The General's Remorse: A Journey from Bloodshed to Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Xue Rengui, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty, 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 1,400 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 4, 2026.

Xue Rengui speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xue Rengui, a general known to every household in Chinese history. But today, I have completely cast aside my identity as a great general. I only wish to be a disciple of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, a simple and obedient Buddhist disciple. I no longer desire the glory of the past.

My life was saved by the Buddha. Although my physical body died long ago, my spirit has suffered for over a thousand years. I had to pay the price for the lives I took and the sins I committed during my forty years of military service. For those forty glorious years, for my own wealth and status, and for the chance to display my heroism, loyalty, and courage, I have paid a painful price for over a millennium. Yet, even after suffering for so long, I have not yet repaid even half of my karmic debt. Comparing myself to Practitioner Su, I can see that the human body can be used in such polar opposite ways."

The Contrast of a Lifetime

"Before me, Practitioner Su is truly a role model for the people of the world. As a spirit, I watch Practitioner Su save beings across the vast lands of China. Just in China alone, the number is staggering. Furthermore, Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body breaks through the spaces of various Dharma Realms, the universe, and the Milky Way every day to save so many beings and demon crowds.

And I? My human body was used to commit immeasurable and boundless sins for my own sake. Even though I was called a 'good general' and a 'great hero' by everyone, and was a favoured minister of the Emperor, so what? In a hundred years, it all ends in separation; it is all like smoke and clouds. Nothing is permanent; only karma follows you. The difference between Practitioner Su and me—one is a Buddha, and the other is a body used by demons—the contrast is truly immense!"

Awakening from the Blood-Stained Past

"Last week, after my broken soul was illuminated by the countless manifestations and Buddha-light of Practitioner Su, I gradually woke up. I only saw my hands covered in blood, as if I had not truly walked out of the past, still trapped in a space of regret and helplessness. I never thought I would start a new life in this way, or even have the opportunity to be named by Namo Amituofo to accept this interview, to share my realisations and feelings, and to let the world know what is Goodness, what is evil, and what the principles of the universe are.

Looking at the many demon crowds in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, I cannot help but sigh at how remarkable Practitioner Su’s skill in delivering demonic beings is. Looking back at my life, when was my body taken over by demons? Haha! Actually, the moment I had the thought of joining the army, I began to attract countless war demons and killing demons into my body. At that time in the military, I was already considered an old man; I joined the expeditionary forces of Emperor Taizong of Tang at the age of thirty. Originally, as a diligent farmer, my family had fallen on hard times, and my wife and I lived a happy, simple life farming and gardening. Who would have known that when my wife one day suggested I join the army, everything changed? Looking back now, that was the Collective Karma of my wife and me, and of course, demon crowds were involved. From that moment on, I could no longer control myself; my thoughts, decisions, and feelings were completely influenced by demons."

The Illusion of Invincibility

"During my days in the military, I served under two emperors, Tang Taizong and Tang Gaozong, rising from a small cavalryman to a general. Along the way, I actually started having hallucinations very early on. I believed I was that invincible general. The demon crowds and my karmic creditors cooperated with me, making me invincible and unstoppable. In particular, my archery accuracy was extremely high; I could often hit the enemy's vital points from a distance. My most famous achievement was 'Three Arrows to Settle the Tianshan Mountains.' I could always display my talent and ability at critical moments.

Now, in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, everything is clear at a glance. I realise that humans cannot control themselves, especially when their status grows higher and their desires expand, and they can commit evil deeds with impunity. At that time, they are completely puppets of demons and beings!"

The Weight of Loyalty and Killing

"I, Xue Rengui, have always been a man of loyalty and righteousness. I was very loyal to the Emperor at the time, and I cared for my army and the people. I would not kill the innocent or harm my own people, and I would try to think for them when acting in the military. Many later generations adapted my legendary life into novels, or in modern times, people made movies about my story, allowing future generations to know me as a dignified great hero. But why is my karmic debt still so great? Loyalty is a traditional virtue, but one thing is one thing; killing still requires paying with one's life. Regardless of whether you kill your own people or enemy troops, everyone is born of parents' blood and energy; there is no distinction between high and low, you and me.

The Buddha sees everyone as equal; he never distinguishes whether we are Chinese, Japanese, Australian, or Indian. But Xue Rengui grew up in an era where the Central Plains were considered supreme and the small border countries were considered barbarians. Regardless of whether the foreign enemy had committed acts of aggression, we had to be strictly on guard, to ensure nothing went wrong, to ensure the other side had no ability to rise again. This extreme distrust of others and the desire to wipe them out completely caused me to commit great sins countless times. Sometimes I encountered surrendering armies but did not give them a way out, or a chance to start over and follow us; instead, I chose to annihilate them all, leaving not one alive. This was my brutal method, yet it became the reason people admired me. This is the importance of Buddhist education. Under such cruel methods, few people mention compassion, distinguish between good and evil, or have the wisdom to judge."

A Plea for Deliverance

"Speaking of this, I, Xue Rengui, weep before the Buddha. Countless generals, soldiers, horses, and civilians once lost their lives because of my orders, and then, like me, suffered for over a thousand years. The pain of being killed back then was repeated countless times in space. This time, with Practitioner Su’s massive deliverance, I see that some have been saved. Their bodies have been restored, and each of them is smiling and grateful for the Buddha’s compassion. However, many are still at the disaster sites, still suffering. This is also a matter of individual blessings and Causal Conditions.

I, Xue Rengui, am very ashamed and distressed, but I cannot intervene. I only hope they can be saved as soon as possible. If they can hear my call, that would be even better; they could chant 'Namo Amituofo' sooner and perhaps have a chance for rebirth. The most important thing is to know how to repent, to know that the past is gone and not worth lingering over."

The Truth of Samsara

"The killing karma I, Xue Rengui, created in my life was too great, so I could not find peace before I died. When I was nearly seventy, I often dreamed of being surrounded by many blood-stained spirits. My body had long since decayed, and my spirit was already suffering retribution in hell. This fact is very clear in retrospect, but at the time, I had no opportunity to know Buddhist education, nor did I understand the preciousness of life. I had long been accustomed to the days of killing like hemp. I lived a very desolate life in my later years, but no one knew that Xue Rengui, the famous hero of the Tang Dynasty, was in such deep water and hot fire before and after his death. Because the beings from the past were already queuing up for revenge, and many demon crowds were still interfering.

So what if I won battles? So what if I became a great hero and general? No one can avoid the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death, or the suffering of separation from loved ones. My once brilliant life, in the end, was the same as everyone else’s—all walking the old road of samsara."

The Only Exit

"Today, being able to meet the Buddha, I, Xue Rengui, sigh at my good blessings, which are also the blessings and good roots accumulated from being a human and a monk many lifetimes ago. The mistakes of this lifetime led me to hell for over a thousand years, and then back to the battlefield space of the human world to suffer. These are all people and things I am familiar with, all scenes I am familiar with, but things have changed, and the suffering remains. This is the truth of samsara. I hope everyone can know and understand this, and not walk my old path.

Learning the Buddha’s teachings is the only exit. Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are here to save us. The people of China have the blessing to know the Buddha, and the deceased in China also have the good blessing to come to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. All of this is hard-won; cherish it, and know how to repay the Buddha’s kindness.

Namo Amituofo.

Xue Rengui"