The Fulfillment of a Vow: From Butcher to Prison Guard to Pure Land

This interview features Zhang Guizhong, who served as a prison guard in the hell realms before seeking deliverance. Through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, he successfully attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This testimony, recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on July 23, 2022, chronicles his journey from a past life as a butcher to his ultimate liberation.

Zhang Guizhong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. After wandering for so long, I have finally returned to my true home in the Western Land. I, along with fifty-nine other prison guards, am weeping with joy. We are all so incredibly happy. We never imagined that we would have the opportunity to return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. When we first received the news, we waited every single day, and now, we have finally arrived. We are so overjoyed. I kneel to express my deepest gratitude for the Buddha’s grace and for the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

A Life of Early Responsibility

I am Zhang Guizhong. I entered into marriage quite early in my life; at eighteen, I married the woman I loved most in this world. Within seven years of our marriage, we were blessed with five sons. My wife was a virtuous and capable woman. It felt as though as long as she was by my side, I had nothing to worry about. She managed every aspect of our household with grace and efficiency.

The Dream of the Suffering Beings

I operated a vegetarian restaurant. Initially, I did not open this establishment for religious reasons. Instead, it began when I was twenty-three years old. I started having recurring dreams where countless animals were crying out to me for help. This continued for about six months. During that time, I sought help from various deities and even participated in Dharma assemblies to perform Chao Du for them, but they kept coming to me in my dreams. Finally, I could think of no other solution. There happened to be a vegetarian restaurant across the street, and it suddenly occurred to me: 'If I open a vegetarian restaurant and encourage everyone to eat vegetarian food, I can help these animals so they are no longer slaughtered by humans.'

Once I decided on this plan, I communicated my intentions to these animals and promised to continue performing Chao Du for them every month. Gradually, the dreams ceased. I kept my promise, left my previous job, and began running the vegetarian restaurant.

A Restaurant Built for Compassion

I knew clearly that this restaurant was not meant for me to make a profit. It was truly meant to help these animals, to reduce the number of meat-eaters in the world, and to encourage more people to adopt a vegetarian diet so that fewer animals would suffer. Therefore, more than half of the earnings from the restaurant were used to perform Chao Du for these animals, to promote vegetarianism everywhere, and to provide Generosity to those in need. Only a small portion was kept to maintain our family's livelihood.

As my sons were born one after another, our living expenses were quite high. It was not enough to rely only on the small amount of money left from the restaurant, so I had to take on extra work during the restaurant's closing hours and on our days off to earn more. My wife helped me immensely with the restaurant work. Without her strong support, I truly could not have managed it alone.

The Choice of Service Over Profit

Later, as the restaurant's business grew, many regular customers thought I was foolish. They asked why I did not hire employees so I would not have to work so hard. I knew that if I hired staff, I could save a lot of energy, but this restaurant was not for profit. I wanted to use the money for Generosity, Chao Du, and promoting vegetarianism. If I spent money on employees, the costs would be even higher. I preferred to endure the hardship myself and use the money for more meaningful purposes.

Many people could not understand why I would do this, making my own life so tiring and difficult without gaining any personal benefit. It is normal for ordinary people to think this way, as we all have lives to lead and families to support; it is impossible for most to be volunteers every day while letting their families go hungry. However, I did not think that way, because I knew how much these animals suffered.

The Seeds of Awakening

In my dreams, the suffering of those animals was clearly displayed to me. It was as if I were watching a tragic film every single day. During those six months, my heart was filled with sorrow and pain, and I was determined to find every possible way to help them. Because of this Causal Condition, my five sons began eating vegetarian food from a young age. My fourth and youngest sons, who were born after the restaurant opened, were even vegetarian from the womb. They had never eaten meat and were very pure.

Later, through the connection of the restaurant, I met many monastics and fellow practitioners who came to eat. They were very happy to introduce the Buddha’s teachings to me, giving me the opportunity to encounter the Dharma. At first, because I was busy with work, I did not immediately begin to practise. Gradually, perhaps because the timing was right, I began to seriously consider whether I should study the Buddha’s teachings.

The Call of the Dharma

After discussing it with my wife, we decided to visit a bodhimanda with these fellow practitioners. Once we went, we immediately decided to begin our practice. We were moved to tears by the sound of the Buddha's name chanting in the hall; I knelt before the Buddha and could not stop crying. At that moment, I felt that studying the Buddha’s teachings was my life's mission. I had to do it.

After I began my practice, the biggest change was in my state of mind. Through listening to the Dharma talks, I understood the suffering of beings even more deeply, so I knew I had to use all my strength to help them. The restaurant also remained necessary, as it helped reduce the inconvenience for people trying to eat vegetarian. As long as they came to the shop, they could eat delicious vegetarian dishes, which encouraged more people to choose a vegetarian lifestyle.

A Life of Devotion

Under these considerations, I insisted on continuing the restaurant for over twenty years. My children grew up eating there, and later, my eldest and third sons joined in to help, researching even more delicious vegetarian dishes, which made the business flourish even more. My wife and I did not go to the temple often, as life was too busy, but we did one thing very well: we constantly reminded ourselves to chant the Buddha’s name, and we encouraged every customer who came to the shop to do the same.

As we grew older, we gradually handed the restaurant over to our sons, only occasionally checking in. Most of our time was spent on Buddhist affairs, which were more important to us and represented the life we wanted to live in our later years. Our sons married and had children, and whenever the grandchildren came over, we taught them to chant the Buddha’s name and sutras. Perhaps because of the blessings we accumulated from the restaurant, we were blessed with these wonderful grandchildren who all had good roots. Whenever we taught them to chant, they did it very well, even chanting on their own. Seeing this, I encouraged my sons to give their children the opportunity to study the Buddha’s teachings, as it would benefit their future.

The Transition to the Western Pure Land

We spent our later years in simplicity. Every day was spent chanting the Buddha’s name, serving others when possible, or introducing the Dharma to people. Although our lives were not as busy as before, they were more fulfilling and meaningful. I lived to the age of seventy-five before leaving the human world. I did not suffer from any illness; I passed away quietly in my sleep.

Although I did not have time to speak to my children, there was nothing left to say. Everything I wanted to say, I had already told them: I hoped they would all study the Buddha’s teachings well and bring their children along. That would be the best thing.

After my spirit left my body, I stood before Yama, the King of Hell. He showed me my past, and only then did I realise that in a previous life, I had been a butcher. Before I died in that life, I had deeply repented to the animals I had killed and vowed that if I were reborn as a human, I would help them. It was because of this Causal Condition that I encountered these events in this life. In the hells, I served as a prison guard. About seven years ago, I heard Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk. When I heard it for the first time, I was amazed and full of praise, because it was the first time I had heard someone explain the Buddha’s teachings so clearly, thoroughly, and transparently. After listening to the talks for several years, I became increasingly immersed in the Dharma, chanting the Buddha’s name diligently every day, and making the vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to save all beings. Finally, I have waited for this moment. I am so happy and so grateful. Namo Amituofo."

Zhang Guizhong