The General's Penance: From Battlefield to Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Guan Yu, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,800 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Ru, on April 5, 2026.

Guan Yu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Guan Yu. Before I begin, I offer this verse to reflect upon my journey:

Galloping across the battlefield, a match for ten thousand men, Loyal to the Han throne, my blade claimed countless lives. Yet, my heart remained steadfast in its devotion to the nation. In the sunset of my life, the ghosts of the fallen circled me, My strength waned, and my clarity began to fade into the mist. To be separated from one's head is a bitter fate indeed, But it could never repay the lives of the thousands I had slain. After death, I descended directly into the depths of the hells, Enduring eighteen hundred years of torment, unable to find release. Until the golden light of Namo Amituofo shone upon me, And the sound of the chime called my name, guiding me to the stone chamber. Listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, I sought the Western Land, Practitioner Su led me into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Only before the Buddha did I finally realise my grave errors, I made a vow to return to the Saha world, joining the Hsiang Kuang Dharma protectors. It has been over ten years since that day, I urge you, do not follow the path of Guan Yu, For the karmic retribution of killing is no ordinary debt. True loyalty and righteousness of heart, Lie in holding all beings in the world within one's heart, To benefit others without a trace of self is the only true loyalty, Following the path of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su with ease.

A Life of Loyalty and Blood

The life I led was a complex tapestry of merit and sin. Throughout my years, I followed my lord, Liu Bei, through endless campaigns and battles. My loyalty and sincerity toward him were absolute—they were never in doubt. However, the karmic debt created by those long years of warfare is truly beyond calculation. We lived in the chaotic era of the Three Kingdoms; to establish a hegemony, to stand firm, and to create the tripartite balance of power, there was a 'necessary evil' that someone had to shoulder. Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, and I were the core of the Shu Han kingdom. Even with the so-called Five Tiger Generals, the only ones I truly acknowledged were the three of us. We were of one heart, a bond forged the day we swore our brotherhood to the heavens.

Others may have joined or surrendered to us for their own reasons, but when the three of us began, we had nothing—no army, no power. Yet, we made a vow based on a shared ambition: to help the common people, to allow them to live in peace and prosperity. For that goal, I was willing to shoulder any amount of karmic debt. I knew from the start that the path to building a nation would not be smooth. There would be countless obstacles, and I would inevitably have to take the lives of enemy soldiers. I was prepared to bear that burden.

The Burden of the Necessary Evil

I was born into a world where I saw the suffering of the people from a young age. They were hungry, cold, and destitute, while the government lacked the capacity to help. Rebellions were everywhere, and refugees filled the roads. Even then, I believed that to respect one's country was to uphold the principles of benevolence, righteousness, and morality. This was the foundation my parents gave me: one might go hungry or cold, one might be displaced, but the virtues of loyalty and filial piety must be strictly guarded. This is the essence of a human being, the root of standing tall in this world. If people do not understand these principles, they are not fit to live between heaven and earth.

I understood this deeply. To be loyal to the country meant to protect the people, for the people are the very lifeblood of the nation. If the current government could not do this, then as a man, I had a duty to step forward and help restore order. During those turbulent times, local rebellions were rampant, most notably the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which involved tens of thousands of people across the country. My elder brother Liu Bei, my younger brother Zhang Fei, and I united our hearts and joined the forces to quell the chaos. I knew I had no other talents, but I had some confidence in my martial prowess.

The Weight of the Sword

My physique was different from others from childhood; it was a gift from heaven. I practised martial arts diligently and possessed great confidence in my abilities. During the rebellions, I could face a hundred enemies alone, breaking through sieges and turning the tide of battle. As our army grew, we gradually occupied our own territory. I had to take on the role of guarding cities, a task I was well-suited for. I could care for the people within the walls while strictly defending against external threats. I was not entirely ignorant of strategy, but for me, a direct, courageous, and straightforward approach to warfare was easier to understand and execute. I placed my full trust in my lord's planning and his deployment of forces. Yet, I also knew that my lord was deeply concerned for the world, sometimes even showing a degree of mercy toward our enemies.

