The General's Burden: A Millennium of Retribution

This is a record of an interview with Ban Chao, who sought Chao Du 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 2,000 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 1, 2026.

Ban Chao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Ban Chao. Many have heard my name throughout history, yet few truly know who I was or the reality of my story. My family was a lineage of scholars; my father, Ban Biao, was a renowned historian, and my brother, Ban Gu, and sister, Ban Zhao, continued his work on the Book of Han. As a young man, I harboured grand dreams. I longed to be a hero, a man of great stature who could strike fear into the hearts of enemies and bring peace to the nation. Beneath my arrogance and wild ambition, there was a simple, innocent heart that truly desired stability for the people.

A Life of Ambition and Blood

In my youth, I often fantasised about my future. However, our scholarly household could never satisfy my burning ambition. I grew accustomed to hiding my true feelings, performing the same mundane tasks as everyone else. We were not wealthy, and to help my father, I even worked as a clerk in a small government office. It was tedious, but I persisted for a long time.

Eventually, I could no longer suppress my inner calling. I decided to take a gamble—perhaps by venturing out, I could carve out a future for myself! At that time, our nation was preparing to campaign against the Xiongnu. Because I had gained a small reputation, I was selected to serve under General Dou Gu. To me, this was a precious opportunity. My life as a soldier, defending the borders and the nation, had finally begun! With my skills, I quickly gained the general's trust. I made a name for myself on the battlefield time and again. Over the years, more and more Xiongnu began to fear me, and some even respected me. Everyone knew I was a man of consequence—and an enemy who could kill without blinking.

The Agony of Realisation

Now, I have arrived in a world of profound peace and serenity: the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Looking back, I find my former self truly unbearable to behold. Once the 'demon of killing' within me was triggered, I became like a madman. The bloody scenes I witnessed then, when I look upon them now, leave me weeping in deep remorse. Although my mission was to resist the Xiongnu and pacify the 'barbarians,' the inequality and selfishness of my actions were already set in motion long before I set out on my campaigns. For the sake of the Han Dynasty's stability and unification, I often initiated preemptive strikes against border regions before any clear threat existed. This gradually forged my ruthless nature—a man who killed without mercy and spent every waking moment calculating how to defeat others and stay one step ahead.

I refused to submit, and I never considered the word 'defeat.' I thought only that, no matter the cost, I must complete the tasks given to me by the imperial court. While there was a heart that cared for the nation and its people—a heart that was once pure—it became increasingly cruel after being stained by layer upon layer of enemy blood and tears.

The Illusion of the 'Great Nation'

Many would not want to accept this version of Ban Chao. I have been a hero to the Chinese people for thousands of years, the great figure who pacified the Western Regions. This is indeed a fact. My heart was always in the Western Regions, striving for the stability of the nation's rear, not for myself, but for the sake of the empire. Even so, this was one of my own ambitions; in the eyes of the Buddha’s teachings, there was certainly a component of self-interest. My body and heart were truly patriotic, and I always told myself that if the day came when I needed to sacrifice my life to secure the peace of the Han heartland, I would do so without hesitation.

However, if we look at it from another perspective—as the Buddha teaches, that all beings are equal—my heart was never equal. The Han Dynasty viewed itself as the 'Righteous Nation,' treating the small countries of the borderlands as 'barbarians,' labelling them as deviant, evil, or incorrect. This 'Great Nation' mentality is something I only began to feel deeply ashamed of after encountering the Buddhist education of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I often unleashed slaughter for the sake of the Han Dynasty, disregarding the lives of the soldiers on the other side. To achieve the results I wanted, I would exhaust my mind with strategies and schemes, all to persuade the various states of the Western Regions to submit to me, and thereby to the Han Dynasty. That was when my talent for persuasion was at its most lethal. I could make uncertain matters sound like absolute truth, and my opponents often found themselves easily defeated by my words.

