The Debt of a Lifetime

This is a record of an interview with Guang Wenyi, who sought 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 as a hunter and a prison guard in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on July 26, 2024.

Guang Wenyi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. After the Dharma assembly commenced, I witnessed brilliant, multi-coloured rays of light illuminating the entire horizon. Practitioner Su stood at the very front, guiding the vast, immeasurable assembly of beings who had been waiting for this moment. As the six-character name of the Buddha resonated through the air, Practitioner Su reached out with his Dharma Body to gather us—the sixty prison guards. I felt an immediate, overwhelming wave of warmth wash over my entire being. While I was still immersed in the energy of that gentle current, I suddenly found myself standing in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I was placed within a lotus bud that had yet to bloom, listening to Namo Amituofo expound the Dharma, while gazing upon the breathtaking beauty of this pure realm. What merit or virtue could I possibly possess to be this fortunate? Today, as the representative for the sixty prison guards, I bow my head in profound gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su."

A Hunter’s Pride and the Shadow of Death

"I am Guang Wenyi. Upon receiving this human body and this name, I was granted the ability to see my past lives. This revelation filled me with an urgent, desperate need to make amends for the heavy karma I had accumulated in the past.

In a previous life, I was a hunter. I spent my days in the deep forests, and once I locked my sights on an animal, I never let it escape alive. I took immense pride in my marksmanship. Even when small creatures tried to dart away or hide, they could never outrun the speed of my arrows. Whenever I stepped into the forest, I was guaranteed a harvest.

I had a regular arrangement with a merchant who would purchase my kills at a high price. Many times, as I handed over the carcasses, I would look into the eyes of the animals I had slaughtered. Some were filled with terror, others with deep, burning resentment. Yet, I pushed these feelings aside, refusing to let them touch my heart. Often, the merchant would butcher the animals right in front of me, dissecting their flesh and discussing the quality of the meat as if it were nothing more than wood or stone.

Both the merchant and I were coarse, violent men. We would trade insults and harsh words constantly, our language as jagged as the blades we used."

The Haunting and the Descent into Hell

"I spent that entire life feeling arrogant about my precision with the bow. It was only when I grew old and my strength began to fail that I finally stopped hunting. But then, something truly strange began to happen. The moment I ceased my hunting, I started to see dark, shadowy spirits surrounding me in my dreams. They pressed in on me, day after day, as if they were demanding my life in return for theirs. It was suffocating. It became a constant, relentless psychological torture. Eventually, I was so terrified that I dared not close my eyes at night, fearing that the moment I drifted off, I would be swarmed by the spirits of those I had killed.

This nightmare lasted for three years, and I eventually died in a state of complete mental collapse. When my soul was torn from my body, the expression on my face was one of absolute, frozen terror.

My soul was dragged directly into the hells to begin my retribution. I screamed at the top of my lungs, feeling as though my entire body was being ripped apart. Countless blades sliced into my flesh, over and over again. I cried out, 'Stop! Please, stop!' But no matter how I shrieked in agony, the cruel torture never ceased. It happened every single moment, an unbearable, eternal cycle of pain.

Even now, looking back at that process, I am filled with fear. I remember my body being shredded, my blood flowing like a river. Beyond the physical pain, I saw the spirits of the animals I had hunted waiting to claim their debt. Their eyes were filled with such fury. Many of them appeared exactly as they had when I killed them—bloody and broken. It was only then, in that hellish landscape, that I finally understood how cruel I had been and how many lives I had extinguished."

A Life of Suffering: The Cow’s Perspective

"The agony of the hells left my consciousness blurred. I do not know how long I suffered there, but eventually, my retribution shifted, and I was reborn as a cow. Being born as a cow was a destiny tied to suffering. I was born into a poor family, and because I was their only asset, they protected me and treated me well. However, life is unpredictable. When my owners fell into such dire poverty that they could no longer survive, they were forced to sell me to someone else before I had even reached my full growth.

My second owner had a vicious temper. Whenever his harvest was poor, he would take his whip and beat me to vent his frustration. Even when I cried out in pain, he never showed a shred of mercy. Once, I tried to escape, but when he caught me, he took a torch and burned my tail, leaving me in excruciating agony. As a cow, I endured endless torment. With no power to resist, I had no choice but to be broken and tamed.

Later, the village chief took an interest in me, and I was chosen to be a sacrificial animal for a heaven-worship ceremony. My second owner was so proud that he demanded an exorbitant price, and the chief paid it without a second thought. My life ended on that altar. My body was carved up for the ritual, my head was hung on display, my flesh was cooked for the feast, and my bones were boiled into soup. It was only after these cycles of retribution were finally exhausted that I was given the chance to be human again, and I was named Guang Wenyi."

Redemption and the Path of Activism

"When I was born as Guang Wenyi, I could see the many animal spirits surrounding me, which is why I spent my childhood in constant tears. My parents could not understand what was wrong; I was healthy, fed, and clean, yet I would cry for hours on end. Growing up was not easy, as I was constantly harassed by my karmic creditors, whose forms I could see clearly. Because I had killed so many in the past, I vowed in this life never to harm another living being. When I was finally able to speak, I told my parents what I saw. They were shocked, but they could not deny the truth of my words.

I led my entire family to adopt a vegetarian diet, and we engaged in the mass release of captive animals. I shared my experiences with everyone I met. I knew that every life I had harmed would eventually need to be repaid, so I did everything in my power to counsel others. When I learned of regions where animals were being systematically slaughtered, I decided to take a stand. My parents held some official standing, and I hoped to use their influence to stop those who made a living by cruelly trapping snakes, minks, and other creatures. Many of these animals were eaten or skinned alive to create products for human consumption. I was vehemently opposed to such cruelty.

I formed a group and gathered resources to resist those who harmed animals. But no matter how hard I tried, my efforts could never keep pace with the speed at which they were being slaughtered. My heart was often heavy with grief, but each failure was a lesson in itself. My activism offended many powerful people. At the age of thirty-three, I was framed and thrown into prison on the charge of inciting social unrest. Even in prison, people came to harass and torment me.

Yet, I remained firm in my convictions. I thought to myself, 'If I ever get out of here, I will continue to protect animals and defend life. Wherever I am needed, I will go!' But I never expected that I would never leave that prison alive. I was beaten to death by a group of men who had been sent to torment me. I felt no resentment in my heart, for I saw that these men were the very animals I had hunted in my past life, now reincarnated. Under the Law of Cause, Condition, and Effect, they had gathered to claim their debt, and I accepted it willingly."

The Final Debt and the Call of Duty

"My short human life ended that way, and I hope my story serves as a reflection for others. After that life ended, I arrived at the Hall of the Yama King. The Yama King said, 'In this life, you have helped many beings and dissolved much of your karma. Because you held no hatred at the moment of your death and possessed a heart of repentance, many of your karmic creditors were willing to let go. Therefore, you shall serve as a prison guard to properly assist sentient beings.' I was deeply grateful for the Yama King’s judgment.

Upon taking up my post as a prison guard, I did not dare to be lazy for even a single moment. During my service, I saw the truth of the cycle of rebirth with absolute clarity. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for coming to the hells to expound the scriptures, giving the beings there a chance to wake up and find a way out. I had long hoped for the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and today, that wish has finally been fulfilled. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su. Now, here in the Western Pure Land, I feel such profound coolness and peace; I finally realise that the human world is nothing but a fleeting illusion. I hope that many more people will wake up and find their way out of the cycle of rebirth.

Namo Amituofo.

Guang Wenyi, bowing in gratitude."