The Fall and Redemption of Venerable Lü Hang

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Venerable Lü Hang, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his life and his journey through the realms of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian, with data assistance from Lay Practitioner Lai Boya, on June 23, 2017.

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "I offer ten bows of respect to the Buddha and respectfully invite Venerable Lü Hang to speak. Please describe the process of your passing and the Causal Conditions that led you to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo."

Venerable Lü Hang speaks: "Namo Amituofo. I was born in the final years of the Qing Dynasty, a time when our nation was in turmoil. The imperial court was plagued by internal chaos, and we were constantly under threat from the Eight-Nation Alliance. Later, during the Sino-Japanese War, the common people suffered immensely, forced to flee their homes. Filled with indignation at the corruption of the government and the internal and external crises, I abandoned my literary pursuits to join the military. Because of my wisdom and capability, I was gradually promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and served as a staff officer."

The Weight of Blood and the Path of Repentance

"During those years, I commanded troops in battle. My strategic mind led to my steady rise, but the cost was immeasurable. After the wars finally subsided and peace was restored, I was haunted by the carnage I had witnessed. In my dreams, I saw my hands stained with blood. I knew my karmic debt from killing was profound, so I resolutely decided to retire from the military. I was fortunate enough to encounter the Pure Land Dharma Gate. I understood that the karmic retribution for leading armies to kill on the battlefield had to be repaid, and I was deeply afraid. When the conditions matured, I took refuge under Master Xindao and dedicated myself to the Pure Land practice.

"I knew the terror of cause and effect, so I practised diligently in the Buddha’s gate, accumulating merit and dedicating it to my karmic creditors. To propagate the Buddha’s teachings, I travelled throughout Hong Kong and Taiwan. I travelled everywhere, exhausted, solely to spread the Pure Land Dharma Gate. I truly believe that learning the Buddha’s teachings can purify the heart. If everyone could learn the Buddha’s teachings, they would become pure and good—selfless, without wandering thoughts, and without attachment to the self. If we could treat others as one with ourselves, if everyone possessed a pure heart, how could there be war or disaster in this world?"

The Final Moment and the Descent into Hell

"I hoped to contribute my strength to the Dharma. As I travelled to lecture, the number of followers grew, but the constant exhaustion took its toll. I fell ill, and my physical condition deteriorated day by day. Finally, I passed my position as abbot to Guanghua and retired to focus on my own practice. I knew my time to return to the West was approaching, so I focused on chanting Namo Amituofo, hoping for Him to lead me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. When I felt my body failing, I knew my life was reaching its end. I asked Guanghua to tell the disciples to chant the Buddha’s name to send me off. My disciples gathered, and the sound of the Buddha’s name filled the room.

"Yet, in that final moment, I became confused. My chanting was interrupted. My disciples thought I had attained rebirth, but that was not the case. My final thought was not of the Buddha; the chanting had ceased in my mind. My karmic creditors, who had been waiting for this very moment, swarmed around me. They seized my head, and I breathed my last. I fell straight into the hells. You ask why? Because of the countless karmic creditors from my past lives and the enemies I killed in the military—they were all waiting for revenge. Because my final thought of the Buddha was interrupted, my path to the West was severed. I was dragged into hell to suffer retribution. Because of the many strategies I used in war, I was sent to the brain-gouging hell. Because I killed so many through my schemes, I was sent to the hanging hell. And for the harm I caused over countless kalpas, I was sent to the gut-gouging hell. The pain was indescribable.

"While suffering this retribution, I suddenly heard a voice calling, 'Venerable Lü Hang, where are you?' Following a beam of Buddha-light, I arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land and saw the compassionate Practitioner Su. She rescued me from hell and sent me to the Western Dharma-Nature Land to listen to the sutras. During the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Practitioner Su guided my spirit..."

The Mystery of the Three Hun Souls and Seven Po Souls

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. Venerable Lü Hang, during your illness, were your three hun souls and seven po souls pulled out of your body?"

Venerable Lü Hang: "People in the world only know about the three hun souls and seven po souls in a general sense, but they do not understand that if these components are not within the body, specific parts of the body will fall ill, leading to cancer, tumours, and other major diseases. Why are these souls occupied by karmic creditors from past lives? It is because of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and the Five Desires and Six Dusts. If these are not severed, the souls become trapped.

"For example, I loved lecturing on the Dharma. If I became attached to dreams where karmic creditors manifested as followers bowing to me, it would stir up joy and pride. My spirit would then be pulled into that space, unable to escape. Two of my po souls were taken away in this manner. I often dreamt of the battlefield, killing enemies, my hands covered in blood. I would be so terrified that I would drop my weapons. This dream repeated constantly. One of my hun souls was still trapped on the battlefield, while another hun soul and two po souls were locked in that space by my karmic creditors. My health declined. I knew my sins were heavy, so I lectured and practised to dedicate merit, but I was still attached. I could not let go of my desire to finish building the Earth Store Bodhisattva Hall. Because of this attachment, I was captured by my creditors. In my final moment of confusion, the Buddha-name was interrupted, and I fell into hell. This is why I could not be reborn in the Western Pure Land."

The Magnificent Power of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony

"Practitioner Su is a true practitioner with real attainment. During the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, she can manifest in countless ways to lead sentient beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The Thrice Yearning Ceremony is incomparably magnificent. Because Practitioner Su has true faith, true vows, and a heart dedicated to saving immeasurable beings, she possesses the skill to save beings from the twenty-eight heavens down to the hells. During the ceremony at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Namo Amituofo leads the assembly, and the pure ocean-wide assembly of beings welcomes those whom Practitioner Su has delivered to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is a ceremony of unprecedented magnificence.

"I was delivered by Practitioner Su during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, and Namo Amituofo led me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Having witnessed the power of the ceremonies at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I know that Practitioner Su truly has the ability to save immeasurable and boundless suffering beings and lead them to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Lay Practitioner Li Jiaxian: "Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Venerable Lü Hang, for accepting this interview."