The Compassion of Providing Coffins

On December 11, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Practitioner Su conducted an interview with Sun Shihao, a former prison guard from the hell realms. Sun Shihao, who sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su, now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Sun Shihao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Sun Shihao. Together with the sixty prison guards here, we perform three prostrations to everyone. We are deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, and all of you for the grace of delivering us to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

(Sun Shihao stands in the front, with the other prison guards behind him, and they perform three prostrations together.)

A Childhood Defined by Tragedy

"I am Sun Shihao. I was the youngest child in my family, with three older brothers and three older sisters. Because of this, I was often called the luckiest one in the house. Even if the sky were to fall, my parents and siblings would be there to hold it up. Combined with my naturally cheerful and optimistic personality, I truly did not know what it meant to be unhappy.

When I was six years old, a massive flood struck. The sudden surge of seawater was so overwhelming that more than half of the people in our village drowned because they could not escape in time. Only my mother and I survived, as she had taken me to town to visit my aunt and we had stayed the night there. That very night, the flood claimed the lives of seven members of my family, leaving only my mother and me to depend on each other. In a single night, we lost seven of our closest relatives. Fortunately, my aunt helped us manage the funeral arrangements. However, this event caused a drastic change in our lives. My mother supported us by working as a domestic helper, washing clothes and cooking for wealthy families. She kept me by her side because I was her only hope for continuing to live.

My mother told me that life is full of impermanence and that we must not be defeated. She taught me to live bravely, no matter how bitter things became, and to grit my teeth and endure. This upbringing fostered a personality that was hardworking and resilient, yet I never lost my innate cheerfulness; I often did what I could to make my mother smile."

The Virtues of Filial Piety and Charity

"My growth was bought with the price of my mother’s hard, physical labour. I was incredibly filial to her. Even at a young age, I learned how to cook. I would wake up earlier than my mother to prepare porridge and soup so that she would have a hot meal the moment she woke up. I took on all the heavy chores, such as chopping wood and carrying water. My greatest wish was to grow up quickly so I could earn money and provide a good life for my mother.

As expected, I grew up well; I was polite and refined. I also attended a private school to study. A wealthy man in the village took a liking to me and gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to me, which improved our family’s financial situation. Although my wife was initially a bit spoiled, under my mother’s guidance, she became gentle and kind. My wife and I did not have children, so the three of us lived in harmony. We often helped the poor, the destitute, and the elderly who had no one to care for them. We would give them our surplus rice and clothing, and we even provided coffins for the poor who could not afford them.

I first saw my mother pass away, and later my wife. Their deaths, combined with the experiences of my own life, gave me a profound understanding of the impermanence my mother had spoken of. Consequently, I sold everything in our home that could be sold, and I even donated our house to the local government to be used as a home for the elderly in the village."

From the Hells to the Western Pure Land

"I lived until I was fifty-six years old, passing away peacefully in the nursing home. However, just before I died, I choked on a sweet rice ball. I was mistakenly thought to have suffocated to death, but to everyone’s surprise, I woke up a quarter of an hour later. Yet, two days after that, I could not escape my fate. I was taken to the hells, where I was judged from the first court through to the tenth. Eventually, it was decided that I would serve as a prison guard in the fourth court.

The reason I did not die when I first choked was because, although it was my time to pass, my filial piety and the act of donating my house to provide relief for the elderly earned me an extension of two days of life. Because I provided coffins for others, ensuring the deceased had a place to rest, I was granted the opportunity to be sent by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. After waiting for three and a half years, my wish was finally fulfilled today. I am being led by Practitioner Su to the Western Land. It is such a wonderful place; I hope everyone can come here.

I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su and the virtuous ones at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

Sun Shihao and the sixty prison guards bow in gratitude for the Buddha’s grace.

Note: Practitioner Su, feeling compassion for the karmic suffering of the mother and wife of the prison guard Sun Shihao, has already guided the spirits of his mother, Sun-Lin Hao, and his wife, Sun-Chen Ai, from the third heaven and the ghost realm respectively to the Western Land of Dharma Nature to listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma.

Namo Amituofo.