The Gavel of Justice

This interview was recorded on June 24, 2023, with Cao Renyi, a former gang leader who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Having successfully undergone Chao Du, he now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. In this testimony, he reflects on his life of rigid justice, his karmic retribution as a gavel, and his eventual transformation through the compassion of Practitioner Su.

Cao Renyi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Upon arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the moment my feet touched this sacred ground, I was immediately overwhelmed by its purity and dignity. It was only then that I realised how chaotic my own heart had been. Bathed in the Buddha-light and the purification of this magnetic field, I felt an indescribable comfort and clarity. In an instant, everything from my past faded away, leaving only the bliss of the present moment.

I am filled with gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. It is because of their compassion that we, sixty prison guards from the hells, were able to arrive here today. We are profoundly grateful, and with the utmost respect, we bow and offer our thanks. Namo Amituofo."

A Life Defined by Right and Wrong

"I am Cao Renyi. Throughout my life, I saw the world only in terms of 'right' and 'wrong'. There was no middle ground, no grey area. Consequently, in the way I conducted myself and managed others, I looked only for the truth of the matter. Even in the most complex situations, I felt compelled to distinguish between what was correct and what was incorrect. In my view, doing what was right was expected, but doing what was wrong demanded punishment. This was my firm attachment and persistence when I was a human being. Looking back now, I realise my approach was far too rigid and harsh.

I had over a hundred followers who were loyal to me. No one ever betrayed me. Of course, I took good care of them, and because I was a man of my word—fair, just, and righteous—I earned their deep respect. I was a gangster, yes, but I never did anything base or low. In many instances, I felt I was more upright than those in the 'white' world, because I never did anything that went against my conscience."

The Code of the Underworld

"I often taught my followers: 'Do not do anything that violates your conscience.' You might find this puzzling—what kind of gang leader says that? We did not steal, we did not rob, and we did not engage in dark, illicit activities. Instead, we used our own methods to uphold a form of world peace and maintain social order.

Many in the legal system were not as efficient as we were. Whenever we identified something as 'wrong', we believed it should be dealt with immediately. Once we received information, we would dispatch our men to handle the situation or the person who had done wrong, using our own methods of discipline. Because I had extensive connections and was well-acquainted with both the underworld and the legitimate world, handling matters was never difficult. With a single word, people would naturally assist me, and we would resolve issues with great speed."

The Price of Vengeance

"I once had a follower named Ah Feng who had been with me for over a decade and was always loyal. One day, I discovered he had accepted money he shouldn't have and had used his status as a gang member to interfere in a property dispute. As soon as I learned of this, I immediately had his right hand broken. I told him: 'How others divide their property is their own business. You took money to intervene and caused harm to others—that is your mistake. This is something I cannot tolerate, and your hand must be broken.' This incident served as a warning to the others, and from then on, no one dared to act recklessly. Before doing anything, they would always seek my approval, and only when I deemed it acceptable would they proceed.

Some mocked our group, saying we didn't act like typical gangsters because we often performed acts of justice that were outside our usual scope. The only thing that remained 'gang-like' was the cruelty of our methods. Just as Ah Feng had his hand broken for his mistake, those outside our group whom we disciplined were treated with equal severity. However, those we punished were always people we had determined deserved it; we never harmed the innocent at random.

Under my leadership, many came to know of our sense of fairness and justice. When they faced problems that the authorities could not resolve, they would come to us. To them, our methods were faster and more effective. If we were paid to handle a matter that was purely a question of 'right' and 'wrong', we would accept it. But if the person paying us was the one who was actually in the wrong, we would never take their money. Instead, we would lecture them, aiming to admonish them and make them realise their own errors."

The Gavel of the Courtroom

"When I was sixty-three, I suddenly suffered a heart attack and passed away in a very short time. My followers were caught unprepared and rushed me to the hospital, but it was too late. After my spirit left my body, I was immediately taken into the hells to receive retribution. Although I had sought fairness and justice in my life, my methods were cruel. I had harmed many lives and left many people disabled and struggling to survive. Even though I viewed those people as having done wrong, my actions in harming them were equally unacceptable. King Yama told me clearly that I should not have acted that way, and I had to pay the price for the karma I had created.

After losing my human body, I was no longer the 'boss'. I knew my followers in the human world were grieving my departure, but at that moment, I saw clearly that my relationship with them existed only while I had a human body. Once I lost it, I was the only one left to suffer the consequences. No one could bear the burden for me, not even those I was closest to. This is true for everyone; after death, each person must be responsible for the sins they have committed.

After serving my sentence in the hells, I still had to repay my debts. I became the 'gavel' used by judges. It is like a hammer; when a judge needs to make a solemn declaration, issue a warning, or maintain order, they strike the gavel. It carries great authority. My spirit resided within that gavel. Before I entered that space, King Yama told me that I was placed there because, despite being a gangster, I possessed an upright heart and sought fairness and justice, much like a judge does when presiding over a case.

So, considering both the sins I had committed and this positive character, I was assigned to be the gavel in a judge's hand. King Yama had told me in advance that I would have to be struck three thousand times before I could leave the space of the gavel. Many judges have held me. I knew the character of every judge, and whether they were truly upright in their hearts, I knew clearly. Some judges, even after attaining their position, were not entirely fair when passing judgment. Outsiders could not see it, but I knew it perfectly well.

As the gavel, even if I could not change the judge's heart, I had to guard the fairness and justice of the entire courtroom. Therefore, whenever a judge used me, I would use the righteous power I had always possessed to ensure the sound of the gavel was powerful and soul-stirring. I guarded the courtroom from the interference of demonic forces, helping the judge to pass fair and just sentences without being influenced by external pressures. The moment I was struck, I could feel the heart of the true criminal below tremble. Even if it was just a subtle movement in their heart, I could sense it, knowing that this was the person who needed to be dealt with."

Transformation in the Hells

"On the day I was struck for the three-thousandth time, my spirit naturally left the gavel and I was brought back before King Yama. He praised my mental note while serving as the gavel, noting that I had helped maintain fairness and justice in the world, reducing the influence of the dark side of human nature and the interference of demonic forces. My righteous heart and actions were commended, and King Yama assigned me a new role: serving as a prison guard in the hells.

While serving in the hells, I naturally upheld my convictions, standing firm at my post and doing what I was supposed to do. About four years ago, I heard the voice of Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. When I first heard it, I was astonished—how could the voice of a human being reach into the hells? Later, I gradually came to know Practitioner Su and saw with my own eyes the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su performing Chao Du, entering the hells to save the beings there. I was filled with admiration.

I had listened to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks only a few times when I was immediately transformed by the Buddha-power. My heart became soft and compassionate, and I realised I needed to help these beings in the hells find liberation. I began to introduce the Buddha's teachings to them, teaching them to admit their mistakes and repent, helping them understand the suffering of samsara, and counseling them to chant Namo Amituofo to seek liberation. I continued to do my duty, but my heart had become compassionate. I used my heart to help these criminals, and when they were willing to repent and change their ways, they could be saved and led away by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, leaving the hells behind.

Later, I learned that I had been placed on the list to be led by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I was so happy, as I had long yearned for the Western Pure Land, never expecting that I would have the opportunity to go there.

Today, my feet have finally touched the ground of the Western Land. My heart is so cool, so pure. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their compassion, which gave me the chance to arrive here.

Namo Amituofo.

Cao Renyi"