The King of the Fourth Hall: A Life of Generosity

This is a record of an interview with Bian Guiming, who served as the King of the Fourth Hall of Hell, known as the Five Senses King. He recounts his life in Beijing and his transition to the underworld. Recorded by Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia on July 21, 2015.

Practitioner Su: "I respectfully invite the King of the Fourth Hall, the Five Senses King. Namo Amituofo. Wow! The Five Senses King is quite handsome. He looks very different from the King of the Third Hall; he carries such a dignified presence! Five Senses King, where in mainland China are you from?"

Five Senses King: "Beijing."

A Life of Prosperity in Beijing

Practitioner Su: "A Beijinger. May I ask what business you were in while living in Beijing?"

Five Senses King: "My business... well, I came from a wealthy family. I operated a restaurant."

Practitioner Su: "Oh! Did your restaurant have hostesses or entertainment?"

Five Senses King: "It was a teahouse. It would be more accurate to call it a teahouse."

Practitioner Su: "So it was purely for dining and tea? We have many such teahouses in Hong Kong."

Five Senses King: "Purely for dining, yes! That is a fair way to put it. Both the ground floor and the upper levels had counters—what we called the 'manager's counter'—where people would come to ask about the tea and the menu."

Practitioner Su: "It sounds like a grand establishment. You must have been very successful; you clearly had great blessings!"

The Quiet Scholar

Five Senses King: "Indeed! I would often visit the teahouse to check on the staff, and at other times, I would return home to study the ancient classics."

Practitioner Su: "Did you have faith in the Buddha?"

Five Senses King: "It is not that I lacked faith, but I simply had a much deeper interest in the ancient classics."

Practitioner Su: "Which famous works did you prefer?"

Five Senses King: "I was particularly fond of the Four Books and Five Classics."

Practitioner Su: "You are a man of learning! And how many children did you have?"

Five Senses King: "I had three sons and one daughter."

Practitioner Su: "Such wealth and status must have been the result of cultivation in your previous lives."

Five Senses King: "I would not dare to claim I was a cultivator, but I suppose my heart was relatively kind."

Acts of Compassion

Practitioner Su: "You were so wealthy and ran a successful teahouse in Beijing. Did you practise Generosity and accumulate merit? Your position today as the King of the Fourth Hall is certainly the result of accumulated virtue from your past lives."

Five Senses King: "In truth, most of the people who came to my teahouse were looking for a place to rest, chat, and drink tea with friends. They were mostly middle-class or lower-middle-class; it was rare to see the truly destitute. However, there was one father and daughter who were quite special. They would come to perform—the father would play the huqin, and the daughter would sing for the guests."

Practitioner Su: "Yes, I have seen that before. People would drink tea while they sang for them. It was a way of making a living through performance."

Five Senses King: "Exactly. I told them at the counter: 'You do not need to pay me any commission.' If the guests gave them money, they kept it all for themselves. They didn't need to report anything to the counter. Whatever they earned, they kept."

Practitioner Su: "You were very compassionate to understand their struggle to survive."

Five Senses King: "I suppose I had a little bit of heart-capacity, and that is simply how I acted. Furthermore, my wife did a great deal of good in our neighbourhood. She was always reminding me to be generous and to help those who were poorer than us. Since we were a wealthy family, we lacked nothing in terms of food or clothing. We had plenty to spare, and our home was large enough to accommodate those in need. About four times a year, I would hold a distribution at our front gate for the poor."

Giving Back to the Community

Practitioner Su: "Did you give them rice by the ladle?"

Five Senses King: "Yes, four times a year. We didn't cook it; we gave them raw white rice. We used those large gourd-shaped ladles. My steward and the farmhands would help distribute it. We did this consistently, four times a year."

Practitioner Su: "So you were essentially giving back to society with the wealth you earned."

Five Senses King: "That is right! And my family lived very happily because of it."

Practitioner Su: "Please write down your original name from when you ran the teahouse in Beijing."

Five Senses King: "(Writes down: Bian Guiming)"

Practitioner Su: "'Guiming'—a name signifying wealth and nobility. It is a wonderful name! How did you come to be the King of the Fourth Hall?"

Five Senses King: "In the human world, my heart was always... well, I often looked for the good in others, and I harboured no malice. Influenced by my wife, I understood the importance of Generosity, and I gave freely. I found joy in giving; it was never a burden. When a poor person received a ladle of rice and smiled, my heart felt happy too. I lived a very good life. When I reached the age of sixty..."

Practitioner Su: "When you were about to celebrate your sixtieth birthday?"

Five Senses King: "I departed at sixty."

Practitioner Su: "Did you have any dreams before you passed away?"

Five Senses King: "I did not suffer from any illness at all."

Practitioner Su: "So you simply fell asleep at sixty and passed away without any sickness?"

Five Senses King: "That is correct. I just felt a bit of tension, a tightness throughout my body. It wasn't bad, and I could still speak, but I felt that tension. Then, I simply relaxed, and that was it. I do not know why, but someone came to lead me away."

The Mysterious Sedan Chair

Practitioner Su: "Someone came to lead you? Did they bring a sedan chair to your door?"

Five Senses King: "Yes! They led me to the door and told me to get into the sedan chair. There were two men, one in front and one behind. I got in, and after that..."

Practitioner Su: "And then you arrived at the Fourth Hall of Hell? Did you not ask them why you were getting into the chair?"

Five Senses King: "I was not clear on what was happening. I felt as if I were asleep; I had difficulty breathing and couldn't speak. I only knew that I needed to relax. When I relaxed (he exhales gently), I saw this person who led me to the door. At the time, I was speechless. I had no words at all."

Practitioner Su: "Who was this person?"

Five Senses King: "There were no words exchanged, but I felt very familiar with him. It was a sense of familiarity."

Practitioner Su: "Familiar?"

Five Senses King: "Yes, very familiar."

Practitioner Su: "You felt very familiar with this person, is that right?"

Five Senses King: "Yes. I felt he was not evil, not a bad person. I just felt very familiar with him. So, I got into the sedan chair, and in an instant, I arrived at this place—the Fourth Hall that you mentioned, Practitioner Su. I woke up and wondered what was going on. I didn't even know I had died. I only knew that I had been struggling to breathe and needed to relax. Once I arrived, before entering, I asked the sedan bearers: 'Why have you brought me here? What is the purpose of this?' The bearers were very respectful to me and said: 'We dare not tell you anything. You will know once you go inside.' That is all they said. After I woke up, I realized where I was, and I went inside. Once inside, a jailer approached me and said, 'Follow me!' with a rather stern expression. So, I followed him."

The Appointment of a King

"Inside, I met someone who looked like an official. He was very respectful to me. I thought it was just a matter of etiquette, so I was respectful in return. When he saw my respect, he became even more respectful. Since I was a stranger in a strange land, I was naturally even more polite. We exchanged these gestures of respect twice, and then he suddenly burst into laughter, and I laughed too! 'Official,' I said—I actually called him 'Official'—'what crime have I committed to be brought here?' It turned out he was the judge, or what people today would call a court clerk. He said: 'You do not know, but because of the Generosity you showed in the human world—giving money and food to save others—and because your heart-capacity was so vast and your actions so upright, we want you to take over the position of the King of the Fourth Hall.' I looked around and saw that the throne of the King of Hell was indeed empty. It was truly vacant."

"At that moment, there were only a few jailers, the clerk, and myself. I dared not ask too loudly, but I asked: 'May I ask, where did the previous King go? Could you tell me a little bit about it? Otherwise, I feel uneasy. If the King is not here, will he come out later to judge my case?' He replied: 'You need not be so modest. We have searched far and wide, and we believe you are the most qualified to sit in the Fourth Hall as the King of Hell. Your character is so bright and upright; naturally, you will be impartial when judging these criminals. We have already reported this, and you are to be inaugurated as the King of the Fourth Hall, known as the Five Senses King.'"

"I paused for a moment. How was I to respond? If I said yes, I didn't know how to do it; if I said no, I didn't know how to return home. I didn't dare say anything because the jailers around us seemed so serious. I asked again: 'Clerk, how long must I serve? Am I dead? Why am I here? Please, tell me!' The clerk said: 'If you say he is dead, he is dead; if you say he is alive, you are still here.' This answer left me completely confused! I only half-understood. The clerk added: 'Do not ask so many questions. Time is precious. Please, take your seat! But before you do, you must change your robes.' I panicked: 'Change into what? I don't know what to wear! I don't have these red robes of yours.' The judge's robes looked quite radiant. He then said: 'Follow me!' Since I was already here, I decided to accept it. I thought, 'Since I am here, I will follow him.' It was actually quite remarkable! I didn't have to dress myself; the jailers helped me put on the robes and prepared everything for me."

Practitioner Su: "Those robes are very large; you look very dignified in them!"

King Wuguan: "Put them on, let me take a look—they actually look quite dignified!" I then said, "Very well! Clerk, Judge, let us go! Since this is the case, I shall perform my duties properly... In the human world, it is said that those who arrive in the hells have committed grave sins. The main purpose is to let them understand that for every cause planted, there is a corresponding fruit. I must simply ensure they understand that they must not create evil." I also spoke to the Clerk and the Judge, saying, "You must teach me later! If I say something wrong or if I am unsure, I might pass the wrong judgment. You must give me a look, or lean in close to give me a hint!" He replied, "Certainly!"

A First-Time King of Hell

Practitioner Su, I had no experience, as this was my very first time serving as a King of Hell. I was actually quite afraid of making a mistake. I told the Clerk, "Bring me some paper and prepare the ink." I began to write to steady my own heart, and as I wrote, I finally felt at ease. That is how I became the King of the Fourth Hall, King Wuguan, and began to preside over the cases and judge these offenders.

Practitioner Su: "You never asked him where your predecessor, the original King of Hell, had gone? You didn't ask at all?"

