The Exhaustion of Blessings: A Jailer's Redemption

This is a record of an interview with Fan Yixiang, 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, including his time as a jailer in the underworld and his previous existence as an animal. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on December 29, 2024.

Fan Yixiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for everything I have experienced, for I now understand that these events were all governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect. To have been granted the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is something I cherish with my entire heart. I am moved beyond words.

I will certainly continue to strive forward, never failing to honour the grace of Namo Amituofo. I am filled with gratitude for Namo Amituofo and for Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the jailers in the underworld, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Life of Arrogance and Wasted Potential

"My name is Fan Yixiang. In the distant past, I was born into a family filled with auspicious karmic conditions. Because of the connections my family had, I entered a bodhimanda to practise the Buddha’s teachings. I received support from the ten directions, was given an excellent education, and was helped by countless people.

They all held high expectations for me, hoping that I would become a Venerable who could benefit all sentient beings. However, in my youth, I was far too arrogant. I did not cherish what I had, and I never felt gratitude toward those who helped me. I always assumed that everything I received was my due, never realising that behind every comfort lay the support of countless Causal Conditions.

I was not only lazy but also completely lacked any plan for my own practice or life goals. I simply drifted with the tide. The expectations others held for me gradually faded, and I remained entirely indifferent to it all.

I continued to live a lazy life day after day. I was petty about everything, always dissatisfied that my time was occupied by work. I would constantly argue over the scheduling of my duties. When it came to mealtimes, I was driven by greed, calculating who had eaten more and complaining about how little I had received. For these trivial reasons, I was frequently embroiled in disputes with others.

I was always obsessed with my own physical comfort and enjoyment, never hesitating to fight with others. I did not know that my blessings were being exhausted bit by bit, and my physical health began to deteriorate as a result."

The Descent into the Animal Realm

"My movements became sluggish, my feet ached, and walking became a struggle. My face, hardened by constant arguing, appeared ferocious and unkind. Even then, I did not realise my mistakes; I continued to squander the last of my remaining blessings.

Eventually, when my blessings were truly exhausted, I passed away from a severe illness, bringing that life to an end. But death was not the end; it was merely the beginning of a new cycle of rebirth.

I carried the karma of that life and fell into the animal realm, where I was reborn as a pig.

When I first fell into the body of a pig, I was filled with resentment. I still retained faint memories of my human life, yet I was powerless to change my situation. The body of a pig is heavy, and movement is slow. My past habits, which I had never corrected, manifested immediately. I was naturally lazy, greedy for food, and prone to sleeping. I could not adapt to the wretched environment, yet I could not resist it either. My heart was filled with resentment, but I could find no way out. Day after day, I struggled in the filth of the pigsty.

What caused me the most pain was that my desire for adultery had not been severed. In the pigsty, I continued to mate with other pigs, bringing more offspring into the world. These descendants, just like me, continued to sink into the sea of suffering, and I myself was repeatedly reborn as a pig in this endless cycle of samsara.

Every life was filled with pain, hunger, filth, and fear. The experiences in the slaughterhouse, being killed over and over again, filled my heart with a sense of helplessness and despair. I could not escape this endless fate, and the pain within me grew deeper and deeper."

The Light of the Buddha's Name

"Time flowed by in the midst of suffering, and I became increasingly numb. Just when I thought there would never be any hope of liberation, a master came to our pigsty.

His compassionate gaze pierced through my soul, allowing me to feel a warmth I had not known. He chanted the Buddha-name in the pigsty, delivering us animals. I heard that Buddha-name, and it was like a ray of light piercing through the darkness, reaching straight to the bottom of my heart. That Buddha-name shook my inner being, causing me to feel, for the first time, a sense of repentance.

The power of that Buddha-name resolved the resentment I had accumulated over many lifetimes, and it gave birth to a glimmer of hope within me.

From that moment on, I began to follow the master in chanting Namo Amituofo. Although the nature of a pig made it impossible for me to fully understand the profound meaning of the Buddha’s teachings, that Buddha-name was like a light, illuminating the depths of my heart. Whenever I felt pain or despair, that Buddha-name would surface, granting me a moment of peace and clarity. Because of the blessing of this chanting, I was finally able to escape the animal realm after that life ended, and I was reborn as a human once more."