This was a point of great worry for me. I feared that in such a chaotic era, such 'womanly kindness' would make us vulnerable to invasion and loss. I repeatedly urged my lord to strike first when necessary, but he did not always take my advice. In my lord's heart, even when conflict was unavoidable, his moral standards remained far higher than my own, which earned my deepest respect. In the face of such powerful enemies and harsh conditions, he remained uncorrupted by the temptation of power or the title of emperor. He followed the truth and the righteous path. This made me follow him even more firmly, trusting all his policies and military orders. Because I knew he would never kill the innocent, whenever he ordered me to capture a city or reclaim a region, I gave my all.

Deliverance from the Hells

My lord must have weighed many factors, understanding that these battles and the resulting slaughter were necessary, before entrusting them to me. When I stood on the battlefield, I was filled with a sense of righteous indignation. The core of this was my knowledge that these battles had to succeed; they were unavoidable conflicts that my lord had tried to avoid through every possible concession. I was the one who would carry out the final execution. I could do what my lord could not, relying on my martial strength and my unwavering sense of duty. It was not because I loved killing, but because I completely believed in my lord's great vow to bring peace to the world. I believed that every life I took would one day contribute to the people's stability.

However, years of slaughter slowly took their toll on my body. I could feel myself growing heavier. Although I continued to charge forward without hesitation, I could clearly feel my reactions and strength declining with age, and my clarity in judging the situation was affected. In my dreams at night, I would often see the spirits of the fallen soldiers coming to claim my life. Yet, even in my dreams, I remained fearless. I held a great sense of justice, and I knew these were karmic debts I had to repay. This determination was vital to the world; I could not retreat. The great work was unfinished, the Shu Han empire was not yet stable, and I had to help my lord. In the final battle, I was beheaded.

My strength was not what it once was, and facing the enemy's fierce assault, I was forced into retreat until only a few cavalrymen remained. I was powerless to resist, but even at the end, I held firm to my lord's instructions. I felt no regret for the outcome. I believed that my life spent helping my lord build the Shu Han empire, allowing the people to find stability, made my years of military service worthwhile. When my head was severed, my spirit departed and instantly arrived before the King of Hell. He asked me if I understood the pain of those I had killed. I told him I did, but that in those chaotic times, my actions were a necessary evil. If everyone held only 'womanly kindness,' how could a nation be built? The King of Hell saw that I still did not know how to repent and sent me to the hells. I suffered there for a long time, so long that I lost all sense of time.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a chime, pulling me from the depths of my suffering and bringing me to a place called the Fragrant Light Chamber. At that time, my body was still suffering from the agony of dismemberment and decapitation, and my spirit was not yet clear. I only felt that same unwavering resolve. Later, amidst the sound of the chime and the golden light, I slowly awakened and was led by Practitioner Su—my lord—to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. That was over ten years ago. Observing this beautiful world and looking back at the Earth, I finally began to understand why I had been trapped in the hells for so long. The human world truly should not have war. Every person has a physical body, and this human form is hard to obtain; there is so much more one can do than wage war. If one participates in war and loses their life, it is a waste of a precious existence. If one has the opportunity to learn the Buddha's teachings, one can use this precious body to save more beings and help more people."

Namo Amituofo.

However, I, Guan Yu, did not understand this truth at the time. I was single-mindedly convinced that I had to help establish the Shu Han state and ensure that the people of the world could live in peace and prosperity under the rule of Shu. I never once considered that the civilians, soldiers, and people of the Eastern Wu Empire, or those of the Cao Wei Empire, were also part of the world's sentient beings. In reality, there was no difference between us. It was merely the environment of that era and various circumstances that led us into different factions and camps, creating opposition and even mutual slaughter. I, Guan Yu, was skilled in both literature and martial arts, and on the battlefield, I was known as a 'match for ten thousand,' meaning 'one man guarding the pass, ten thousand cannot pass.' This meant I could easily take the heads of my enemies, and I was indeed capable of such heroic feats.