King Wuguan: "I did! He told me later. I went up to him and asked, and he said, 'This matter cannot be spoken of.' The Judge said that. I asked, 'Why can it not be spoken of?' He replied, 'Act as if this never happened.' I asked, 'What on earth is it?' He said, 'Have you heard that the Kings of the Ten Halls have all gathered together at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land to chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land?' I exclaimed, 'Ah! Is that so? Then the Kings of the Ten Halls of the underworld are all gone? Won't all the criminals awaiting judgment be in total chaos?' That is what I thought. He replied, 'How could that be! It will not be. Of course, every King of Hell has his own arrangements.'"

The Importance of Practitioner Su

"That is how I learned of your great name, Practitioner Su, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land. He said, 'You must remember, since you are sitting in this position, there is one important thing you must keep in mind: whenever Practitioner Su calls for you, you must pay attention! When Practitioner Su gives Dharma talks, you must listen if you have time, and you must still listen even if you are busy.' Oh my! When the Judge spoke to me about this, his tone was quite firm. It was strange! He then said, 'King of Hell, you are the King of Hell now; please forgive my tone just now. We all listen to the Dharma, but I must tell you, we do not have the blessings of a King of Hell; we are merely judges.'"

Practitioner Su: "Can judges not go to the Western Pure Land?"

King Wuguan: "If the Kings of Hell can collectively attain rebirth, and you, Practitioner Su, have spoken that the judges can also collectively attain rebirth, would that not be wonderful for us?"

Practitioner Su: "It is not like that! In the future, the judges will all go together. For now, people must hurry and prepare! All the staff working here can go!"

King Wuguan: "Ah! Practitioner Su, now that you say that, the judges of my Fourth Hall will be overjoyed!"

Practitioner Su: "Indeed, indeed! As long as one joins the Ultimate Vow of Amitabha with a sincere heart, everyone can attain rebirth."

King Wuguan: "How joyful! Practitioner Su is truly compassionate!"

Practitioner Su: "It is the compassion of the Buddha; it is only right. Judges serve the people, and there is a time for retirement. As long as one makes the vow, one can go to the Western Land!"

King Wuguan: "Yes, yes, yes, yes, that is true! Actually, this... that is how I came to know you, Practitioner Su!"

A Connection Through Past Lives

Practitioner Su: "So, King Wuguan, sometimes the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land will call upon you to assist."

King Wuguan: "The Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land shall certainly have my assistance! You explain the Dharma so well; you truly explain it so well!"

Practitioner Su: "Only by listening to the Dharma do we realise that without learning Buddhism, we will inevitably create karma. Knowing our past lives, we see that there is no end to the cycle of rebirth, so we must make the vow to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

King Wuguan: "Indeed! I feel that only those here can hear your Dharma talks and truly understand that the beings in the hells are truly suffering! No one taught them, so they made mistakes, and then made them again and again!"

Practitioner Su: "You! It is fortunate that although you were born into wealth in that life, you still practised Generosity. That is why you did not have to suffer in this life as a human, and even became the King of the Fourth Hall! To be so wealthy—what did you do in your past life? You were able to run a teahouse, had no worries, and still knew how to practise Generosity. Tell me about your previous life."

King Wuguan: "In that life of great wealth, I was in the countryside, by a river I knew as the Peach Blossom River."

Practitioner Su: "Peach Blossom River? In which province is the Peach Blossom River?"

King Wuguan: "The river I lived by was called the Peach Blossom River because both sides were planted with many..."

Practitioner Su: "Peach blossoms, how beautiful! Where was that place?"

King Wuguan: "We were near Guilin."

Practitioner Su: "Guilin is beautiful! I have been there. What did you do in Guilin in your past life?"

King Wuguan: "I was a common civilian."

Practitioner Su: "How could a common civilian manage to open a restaurant?"

King Wuguan: "I was someone who actually had no schooling. My family background was... I wouldn't say we were so poor we had nothing to eat, but we had enough to get by."

Practitioner Su: "What business were you in, or what good deeds did you do?"

King Wuguan: "Let me tell you what I did every day, Practitioner Su. Every morning when I woke up, I would automatically sweep the riverbank clean of all leaves and debris, making the Peach Blossom River a sight to behold for everyone. I would sweep up all the leaves. It wasn't just about tidying my own home; I had been doing this since I was eleven years old."

Practitioner Su: "At eleven, you already had the heart to tidy up on your own. You lived by the peach blossoms, and seeing them every day, you loved them and would automatically go to tidy up!"

King Wuguan: "Yes. I would always keep it very clean. My mother and I would boil tea and place it by the roadside with several cups, with the cups turned upside down."

Practitioner Su: "Was your family wealthy?"

King Wuguan: "Tea does not cost much money."

Practitioner Su: "What business was your family in? Your mother had a very good, generous mindset."

King Wuguan: "My mother was taught by my maternal grandmother. My mother's mother, my grandmother, would do this every day (mimics the action of striking a wooden fish)."

Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo. Was it like that?"

King Wuguan: "She would strike the wooden fish, chant the sutras, and worship Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."

Practitioner Su: "She taught your mother to practise Generosity."

King Wuguan: "Our family did not have any special grain or wealth, so we used tea to form connections with others."

