The Final Verdict of the Qing Dynasty Official Liu Yong

This is a record of an interview with Liu Yong, also known as Liu Luoguo, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 200 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 6, 2026.

Liu Yong speaks:

"I am Liu Yong, known to the world as Liu Luoguo. For over eighty years, I walked this earth with strength and purpose. The world remembers me as a man of integrity, a loyal minister who stood firm against corruption and injustice. Yet, in the quiet of my own heart, I always sought a deeper freedom—a way to serve the people without compromising the Truth. Why am I here now, speaking across the veil of time? It is because the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has become a beacon of the Buddha’s name. There is a Truth in the Buddha’s mission to save the world, and I could not let this opportunity pass me by. I am honoured to follow this path.

The Twelve Lights and the Path to Deliverance

The Twelve Lights of Namo Amituofo are here to save sentient beings, clearing away the murky, stagnant energies of this space. Countless spirits are rushing toward this Pure Land, finally finding a place to leave suffering behind and gain happiness. I am the Liu Luoguo that everyone knows, but how many truly understand that my given name was Liu Yong? I grew fond of the nickname Liu Luoguo—the Hunchback Liu. Though it was not my formal title, it always brought a smile to people's faces, and I never minded it. By the time I reached my eighties, though my back was bent, I could still travel across the land, navigating the complexities of the imperial court and the lives of the common people. Ha! Looking back, having dedicated my entire life to the imperial court and the people, I, Liu Luoguo, have no regrets. Yet, as death approached, I did not know where I was going. That is the tragedy of the human world; no one can truly fathom the mystery of what lies beyond.

The Revelation of Truth

It was not until two hundred years after my passing that I finally understood that the Truth is the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha’s teachings are the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. These words come from a practitioner in Taiwan, known today as Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Without Practitioner Su, there would be no Liu Luoguo here today, and this testimony would not exist. I was saved by Practitioner Su, and I was saved by Namo Amituofo. These two—one is the Buddha of the highest spiritual attainment, the Universal Buddha, and the other is a living Buddha in the human world, Practitioner Su, who has realised her true nature and is dedicated to saving all suffering beings. Through the perfect coordination of these two, countless spirits across the vast land of China have been granted a chance at rebirth.

Heroes and History Revealed

Buried beneath the dust of history, the heroes, the virtuous scholars, the emperors, the ministers, and the gifted ladies have all emerged before the eyes of the world. It is a shock to realise that even after hundreds or thousands of years, they have not truly vanished. They have merely existed in another space, invisible to the human world—trapped, guarding a piece of land, or suffering in places no one knows. But in truth, none of that matters anymore. What matters is that Liu Luoguo and the vast masses of the Chinese people have finally understood the principle that the spirit never dies. This is a profound lesson imparted by Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. It is a truth we must listen to, for there is no escaping the reality of the cycle of rebirth.

A Call for Moral Awakening

Watching the scene where Practitioner Su leads Namo Amituofo to shine light across China, I cannot help but weep. I weep for the suffering of the human body, and I weep for the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings and the immense fortune of the people. To have the Buddha abide in the world, performing the work of saving people and spirits—this is a miracle. China may have lost its connection to the Buddha’s teachings, but the Buddha has not abandoned China. Saving China has become one of the slogans of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, located far away in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. This is the Ultimate Vow issued by Practitioner Su in response to the needs of this age, and it is a path of hope for the transmission of the Buddha’s teachings. For the Chinese people to rise and for the lineage of the Buddha’s teachings to flow once more is a great blessing for all, and a necessary gate for the moral foundations of China to rise again. Truly, learning the Buddha’s teachings is the greatest blessing of all!

