The Healer of the Underworld

This is a record of an interview with Jin Changchun, 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 as a gifted healer and his subsequent long service as a prison guard in the underworld. It was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Xi, on July 3, 2022.

Jin Changchun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for his boundless compassion, which has allowed me to be here today to participate in this magnificent assembly for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I am filled with such profound emotion and joy, for I know in my heart that this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. I will cherish it with every fibre of my being. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Gift for Healing

"I am Jin Changchun. From a very young age, I possessed a natural, innate talent for the earth. I could plant herbs and cultivate entirely new species of flora, using them to help people restore their health. It was as if I had a sixth sense; I could smell the medicinal properties of a plant and taste its efficacy on my tongue. I cultivated a vast field of medicinal herbs on the mountain behind our home, and I spent my days refining these into pills and tonics, which I would then distribute to anyone in the world who was suffering and in need of healing.

I was entirely self-taught. Many of the adults in my village were deeply sceptical of my abilities; they could not fathom how a child could understand the complexities of medicine. No one dared to consume the herbal concoctions I had refined, except for my mother. She was the only one who truly believed in me. I used my herbal remedies to help her maintain her health, and even as she approached the age of seventy, her face remained as beautiful and youthful as a young woman's. Of course, this was not just due to my herbs, but also because of my mother's own remarkably pure and gentle character."

The Strength of a Mother's Love

"My mother was a woman of immense tenderness. When she was young, she caught the eye of a local nobleman who forced her into marriage. Later, she gave birth to me. That man—my biological father—was a man of loose morals and a wandering heart. Before long, he had taken up with other women, and my mother, choosing dignity over misery, took me away to live in a small house by the mountain, never to see him again.

My mother was a woman of incredible inner strength. She raised me entirely on her own. She never feared what others thought of her, nor did she let their disregard or coldness affect her spirit. Her only concern was how to educate me properly and raise me to be a good man. I am so deeply grateful for everything she sacrificed for me. From the moment I was old enough to understand, I was devoted to her. I took the best care of her that I possibly could, ensuring she remained youthful and vibrant. My only wish was for her to live a life of happiness, free from any afflictions or worries.

I began my work with herbs when I was only eleven years old. When my mother first discovered what I was doing, she was astonished, but while everyone else was questioning me, she chose to trust me. She gave me her unwavering support. I still remember her words to me: 'You must believe in what you are doing. As long as it is right, you must move forward with courage.' I took her words to heart, and I persisted in doing what I knew to be right."

The Mind as the Ultimate Medicine

"I cultivated a vast array of herbs, each with its own unique properties. I once used a specific, highly effective formula to help a man in need. However, because he harboured deep suspicion and doubt in his heart, the medicine—which should have been miraculous—lost all its potency. It had no effect on him whatsoever. I gave that same formula to another person, someone who was filled with gratitude for my help and who truly appreciated the value of the herbs. He took the medicine faithfully, and not only did he recover completely, but his health improved to a level better than it had ever been before. Even his physical constitution was transformed.

This experience made me realise a profound truth: what truly influences the state of our physical body is the state of our own mind. If a person’s mindset is positive and pure, they can be healthy. Conversely, if a person is constantly thinking of evil, or if they are filled with suspicion and negativity, their body will inevitably suffer. It becomes difficult to heal, and the condition often worsens. It is all a matter of the heart and mind. Whatever state your mind is in, you will attract the corresponding state in your life.

I shared this discovery with my mother, and she smiled, praising me for finding such a wonderful truth about life. If people could only learn to change their mindset, they could help themselves adjust and transform their entire existence."

From the Herb Garden to the Underworld

"During my time in the human world, I helped many people, but I was selective. I would not help those who were filled with doubt or those whose character was inherently evil. Even if they offered me vast sums of money, I refused to have any contact with them. Throughout my life, I cultivated countless herbs. In my later years, I harvested them all and refined them into health-giving pills that could help people live longer and maintain their youth. I distributed these pills to the good people in our village, hoping they would be of service to them. Once I had completed this, I put my affairs in order and decided to travel the world. After several years of wandering, I finally chose to rest in eternal sleep on a quiet, peaceful mountain.

After I left the human world, I felt as though I had entered a space filled with medicinal herbs. It was a place where I found many of the plants I had known in life, and I was so happy to continue my research there. I do not know how much time passed before a powerful force pulled me away from that space and brought me before the King of Hell. He informed me that there was a vacancy for a position he wished me to fill. I happily accepted, and thus, I began my service in the underworld.

Many years passed—time moves so quickly there. I had assumed I would continue in that role for another hundred or even a thousand years. I never expected that I would encounter Practitioner Su teaching the Dharma in the underworld. It was through the truths Practitioner Su expounded that I finally understood that human life can be liberated. We do not need to spend centuries or millennia trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. If one can simply awaken, engage in diligent practice, and follow Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, there is a path to liberation and departure from this cycle."

A Chance for Liberation

"Many in the underworld were deeply moved by these teachings, and all of us became eager to seek liberation. None of us wanted to continue in the cycle of reincarnation. After listening to Practitioner Su explain the truth, we all understood how truly painful life is. We are so grateful to Practitioner Su for bringing us this opportunity. We all know that without him, it would have been impossible for us to be liberated so quickly. Therefore, we all cherish this chance immensely, and we know that we must engage in diligent practice to repay the Buddha's kindness in the future.

I am so grateful that today I have been able to achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Jin Changchun, with palms joined in reverence.