Practitioner Su: "It is the heart that matters! Having that heart counts as accumulating virtue!"

King Wuguan: "I made pastries and also sold flatbreads. I would put the dough into the oven... my flatbreads were quite delicious. There were round ones, long ones, square ones, smaller round ones, larger round ones, and medium ones that could be used to wrap things—what we called 'laobing'."

Practitioner Su: "Laobing are delicious!"

King Wuguan: "I made those. When I returned home, if there were any left over, I would bring them back for my mother."

Practitioner Su: "Did you have a wife and children?"

King Wuguan: "Yes, of course I had a wife. She was a virtuous wife, and we had two children at the time."

Practitioner Su: "So you and your mother were dedicated to doing good deeds; whenever you had money, you did good deeds."

King Wuguan: "In the end, we actually... even with these flatbreads, sometimes we couldn't bear to eat them ourselves. We would take them, along with my mother—my grandmother was still alive then—and go to the temple to make offerings to the monastics."

Practitioner Su: "Incredible! You had Wisdom. You used your hard-earned money to make offerings to the community. Your achievements in this life and your great Generosity—look, you became the King of the Fourth Hall! Accumulating virtue is truly important!"

King Wuguan: "We couldn't bear to eat them; I am being clear and honest, we couldn't bear to eat them. So, of course, it wasn't just selling the leftovers. When we made them, my mother would say that day, 'We are going to the temple.' My grandmother was quite old then. About once a month, we would go to the temple, and we would prepare them in advance. Even if we wanted to eat them, we would save them, not eat them, and go to make offerings to the temple!"

Practitioner Su: "Oh! No wonder you were wealthy, running a teahouse, so wealthy!"

King Wuguan: "So that was it. Later, my grandmother passed away."

Practitioner Su: "Is your grandmother in the Western Land now?"

King Wuguan: "My grandmother is in the Heavenly Realm."

Practitioner Su: "I will bring her to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss in a moment. The Buddha is compassionate; when one is interviewed, all one's family members can be saved."

King Wuguan: "I am grateful to the great compassion of Namo Amituofo."

Practitioner Su: "So, by accumulating virtue, your family members can all be saved to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

King Wuguan: "Yes! That is right! Yes!" (He says happily) "My grandmother is already in the West! Oh! Practitioner Su, I must thank you, Practitioner Su."

Practitioner Su: "You must thank Namo Amituofo. As long as there is a karmic affinity, the Buddha will not abandon a single person."

King Wuguan: "My grandmother saved us; she taught us well, which is why we knew the principles of being a human."

Practitioner Su: "Exactly! That is why she reached the Heavenly Realm. The Buddha is compassionate; many in the Heavenly Realm are saved. It is only right that your grandmother went to the West, as she taught her children so well. Look at how many people from your family are in the Western Land; that is a tremendous blessing! Now, let us return to the main topic. Looking at your records, you were always practising Generosity. Have you ever seen in which of your past lives you fell into the hells?"

King Wuguan: "This..."

Practitioner Su: "Life is like this; everyone has fallen into the hells, so there is no need to be shy. There is not one person who has not been to the hells, so I must ask, so that we know that a pure and good human body is important. When things are good, we must grasp the opportunity. Just as we now know that Namo Amituofo saves us from suffering and hardship, we must grasp it quickly and follow the Buddha to save all suffering beings. If we do not go this time, we might all fall into the hells. We all have an Alaya consciousness; this Alaya changes in a myriad of ways. It might make you an emperor, or it might send you to the hells. King Wuguan, do you think what I am saying is correct?"

King Wuguan: "It is correct, it is correct! Alas! In my eighth life, alas!"

Practitioner Su: "How did you fall into the hells in your eighth life?"

King Wuguan: "Actually, Practitioner Su, you see that my appearance is refined."

Practitioner Su: "Very dignified! And you have the face of one with blessings."

King Wuguan: "In my eighth life, because... alas!" (He writes down: Carnal desire, adultery) "At that time, we loved to listen to opera every day."

Practitioner Su: "How old were you when you listened to opera?"

King Wuguan: "I was about thirty-five, listening to opera."

Practitioner Su: "Were you also from a wealthy family? You liked listening to opera; did you invite people to perform for you?"

King Wuguan: "Yes! Performing opera, and in the opera troupe, I also got to know many of the lead actresses."

Practitioner Su: "In the past, when people invited opera performances and fawned over actresses, having money meant messing around with women."

Practitioner Su: "So, you see, everything has a cause. Being born into the human world is a significant matter. The Buddha’s teachings are all about guiding people. Focus on this lifetime—this very lifetime—and stop looking at your past lives. Why do I ask you to look at your past lives? It is so that you will know how to repent and realize that you must not continue to live as you have. Every person I interview tells a story of creating negative karma. My purpose is to awaken everyone to 'cease all evil and practice all Goodness.' Do you understand what I mean?"

King of the Five Senses: "Recalling the past is quite painful. Alas! This is the retribution for the negative karma I created."

Practitioner Su: "After you ascended from the hells, you were naturally reincarnated into the animal realm. When you were born into the animal realm, were you a leopard, a lion, or a tiger?"

