The Compassionate Path of Liu Zhihong

This is a record of an interview with Liu Zhihong, who sought salvation at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent service in the afterlife. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa-Xi, on July 31, 2022.

Liu Zhihong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I was born into an ordinary family. My parents raised me well, instilling in me a sense of gratitude and a deep understanding of human nature and worldly affairs. Because of their guidance, I was able to endure fewer hardships as I grew up, and I learned the importance of helping sentient beings.

I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I thank Practitioner Su for his compassionate vow. On behalf of all the prison officials and the sentient beings connected by karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

The Joy of Service

Helping others is my passion; it is what I have wanted to do my entire life. I am overjoyed to have arrived here. The fact that I could attain liberation is a complete surprise to me—I never imagined it would be me. I am deeply thankful for the immense compassion of Practitioner Su. I have decided to engage in diligent practice and vow to help more sentient beings by joining the salvation team.

Our family motto was 'Helping others is the foundation of happiness.' From a young age, my parents taught me that if one has the ability, one must serve the public. They provided an excellent example; they taught me that one cannot be selfish and that life is meant for serving sentient beings, not just for oneself.

The Wisdom of Ancestors

For generations, my family were respected scholars. My grandfather was a remarkable man. He possessed great knowledge and could even foresee future events. As a child, I often saw many people visiting our home, seeking his help with their troubles. He would assist them, though there were many times he chose not to. He once told me, 'Zhihong, remember this: everything that happens has a cause. While we can help others, we must know what can be helped and what cannot, so that we do not violate the laws of karma and cause and effect.' At the time, I only half-understood his words, but I kept them firmly in my heart.

As I grew older, I became a scholar. Like my father and grandfather, I loved helping people. I taught the poor to read and write, and I instructed them in the principles of moral conduct. I spent much of my time sharing this knowledge, hoping to give others the chance to change their lives and live as they wished.

A Prophecy of Disaster

Over the years, I helped many children grow, achieve their potential, and find their life's purpose. This work brought me immense happiness. Beyond teaching, I also learned the art of divination from my grandfather. I did not use it often, but when I felt a strong intuition, I would cast the hexagrams and act according to what they revealed.

One afternoon, I noticed an anomaly in the heavens. I cast the hexagrams and discovered that a great disaster was coming—a massive flood that would claim countless lives. I was terrified when I saw this. I tried desperately to find a way to stop the disaster, as I could not bear the thought of so many people losing their homes and families. I searched through many scriptures, hoping to find the wisdom and guidance of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, but I could not find an answer. Perhaps, as my grandfather had said, this was simply the laws of karma and cause and effect.

Imprisonment and Loss

I did not want to give up hope. I spread the news everywhere, urging people to flee. But too few listened. Most treated me like a madman, refusing to believe me and even accusing me of spreading rumours. They called the local soldiers to arrest me. Because the local authorities were ignorant of the truth, they threw me into prison. While I was locked away, the flood actually occurred. I heard the sounds of people fleeing, their painful screams and sorrowful cries. Hearing those sounds, I was heartbroken, but I was powerless to change anything.

When I was finally released, the world outside was unrecognizable. The soldiers told me to leave quickly, as they themselves were fleeing. I travelled around to assess the situation and wanted to start helping. However, the destruction from the flood was so severe that recovery was not easy. I gathered my former students, hoping we could work together to improve the environment and help those suffering.

The Final Sacrifice

I invested all my savings into the relief efforts. Although my strength was limited, I did my best. I rebuilt the embankments, hoping to prevent another flood. Watching the environment slowly recover should have been a happy occasion, but I soon realised another disaster was imminent. I did not want to see everyone suffer again, so I calculated where the disaster might strike. I went to that location and waited. I waited for a long time, and when the disaster finally appeared, I used all my strength to block it. The disaster was mitigated, but I lost my life in the process.

I do not regret my decision. To have the strength to help sentient beings is something I consider a joy. After I died, I appeared before the King of Hell, who granted me a position as a civil official. I am grateful for his recognition, and I served diligently in that role. It was only recently, while in the underworld, that I heard Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk. Listening to the scriptures explained by Practitioner Su made me realise that this is the true Truth; everything I knew before was merely worldly knowledge. I am so happy to have heard these teachings, as they have helped me learn and grow significantly.

I finally understand what it means to attain liberation. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for giving us this opportunity. I will continue my diligent practice, hoping that one day I, too, can be like Practitioner Su and vow to save all sentient beings.

I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and for Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Liu Zhihong, with palms joined.