A Thousand Years of Hellish Suffering

At this moment, I kneel before Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Seeing the Buddha smile at me with such compassion, my heart has finally found peace. I have calmly reviewed my life and realised that, from beginning to end, I was never truly in control. My Collective Karma with the Han Dynasty, especially with the emperors of that time, was profound. In this lifetime, I severed the heads of many leaders in the Western Regions for the sake of 'peace.' Some of them followed me like vengeful spirits; others are still wandering in the space of the battlefield, wailing in confusion; and some, like me, went to the hells after death to receive retribution. Although I rendered great service to the Eastern Han Dynasty and indirectly reduced the casualties of our own people, the killing karma and verbal karma I created were enough to keep me suffering in the hells for over a thousand years. I have been to the brain-gouging hell, the limb-amputation hell, the heart-gouging hell, the tongue-pulling hell, and others. These torments remain etched in my heart; they are a profound and lasting pain.

The Long Road Home

In my later years, I was a general plagued by chronic illness. The imperial court bestowed upon me the title of 'Marquis of Dingyuan,' meaning 'Pacifier of the Distant Lands.' Although I was famous and lacked for nothing, the physical pain and the inner turmoil made every day feel like a year. I petitioned the emperor several times to return to Luoyang to spend my final years in peace, but there was never any response. Finally, when my body could no longer hold on, my sister, Ban Zhao, submitted a petition on my behalf, and the emperor finally granted permission. I embarked on the road home. My thirty-one years in the Western Regions had finally come to an end.

After emerging from the hells, I continued to receive retribution in the space of the Western Regions until I learned recently that this place is now called Xinjiang, China. The majestic passes still stand; the Jade Gate Pass is still the Jade Gate Pass. My spirit remained in the Gansu and Xinjiang regions, mostly in a state of bewilderment. I watched as wars from various dynasties unfolded in this space, including the space where my own battles of conquest took place. The generals, soldiers, and horses are still suffering in that space. My heart aches, but there is nothing I can do. I know that such things must never be done again; they are all acts that create karma.

The Light of Deliverance

Not long ago, Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su shone a great light across the land of China. Xinjiang, Gansu, and other regions were enveloped in the Twelve Lights of Namo Amituofo. Many, many spirits of the war dead and ghosts of the borderlands stepped into the light with great joy, arriving at the Western Land of Dharma Nature at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This was a day of great celebration; everyone was overjoyed to know they had finally been saved. Many were spirits who had been trapped for thousands of years, and at this moment, they received redemption and the opportunity for liberation.

We have begun a new life in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, and we are still learning and adjusting. We had almost never known the Buddha, nor did we have any faith. We spent our short lives and the long, lingering time in the spirit realms fighting meaningless battles for the sake of ourselves, our families, and our nations. The Western Land of Dharma Nature is so beautiful; it is a world built through the great vow-power of Practitioner Su and the compassionate assistance of Namo Amituofo. We are so happy. This is the true Buddha-land. We have begun to learn how to chant Namo Amituofo and listen to the sutras. Although the era is long past, the language Practitioner Su speaks sounds somewhat like the Minyue dialect of the south today, but we all understand it clearly. We are filled with Dharma joy, knowing that we must chant Namo Amituofo to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Final Call to the Wandering Spirits

Ban Chao's dramatic life has ended, and my identity as a spirit has also come to an end. Seeing the Chao Du skills of Practitioner Su, I am filled with gratitude and admiration. From the south to the north, from the west to the east of China, there are traces of Practitioner Su's deliverance. From the high mountains to the lakes, from the deserts to the grasslands, countless demon crowds and lonely wandering spirits have all received the opportunity for rebirth under the illumination of the Buddha-light. Such a wonderful thing has happened for the first time. Therefore, I, Ban Chao, call upon all wandering spirits: quickly chant the name of Namo Amituofo. When Practitioner Su arrives, that is the moment of your liberation. I hope this day comes soon for everyone, so that all may have the opportunity to leave suffering behind and gain happiness.

Namo Amituofo.

Ban Chao"