King of the Five Senses: "I was reincarnated as a tiger."

The Beastly Nature of Lust

Practitioner Su: "Is a tiger more fierce than a leopard? Jiaxian was also a leopard in a past life; they are also very fierce. Both are the result of adultery."

King of the Five Senses: "Practitioner Su, if you had not spoken of it, no one would know that this stems from adultery."

Practitioner Su: "Of course I know. Without adultery, one could not possibly become a leopard!"

King of the Five Senses: "I mean, if you, Practitioner Su, had not revealed it, who would have known!"

Practitioner Su: "In the past, when he was a man, he was incredibly fierce. Whether it was a tiger, a leopard, or a lion, such ferocity naturally leads one into the animal realm. He was an emperor in the past, and he was very tyrannical! That is why he became a leopard. How many lifetimes were you a tiger? One who is obsessed with adultery will certainly become a tiger, acting just like a wild beast. You do not realize that men can be like wild beasts—it is absolutely terrifying!"

King of the Five Senses: "It is true! Young man (referring to Brother Renhao), listen well! When desire arises, it is like a starving, thirsty wild beast. You see your prey and pounce upon it. Once you have pounced, you are completely..."

Practitioner Su: "Exactly! Now you understand. This is too terrifying! Oh, the people of this world. What the King of the Five Senses has shared today is truly profound. How many lifetimes were you a tiger?"

King of the Five Senses: "I was a tiger for one lifetime."

The Cycle of Predatory Existence

Practitioner Su: "That is not bad. And then? You ascended?"

King of the Five Senses: "I was a tiger for one lifetime. I must say, I did do some good deeds at the time, but this adultery was the problem. Because I did perform some good deeds, I only spent one lifetime in that state."

Practitioner Su: "Oh! And then you ascended. Did someone help you take refuge, or did you rise after your retribution was finished?"

King of the Five Senses: "I rose after my retribution was finished."

Practitioner Su: "After the retribution was finished. How long is the lifespan of a tiger?"

King of the Five Senses: "My retribution ended when I fought another tiger for territory. Alas! A tiger is just a tiger. Even an older tiger is not as strong as a young, vigorous one. Naturally, I lost the fight and was trampled under its feet."

Practitioner Su: "This universe is truly terrifying. These animals are constantly killing one another."

King of the Five Senses: "Yes, they are always fighting for territory."

Practitioner Su: "Tigers eat tigers, leopards eat leopards."

King of the Five Senses: "And the tiger that fought me for my territory—I was actually familiar with that person!"

Practitioner Su: "Who was it? Is that person among us?"

King of the Five Senses: "No, it was the first actress I ever patronized."

Practitioner Su: "Oh my! Was that actress also so intense regarding sexual desire?"

King of the Five Senses: "Actually, the first time I met that actress, I became so interested in this carnal desire because we were just too compatible!"

Practitioner Su: "Oh! And later, did that actress become a tigress or a male tiger?"

King of the Five Senses: "At the time, I was being trampled by her, and I didn't pay attention. I only knew that she was incredibly strong!"

Practitioner Su: "You can go back to your past lives and look, can't you?"

King of the Five Senses: "She was a tigress."

Practitioner Su: "A tigress is that powerful! A tigress is even more powerful than you, a male tiger. You were a male tiger, right?"

King of the Five Senses: "I was male, and she was female."

Practitioner Su: "Oh my! You, a male, were trampled beneath her."

King of the Five Senses: "I do not know why, but at that moment, I simply had no strength."

Practitioner Su: "Do you all see? Excessive attachment to adultery leads to becoming a tiger."

The Deep Imprint of Desire

King of the Five Senses: "Practitioner Su, one point must be made clear. What I just said about being 'too compatible'—this must be explained, otherwise many people will die trapped in this very thing."

Practitioner Su: "When this adultery is 'compatible,' it is like being unable to escape the human world. Indulgence always leads to the animal realm."

King of the Five Senses: "This so-called 'too compatible'—oh! I cannot bring myself to say it."

Practitioner Su: "You must speak! If this is not brought out into the open, no one will know. For the sake of the masses, explain the true reality of the universe and human life. People who indulge in adultery are ignorant! It is very difficult to attain liberation. You must speak!"

King of the Five Senses: "'Too compatible' means that every touch is a perfect match. It is what is called 'soul-stirring,' and it sinks very deep into the Alaya consciousness."

Practitioner Su: "The fact that this universe created humans with an Alaya consciousness is truly terrifying."

King of the Five Senses: "Just look at why I wanted to bring up this 'compatibility.' Why is it that some men meet a woman, and no matter how ugly she looks on the outside, he just falls in love with her?"

Practitioner Su: "Without the Buddha’s teachings to unravel it, one is truly ignorant and deluded. It is truly the greatest torture and suffering of human life. Emotional love kills people!"

King of the Five Senses: "It is precisely in this aspect that they are 'compatible.' Yet, there are some women who are clearly beautiful, but the man just does not feel that compatibility. This is the mystery. Of course, this includes what you, Practitioner Su, mentioned about the Alaya consciousness—how it moves and how it matches."