A Human Life of Repentance and Service

"In this lifetime, I was born into an ordinary farming family. My parents taught me to be grounded and honest. I became an honest and dutiful person, working hard and doing good deeds. However, the habits of the pig from my past life still lingered within me. I often felt lazy, and sometimes I could even faintly sense the smell of a pig emanating from my own body. At times, when faced with repetitive labour, my heart would stir with the same weariness and resentment I had felt in the animal realm. But I gradually learned to use the Buddha’s teachings to restrain these negative emotions.

In this life, I began to encounter the Buddha’s teachings. I gradually understood the laws of karma and cause and effect, realising how my destiny had been shaped step by step. Whenever I felt lazy or was pulled by the habits of the past, I reminded myself that this was the result of the karma I had created, and I had to work hard to change.

I began to chant Namo Amituofo every day, cultivating my awareness and actively performing good deeds. Through continuous practice, my heart became clearer and clearer, and I gradually felt the infinite power of the Buddha’s teachings.

In this process, I learned to strive not just for myself, but to help others. I became a volunteer in the village, helping poor families and lonely elderly people. Whenever I saw others smile because of my help, I felt my heart filled with strength. These good deeds allowed me to gradually emerge from the shadows of the past and experience a joy I had never known before."

From the Underworld to the Western Pure Land

"As my practice deepened, I began to reflect on the various mistakes of my past lives. I felt that I had once been a pig, and when I recalled everything I had experienced in the pigsty—the humiliation and the pain—it became a mirror that warned me. This made me cherish my current life even more and work harder to adjust myself. I gradually understood that these pains were not meaningless; they were the opportunities for my growth and awakening.

The lack of contentment and gratitude in my past life caused me to lose all my blessings and even fall into the animal realm. But the light of the Buddha’s teachings finally guided me out of the darkness. Although I still have habits that have not been fully severed, I firmly believe that through continuous practice and good deeds, I will eventually be able to cast off the influence of the past and move toward true liberation.

Today, although my life is simple, it is full of meaning. I not only continue to do good deeds in the village but also actively participate in temple activities, sharing my experiences with more people. I believe that everyone can change their destiny, as long as they can recognise their own karma and work hard to correct it. I have also begun to guide some young people; some are facing difficulties, and others have just embarked on the path of practice. I hope that by sharing my own experiences, I can help them reduce their confusion and pain.

As time passed, my good deeds and practice influenced more and more people. Once, I met a young man from afar who was going through a low point in his life. After hearing my story, he shed tears and said that my experience had reignited his hope. He began to chant Namo Amituofo and changed his way of life. Soon after, he returned to tell me that his life had taken a new turn, and he had also begun to help others in need.

This made me more convinced that as long as one has the heart, everyone can find light in the darkness of samsara. I still remember a sentence the master once said to me: 'Although karma is deep, the Buddha-light is deeper. As long as you are willing, everyone can become a source of light.' I have kept this sentence in my heart and use it to encourage those around me.

This story is my true experience. I hope it can remind the world: 'Do not ignore the laws of karma and cause and effect. Learn to cherish every auspicious connection in the present, be grateful for everything you have, and put in the effort to change yourself.' Every bit of blessing is hard-won, and every good thought may become a source of light for the future. Only through diligent practice can one truly be liberated from the sea of suffering.

When this life ended, my soul came before the King of Hell. I felt peaceful in my heart, and the King of Hell, in his compassion, gave me the opportunity to serve in the underworld palace. I am very grateful, and I have made a vow to work hard to serve all sentient beings.

Through so many experiences, my soul has learned much and has become much clearer. It was only recently that I had the good fortune to hear Practitioner Su give Dharma talks. The content was profound and led me to many reflections. I told myself that I must study harder, and I hope to have the opportunity to help more sentient beings in the future.

I am grateful that today I can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the jailers and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha’s grace and to the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Fan Yixiang, with palms joined."