The Heart's Capacity: A Teacher's Journey to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Wu Dakun, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life as a teacher and his subsequent service as a prison guard in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on July 18, 2025.

Wu Dakun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Right now, there is a brilliant, radiant light before my eyes. I know with absolute certainty that I will never again descend into the darkness. This light will never fade; it is the manifestation of the Buddha’s boundless compassion for all beings.

I have arrived. Finally, I have reached the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. When I first beheld this magnificent realm, my heart was stirred with such profound emotion—a feeling I hope to hold onto for eternity.

A Debt of Gratitude

I am filled with gratitude toward the Buddha and Practitioner Su for allowing me, along with sixty other prison guards and countless other beings, to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. We have finally attained the eternal.

I am Wu Dakun, a man who has always found different realisations in the things I encountered. Looking back, I realise I spent so much of my life living within my own little space, viewing the world only through the narrow lens of my own perspective.

The Devotion of a Grandmother

From a very young age, I was always found by my grandmother’s side. She was a practitioner of the Buddha-Dharma, a woman of immense heart and great blessings. She was always surrounded by her grandchildren, and she would accompany us with such patience and meticulous care. Yet, there was one time that belonged solely to her—her time for diligent practice. She would retreat to the family shrine, close the door, and kneel before the Buddha with such profound sincerity.

One day, I was overcome with curiosity. What was she doing in there every single time? I decided to sneak after her. I saw her kneeling before the Buddha, her lips moving in a soft, rhythmic murmur that I could not quite decipher.

A Gentle Lesson

She would maintain that posture, that state of stillness, for the entire duration of a stick of incense. She did not move a muscle. My curiosity only deepened. I watched, I waited, desperate to know more. I must have been so engrossed that I eventually drifted off to sleep right there.

I felt a gentle tap, and there she was, standing right before me. I looked down at her shoes, then quickly raised my head, terrified that she would scold me. Instead, she simply said, 'The wind is strong today; you will catch a cold.' In that moment, the tightness in my heart finally melted away.

The Scale of Karma

My grandmother was always so loving and inclusive toward all of her descendants. In stark contrast to her attitude was that of my aunt, who was a person who loved to calculate and compare.

We lived together with my uncle and grandmother, sharing the household chores. But my aunt was always watching with wide, suspicious eyes, constantly checking to see if she had washed one more bowl, chopped one more vegetable, or done even a fraction more work than anyone else.

Her eyes were sharp, and she would constantly complain to my mother, always keeping a tally of these perceived slights. My mother, however, was naturally optimistic and paid no mind to my aunt’s reactions. Whatever my aunt refused to do, my mother would simply pick up and finish. Although this left my mother exhausted, it earned her the deep respect of the entire family.

A Teacher's Vocation

Seeing my aunt bully my mother, I would often feel a sense of injustice. When I would get so angry that my cheeks puffed up, my mother would tell me: 'When I first married into this family, your grandmother told me that the only way to hold this family together is through tolerance. Even if you feel you are suffering a loss in the moment, all laws of karma and cause and effect are recorded. We each have a scale within us, weighing the good and the bad, so never look only at what is right in front of you.' My mother took those words to heart, respecting my grandmother deeply, and she lived by that advice every single day.

After hearing this, I asked my mother, 'Then why didn’t Grandmother say these things to Aunt?' My mother replied, 'Because the moment your aunt entered this home, she looked at everyone with suspicion. She was accustomed to building walls against everyone. There was never an opportunity to speak to her.' My mother told me, 'Before you can expect others to accept you, you must first open your own heart.'

The Power of Empathy

Observing the behaviour of every relative from a young age, and seeing how each person reacted to different situations, allowed me to learn constantly. When I grew up, I chose to become a teacher. In those days, we were called masters. I taught in a small town in my home region. There were not many students, but I was keenly observant of the personality and needs of every single child.

This observation was born from a genuine desire to help them. I saw many children who, due to the influence of their home environment, had developed poor habits. I knew that if these habits were not transformed now, they would affect the rest of their lives.

One student, Li Xin, was an only child. When he first came to the school, he was incredibly overbearing; he believed that whatever he wanted, he must have. His elders at home had indulged his every whim, fostering such habits. Naturally, he brought this same attitude to school, treating his classmates the same way.

Many students were bullied by him and were unwilling to associate with him. Because of this, he was constantly throwing tantrums at school.

The Turning Point

One day after class, I specifically asked him to stay behind. I took him to a nearby village where the standard of living was much lower. The children there brought sweet potatoes for lunch because their families could not afford rice. They had no toys; the earth and the mud were their only playthings.

I walked Li Xin through the entire village. Many people were curious about his appearance; they saw how beautifully he was dressed and, more importantly, they saw the toys in his hands—things they had never seen before. Seeing the look in those children’s eyes, Li Xin’s heart softened. He decided to give his toys to them. As he reached out to give a toy to one child, the others immediately gathered around.

Li Xin didn't say a word, but his heart had been stirred. The next morning at school, he rushed to tell me that he wanted to go back to that village and give all his remaining toys to those children. From that day on, Li Xin became very caring toward the other children. I was filled with joy and relief.

Whether it was Li Xin or any other student, I taught them with the same dedication, guiding them to learn, hoping only that they would bring more warmth to society when they grew up.

I believe I succeeded. After twenty years of teaching, seeing my students grow and develop in their own ways brought me great comfort. I felt immense gratitude toward my grandmother and my mother, who were the people who shaped my life. I can say that I had few regrets in that life. I married a wonderful wife and taught countless students.

However, when I was sixty-seven, my wife was diagnosed with an incurable illness, with only months to live. This sudden change left my heart hanging in mid-air. Even so, I could not escape the shackles of fate. My wife left me, and I lost my anchor in life. From that moment, my vitality began to wane. Eventually, I passed away, leaving behind the life I had known.

The moment I closed my eyes, I entered a realm of darkness. In the midst of my panic and fear, countless scenes from my life flashed before my eyes. Suddenly, the images stopped at one moment: I saw my grandmother tapping the wooden fish. Unexpectedly, my spirit entered that very scene. Through magnificent Causal Conditions, I arrived at a temple, becoming the wooden fish that was tapped during the morning service every single day. Listening to the Buddha-name and the sutras brought a profound peace to my heart.

The Final Deliverance

I prayed that this feeling would last forever. One day, I had a premonition that I would leave this space. Where would I go? I did not know. I never expected that the day would come when I would be brought before the court of Yama.

Before the King of Hell, he recounted my entire life. He told me, 'You actually have a very strong affinity with the Buddha, but you are still a little short in accumulating merit and virtue. Therefore, I will appoint you as a prison guard. This will help you, and it will help other beings. Are you willing?' When the King of Hell said this, I nodded immediately and said, 'I am willing.'

As soon as I agreed, I began my service. During my time there, I saw many beings in the hells suffering the consequences of their actions, and I witnessed their intense, stubborn natures. I truly wanted to help them, but I was often unable to do much, and I could not persuade them to change.

During my duty, I was fortunate enough to hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, introducing Namo Amituofo. I had finally reconnected with the Buddha. I was filled with Dharma-joy, listening to the teachings every single day, and I am so grateful to Practitioner Su. This time, I made a vow to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart was firm, and today, that wish was finally fulfilled. Practitioner Su took my hand, along with the hands of the other fifty-nine prison guards, and in an instant, we arrived at the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so grateful. I am grateful to Practitioner Su, and I am grateful to the Buddha. Namo Amituofo."

Wu Dakun, with palms pressed together.