Practitioner Su: "In this Five Turbidities and Evil World, people cannot hear the Buddha’s teachings, so they think for themselves and suffer the consequences. The 'compatibility' you speak of—even in death, there are karmic fruits."

King of the Five Senses: "Greed for the Five Desires and Six Dusts is most painful during illness and most painful at the time of death. One should be firm and decisive in washing away the filth within the heart."

Practitioner Su: "Indulging in desires and doing whatever one wants only lasts for a very short time, yet it leads you to hell. In reality, all of this is false. Therefore, the moment you become attached, you have been deceived."

King of the Five Senses: "Worry and love are like ropes that bind us. Fear brings regret, but it is too late; the regret is beyond remedy."

Practitioner Su: "There are too many deluded people who do not understand this principle and reality."

King of the Five Senses: "They do not know that this is false, because among all evils, adultery is the chief. The retribution is definitely in the evil realms."

Practitioner Su: "Indeed! That is why the Ten Courts of Hell exist—they are there for this very reason."

King of the Five Senses: "Alas! The cycle of rebirth is endless."

Practitioner Su: "I only now realize that all of this comes from adultery, and one suffers the retribution while spinning through the hells."

King of the Five Senses: "Is this part of the interview content? This exceeds my scope. They know this themselves; they do not have my experience, but as soon as I speak, they all understand because they have all experienced it. Only Shakyamuni Buddha knows the root of this. He left home at nineteen to practice the path, straightened his body and mind, and saved those in suffering. The Buddha’s Wisdom is truly ultimate and perfect."

Practitioner Su: "The Causal Conditions between men and women are complex, and the tragedy of the retribution is that we have been acting out this play for many lifetimes! Throughout immeasurable kalpas, there has been no end in sight. It is very difficult to attain liberation; it is truly hard to put into words."

King of the Five Senses: "Practitioner Su, I must restrain, reflect upon, and review the erroneous thoughts and behaviors of my entire life, and strive to change my ways."

Practitioner Su: "You must repent deeply, and all suffering will suddenly cease! Let us return to the main topic. Very well, King of the Five Senses, you went to hell—how many hells?"

King of the Five Senses: "Naturally, the Pao Luo (Bronze Pillar) Hell was unavoidable."

Practitioner Su: "What other hells?"

King of the Five Senses: "The Sword Tree Hell was the most miserable."

Practitioner Su: "Correct, those two hells. Are there any others?"

King of the Five Senses: "I did not harm others, so it was just those two."

Practitioner Su: "You ascended from two hells. You must reflect at all times and repent deeply. The precious teachings are a metaphor for the magnificent and wonderful use of the precepts."

King of the Five Senses: "I will wash away the filth in my heart and change all my erroneous behaviors. From this day forward, I will strive to practice Goodness."

Practitioner Su: "You have been the King of the Five Senses, you have run a teahouse, and you have been in the animal realm as a tiger. You must know—look at the claws of a tiger; the human world is just like that animal state. Only when you see that do you realize how terrifying it is. What do you feel?"

King of the Five Senses: "As a human, one must not violate the Truth and the precepts. This society is full of temptations and a hostile environment. The practice of the Buddha’s teachings is truly precious!"

Practitioner Su: "You must extensively cultivate the root of merit, which means to give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi. Very well, King of the Five Senses, is there anyone in your family who needs Chao Du?"

King of the Five Senses: "I just said..."

Practitioner Su: "You have three sons and one daughter. You did not write down your wife’s name."

King of the Five Senses: "Do I still need to write my wife’s name? My wife is in the human world working as a pimp."

Practitioner Su: "The human world cannot be saved. Your wife is currently a pimp. Is your wife named Qiuxiang?"

King of the Five Senses: (Silent)

Practitioner Su: "It is her! Qiuxiang’s sins are very heavy, aren't they? She is currently working as a pimp."

King of the Five Senses: "I will not speak."

Practitioner Su: "Then you do not need to say anything; I already know this."

King of the Five Senses: "Let it be! There is no need to write my wife’s name. That is all; she is in the human world."

Practitioner Su: "Qiuxiang is very miserable. She did not follow the teachings, and now she is ill. Very well, who do you want to save now? Among your three sons and one daughter, who do you want to save?"

King of the Five Senses: "My daughter."

Practitioner Su: "Your only daughter, where is she? In the ghost realm?"

King of the Five Senses: "She currently has a bit of... her mental state, what is called..."

Practitioner Su: "She is mentally ill! Your daughter is mentally ill—is it depression or bipolar disorder? Is she more severe than Sister Huang?"

King of the Five Senses: "My daughter is more severe." (Writes down daughter’s name: Bian Shumei)

Practitioner Su: "So she is in the ghost realm. Let us call her first."

King of the Five Senses: "She was like that because she was too focused on her appearance. She was always pinning things here and there, pinning many, many gold hairpins!"

Practitioner Su: "So your daughter never married? This bipolar disorder and depression have a cause. Is she heavily attached to by spirits?"

