The Guardian of the Ghost Realm

This is a record of an interview with Chen Wenzong, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life in the human world during a period of dynastic transition and his subsequent service in the ghost realm and hells. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on February 2, 2024.

Chen Wenzong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. At the very moment I beheld the Buddha, my heart was filled with an indescribable, overwhelming sense of gratitude. The Buddha was so magnificent, so vast, and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss was radiant—brighter than anything I could have imagined. My entire being was bathed in that brilliant light, and I felt the profound, gentle warmth of His compassion. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for personally guiding us, all sixty of us prison guards, to this place. Without that intervention, we would never have reached the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am also profoundly thankful to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I will do my utmost to record my experiences, hoping that future generations may come to understand the magnificence of the Buddha’s teachings.

The Reality of the Ghost Realm

After I departed from the human world, I spent a long time drifting within the ghost realm. In that space, I encountered all manner of spirits: the overbearing and cruel, the deeply sorrowful, and those who were so attached to their human lives that they could not let go. The interactions between spirits in the ghost realm are, in truth, not so different from those among humans. The only real distinction is the absence of a physical body; otherwise, their behaviours and patterns remain identical to those in the world of the living.

There are spirits in the ghost realm who simply try to live their own lives quietly. If they were a baker, a vegetable seller, or a repairman in the human world, they continue to perform those same familiar tasks once they enter the ghost realm. However, there are also those with aggressive personalities—the 'bosses' of the ghost realm. They are always surrounded by a group of followers, and wherever they go, they bully and intimidate others. This is especially prevalent during the Mid-Year Ghost Festival in the human world, when people offer vast amounts of food and burn paper money. These aggressive spirits rush to the scene, desperate to snatch the offerings and the paper money for themselves.

The Struggle for Survival

The number of spirits in the ghost realm is beyond counting, and new arrivals join their ranks at every moment. When a spirit first arrives, they are often still carrying the paper money that their human family members have burned for them. These newcomers are often lost, not knowing where they should go or what they should do. If they happen to encounter the aggressive spirits, they are either bullied into handing over their paper money or forced to become subordinates to bolster the bully's power. If they refuse to listen, they are robbed and tormented.

I witnessed such scenes constantly, and my heart was always filled with a sense of deep injustice, and at times, even burning anger. I could not stand by and watch the weak being exploited so ruthlessly. Therefore, I made a firm decision to establish a force within the ghost realm to protect the many beings who were suffering there. When I first conceived of this, I began to recruit others to join me. It was not a smooth process; many spirits were afraid and did not want to invite trouble, as these ghost realm bullies were not to be trifled with. Despite the risks, I did not give up. Instead, my resolve only grew stronger.

The Rise of the Guardian

Finally, after some time, I succeeded in forming a protection squad. We began to patrol the area constantly, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings. We made a special effort to look after those who had just entered the ghost realm and were completely lost, not knowing where to turn. Under our care, many spirits were able to live in peace and stability. Many of them even joined our ranks, eventually becoming protectors themselves and benefiting others in turn. As we continued this work, my reputation spread throughout the ghost realm. Many spirits came to respect me deeply, and they even began to call me the 'Ghost King.'

In truth, I never thought too much about the title or the status. I simply wanted to care for these spirits until their individual Causal Conditions matured, allowing them to be reborn elsewhere. Many of the spirits were incredibly grateful to me before they left the ghost realm. Having formed such deep, positive connections with so many beings, my heart felt truly joyful. Many of them told me that I would surely receive a great reward in the future. Whenever I heard this, I would just smile and say nothing. I did not dwell on the future; I simply focused on doing the best I could with what was in front of me.

