The Guardian of the Land: A Testimony from the Wang Fuk Court Fire

This interview features Qiu Laihao, a spirit who served as an Earth deity for five centuries. Following the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong, she sought Spiritual Deliverance and now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account was recorded on December 11, 2025, by the chief writer, Fa Ning.

Qiu Laihao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Qiu Laihao. I have been waiting here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land for quite some time. I have always believed that even as a woman, one can achieve great things. Although I was limited by my female form in life, I always held a heart of great boldness, striving to do my utmost for the country and the people.

In the era when I was born, the air was thick with the smoke of cooking fires, and droughts were frequent. As a child, I was sold by my parents into a brothel, where I eventually became a performer who sold her art but not her body. I never felt ashamed of my profession; on the contrary, I believe that the heart is the true measure of a person."

A Life of Secret Charity

"My reputation was excellent, and many young scholars, high-ranking officials, and wealthy merchants came to see me, allowing me to accumulate significant wealth. I never thought of buying my own freedom, because I knew there were many more people in the world who needed immediate help. Since it was inconvenient for me to appear in public, I entrusted a friend I trusted to help purchase enough water and food to distribute to those in need. Later, when my actions were discovered, some who sought to profit from the chaos of war—or even incite rebellion—became dissatisfied with me for ruining their plans. They poisoned me, and I died from a single cup of poisoned wine.

For the five hundred years I have served as an Earth deity, every creature on this land has been an object of my protection and assistance. Regarding the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court, I had a premonition early on. After consulting with the Earth God, Huang Asheng, we decided to accompany this land through this catastrophe, saving as many as we could. Regardless of the outcome, we hoped to go together to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, to seek Spiritual Deliverance, hoping to leave the ghost realm for a higher level of existence. Among the ghost deities in Hong Kong, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is not a new or obscure place. We had long heard that seeking deliverance there often leads to an excellent destination. This was extremely attractive to us, as we had never heard of such a wonderful opportunity before."

The Night of the Fire

"On the day of the fire, the sky was grey and hazy, with a vast number of sentient beings gathered in the air. This is what I saw from the ghost realm, though to the people below, it might have looked quite different. After the electrical short circuit, the fire grew larger and larger, spreading from one building to another. Brother Huang and I tried everything in our power to alert the residents, but many did not react. This, of course, depends on the Causal Conditions between us. Some residents were particularly sensitive; we would make their hair stand on end or make them feel nauseous—we would use any method to notify them, hoping they would discover the danger earlier and find a glimmer of hope. If we saw someone who had just left and was planning to return home, we would try our best to dispel that thought.

Whether these people received our warnings or not, Brother Huang and I did not dwell on it. As Earth deities, we know that there is a righteous energy between heaven and earth, meaning that nature has its own laws. We simply did our best, knowing that Causal Conditions are destined; whether one has the blessings to survive is already determined."

The Beauty of the Dharma-Nature Land

"The Western Dharma-Nature Land is truly an incredibly beautiful and comfortable place! The Buddha-light shines upon me constantly. While sitting on my lotus seat, I can move freely, yet no matter what I do, I never leave the lotus seat. However, I do not feel the slightest bit of restraint; rather, I feel completely liberated. Because I have been here following the Buddha's name chanting, reciting 'Namo Amituofo,' I have slowly begun to forget myself. I finally understood that for the five hundred years I served as an Earth deity, I still had attachments in my heart—specifically, the attachment to 'self.' And as long as there is a 'self,' there will be obstacles. By chanting the Buddha's name here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I have gradually let go of that 'self,' feeling more and more free. This is a transformation in my state of mind that I never experienced in the past five hundred years. Perhaps this is the inconceivable nature of the Western Dharma-Nature Land, allowing my spiritual level to be further elevated."

Karmic Retribution and Deliverance

"This ruthless fire burned everything at Wang Fuk Court. I naturally saw that this was because, in the past, these residents had poisoned refugees in a disaster area, wanting to kill them. Later, fearing their actions would be exposed, they surrounded the refugees with a massive fire, burning them all to death. That is why they faced this retribution today. The roars of spirits and the wails of people echoed through the sea of fire. Watching all of this, I knew that Brother Huang and I could do very little.

In the fire, I saw many people with kind hearts who were willing to sacrifice their own lives to help others escape. Others were selfish, even kicking those who were already down. Their fates within the fire were worlds apart. People in the world do not know that the direction of the heart determines the destination of one's fate. If one can hold a single sincere, kind thought, one can change their destiny. I did not do anything special for those selfish people, because within the laws of nature, I could not help them. But for those who were kind and even self-sacrificing, I tried my best to give them assistance. That was the most I could do.

Even after the fire was extinguished, from what I saw in the ghost realm, Wang Fuk Court remained in a sea of fire. In some places, it was still burning. Then, with a loud sound—'Dong-wum-wum-wum-wum-wum'—I saw the compassionate Namo Amituofo standing in the sky, emitting great light. The golden light pierced through the sea of fire, taking all the suffering sentient beings within it into the light. I knew that the light was the path I was to take. Without hesitation, I arrived on a lotus seat in an instant."

A Vow to Follow the Buddha

"I quickly realized that this was the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The magnificence and subtlety of this place are truly beyond words. I saw Practitioner Su, in the form of a lay practitioner, working tirelessly 24/7 to save sentient beings. She possesses great boldness, performing the deeds of a great being, doing what others cannot. This is what I aspired to when I was human. I admire Practitioner Su for being able to attain the Buddha-body in a female form, following Namo Amituofo to save all boundless suffering sentient beings. I make a vow to be like Practitioner Su, to learn from the Buddha, to become a Buddha, and to follow the Buddha to save the world.

I hope that sentient beings with karmic affinity can come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Whether you want to meet the Buddha or speak with me, you must come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This place is truly a ray of light for the human world; coming here, you can be saved.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, gratitude to Practitioner Su, and thank you to every Venerable and volunteer at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo.

Qiu Laihao"