The Flow of Life: From Teacher to Guardian of the Hells

This interview was recorded on September 8, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It features Liu Minda, a former teacher who dedicated his life to children with special needs and later served as a prison guard in the underworld. Seeking deliverance from the cycle of suffering, he was guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, where he now resides.

Liu Minda speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, I, Minda, along with fifty-nine other prison guards, have arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The scenery before my eyes is so breathtakingly beautiful that it has brought a profound sense of peace to my heart. I cannot help but kneel in gratitude to the Buddha, and to Practitioner Su, who guided me to this Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

"Since arriving here, everything has become so clear. I repent for having clung so tightly to my human body. I was wrapped in so many heavy emotions, but now I realise that everything is ultimately empty; the body is merely an actor playing a role in a play."

A Childhood of Shadows and Resilience

"My full name is Liu Minda. I was born into a broken home. My mother was a mistress, and before I was even born, my father abandoned her, leaving behind only money. Even while I was still in my mother's womb, I could feel the despair and helplessness in her heart. She hesitated constantly about whether to bring me into this world, and several times she contemplated ending my life. Yet, it seems my karmic connection with her was incredibly strong, and regardless of the circumstances, I was born safely."

"My mother would hold me in her arms, tears streaming down her face, not knowing where we could go or what the future held. Later, she found a boyfriend, hoping for a better life, but he would beat her when he was drunk, forcing her to flee with me. From then on, she worked to support us and raised me on her own."

"For as long as I can remember, my mother’s face was almost always etched with sorrow. Sometimes she would cry in secret, and I knew how much she suffered. Because she suffered, I, as her child, suffered too. My heart felt as though it were weighed down by countless stones; I often felt stifled, unable to catch my breath. When I looked at people my own age, they seemed to welcome each day with joy, while I felt like an outsider."

Seeking Solace in the Flowing Water

"Many times I tried to encourage myself, but I always failed. To find an outlet, I would often go to watch the flowing water. Watching the stream, I saw how it adapted to whatever terrain it encountered. I knew that the water possessed a strength hidden within its softness, so I would watch it, hoping to wash away the filth within my own heart."

"Yet, the more I deliberately tried to break free, the deeper my heart would sink when it fell again. Eventually, my only belief became 'faith'—the belief that one day I would find a way out. I waited, waiting for that day to arrive."

The Life of a Teacher

"Every day, I continued to strive for my life. Eventually, I became a teacher, entering a school for the deaf and children with special needs, starting from the grassroots level. Within the school, I witnessed the true vitality of life. These children—some with hearing impairments, some with missing limbs, some completely blind—required our constant, dedicated care to ensure their safety."

"In the school, there was a child named Axin who was born without arms. I watched him train his feet to complete every task for himself. Failure after failure eventually led to a more proficient way of living. Seeing his growth made me very happy for him."

The Resilience of the Human Spirit

"However, when he was eleven, Axin began to fall frequently while walking. Doctors determined that his legs were suffering from a congenital disease and that amputation was necessary to save his life. His family had no choice but to endure the pain of having his legs amputated."

"When I visited Axin in the hospital, the look of despair on his face made my heart ache. I encouraged him, telling him, 'When God closes a door for you, He will open another window. There is hope everywhere in life; you must maintain a positive belief.' Axin knew I supported him, and he showed me a smile. That smile remains in my mind to this day—it was the very definition of persistence in life."

"Over the years, I cared for many children, and through them, I learned that life can overcome anything, no matter how great the difficulty. Seeing these children made me realise that although my own upbringing was difficult, I at least had a complete body. I could use these hands and feet to help those in need, rather than hiding in my own little box, spinning around in circles without ever getting out. The true medicine for the soul is to open one's heart and accept all things. When I realised this, my heart opened up immensely."

From Teacher to Administrator

"After my time as a grassroots teacher, I became a director. During this process, I noticed that after educating the children, we also needed to help their parents. For the parents, having a child with special needs often left them panicked and unsure of what to do. So, I discussed it with the school teachers, and we established a consultation centre for parents and held courses to invite them to participate. We helped parents truly understand the needs of their children and how to encourage and assist them so that their hearts could grow. The more complete our work, the more we helped both the parents and the students."

"Seeing the vitality of these children, I decided to do my utmost to help them. Watching them strive to express their lives brought me great joy and comfort."

The Final Transition

"In the blink of an eye, I had been at that school for over twenty years. From a young man, I had grown weathered by time. Over the years, several students could not overcome their illnesses and passed away. Their smiles and their resilience remain in my mind. When my most important mentor passed away, it caused a great impact on my heart. I could not help but look at the flowing water again, hoping to gain some insight."

"Through experience after experience, I learned that nothing in life can be kept, and the body will eventually disappear, so I cherished every moment. At forty-eight, my body began to weaken. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I knew I would soon face life and death, and I looked at the flowing water once more. This time, I thought to myself: 'Where will my life flow after I die?' Yet, I knew I would never know the answer."

"At fifty-two, the moment I closed my eyes, I saw myself standing by the flowing water, my spirit following the current. I became a water molecule, flowing everywhere, experiencing so much, with so many unspoken sighs in my heart. I cycled through the heavens and the earth until the causal conditions were ripe, and my spirit was led to the Yama Hall."

Service in the Underworld

"King Yama saw that I had a heart for helping others during my life, so he made me a prison guard to serve sentient beings. I was very grateful and determined to serve with all my heart. In the process of serving, I witnessed a great deal of the laws of karma and cause and effect. Even more shockingly, I learned that even a single bad thought could lead one to the hells to suffer retribution. The hells are truly bloody places; the pain and torture are all because each being in the hells has a personality that is too strong. After understanding this, I worked hard to counsel the beings in the hells and myself."

"While on duty, I also heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, which helped me understand the great Dharma of liberation, and I made a vow to seek liberation. I am grateful to King Yama for giving me the opportunity to be placed on the list for rebirth. I am also grateful to be able to chant the Buddha's name today with the other fifty-nine prison guards and all the other spirits to achieve rebirth."

"I am grateful to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. If it were not for Practitioner Su's guidance, I would not have had the ability to reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, I hope to practice diligently before the Buddha so that in the future, I can use my own strength to help sentient beings as well."

"Namo Amituofo."

Liu Minda, with palms joined.

Note: Prison guard Liu Minda’s mother, Wang Ji, was also in the space and was guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.