King of the Five Senses: "It seems so; she looks like she is being attached to by spirits."

Practitioner Su: "Why didn't you notice? You have done such good deeds, so why would your daughter become mentally ill?"

King of the Five Senses: "At the time, I did not understand. I only knew that it was normal for her to love being beautiful."

Practitioner Su: "I am asking why, even though you have done good deeds, she has developed mental problems? Very well, may the Buddha be compassionate. Now, Bian Guiming wants to call his daughter, Bian Shumei, who is in the ghost realm."

Sister Jiaxian: "Bian Shumei has arrived."

Practitioner Su: "Look, she is busy dressing up. Do you see your father there? Bian Guiming is right there; do you see him?"

King of the Five Senses: "Daughter, daughter, my child Shumei."

Practitioner Su: "Does she recognize you? May the Buddha be compassionate. First, take refuge: Take refuge in the Buddha, and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha, and do not fall into the animal realm. Rebirth in the Pure Land, be reborn with a new body, please step onto the lotus seat. May the Buddha’s water irrigate you. May the Buddha be compassionate."

King of the Five Senses: "Practitioner Su, you do not know. My daughter actually only became like this after she married her husband."

Practitioner Su: "Did her husband have an affair?"

King of the Five Senses: "She was actually quite beautiful in appearance, but her husband did indeed have an affair. To make matters worse, the woman he was involved with was quite unattractive. It dealt her a massive blow; she felt she was not beautiful enough, and the humiliation was profound."

Practitioner Su: "The impact was devastating. She was naturally beautiful, and she should have felt superior to that woman."

King of the Five Senses: "It was a tremendous blow. Her pride was deeply wounded."

Restoring the Original Nature

Practitioner Su: "First, take refuge. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells. Take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the hungry ghost realm. Take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn in the animal realm. My Buddha is full of compassion; your beauty shall be restored to its original state. With the sprinkling of Buddha-water, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, let this space be opened."

Bian Shumei: (Weeping loudly)

King of the Five Senses: "Daughter, my daughter!"

Practitioner Su: "Do you see now? She has returned!"

King of the Five Senses: "Do not cry, do not cry."

Practitioner Su: "Now you know your father has come to save you. Bian Shumei, your father is now the King of the Fourth Hall of Hell, and he has come to deliver you. You must now ascend the lotus seat and listen to the Dharma. My Buddha is full of compassion and has healed all your illnesses; you are safe now. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn in the animal realm. Let her listen to the Dharma, and we shall send her forth on Sunday. Tell me, King of the Five Senses, are there others you wish to save?"

A Wealthy Son in the Ghost Realm

King of the Five Senses: "I have two sons who have already reincarnated into the human world. They are doing quite well; they were born into wealthy, noble families."

Practitioner Su: "You have three sons. Which one are we speaking of now?"

King of the Five Senses: "I am speaking of my third son. The eldest and second sons are in the human world in wealthy families that study the Buddha's teachings."

Practitioner Su: "That is excellent; you have accumulated much merit!"

King of the Five Senses: "However, the bodhimanda they frequent is not of the Pure Land school."

Practitioner Su: "That is a matter of karmic conditions, I suppose. What is your third son's name?"

King of the Five Senses: (Writes down: Bian Zhonghao)

Practitioner Su: "In which realm is he? The ghost realm or the animal realm?"

King of the Five Senses: "He is in the ghost realm, living as a wealthy young playboy."

Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo. Very well, let us call upon this young playboy! Father Bian Guiming, please call your third son, Bian Zhonghao."

Practitioner Xian: "Bian Zhonghao, please come forward."

King of the Five Senses: "Zhonghao, Zhonghao, Zhonghao, my child!"

Bian Zhonghao: "Who is calling me?"

Practitioner Su: "Your father is calling you. Do you see him? You have not been living right; even after death, you are still playing the part of a wealthy heir."

Bian Zhonghao: "But I have money!"

Practitioner Su: "Is it because people are burning so much silver paper for you? Who is burning it?"

Bian Zhonghao: "My son burns it for me. Even in the ghost realm, I am a wealthy man; I have no worries."

Practitioner Su: "In the ghost realm, there is no sunlight; you live in darkness every day. Look over there (pointing toward the West). Look, it is bright! Do you see it? Would you rather go to the bright place or stay in the dark?"

Bian Zhonghao: "It is so bright! It would be better to go there."

Practitioner Su: "Your father wishes to save you. While in the ghost realm, have you heard the Dharma talks from the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land?"

Bian Zhonghao: "I occasionally hear that sound... what is it?"

Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo."

Bian Zhonghao: "Buddha— (the final syllable is drawn out with effort) Ah! It shakes me. I keep hearing it."

Practitioner Su: "Your spiritual obstacles are very heavy. You have arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land, and your father wants you to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. We will perform the Chao Du for you on Sunday. My Buddha is full of compassion."

Bian Zhonghao: "But what about my houses? What about all my silver?"

Practitioner Su: "Is that place not more beautiful than here? Your houses can be moved there."

Bian Zhonghao: "It is beautiful there, not bad at all!"

