The Duty of a Land Deity: Witnessing the Wang Fuk Court Fire

This is a record of an interview with Huang Asheng, the Land Deity of Wang Fuk Court, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his experiences during the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on December 11, 2025.

Huang Asheng speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The Western Dharma-Nature Land is permeated with brilliant light, and the sound of the Buddha-name can be heard 24/7. I know that relying on my own strength, I could never have reached such a magnificent place; this is an incredibly high realm. I kneel in gratitude to the compassionate Namo Amituofo, to Practitioner Su, and to the fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

I have finally arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. In truth, I had heard of this place for a long time. Ever since many spirits from Hong Kong began travelling to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek Spiritual Deliverance, the news spread among us ghost deities. Many beings in the ghost realm in Hong Kong passed the word to one another, all heading toward this place called the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It is said that by going there, one can reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—a world of light established by Namo Amituofo. For us beings in the ghost realm, this is like a gift from the heavens. Otherwise, relying on our own strength to escape the ghost realm and ascend to higher levels of existence is extremely difficult.

The Responsibility of a Land Deity

All beings in the ghost realm possess the five supernatural powers, though the strength of these powers varies. In fact, I had wanted to seek Spiritual Deliverance earlier, but my heart could not let go of this land. I saw that a massive, devastating fire was soon to occur at Wang Fuk Court, which would result in countless casualties. Protecting this land and the creatures upon it was my responsibility as Huang Asheng. The rise and fall of a piece of land, the changing of the seasons, the fertility or the withering of the soil—all of these involve the participation of the Land Deity. I never expected that during my tenure as a Land Deity, I would encounter such a catastrophe. I knew this was the Collective Karma of the residents of Wang Fuk Court. I was not attached to the land itself, but it was my duty. I decided that after the fire had passed, I would then head to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek Spiritual Deliverance.

Speaking of the role of a Land Deity, it is somewhat like being a local official in the spiritual realms. My duty is to care for the beings on this land. If the plants here are too dry, I provide them with water. If a disaster is about to occur, I try to find ways to notify everyone so that casualties can be minimised. If external forces attempt to destroy or harm this land, I also stand up to protect it.

The Inevitability of Karma

The fire spread across the entire grounds of Wang Fuk Court, and I could hear the wailing of countless beings within the inferno. On the day of the disaster, the Land Goddess Qiu Laihao and I had been waiting for a long time. We knew clearly that a catastrophe was coming and that countless lives would be lost. However, this is the way of the universe; we could not stop it. The only thing we could do was to try our best to reduce the casualties. For instance, if someone suddenly felt an urge to go home, we would try to influence them to abandon that thought. Some would thus escape the disaster, while others would continue along the path of their destiny, returning to their homes at Wang Fuk Court to meet their fate of being consumed by the flames. As for giving advance notice or warning the human world to take massive precautions, that was impossible, for doing so would have violated the laws of the universe.

Everything is destined in the unseen realms. Those who listened to the words of the Land Goddess and me and escaped were connected to us by Causal Conditions; it was our role to save their lives, and vice versa. This is what the Buddha’s teachings refer to as the laws of karma and cause and effect.

A Glimpse of True Practice

As beings in the ghost realm, we know that the world is vast and full of wonders. We also know that a true practitioner’s energy field and body-light are inevitably different from those of ordinary people. At the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, I can see the extremely bright golden light radiating from Practitioner Su. It is clear that this is a person who has achieved success in their practice. Such people have existed throughout history, yet I have never heard of anyone who, while still in an awakened state, could keep Namo Amituofo in this world. At least in the seven hundred years that I have served as a Land Deity, I have never heard of such a figure.

When the fire arrived, the entire Wang Fuk Court was like a stampede of ten thousand horses. It was not just the human residents; all the spirits within the building structures were awakened by this fire. Many spirits, just like the victims, were wailing in the fire. The earth, the steel bars, the concrete, the walls, the furniture—all these items contained spirits. They were even more miserable than the humans; at least the humans could try to run, but the spirits did not know where to go. Seeing this, I felt deeply saddened. I did not know what I could do to help them. I saw many spirits in the fire who were incredibly angry, wanting to make those who had harmed them in the past pay the price.

I tried to persuade them, but they told me not to meddle in their affairs. The spirits in the fire were not all of the same type. Although humans only saw fire, in the eyes of a Land Deity like me, some looked particularly ferocious, even having horns, much like demons. Others wore simple clothing, but what they all shared was faces filled with resentment and anger. In that fire, countless spirits screamed, and many people died in the sea of flames, turning into charred bodies. Witnessing this scene, both the Land Goddess and I felt that being human is full of suffering, and being a ghost is also full of suffering.

Deliverance to the Western Land

After completing my final duty—accompanying Wang Fuk Court through this disaster—I no longer guarded this land. With a mental note, I headed toward the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek Spiritual Deliverance. Suddenly, I heard the voice of Practitioner Su: 'The deceased from the Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong...' With a sudden, thunderous sound, I was instantly transported to Wang Fuk Court. I saw a massive golden light enveloping the area, and the golden light had a suction force that pulled me into it; the speed was incredibly fast. I knew in my heart that this was the salvation for the spirits in the fire. The Land Goddess and I entered the light together and arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land.

Many people think that because we are called the Land Deity and the Land Goddess, we must be husband and wife, but that is not the case. It is simply that we both have a karmic affinity with this land. In the past, I was a scholar who loved to do good deeds and help others. Later, the town encountered a flood that was large enough to submerge the entire area. I disregarded my own life to warn more people to evacuate, and I perished in the disaster. The Land Goddess was formerly a courtesan who sold her art but not her body. Unlike other famous courtesans, she did not accumulate wealth to redeem herself; instead, she used all her money for disaster relief. She said that at that time, there was a drought and constant warfare, so she had all her silver notes and jewellery sold to buy food and water for the people. Therefore, we who serve as Land Deities know that the universe naturally cares for those who do good—this is what is meant by 'good people receive good rewards.'

On the lotus seat, I bathed in the Buddha-light, chanting along with the Buddha-name 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo' that echoed through the air. In the Dharma-Nature Land, I see Practitioner Su saving spirits without a moment's pause, 24/7. Practitioner Su’s countless manifestations are immeasurable and boundless, filling the entire sky and covering the entire earth. Such a realm has never been reached by any of the great Buddhist masters I have encountered in the past. I marvel at Practitioner Su’s great compassionate heart. Looking at the towering Namo Amituofo in the sky, I finally understand that the reason the Buddha comes to this world is because Practitioner Su, like the Buddha, is saving beings at every moment.

I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, grateful to Practitioner Su, and grateful to every member of the salvation team. Huang Asheng makes a vow here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land to also follow the Buddha in saving the world. I hope this interview allows those with karmic affinity to see it and come to Australia to see the Buddha. As long as one person comes to see the Buddha, there is one more person in this world who is saved.

Namo Amituofo.

Huang Asheng"