The Filial Heart of Han Furong

This is a record of an interview with Han Furong, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life, her dedication to character education, and her time serving as a guard in the hell realms to save her parents. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on February 18, 2023.

Han Furong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, sixty of us who served as prison guards have been compassionately guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This place is truly a world beyond compare—a realm of absolute joy, entirely free from the heavy burdens of suffering and worry. The sacred sound of the Buddha-name resonates everywhere, and we find ourselves smiling naturally, our faces radiant with a peace we never knew possible. Our bodies have become light and ethereal, and our hearts are overflowing with profound Dharma joy. I am so deeply grateful to the Buddha for His infinite compassion, and to Practitioner Su for His boundless mercy in guiding us to this sacred place.

A Life Saved by Compassion

I was born into a very impoverished family as the eldest daughter. Shortly after I was born, I fell gravely ill, and it required a significant amount of money to save my life. My mother asked my father in despair, 'This is our child, and she is on the verge of death. But we have no money for the treatment—what are we to do?' At that time, some relatives even advised my mother to give up on me, suggesting that she could always have another child and that there was no point in trying to save a life that was meant to end. Just as my mother was wavering in her grief, a dear friend of hers suddenly arrived at our home. Upon seeing me, she immediately told my mother, 'I will help you keep this child. I will pay for all the medical expenses!'

This noble person who saved my life later became my foster mother. She was a long-time friend of my mother, a woman of great wealth who had never married and lived her entire life with her parents. In the society of that time, such a woman was truly rare, and her kindness was a beacon of light in my early, fragile existence.

The Lesson of Filial Piety

My foster mother took me into her home to care for me, while my biological parents would visit whenever they could. Consequently, I spent the majority of my childhood living with her. Every single day, I witnessed the interaction between my foster mother and her own parents. She was an incredibly filial daughter; it was precisely because she wanted to care for and accompany her parents that she chose never to marry, remaining by their side for her entire life. Her devotion was a silent, powerful sermon on the nature of love and duty.

Although she was the apple of her parents' eye, I never once saw her act with arrogance. She possessed none of the temper or entitlement one might expect from a wealthy heiress. Her temperament was remarkably easy-going, just like a girl from an ordinary family. On one occasion, I asked her, 'Foster mother, why is it that you have no airs of arrogance? Unlike other daughters of wealthy families who are always so proud, I see none of that in you.' She laughed and replied, 'My parents gave me this body, and it is certainly not meant to be used to indulge my own temper. Doing so would not only harm this precious body but also damage the virtue of my parents. Only by conducting myself well can I truly repay them.'

Her words made everything clear to me. I began to learn from her—to be filial, to be humble, and to be helpful to others. Because of her genuine heart of kindness and filial piety, her life was always smooth and prosperous. Our neighbours often told me that this was the blessing she had accumulated through her filial devotion, and they urged me to follow her example. I understood the importance of filial piety. Whether towards my biological parents or my foster mother, I made sure to honour them. As a result, my own life journey was very smooth; I never encountered any major misfortunes, and good things seemed to happen to me constantly.

A Mission to Educate

Filial piety is the foundation of being a human being; it is the duty of every child. I viewed it as the most important thing in my life. From childhood to adulthood, I listened to my parents and my foster mother, doing exactly as they asked, never giving them cause for worry. When I grew up, my foster mother aged and eventually passed away, as did her parents. She left behind a vast fortune, but I had no desire for it, so I left it all to me. I did not need so much money for myself. I began to think: if I could help more children learn filial piety and the practice of doing good, it would surely be a great benefit to society. With this initial vow, I began to search for children in need. I looked for those from poor families who were forced to work at a young age, often in difficult conditions, and I wanted to offer them a better path.

It was easy to find these children in the most arduous workplaces. For every child I found, I brought them to a factory I managed. If they were willing, I let them work there, but there was a condition: they had to accept an education. Those who could apply what they learned in their daily lives received additional rewards. I used their break times to teach them character education, with filial piety being my highest priority. I required every child to be filial, and I would even visit their homes to observe how they treated their parents. A child who is truly filial can be spotted at a glance, and those who were merely performing for me could be felt in the heart. For those who did not yet understand, I would take them to see parents who were struggling to raise their children, using the reality of their hardships to stir their hearts and help them learn gratitude.

The Old Grandma's Guidance

I also hired many servants in my home, not because I needed the help, but to provide these children with more opportunities to earn money to support their parents. My actions were always rooted in the desire to help them learn. I spent my whole life doing this. To the children who came later, I was just an 'old grandma.' They called me a kind-hearted grandmother because, like my foster mother, I never lost my temper and was always easy-going. Everyone loved being around me. I saw so many pitiful children and wanted to save them all, but my strength alone was not enough. Therefore, I taught every child I mentored to help others in turn. One person helping ten, and those ten helping more—this would be a great blessing for society.

As I grew old and knew my time in this world was coming to an end, I gathered all the children and asked them what they wished to do to help others in the future. Their responses were beautiful—some wanted to build schools, others to provide food, or to establish shelters for orphans. I supported every one of them, not just in spirit, but with the financial support to make their vows a reality. I divided my wealth equally among them. I watched as they worked hard to fulfil their vows, and I felt a deep sense of relief. I had not lived in vain. On the night I passed away, I felt nothing; I simply went to sleep and did not wake up. It was only after my spirit left my body that I realised I had departed from this world forever.

Deliverance Through the Dharma

I had the opportunity to ascend to the heavens, but when I saw my parents suffering in the hells, I begged to be allowed to enter those realms to save them. My filial heart moved the Jade Emperor, and I was permitted to serve as a prison guard in the hells. To save my parents, I urged them to repent for the sins they had committed in the past. But my power was weak, and their hearts were hardened. Even after enduring terrible tortures, it was difficult to turn their minds. It was not until eight or nine years ago, when I began to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, that I finally saw hope.

I used the teachings I heard from Practitioner Su to help my parents and the other beings in hell. Many were deeply moved, including my parents. Later, through the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, they were finally delivered from the hells. At that moment, my heart was finally at peace. When my name was placed on the list to be guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land, I was overcome with emotion. I am so grateful for the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. Today, we have all arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and we are all kneeling in gratitude. Thank you to the Buddha for His compassion. Thank you to Practitioner Su for His compassion. Namo Amituofo."

Han Furong