The Crucial Nature of Inner Practice: An Interview with Guo Lianyu

This is a record of an interview with Guo Lianyu, who served as a prison guard in the underworld before seeking deliverance 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 past lives and his eventual transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on August 9, 2024.

Guo Lianyu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today is a monumental day for me and for the fifty-nine other prison guards who have walked this path. I am filled with such profound gratitude to have finally returned to my true home, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. To think that my descent into the cycle of reincarnation lasted for tens of thousands, even hundreds of millions of years—it is overwhelming. I am truly blessed to stand before the Buddha once again.

In a distant past, I was once very close to the Buddha. From the moment I was born in that lifetime, I knew that my purpose was to engage in spiritual practice. Even as a very young child, I felt an intense, natural affinity for the Buddha’s teachings.

A Childhood Vow to the Dharma

At first, my parents did not oppose my inclinations. They held the Buddha in high regard, believing that the Buddha would protect our family and keep us safe. But when I was only six years old, I looked at my parents with a gaze so firm and unwavering that it startled them. I told them clearly: 'In the future, I am going to live in a temple. I want to become a monastic.' At that age, they were merely surprised, perhaps thinking it was a passing phase. However, as I grew older, they realised that I was spending almost every waking moment at the local temple.

Every time I stepped into that temple, I could feel the presence of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The energy there was so gentle, so compassionate. I felt an immediate sense of belonging, as if I were returning to a place I had never truly left. I knew, deep in my heart, that I had to return there permanently.

The Hidden Struggles of Monastic Life

When I reached the age of twenty, my parents, terrified that I would leave home forever, conspired with a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for me. They even tried to trick me into visiting the suitor's family to finalise the engagement. I saw through their plan immediately. On the day we were supposed to leave, I feigned a stomach ache and slipped out through the back door. Time and again, my parents tried every method imaginable to change my mind, but I remained steadfast. We went through this cycle five times before they finally chose to let go. With tears streaming down their faces, they finally fulfilled my wish and allowed me to enter the temple to practise.

Once I was inside, my teacher recognised my sincerity and provided me with a private room to support my growth. I was deeply grateful and threw myself into my practice with total focus. I did my best to understand and implement every scripture the teacher taught. For a while, I felt my character improving, and I followed this path diligently. But then, one day, I hit a wall. My progress simply stopped. I waited, hoping for a breakthrough, but a month passed, then two, and by the third month, I knew I could not continue in that state of stagnation.

The Trap of Ego and the Path of Regret

I had been living in seclusion since entering the temple. Feeling that I had reached a critical juncture, I asked my teacher for permission to end my retreat and serve other beings. My teacher, knowing that I still had much to learn about my own character, agreed. I began to follow the daily routine of the community: eating the morning vegetarian meal, performing manual labour, and completing my daily practice. However, once I was exposed to the crowd, the noise was overwhelming. Every voice had a different tone, and many were laden with raw emotion. It made me incredibly irritable. Instead of progressing, my practice began to crumble. I could not find peace of mind.

I became lost—so lost that I no longer recognised myself. I did not know where the 'true me' had gone. My heart and my body were in a constant state of internal conflict. Every single day, I had to force myself to calm down just to get a few hours of sleep. One night, I fell into a deep sleep and found myself in a dream. In that dream, I saw myself married with a family, a wife, and children, my face beaming with happiness. When I woke up, I realised with a jolt that deep down, I still harboured a craving and longing for family life. Furthermore, I found that whenever I worked with my fellow monastics, I would easily become resentful or angry if we disagreed. I never showed this anger outwardly, but it burned within me like a fire.

My character was being tested in ways I had never anticipated. I wanted to ask for advice, but my ego—my pride—would not allow it. Throughout my journey, I had received so much praise that I was terrified of showing anyone my weaknesses. I kept so many secrets buried deep inside. In the end, I fell ill—a serious, debilitating illness. It was only as I lay dying that I felt true regret. I regretted that I had not truly subdued my inner self.

A Life of Charity and the Final Test

My spirit, filled with this bitter remorse, entered the large stone in front of the temple gate. I remained trapped by my own attachments and my self-righteousness. One day, the old teacher of the temple returned from a long journey and stood before the stone, offering teachings. He urged me to let go of my grip on my old ways of practising. His voice penetrated my spirit, and I finally woke up. In that instant of clarity, I left the space within the stone and went to be reborn.

Before I was born in that life, a fortune teller warned my parents that I would likely fall ill as a child. To avoid this, he suggested they give me a girl's name to resolve the calamity. Thus, my parents named me Guo Lianyu. Growing up, many children teased me for having a girl's name. It hurt, but I grew up safely. In that life, I lived quite peacefully, running a business to support my family. The business was successful, and I had surplus wealth, which I used for charity—donating to temples, distributing rice, and helping children access better education. Although I was a great philanthropist and a believer in the Buddha, I never had the opportunity to truly practise the Dharma. People called me a great good man, and I would always humbly reply, 'It is simply what I should do.' I inspired many in the town to do good, creating a positive cycle. I experienced much joy in that life.

In my later years, my legs became immobile, so I spent most of my time at home chanting Namo Amituofo. I hoped to chant with a focused heart and prayed that Namo Amituofo would come to lead me. At the age of sixty-one, as I lay on my deathbed, I chanted 'Namo Amituofo' with every ounce of sincerity I possessed. Suddenly, I saw the Buddha right before my eyes! I was ready to follow Him. But then, someone called out, 'Great Good Man!' I hesitated for a split second. In that moment of distraction, the Buddha-name was broken, and the Buddha vanished. My spirit fell into the underworld, right beside the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

From the Underworld to the Western Pure Land

Beside Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, I practised with total devotion. It was only then that I realised I had never truly let go of this body or this self. After coming to this realisation, I felt a burning desire to serve other beings. When the King of Hell summoned me to the judgment hall and appointed me as a prison guard, I accepted the task with a joyful heart. During my time in service, I learned so much. I listened to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su, which solidified my resolve to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, I have finally received that opportunity.

I am so grateful for the Buddha’s guidance. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for seeing us through this journey. Without Practitioner Su, we would never have been able to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. As I chanted Namo Amituofo loudly, I saw the Buddha once more, and now, I have arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Guo Lianyu and the other fifty-nine prison guards kneel in gratitude.

Guo Lianyu, with palms joined in prayer.

Namo Amituofo."