving the birds I loved so dearly.

Beyond my love for birds, I also loved to sing, and I would often sing to them. What was truly remarkable was that whenever I sang, the birds would respond, and some would even sing along with me. When I told my family, they did not believe me, so I performed for them. I stood in front of the birds and began to sing, and they started chirping along in harmony. My family was stunned; they found it inconceivable. My brother, thinking it was amusing, tried to hum a tune, but the moment he started, the birds flew away. This showed that there was a unique rapport between the birds and me—a connection that not just anyone could easily replicate."

The Joy-Bringer and the Transformation

"In addition to my love for birds and singing, I had another trait: I loved to bring joy to others. Whether at home or throughout the village, I was the 'happy pill' for everyone. I always brought laughter wherever I went. I did this by singing, telling jokes, or performing funny movements. My body felt incredibly agile; I could mimic any animal or the voices of other people. I had a repertoire of tricks that would leave everyone roaring with laughter. Combined with my handsome face, which people naturally found pleasing, I was welcomed everywhere I went.

As I mentioned, at thirty-five, I changed. I lost my youthful looks, and it was truly a profound shift. Looking back now, I can see that my body was filled with bird spirits, and my own spirit had already entered the space of the birds.

My appearance began to change. Many friends who had not seen me for a while thought I looked strange, though they could not quite put their finger on why. Some said I had aged faster than anyone else. Once, an eight or nine-year-old child walking on the street saw me and said to his mother, 'That man looks just like the bird in his hand.' I immediately looked at my beloved pet canary—the one I took everywhere, the one I spoke to and sang to every day. It seemed as if it could understand every word I said.

Before I even reached thirty-five, my body had lost its former agility. I could feel it clearly, especially when I tried to make people laugh; the movements I once performed with ease were now impossible, and my reactions had become sluggish. While not entirely slow, the decline compared to my former self was stark."

A Tragic End and a New Beginning

"My life was not long. At thirty-nine, in an attempt to save a bird that was about to be crushed by a car, I ran into the middle of the road. I was struck by a speeding vehicle and died instantly.

As my consciousness faded, the first image that flashed before me was a bird. I never expected that I would end up becoming one. For decades that followed, I never left the space of the birds.

Because I loved to sing and perform, I became a parrot. I was a wild parrot, vibrant and colourful, far more beautiful than the average bird.

I retained the same character I had in life—I loved to bring joy and laughter to others. I flew everywhere, singing for people and mimicking human speech to say kind words. Whenever I saw humans, I would immediately speak words of encouragement to them.

Little did I know that in the process of speaking kind words and bringing joy to others, I was silently accumulating merit, which helped me escape that space. One day, perhaps because my merit was sufficient, I was able to leave the avian realm and was assigned to serve as a prison guard in the hells.

In the hells, I saw so many suffering spirits. I desperately wanted to help them, but I lacked the necessary power. When I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, my heart was filled with Dharma joy. I eagerly shared these teachings with the prisoners, hoping to help them attain liberation and a fresh start as soon as possible.

One day, I was told that I had been placed on the list to be guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land. My heart was filled with such joy; I could not stop thanking the Buddha. Now, I have arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude.

I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha.

I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Pan Jinhua"