Practitioner Su: "Exactly! And while you were a playboy in the ghost realm, did you take a wife?"

Bian Zhonghao: "What do you think? I have many beautiful maidens! One here, another there. What will happen to them?"

Practitioner Su: "Bring them along, bring them all along. Look over there. You must chant Namo Amituofo to go to the Western Land!"

Bian Zhonghao: "Is it the 'Namo Amituofo' that you all chant?"

Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo."

Bian Zhonghao: "Namo Amituofo— (the final syllable is drawn out with effort) I hear it often."

Practitioner Su: "Excellent, one hundred points!"

Bian Zhonghao: "That is fine, but what about my father?"

Practitioner Su: "Your father is now a King of Hell."

Bian Zhonghao: "I have never seen him! But father, the fabric of your robes is truly magnificent!"

Practitioner Su: "That is why you must chant Amituofo when he tells you to. I will have you ascend the lotus seat first. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn in the animal realm. Ascend the lotus seat, and we shall speak more after you listen to the Dharma. King of the Five Senses, is there anyone else to save?"

The Tiger Spirit

King of the Five Senses: "That 'tigress'."

Practitioner Su: "A tigress? Very well, what is her name?"

King of the Five Senses: "Whenever I mention that tiger, my head aches. Practitioner Su, my head aches just thinking of her. May I ask, how can I clear my Alaya consciousness?"

Practitioner Su: "My Buddha is full of compassion; I shall clear it for you. With the sprinkling of Buddha-water, my Buddha's compassion will wash it away. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn in the animal realm. Namo Amituofo, clear it away! Good, it is cleared!"

King of the Five Senses: (Writes down: Lin Guimei)

Practitioner Su: "Back when you were a wealthy playboy, what was your name?"

King of the Five Senses: (Writes down: Tang Shiyu)

Practitioner Su: "Very well, Tang Shiyu, call for Lin Guimei. She was a stage actress, then she became a tiger. Is she still a tiger now?"

King of the Five Senses: "After she trampled me to death and I reincarnated, she remained a tiger. She even gave birth to several tiger cubs at that time."

Practitioner Su: "Very well, Tang Shiyu, call for Lin Guimei."

Lin Guimei: (Emits a tiger's roar)

Practitioner Su: "Oh my! This little tiger. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn in the animal realm. Please ascend the lotus seat. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo."

Lin Guimei: (Emits a tiger's roar)

Practitioner Su: "Lin Guimei, the actress whom Tang Shiyu once knew, take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn in the animal realm. Please ascend the lotus seat. Sprinkled with Buddha-water. Good, Lin Guimei, you know that Tang Shiyu is over there; he has become a King of Hell. Do you see him? You have been a tiger for so long."

Lin Guimei: "He is still as handsome as ever!"

Practitioner Su: "Now the Buddha has come to save you. Ascend the lotus seat and listen to the Dharma. Know that adultery leads to the hells, or else you will remain in the animal realm. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn in the animal realm. Rebirth in the Pure Land, a complete transformation of body and soul. Please ascend the lotus seat. I thank the King of the Five Senses for such a brilliant account today! Adultery in the human world is truly terrifying. You have explained the human world so clearly that people will be frightened when they hear this."

King of the Five Senses: "I have no choice but to speak of it. I have been harmed by it too deeply."

Practitioner Su: "Speaking of it helps dissolve spiritual obstacles. You are also going to the Western Land now, joining the Forty-Eight Vows, and doing only Goodness. We shall no longer engage in such things. By doing so, you are accumulating merit and virtue there, and when the time comes, we shall be reborn. Do you have any teachings for those among us here?"

King of the Five Senses: "Only after hearing the Dharma did I realize how serious the Alaya consciousness is. If one is constantly led by the Alaya consciousness, one truly cannot control one's own actions. As I said just now, of all evils, adultery is the foremost. One must be careful regarding the emotional relationships between men and women, including the indulgence of the physical body! By 'careful,' I mean do not take these things as real. Adultery leads one to the hells; adultery causes one to commit many acts that harm heaven and humanity. Therefore, I advise all men and women in the world, if you know that the relations between men and women should not..."

Practitioner Su: "It is all illusory! It tricks you into the hells, causing your spirit to suffer. That is the nature of possessiveness."

King of the Five Senses: "As I said, the body enjoys, but the soul suffers; it is simply not worth it."

Practitioner Su: "One must be sober. Even though it is clearly false, people still act this way, primarily because they have not heard the Buddha's teachings!"

King of the Five Senses: "Self-respect and self-discipline are important! Everyone must accumulate merit, cultivate Goodness, accept the Buddha's teachings, and follow them faithfully."

Practitioner Su: "Indeed. We thank the King of the Five Senses for this interview today. It was truly brilliant and will save many people, providing the right medicine for the people of this world. Let us chant the Buddha's name ten times to send the King of the Five Senses back."

King of the Five Senses: "I am grateful to Practitioner Su."

(Practitioner Su leads the fellow practitioners in chanting the name of Amituofo ten times to send off the King of the Fourth Hall of Hell, the King of the Five Senses.)