The Burden of the Official

My footsteps once marked the length and breadth of China. The people I met and the connections I formed are long gone, but the heart of an official who loves his people remains unchanged. I once held many policies for the benefit of the nation, constantly pondering how to better use every brick and tile of the country, how to cultivate talent, and how to appoint the virtuous. The Emperors Qianlong and Jiaqing generally adopted my suggestions, though I was not always the most popular person at court. When my memorials were rejected, it was simply my own misfortune; I could not blame others. My path as an official was mostly about serving the people and serving the Emperor. Everything was handled with clarity and order, and I never dared to be biased toward any side. I only knew how to follow the Dharma and the law. To select talent, the imperial examination system had to be perfected; to ensure the well-being of the people, corrupt officials had to be eradicated. The world once gave me the title Liu Qingtian—the incorruptible judge. Ha! Liu Luoguo accepted it with trepidation and a joyful smile. Being a good official is no easy task!

The Price of Loyalty

On the long road of officialdom, I offended many people. To remain loyal to the imperial court and consolidate the stability of the Qing Dynasty, I showed no mercy to those who longed for the previous dynasty, and many were sentenced to death under my hand. This is a subject for which later generations have criticised me. Although I acted for the sake of the sovereign and the country, the cruelty of those methods is likely why I suffered in the hells for a short time after my death. I passed away quite peacefully—what the world calls a good end—but when I arrived before the King of Hell, I could not escape the accusations of those I had ordered to be executed. They all wept and presented their petitions. However, because I had been incorruptible and upright throughout my life, there was little for the King of Hell to charge me with. Yet, he saw that I had indeed taken lives. Even though my intent was for the stability of the greater good, killing always requires a price to be paid. Thus, I entered the hell of amputation and suffered for several decades to repay those debts of life.

A Choice to Protect

After emerging from the hells, the King of Hell saw that my past deeds were done and that the good I had performed had yet to be rewarded. He gave me two paths: to reincarnate as a human or to become a deity to protect the people. I chose the latter. By then, the Qing Dynasty under Empress Dowager Cixi was already shrouded in a dark, gloomy energy; even if I had appeared in the world, a hero would have had no place to use his skills. So, I chose to guard China through the ups and downs of the next two hundred years. I witnessed the darkening of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the suffering of the people that no one knew, and the decline of the imperial court where no great ministers remained. The emaciation of the people and the invasion of foreign enemies made the suffering of the Chinese people even more unbearable. Watching Practitioner Su’s deliverance, I see that this era is still covered in a layer of grey, stagnant energy. Without the Buddha, I estimate that this suffering would never have been dispelled! Practitioner Su, bringing Namo Amituofo and the Twelve Lights of the Buddha, has indeed cleared away much of this murkiness, but there are still vast areas waiting to be cleansed. I am truly happy for these beings! Such good fortune does not happen often. Having encountered this, my heart is filled with joy. I have come to know the greatness of the Buddha and the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings. This great Dharma must be transmitted, and future generations must inherit the skills of Practitioner Su!

A New Home in the West

Like these other spirits, when Practitioner Su shone a great light over Beijing, I was sent directly to the Western Land of Dharma Nature—a pure and dignified Buddha-land. There, I began a new path of practice and recognised my true home: the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. After wandering through an official career of over eighty years, spending decades in hell, and guarding the people for over a century, I have finally encountered the Truth and the Buddha. As I said before, I am truly moved to tears, filled with countless emotions. Oh, Buddha! The Chinese people need you, and they need the Buddha’s teachings! This is the cry from the heart of a hunchbacked Prime Minister of the Qing Dynasty. I am very happy and comforted; the Chinese people are saved! I will also do my best to ensure that Practitioner Su’s path of saving beings becomes even smoother. China is my old territory, so I am working hard to sow the seeds of the six-character name of Namo Amituofo, striving for the true abiding of Namo Amituofo in this world. I am in the distant Western Land of Dharma Nature, and I am also in every inch of the land of China. Ha! I am just like I was in the old days, travelling across the country, sparing no effort to get things done. My heart is still with the people, so I must learn from Practitioner Su’s spirit of serving all beings!

Liu Luoguo has said enough. My life’s journey is not that important, and all the biographical details can be simplified. What is important is that the Chinese people are saved! Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and gratitude to Practitioner Su!

Namo Amituofo.

Liu Yong"