Counseling the Lost

Throughout this process, I observed that every individual carried a different state of mind. Some were suffering because of the emotion they had left behind in the human world, while others had entered the ghost realm simply because they could not let go of a single moment of attachment. If they were willing to listen, I would offer them guidance. As soon as they took my advice to heart and were willing to repent and set their minds on the right path, they did not have to wait for their time in the ghost realm to end; they had the opportunity to transition to other realms. The most important thing I taught them was to always look toward the light, to focus on the Goodness, so that their future rebirth would be auspicious.

In this way, I remained in the ghost realm for five hundred and ninety years. Because I had helped so many beings without any selfish intent, I was summoned by the King of Hell and appointed as a prison guard. I am deeply grateful for all these Causal Conditions. In the human world, my name was Chen Wenzong. I was born during a time of transition between two dynasties, an era when chaos reigned everywhere. My family, the Chen family, was once a prominent local household. However, the new dynasty, seeking to consolidate its power, used fabricated charges to seize our assets and seal our properties under various pretexts, simply to ensure that our influence would not affect others. This single decree brought ruin upon all sixty members of our family. From that moment on, we were scattered to the winds, and I took my parents and moved to the countryside.

A Life of Simple Kindness

During our peak, the Chen family owned several businesses, but all were stolen through various underhanded means. We were left with only a small amount of money to sustain our lives. As I was travelling south with my parents, I saw that the common people everywhere were suffering due to the instability of the imperial court. The remnants of the previous dynasty were scattered, sparking sporadic wars. Many men were conscripted as soldiers, and those who were not could find no work, often turning to banditry just to survive. Amidst this chaos, I moved carefully with my parents, always searching for a place where we could live in peace.

After a long journey, we finally found a stretch of mountain forest. After crossing the woods with my parents, we found a secluded spot and built a simple shelter of wood and thatch to protect us from the wind and rain. Once we were settled, we began to cultivate the land, living a self-sufficient life. As our lives stabilised, I thought of the many people I had seen on our journey south who were living in such fear and uncertainty. The people in the villages and towns outside the forest were filled with anxiety, unsettled by the instability of their lives. My mother and I learned how to make herbal jelly, and we would take it to the villages and towns to distribute. I wanted them to eat it and feel that someone cared for them.

The Cycle of Goodness

After doing this a few times, people would feel a sense of warmth whenever they saw me, and they would approach me with great joy. In such a chaotic era, seeing their smiles brought me immense happiness. Sometimes, when I brought them the herbal jelly, they would give me vegetables, eggs, or even a piece of meat they were selling. At first, I refused to accept anything, but when I saw the disappointment in their eyes, I had no choice but to accept their gifts. Seeing this cycle of Goodness, my heart was filled with joy; even in such a defiled world, people could still find warmth in one another.

Years later, my parents passed away one after the other. I continued to share not only the herbal jelly I made but also the vegetables I grew with everyone. In this way, we all navigated the chaos of the dynastic change together, moving toward a time of peace. I lived to the age of sixty-one. The new dynasty entered a golden age of development, and the country and its people became stable and prosperous. Yet, I chose to remain in my mountain home until the very end of my life. I did not suffer from any major illnesses, only the small aches and pains that come with age, which I did not pay much mind to, day after day.

Deliverance and Gratitude

After I died, I entered the ghost realm and experienced much. Eventually, I was summoned before the King of Hell, who told me, 'You did good deeds in your life, and after death, you protected the beings of the ghost realm. Because of this compassion, you are granted the position of a prison guard, so that you may serve the beings well.' I thanked the King of Hell and took up my post. During my tenure, I saw many spirits suffering in the hells, and my heart was filled with sorrow. I sincerely hoped that one day they, too, could awaken and leave their suffering behind. During my time in service, I was fortunate enough to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, and I even witnessed the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su entering the hells to save sentient beings. I was deeply moved and hoped that one day, I too could be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I am so grateful for the Causal Conditions that allowed me and my fifty-nine fellow prison guards to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. Here, amidst the lotus flowers of the West, I kneel and bow in gratitude for the Buddha’s grace and the grace of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Chen Wenzong, with joined palms."