The Eternal Loyalty of General Zhang Fei

The Heart of a Warrior

I, Zhang Fei, was once a man of bold and martial spirit, known for my courage on the battlefield. Yet, when I look back upon my life from the vantage point of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I view it with great simplicity and clarity. You might wonder if I harboured grand ambitions for the world or carried a heavy burden of worldly desire, but that was not the case. I possessed a unique gift: despite my appearance as a warrior who might seem to lack strategy, I was, in truth, exceptionally accurate in my assessment of others. I could discern with absolute clarity whether a person truly cared for the world or was merely driven by selfish motives. The subtle calculations, the hidden agendas, and the intricate schemes within a person's heart were all laid bare before me. I did not need to test them; a few words, a gesture, or a simple movement were enough for me to understand the depths of their intentions.

Even in my youth, amidst the chaos of war, I had seen the cruelty of human nature and the myriad states of existence. In such an era, I did not harbour extravagant hopes for personal achievement. I knew that to rise above the masses in a time of turmoil, one would inevitably have to rely on extraordinary martial prowess to defeat enemies and carve out a path. However, I often asked myself: what difference was there between such aimless, brutal slaughter of the common people and the actions of the rebellious armies or the decadent imperial forces of the time? The people suffered most because they lacked a guiding light, a leader who could truly guide them out of the darkness of that era. I, too, was searching for such a purpose, constantly exploring the depths of my own heart to find where my true duty lay.

A Shared Vision for Peace

When I chanced upon Liu Xuande, who would later become my lord, I saw instantly that he was a man who truly held the world in his heart. His way of thinking and his approach to action were entirely out of step with the environment of that time. His aspirations and his plans for the future were vastly different from those of his contemporaries. He carried a heart full of hope, seeking to restore the Han dynasty and help the people live in peace and stability. He pursued these ideals with a confidence that was truly inspiring, even though his path was difficult and often unappreciated. The clarity and confidence in his heart shone so brightly that it captured my attention immediately, and I knew I had found the one worth following.

The Han dynasty was already in decline, and to revive it and earn the respect of the various feudal states was an immense challenge. Liu Bei himself did not possess sufficient military strength or resources to achieve this alone. If one sought only personal glory, it would have been faster to join one of the many existing factions. However, Liu Bei chose a different path. He chose to recruit talent independently and promote his ideals slowly. This unconventional approach, starting from the grassroots, was arduous and risky. In that era, such actions could easily have led to total annihilation. Yet, through our conversations, I realised he was not acting without careful planning. Strangely, he always seemed to attract extraordinary people to his side, and I was honoured to be among them.

He was not acting out of a desire to become a local hegemon. He truly understood that no other force at the time was genuinely working for the peace and stability of the world. He saw that no one else was willing to stand up and act for the sake of the people. As I conversed with my lord, I found that those who joined us shared similar ideals. This convinced me that in such a chaotic age, if I could serve someone who truly cared for the people, it would be a worthy use of my martial strength. I had no desire for high office or personal power. I only wished to dedicate my life to a cause that would help the people return to a life of peace and stability. My loyalty was not for personal gain, but for the fulfilment of a shared vision, and I was willing to sacrifice everything to see it come to fruition.

From the Battlefield to the Pure Land

My lord and I were like brothers, united in heart and mind. We were dedicated to the core policy of the Shu Han state: to consolidate and stabilise the regions, ensuring the people could live in peace. We did not seek to expand our territory through aggressive conquest, but rather to restore the former lands of the Han dynasty in an orderly manner, providing a safe space for the people amidst the chaos. I followed my lord through countless storms and battles. My purpose was never to revel in the slaughter of enemies, but to support my lord's benevolent governance. I stood on the front lines during the most difficult moments, bearing the burdens so that he could focus on his mission, always mindful of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

I served my lord for nearly forty years. By the time he finally ascended the throne to establish the Shu Han empire, I was nearly sixty years old. My physical strength was not what it once was, but my commitment to his cause remained as strong as ever. He established the empire to provide a sense of belonging and protection for the people, ensuring they would not feel abandoned. Sadly, I passed away shortly after he became emperor. This remained a deep regret for me, as I had been with him through the most arduous years of creation, yet I could not stay to see the full fruition of his work. Because I had taken lives in the battles I fought, I spent time in the hells after my death. However, the King of Hell, recognising that my intentions were for the greater good and the stability of the people, allowed me to be reborn into the human realm after a short period of retribution.

Through several lifetimes of wandering, I have now been reunited with my lord in the human realm. This time, I have met Practitioner Su, and my mission has been to help establish the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I have once again served as a pioneer, helping to lay the foundations and stabilise the systems of the temple. People know me as Jiang Yuchan, or Dharma Master Hailiang, but under the blessings of the Buddha, I have transcended the limitations of time and space. I realise now that my spirit has taken many forms, each being a temporary manifestation for the sake of convenience. I am Hailiang, and I am Zhang Fei; my spirit is one and the same, transcending the limitations of gender and identity, and I am grateful to have found my way back to the path of the Dharma.

The Unity of the Spirit

Looking back, I see that my deep connection with Practitioner Su is the result of karmic affinities spanning many lifetimes. My trust in him is identical to the trust I once placed in my lord. Now, under the Buddha's light, I see that Practitioner Su's achievements in this lifetime are even more profound. In the Three Kingdoms period, we served the people through worldly means. Today, Practitioner Su manifests as a great practitioner, even an awakened being, helping sentient beings through the supreme Dharma. His work in performing Chao Du for the beings of China is a natural outcome of his countless vows and lifetimes of dedication. Every action, every thought, is guided by the Buddha's light, leading to these inconceivable results that benefit all sentient beings in the Dharma realm.

The establishment of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a testament to this. I have understood from the beginning that only through Practitioner Su's great vows, combined with the Buddha's blessings, could Namo Amituofo truly abide here. It is this union that allows the salvation team to rescue beings in this world. I am deeply gratified to see the temple's progress. Although I am now in the Dharma-Nature Land, I remain committed to supporting the temple. I encourage all fellow practitioners to take up the responsibility of spreading the Dharma and saving the world. If you ever need my assistance, do not hesitate to communicate with me. I am eager to contribute my efforts, even from the spiritual realm, to ensure that the light of the Buddha continues to shine brightly for all.

I am profoundly grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for this magnificent opportunity to understand my true nature and to bridge the gap between my past and present. Through the Buddha's power, I have been able to transcend the limitations of time and space to share this message. Thank you all for your dedication and your faith. Namo Amituofo.

Words of Namo Amituofo

The child's heart has received this message clearly, truly through the blessings of the Buddha. What you have witnessed in the Alaya consciousness is the reality of that time and space. Hailiang has now entered the Dharma-Nature Land, and this spirit is able to see its past lives. However, because the spirit is still stained by consciousness, the Buddha's blessings are required to enter this state temporarily. Past, future, and present are one and the same before the Buddha, with no distinction. If you ask whether Zhang Fei and Hailiang are the same, in the eyes of the Buddha, they are indeed the same spirit, separated only by the stains of past consciousness and different spatial perceptions.

To open this dialogue, the Buddha's power must assist the spirit, opening the two spaces of past and present so that they may be recognised as one. Faru, my child, receive this message directly; do not let doubt cloud your clarity. The message you have received is the Buddha's word. Present it directly to Practitioner Su, and all will be clear. Have no worries or anxieties; simply hold fast to the Buddha-name and have faith in the name of the Buddha, for it is through this faith that you shall realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood.