The Guardian of the Innocent

This is a record of an interview with Hou Wenqi, 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 approximately sixty-seven years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 19, 2025.

Hou Wenqi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Hou Wenqi. Here I am, finally in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is so settled, so filled with gratitude. A warmth, rising from the very depths of my soul, completely envelops my entire being. I can feel the compassion of the Buddha, His gentleness; every sight and sound in this Western Land is singing the Buddha-name, welcoming us home. It is a symphony of light and peace that resonates in every cell of my being, washing away the eons of darkness I once endured.

I am deeply grateful to the compassionate Practitioner Su for leading us—sixty of us prison guards—back to the Western Pure Land. There are so many other guards who were guided by Practitioner Su before us, and we all share this profound gratitude. Without the help of Practitioner Su, how could we, in our humble state, ever hope to return to the Western Pure Land? It is only through the boundless mercy of the Buddha and the tireless efforts of Practitioner Su that we have been plucked from the depths of suffering and brought into this realm of eternal light."

A Long Journey Home

"It has been so long since I first entered the cycle of rebirth—I have lost track of the time. The Western Pure Land felt like a place so incredibly distant, almost unreachable, a dream I dared not hope for. I never truly imagined that there would come a moment when I could return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is overflowing with gratitude and emotion, a feeling so intense it is difficult to put into words. Looking back on my life, those sixty-seven years were short, yet I have no regrets. I remember that war—it claimed countless lives and reduced entire cities to rubble. The cries of agony and weeping filled every street and alleyway. The houses were shattered, and the landscape was a scene of utter devastation. I was twenty-one years old then. Though young, my resolve was firm, and my heart was already heavy with the weight of the world's pain.

I walked through those streets, and everyone I saw wore a face of heaviness and sorrow. My heart tightened in sympathy; I longed for a world where people would no longer have to endure such suffering. At twenty-one, I was already a successful merchant, thanks to my own efforts and my family's background. I had been living abroad, far from the reach of the war, but I chose to come to this devastated town and walk through every corner of the destruction. I wanted to see for myself—to truly understand how much everyone was suffering. I needed to witness the reality of their pain so that I could better serve them."

The Merchant with a Compassionate Heart

"I was not a greedy merchant, nor was I someone who would use unscrupulous means to make money. I chose to be a merchant simply by following in my father's footsteps. He was my model, and I learned by watching him. From a young age, I set my goal: to be a successful merchant like my father, to earn wealth, and then to use that wealth to help others. My father was indeed a kind-hearted merchant who loved to give and assist those in need. As a child, I loved staying by his side, watching every good deed he performed. Those memories were etched into my mind. It seemed that, without me even realising it, I came to believe that this is what it means to be alive—that one should help others. This transformation happened naturally; I didn't need my father to tell me anything. I saw the compassion in his eyes when he helped people, and I saw the smiles on the faces of those he aided. That was enough for me to know that when I grew up, I would do the same. That was the only correct path.

When I heard about the turmoil, I rushed back to my country. As I walked through the affected towns, my heart remained in a constant state of anguish. One day, I saw a young boy weeping bitterly while clutching the bodies of his parents. That image has never left my mind. I knew the depth of his grief; it was a pain thousands of times sharper than a blade piercing the heart. I didn't just see that one boy; so many children had instantly become orphans, left without family or parents. It was unbearable for me to witness. I felt a calling, a duty to step in where the world had failed them."

Building a Sanctuary Amidst the Ruins

"I gathered all the friends who could help me, and together we searched for these children, bringing them all into one place. I took my own earnings and, in the shortest time possible, recruited many workers to build simple shelters to house them. I voluntarily took on the responsibility of caring for these children, working day and night to plan everything that could help them. Every decision I made was aimed at minimising the impact of the war on these children, helping them brush away the shadows of conflict and walk out of the sorrow that followed. I began building orphanages and schools. They were simple, but they provided for their most basic needs. To fund these projects, I travelled everywhere I could, asking friends for help, raising money as quickly as possible to get these facilities built so the children could return to a normal life. I knew these children lived in poverty, and not all of them had the chance to study. I created the conditions for them to have an equal opportunity to learn together.

That period was exhausting, as the entire region was in chaos. I didn't just look after the children; I wanted to help all the survivors rebuild their homes. To me, the hardship meant nothing as long as everyone was well. I had poured my life savings into this, and though it was a significant sum, it was still not enough. Yet, I never gave up. I continued to discuss plans with my partners, looking for every possible way to bring stability to people's hearts and ensure the children received the best care. After two and a half years of effort, everything returned to normal. The children were in school, and the town regained its vitality."

The Spirit of the Great Tree

"However, the environment remained volatile. One war ending did not mean another wouldn't begin. I carried the lives of these children on my shoulders, treating them as my own. It was as if I were a young father, suddenly surrounded by so many children waiting for my care. When the second war broke out, I desperately tried to protect them, leading them to the safe haven I had planned. We had practised the drills many times, so when the war started, the children followed me immediately, running toward the shelter. That conflict was severe, and all our infrastructure was destroyed again. It was what I had expected, but I still did not give up. I spent more effort on repairs and rebuilding. We lived through such difficult times, but I gritted my teeth and held on, just so the children could have a decent life. I spent my whole life accompanying these children. They came in batches and left in batches, and each one was like a piece of my own heart.

When my life ended, my thoughts were still on those children. My spirit entered the school grounds and became the largest tree outside. That tree held great significance for us; no matter how many times it was damaged, it remained standing, growing stronger and more robust. It was our spiritual symbol, our pillar of strength. My spirit resided within that tree, my heart still tethered to all the children and everything I had built. I was attached to that space because I still wanted to help more children—all those who needed me. I could not let go of the responsibility I had taken upon myself, even in death."

Deliverance from the Hells

"Decades later, two hell officials brought my spirit into the hells. After meeting King Yama, I was given the position of a prison guard. I served in the hells, watching so many suffering spirits and innocent children who had committed transgressions out of ignorance. It broke my heart to see them in such agony, trapped by their own attachments and the weight of their past deeds. A few years ago, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the hells. My heart was filled with joy—not for myself, but because these suffering spirits finally had a chance to be saved. I began to listen to the Dharma actively and introduced it to others. Many beings in the hells, after experiencing extreme suffering, became willing to listen and repent. In the end, they were truly saved by Practitioner Su. Finally, I made the vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, I have been blessed to be guided into the Western Land by Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the prison guards, I express my gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo. Hou Wenqi bows in reverence."