The Weight of Lost Lives

Now, residing in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I feel profound regret. Every single life, every human body, is incredibly precious. In a single battle, I would slaughter dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of enemy soldiers. They were all ordinary civilians, and their bodies were just as precious as mine. I robbed them of their opportunity to serve the world in that lifetime. Although there was no Buddha's teachings available to me then, at the very least, within that limited lifespan, they could have still served the world and helped society return to stability.

However, I took away so many lives, causing them to vanish from this world forever; I truly committed grave sins. As I gradually awakened in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I felt immense remorse, kneeling and weeping bitterly.

A Return to the Mission

I made a vow to Amitabha Buddha, hoping that I could return to my Lord's side to continue helping him lead the salvation team and continue the work of saving spirit realm beings. The Buddha permitted me to return to Practitioner Su's side in my spiritual form, and I have followed Practitioner Su all the way to the present-day Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.

I continue to assist Practitioner Su in my spiritual capacity. People often use my image as the representation of Sangharama Bodhisattva, but in truth, this is a human association; I am not as noble or as great as Sangharama Bodhisattva himself.

The Pure Land on Earth

Although I am a spirit from the West, I have committed extremely heavy killing karma. I hope to follow the salvation team and help guard the temple, using this to compensate for the sins I have committed. In fact, being at the temple is not leaving the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, because Namo Amituofo is currently residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia; the entire Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is what we call a Pure Land on Earth.

Perhaps you do not understand the true meaning of a Pure Land on Earth. From the perspective of the spirit realms, the entire Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is already the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss of Amitabha Buddha. Amitabha Buddha has never left the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss; the principle behind this is extremely profound. And I, being at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, have never left the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss either. This signifies that the temple and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss are indeed interconnected. As long as Practitioner Su wills it, spirits from the West can descend at any time to assist Practitioner Su.

Guarding the Dharma

I assist Practitioner Su in guarding the temple, becoming a member of the temple's Dharma protectors. We follow the temple's great Dharma protectors—Sangharama Bodhisattva and Skanda Bodhisattva—along with various heavenly soldiers and generals, doing our utmost to block the magical attacks of the demon crowds and protect Practitioner Su and the fourfold assembly. Because I am right here at the temple, this interview is very intimate and easy for me.

I watch the operations of the temple every day, and I see the fourfold assembly diligently practicing; in truth, my karmic affinity with everyone here is quite deep. Although I lived in the Three Kingdoms period over 1,800 years ago, after I passed away, I suffered punishment in the hells. I could even see my own head and body separated and buried in different places. I knew this was the portion of the karmic retribution I had created that I had to repay, and I did not have many complaints. I also know that once a person dies, they are worth nothing; they cannot act independently, nor can they turn the tide. Therefore, the fourfold assembly at the temple, who now possess a human body and have encountered Amitabha Buddha and Practitioner Su, should truly grasp this rare and difficult-to-encounter opportunity to practice, diligently cultivating to achieve success. Do not end up like me, who, while alive, could not hear the Buddha's teachings and relied only on my own concepts, depending on my brave physique and strategy to slaughter countless enemy soldiers. For all this killing karma, I have had to pay the price.

Gratitude for Deliverance

It is also because my Lord has once again entered the human world to become the current Practitioner Su, constantly striving and practicing diligently, eventually achieving success and guiding me to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, that I was able to escape from hell. For this, I am deeply grateful to my Lord for saving me, allowing me to escape from the punishments of hell.

Although later generations have honoured me as Guan Sheng Di Jun, bestowing upon me the image of loyalty, filial piety, and a heart of righteousness, behind this loyalty, filial piety, and unyielding firmness, it actually reflects a type of attachment I held. It was precisely because of this attachment that I spent nearly 1,800 years in hell without knowing how to repent.

This attachment made me believe that as long as it was the right thing to do, as long as it concerned the great righteousness of the world, I could use any means necessary to slaughter lives. Looking back, all of this was the sin I had created. I now understand the whole process of this matter, and I know that the killing karma I created did not truly help the people. Looking back at myself killing enemies on the battlefield, I can now see that I was also being controlled by karmic creditors, which intensified my nature for slaughter. This allowed me to be fearless when facing massive armies, charging into the front lines and cutting off the heads of enemies one by one. I did not notice the nature and demon nature already present in my heart at the time; I only knew to firmly believe in the great righteousness in my heart.

