This is a record of an interview with Wang Lihua, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and her subsequent journey through the realms of existence. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 22, 2023.
Wang Lihua speaks:
". After such a long and winding journey, I have finally returned to the Western Pure Land. The path of reincarnation is truly, truly long. Both I and the fifty-nine other prison guards who have been delivered with me are filled with such profound emotion. Each of us has spent a different amount of time wandering through the cycle of reincarnation—some for a thousand years, others for ten thousand—but we have all been waiting for this day. To finally return to the West, my heart is overflowing with gratitude.
I am deeply grateful to the Buddha for His , and I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for His compassion.
The Seed of Buddha-Nature
Having wandered in the cycle of reincarnation for so long, the thing I am most thankful for is that I never completely forgot the Buddha-nature within my heart. If I had lost even the slightest trace of that Buddha-heart, that Buddha-nature, I would certainly not have had the opportunity to come to the West today. I would have simply fallen back into the cycle of reincarnation. I am so fortunate that a spark of that nature remained, which gave me the opportunity to return to the Western Pure Land today.
When I was a young woman named Lihua, I already possessed a kind heart. I was born into the wealthy Wang family. My father, Wang Dafu, was a highly respected official in our town. He had me late in his life, and I was the apple of his eye; he cherished me dearly.
A Father's Wise Guidance
My father loved the pear blossom, so he named me Lihua. But I was not at all like a delicate flower. I was not a fragile girl; I possessed a boldness like a man's, and in everything I did, I was never outdone by any man. From a young age, I was not like other young ladies of noble birth who had maids to serve them. This was my father's teaching. He wanted me to learn to do everything for myself, not to rely on others, and never to be a weak woman.
Many people said my father was too strict with me, but I knew in my heart that he truly loved me, which is why he taught me in this way. If I had been like other young ladies, followed by maids from childhood and having everything done for me, I would never have had the ability to help others. I would have been accustomed to others helping me. This was my father's deep intention for me.
Our family owned a great deal of farmland. My father rented it to the poor people in the town at a very low price, giving them the chance to farm and make a living for themselves, so they did not have to beg or rely on local charity. When I was seventeen or eighteen, my father handed the management of these lands over to me, including the collection of all the rent.
Learning to Care for Others
I was not a landlord who only cared about collecting money. I would personally go to care for and understand the living situations of these tenant farmers and the condition of their harvests each year. When I learned that a family was in need of money or that the harvest had been poor that year, I would reduce the rent by half or even waive it entirely, so as not to put too much pressure on them. Because of this, these tenant farmers respected me deeply. They knew I was truly using my heart to care for and help them, not just to collect their money.
I am so grateful to my father for giving me this task. It allowed me to learn so much, especially how to think from the perspective of others. Just learning this one has benefited me for a lifetime.
These farmers were very skilled at cultivation. Sometimes when I went to the fields to see them, they would teach me about the plants and even how to farm. I had no qualms about being a young lady from a wealthy family; I would simply take off my shoes and start working in the fields alongside them. Once, my father passed by and saw me. I thought he would scold me, but to my surprise, my open-minded father praised me for doing well. He told me to learn more skills so that I would have more ability to help others. This was my wonderful father. He was always teaching me to do Good and to practise goodness. I learned so much from him, and the people in the town respected him greatly.
The Legacy of Planting Trees
After learning planting techniques from these farmers, I discovered that I loved planting trees. I planted them everywhere I could find space. I thought that in ten or twenty years, these trees would grow to a certain height, not only protecting the environment but also benefiting future generations. I loved doing this.
Many of the trees I planted were fruit trees. Under my careful tending, these trees would bear delicious fruit every year. Those who liked them could pick them, and seeing them eat with such made me happy too.
I also spent several years going to various mountains to plant trees. These mountains were prone to landslides, and the soil quality was poor, so there were not many strong trees. After several heavy rains, the soil would wash away, which was quite dangerous. Seeing this, I began to use my tree-planting skills to help these mountains grow more large trees, using their roots to hold the soil and prevent the mountains from collapsing easily.
Becoming the Guardian
I spent my whole life planting trees. In the moment before I died, the images of these trees flashed through my mind with great speed. I never expected that I would become a tree.
What is truly remarkable is that the tree I became was one I had planted myself. It was a tree I had cared for with great dedication. I had planted it on a mountain that served as a shortcut to another city, and many people chose to take this path to save time. However, the mountain was not very safe. Accidents frequently happened near this tree, as many people thought there was still a path ahead, not knowing that if they continued, they would fall into the valley. People had tried to install various safety measures there, but they were mysteriously ineffective. Later, I decided to plant a tree there. As long as people saw the tree, they would not continue forward, which naturally reduced the number of accidents.
To help this tree grow quickly, I cared for it with great devotion. Every time I visited it, I would talk to it, telling it to grow fast. I never expected that before I died, I would still be thinking of this tree, worrying about it. My spirit entered the tree, becoming a spirit within it.
After entering the tree, it was quite strange—my spirit remained relatively clear. I did not fully enter the space, and I could still sense everything outside the tree. I continued to take on the role of a guardian. Whenever someone passed by, I would try my best to stretch out my branches to protect them from falling. Several times, people pushing carts would crash into my tree. Although the tree body felt pain, I was grateful that these people were blocked by the tree and did not meet with an accident.
From the Tree to the Hells
After being in the tree for nearly a year, one night, someone crashed into the tree again. My spirit was actually knocked out of the tree. In that moment, I wanted to return to the tree, but I could no longer go back. Just then, a yellow light appeared in front of me. I immediately rushed toward the yellow light and entered the third level of the Heavenly Realm. In the heavenly realms, I saw the suffering of the beings in the hells. I pleaded constantly, and finally, with the permission of the Jade Emperor, I was allowed to enter the hells to serve as a prison guard, the one closest to the sinners.
Every sinner undergoing retribution had committed sins out of ignorance in the past. I constantly counseled them, wanting to help everyone repent and change their ways so that they could leave suffering behind as soon as possible.
When I listened to Practitioner Su give talks, I finally understood the cycle of reincarnation and the laws of and cause and effect. I realized the gravity of the situation. Therefore, I actively propagated the Dharma spoken by Practitioner Su within the hells, hoping that more beings would hear it and find the opportunity to seek liberation and leave suffering behind.
Every day in the hells was extremely busy. In addition to my original duties, I worked tirelessly to help beings. This mental note gave me the opportunity to be placed on the list for Practitioner Su to guide me to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Today is the day of my rebirth in the Western Pure Land. My only lingering concern is for those beings still suffering in the hells. I hope that after I return to the West, I can practise diligently so that one day I can return to the worldly realm to continue to save beings.
Namo Amituofo.
Wang Lihua
My father, the prison guard Wang Dafu, has already been guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land.
My mother, Li Yun, who was in the space, has also been guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land."
