The Coffin Maker's Lesson on Life and Death

This is a record of an interview with Tseng Yung-cheng, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent service in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 4, 2022.

Tseng Yung-cheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am eternally grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, and I offer my deepest thanks to Practitioner Su. I am profoundly moved to have this rare opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I cherish this blessing immensely, and it is my sincere hope that I may one day be able to assist other sentient beings in their own liberation. On behalf of all the prison guards of the underworld and all sentient beings with whom I share a karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

The Inevitability of the Final Journey

Every person’s life and death are governed by fate. In many ways, the moment we are born, the timing of our eventual departure is already set. Even though many people shy away from discussing death, it remains a reality that everyone must face. It is an absolute certainty; every single one of us will die. The only variable is the timing—the time of our final breath.

In my life, I was a man who sold houses. But the houses I sold were only for the dead, for I was a coffin maker. From the time I was a small child, I watched my grandfather craft these wooden vessels. I would sit by his side, listening to his stories of the past. Every day, I would see the people who came to order a coffin. Seeing them, I knew immediately that another soul had departed this world and required a final home. Some people call these coffins the great mansions of the deceased.

A Life Measured in Wood and Sorrow

My life was quite ordinary. As a boy, I watched my grandfather make and sell coffins, observing the grief of those who came to purchase them. As I grew older, I took over the trade. I made them, I sold them, and I watched the cycle repeat. While these might seem like mundane business transactions, each one held a story. I heard countless tales of life, and these experiences taught me the profound truth of impermanence. I realise that the world is unpredictable; the only thing that truly matters is to cherish the present moment, to hold tight to what you have, and to prepare yourself for that final, inevitable hour.

No one knows when their time will come. Whether you are young or old, life can end in an instant. The question is: are you prepared to face that moment? Or will you be filled with fear, tension, regret, and sorrow? I witnessed so many people facing this transition, and it was truly heartbreaking. In the end, no one can help you; when it comes to life and death, you must face it entirely alone. While I crafted those coffins, I was also contemplating the nature of existence. I was learning how to face the final moment of life by observing the life experiences of everyone who passed through my shop.

The Wealth of Contentment

Once, someone asked me why I did not charge more for my coffins, suggesting that I could live a much more comfortable life if I were less generous. I thanked them for their advice, but I could not bring myself to do it. I had no desire to profit from the grief of others. In truth, I felt incredibly wealthy. The lessons I learned from each person were far more precious than any amount of money. I was already deeply content and grateful.

For those who were too poor to afford a proper burial, I would take the initiative to craft a simple, affordable coffin, often charging them nothing at all. I knew that this was the final stage of their human journey, and if I could help them complete that last leg with dignity, I would do everything in my power to ensure it.

The Trap of Greed and the Law of Karma

Life is ultimately an illusion; no matter how much money you accumulate, you cannot take a single cent with you. Even if one lives in poverty, if they can find the value of their life and contribute to the world, then that life is worth living. I have always firmly believed in the laws of karma and cause and effect: good deeds bring good results, and evil deeds bring evil consequences. Therefore, one must live with integrity and never engage in causing trouble for others. More importantly, if you have the ability, you should help others rather than being selfish and living only for yourself.

One must remain clear-headed and avoid greed. Those who are consumed by greed will inevitably become ghosts. As long as the habit of greed persists, one will suffer, because the things you crave are not always within your reach. Constantly chasing after desires without a way out is a source of immense pain. While I was making coffins, I encountered many spirits. Some were still deeply attached to greed even after death, and because they did not understand the meaning of contentment, they could never find happiness. Within my limited capacity, I tried to help these spirits, but there were things beyond my power. If I had tried to satisfy their endless, insatiable demands, it would not have been a good thing for anyone.

The Priority of Character Education

I observed so many people—both the living and the dead—and I came to a deep understanding that one must be honest and sincere. Above all, your thoughts must be pure and upright. You must be honest, content, and grateful. Do not chase after things that are beyond your reach or indulge in greed, for that will only lead to evil consequences and leave you with nothing but regret. I did not make much money from my trade, but I learned so many profound truths. Eventually, I decided to invest all my life savings into the education of children. I hoped that every child could learn these life lessons and cultivate a righteous heart so that when they grew up, they would not lose their way or suffer from the agony of unquenchable desires. This was the most important and meaningful work I could do, and I persisted in it until the very end of my life.

It brought me great joy to help these children learn and to witness their growth. I believe that focusing on a child's character education is more important than anything else. When a child’s character is well-nurtured, they can face any test or setback in life with a positive mindset and continue to grow. No one can accompany their children forever. If a child lacks the ability and the moral character to navigate the world, and their life ends in failure, what is left? If they cannot even afford a coffin, what will they do? Who will help them then?

A Call to Awaken

Therefore, children must learn to be grateful, to cherish their blessings, and to cultivate merit. It is not enough to only want to get; in this world, it is impossible to always receive without ever losing. If you do not cherish what you have, one day you will lose everything. I have seen this happen too many times, and I do not wish for future generations to suffer the same fate. I did what I could to help, hoping that everyone might have a brighter future.

In that lifetime, I knew clearly that I could not yet achieve liberation, because before I met Practitioner Su, I did not know the method. I only understood the sadness and suffering inherent in the cycle of life and death. I wanted desperately to find the Truth, to help myself achieve liberation, and to help the sentient beings with whom I shared a karmic affinity to do the same.

From the Underworld to the Western Pure Land

After I died, I arrived in the underworld, where King Yama assigned me a position responsible for escorting sentient beings to the execution grounds. There, I saw the suffering of beings with my own eyes. The pain within the cycle of rebirth is truly beyond words. I hope that all beings will wake up and seize the opportunity to escape this cycle.

It was only in these past few years, after hearing Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, that I finally learned the true method to escape the cycle of rebirth. I was overjoyed and deeply moved; I realised that this is the Truth! I am so grateful that I have been able to achieve liberation today and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I cherish this so much! I am thankful to Practitioner Su for helping us escape the cycle of rebirth. I hope to share these wonderful teachings with all sentient beings who have the karmic affinity to hear them. I hope everyone will seize this opportunity to achieve liberation and be reborn in the Western Pure Land.

On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with whom I share a karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Tseng Yung-cheng, with palms joined.