A Witness to True Salvation

However, was all this killing truly necessary, or was it without any selfish motives? From the results, I did not achieve complete selflessness. It was only after my Lord, Practitioner Su, guided me to the West that I had the opportunity to serve selflessly at the temple for over a decade.

Throughout this journey, I have followed my Lord and truly witnessed his constant progress. His sensitivity, the power of his wisdom in chanting, and his ability for spiritual deliverance improve every single day, and now they have reached a very profound realm. Many deep spaces of ancient demons and old demons, and even deep demon palaces, have been completely destroyed by Practitioner Su carrying the golden light of Amitabha Buddha. This is something I, as part of the temple's Dharma protection team, see very clearly.

I also follow Practitioner Su's Dharma Body to travel to all parts of the world and the Ten Directions of the Dharma Realm to perform Chao Du. Although I do not have a physical body, I can help by chanting the Buddha's name loudly with my mind. If those who have karmic affinity with me hear my faint chanting of the Buddha's name, they have the opportunity to receive deliverance and go to the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

The True Meaning of Loyalty

I, Guan Yunchang, was famous throughout my life, yet I never thought I would end up with such a conclusion. The praise of the world and the legends that have been added to my story describe me as very great. However, if one does not learn the Buddha's teachings while alive and does not understand the Buddhist education of Amitabha Buddha, then who is truly great? And who is truly loyal and filial?

If one cannot be completely free of any selfish desire like the Buddha, if one cannot truly keep the world in one's heart like Practitioner Su, and if one cannot be entirely for the sake of all beings like Amitabha Buddha and Practitioner Su, then how can one claim to be a loyal and filial person who keeps the world, the country, and the people in one's heart? This is where I, Guan Yu, feel ashamed of the name of loyalty and righteousness. I have now learned the Buddhist education of Amitabha Buddha and have gradually come to understand this.

I see very clearly in the Land of Dharma Nature and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss that everyone greatly admires the image of Guan Yu; whether in Buddhism or Taoism, one can see the existence of Guan Yu's image. Modern films and television dramas, especially those with Three Kingdoms themes, all have a large number of character designs for Guan Yu. But does everyone truly understand that these powerful generals must be subject to the judgment of cause and effect? They created immeasurable and boundless killing karma, and no matter how brave they were on the battlefield, what they earned in return was only a longer prison sentence in hell.

Therefore, everyone should stop admiring martial prowess and fighting, and instead must understand the preciousness of the human body. If everyone truly believes in Guan Yu's loyalty and righteousness and admires this loyalty and righteousness, then they should understand that the object of this loyalty is the people of the world. This loyalty, righteousness, and awe-inspiring great righteousness are about following the universal principles and the righteous path of Truth. Only by being able to follow moral foundations and being able to be selfless and benefit others can one truly be called a person of loyalty and righteousness.

The Only Path

If one wants to ensure this life is not wasted, one must learn the Buddha's teachings. Without learning Buddhism, it is difficult to have such a thorough understanding. I want to advise the people of the world here: if you want to be spared from the punishment of hell and truly make use of your precious human body so that this life is not lived in vain, learning Buddhism is the only path.

At this moment, Amitabha Buddha is residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I have come down from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss to help, and it has now been over ten years, accompanying the temple through many storms. Although many disciples have encountered setbacks along the way, everyone must believe that only the Buddhist education of Amitabha Buddha can allow everyone to turn their lives around.

For those who believe in Guan Yu, I also hope that everyone has the opportunity to believe in what Guan Yu says and has the opportunity to come into contact with the Buddhist education of Amitabha Buddha. Then, the sins that Guan Yu created can also be repaid a little more.

I am grateful to Amitabha Buddha, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed. I, Guan Yu, will continue to serve everyone at the temple, doing my best to help everyone withstand the magical attacks of the demon crowds, even if I am to be scattered into dust, I will not regret it. This is the way I, Guan Yu, can do my part. Grateful to Amitabha Buddha, grateful to Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo

Guan Yu