The Fire and the Light of Rebirth

This is a record of an interview with Wu Tingjian, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his experience during the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on December 2, 2025.

Wu Tingjian speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wu Tingjian. In my life, I was a man of strength, a middle-aged bachelor living within the confines of Wang Fuk Court. I always had a restless spirit; I loved the idea of movement, of exercise, of being active. But the living conditions in Wang Fuk Court were so cramped, so suffocating—it never truly suited the way I wanted to live. I dreamt of flight, of vast, open horizons where I could finally breathe. I spent so much time thinking about how to earn enough money to leave that city behind, to find a place where I could truly be free. But as it turned out, time was not on my side. Everything happened far too quickly for me to ever make that escape.

Yet, looking back now, I realise it was not a tragedy at all. In a strange way, I finally got my wish to fly. When the fire came, I did not just run; I felt as if I were propelled upward, lifted by a brilliant, golden light that swept me away from that suffocating, pitch-black inferno. Among the victims, I suppose I was neither the most burdened nor the least. I did not have the heavy responsibility of trying to save an elderly parent or a young child, which was a mercy in itself. I was alone, and I tried to save myself, but the fire had already taken hold before I even realised the danger. I simply could not get out in time."

A Shift in Perspective

"They say that bad things can sometimes lead to good outcomes. I have been here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land for three days now, and I have come to truly understand that death is not something to be feared. Once I broke free from the constraints of my physical body, I realised that the transition was not nearly as terrifying as I had imagined. Perhaps it was my own stroke of good fortune! To encounter the deliverance of the Buddha—that is not an easy thing to achieve in this world.

When the disaster began, I was at home, resting in my usual, somewhat lethargic way. I was never the most observant person; I often let things slip my mind, and I tended to be quite self-absorbed, wrapping myself in my own little world. I suppose, in truth, I was a rather solitary man. I remember seeing the windows were sealed shut, and then, suddenly, a wave of intense heat and thick, choking smoke began to pour into my room. Fear gripped me instantly. I knew this was not normal—it felt like a scene from a disaster movie, something that happens to other people, not to me."

The Final Struggle

"I did not think twice; I bolted for the door, desperate to get out. At that moment, I could not see any flames yet, so I foolishly told myself that I still had time. I stayed calm, thinking, 'I, Wu Tingjian, will definitely survive this.' I even thought about warning others as I moved toward the area where the smoke seemed thinner, shouting at the top of my lungs, 'Fire! There is a fire! Everyone, run!'

There was only one staircase, and the elevators were already death traps. But as I shouted, I realised with a sinking heart that no one was answering me. Was I the last one to know? When I reached the stairwell, the reality hit me like a physical blow. The fire had already consumed the stairs; it was a roaring, hungry beast of flame that filled the entire passage. We were trapped. The entire floor was sealed off, and there was not even a sliver of space left. Not even the most agile animal could have escaped that."

The Moment of Transition

"I have never been a man who feared death; I always believed it was an inevitable part of the journey. As for pain, I felt it would be temporary. I did not want to die in a hospital bed, dragging my family down with me, so perhaps this end was not entirely unjust. I do not know how I managed to stay so calm, but I had no desire to struggle anymore. The path to survival was clearly blocked. So, I held onto one last, desperate hope: I would try to roll down the stairs. I thought if I could just roll quickly enough, even if I got burned, maybe I could find a way out.

I gathered my final ounce of courage and threw myself onto the floor, imagining I was rolling across a soft field of grass. I spun and turned, forcing my body toward the stairwell. It was so hot—the air, the floor, everything was searing. I began to regret it, but I pushed myself into that wall of fire. The moment I entered the flames, I screamed, 'Ah! Ah!' That was when the true panic set in. I realised it was all over. The pain was so intense, so absolute, that it made me feel numb. It was as if my entire being was shattering under the agony."

Rebirth in the Light

"In the next instant, I was no longer 'me.' I was still at the scene, but I was floating, detached. I was not the person I had been a moment before. I realised then how fragile the human body truly is—in a single heartbeat, I could no longer feel my own flesh. Is this my spirit? Am I really no longer myself? I heard a voice, and I saw other spirits around me, all looking just as dazed and lost as I felt. But at least the physical agony was gone. I could move, and I drifted through the disaster site, watching the chaos. Heavens, there were so many people trying to escape, even in the other buildings. The screams and the crying kept my spirit in a state of profound sorrow and unease. My heart ached for the children—they were so small, they had not even seen the world yet, and now they were just screaming in terror, so helpless and desperate.

I do not know how much time passed, but then I saw something—a brilliant, shimmering light that seemed to be beckoning to me. It called out, 'Come over here! The light is right in front of you!' I, along with many other spirits nearby, naturally moved toward that radiance. It was not difficult; it felt as if we were being carried on a conveyor belt, effortlessly gliding toward the light. The darkness was suddenly washed away by an all-encompassing brilliance, a light so vast and boundless that I could not see where it ended."

The Compassion of Namo Amituofo

"My heart yearned for that light. I knew that light and darkness were opposites, just as good and evil are. People always hope to move toward goodness. At the time, I did not even realise it was the Buddha coming to lead me; I just felt that I was ascending to heaven. From childhood, we are taught that death is a chance to go to heaven, to enjoy blessings, and that it must be far more beautiful than the human world.

Moving upward like that—compared to the terror of rushing into the fire—the contrast was so immense that even now, I feel a sense of cool relief when I think about it. When I reached the top, I saw golden light everywhere. It was bright, yet so gentle and comfortable; it did not sting my eyes at all. I wanted to stay there forever, never to leave, and certainly never to return to that burning hell on earth. That building fire is a deep, jagged scar on the hearts of the people of Hong Kong, something that will never be forgotten.

I began to laugh. The sound of the Buddha-name chanting here is so different from what I heard in the temples outside! It is so warm, carrying a power of such immense compassion. In every syllable of 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo,' I could feel it. I felt a joy I had never known—a joy from the very depths of my heart. I think I had never felt this in my entire life, because there is a world of difference between the pleasures of the body and the joy of the spirit. I realise now that Namo Amituofo is that light. That light is Namo Amituofo. It is the Buddha's light that has restored us to such a beautiful state, making us brand new. I did not die; I was reborn!"

A Message to the Living

"I am here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks. At first, I did not quite understand, but after listening for three days, my wisdom has begun to open. I know now that I am a very lucky child. Even though I was a grown man in the human world, the Buddha calls us all children, so I suppose I am a child. To be reborn and to be a child again—and to be a good child of Namo Amituofo—what kind of incredible blessing is this?

So, I want to tell my family and friends in the human world: you must practise chanting this name, Namo Amituofo. Whether you are happy or sad right now, human life always has an end. When that day comes, I hope you can all be at ease, chanting Namo Amituofo, and leave the human world peacefully to come to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss of Namo Amituofo. We will meet there! If you lack confidence in rebirth, then you must learn about the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia! I am here to deliver this message to you.

This is a wonderful place. No matter how panicked or anxious people are when they arrive, they are gradually soothed by the Buddha-light and the chanting of the Buddha's name. The heart becomes peaceful and joyful. This is the first time I have ever felt completely free from afflictions. It is as if the past and the future no longer have any hold on me; everything has passed. Life is so short, and a human body is so hard to obtain. I hope you will all cherish it!"

Namo Amituofo.

Wu Tingjian