The Honest Farmer and the Power of Sincerity

This is a record of an interview with Zhang Qingquan, a former prison guard who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su, he was able to transcend his karmic obstacles and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life as a humble farmer, his experiences in the afterlife, and his ultimate liberation. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa-xi, on October 17, 2021.

Zhang Qingquan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for her immense compassion in helping people like us. Today, we are finally able to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We all cherish this opportunity immensely; it is a day we have waited for a very long time. I am so thankful for the tireless dedication of Practitioner Su, which has allowed us all to find true liberation today. On behalf of all the prison guards and the sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in profound gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Life Rooted in the Soil

"I was a simple, honest farmer. From childhood, I worked the land alongside my parents. I never had much formal schooling, but I learned to observe the heavens and understand the nature of people. I knew the principles of being a good human being, and I lived a very simple, ordinary life, content with what the earth provided.

From the moment I was born, my fate seemed to be set, but I never gave up on my life. I knew that my livelihood depended on the grace of the heavens. If the crops were bountiful, we could get by; if the heavens were unkind, the entire year would be a struggle. This was the destiny inherited from my parents' generation, yet I remained content and learned to be grateful. Although farming is grueling work—often toiling under the scorching sun until our clothes were soaked with sweat, dried, and soaked again—I never complained. Every day when I returned home and changed, my clothes would be stiff with a thick layer of salt. Modern children might not understand such hardship. I worry that those who grow up with such convenience will lack the resilience to face life's difficulties when they inevitably arise."

The Illusion of a Grand Farewell

"I passed away about twenty years ago. When I died, my family bought a fine coffin and held a grand, elaborate funeral for me, wanting to ensure I left this world with dignity. But now I realise that this was all a waste of money. I could not enjoy any of it. After I died, my spirit drifted, and I did not even know where I was. It was only later, when I was brought to the underworld, that I truly understood I had passed away. I had no way of knowing what my descendants were doing for me, because I was already facing the reality of the space one enters after death. Fortunately, I ended up serving as a prison guard under the jurisdiction of King Yama, rather than suffering in the lower realms.

Throughout my life, I was honest and down-to-earth. I never took advantage of others. I would rather suffer a loss myself than see someone else lose out because of me; that was my principle. I understood the importance of gratitude. Since I was small, my parents taught me: 'If you know how to be grateful, you will build a foundation for your future.' I truly believed this. Just as farming depends on the heavens, I believed that if one works hard and keeps a good heart, fate will not treat one unfairly. There is a saying: 'Thirty percent is determined by heaven, seventy percent depends on hard work.' This is absolutely true. Nothing comes without effort. If you are diligent and maintain a good heart, you will have good fortune, and life will be much smoother, sparing you from taking many unnecessary detours."

The Trap of Greed and Impatience

"In this world, many people want to choose the fastest and easiest path, but that mindset is fundamentally wrong. They want the rewards without the effort—that is greed and a lack of contentment. Look at competition; everyone wants to win, but who is willing to lose? People who are always looking for shortcuts or instant success are not grounded. Their lives easily go astray because their hearts are not upright, making them susceptible to being controlled by demons, leading them to commit many wrongdoings.

I always taught the children in our village to be honest, to keep their feet on the ground, and to be content. I told them not to be greedy, always looking for the next best thing. I also told them to be grateful and to 'remember the source of the water when you drink.' Above all, one must be filial to one's parents. Filial piety is the foundation of life. If one cannot even achieve that, I do not believe one can ever truly be successful."

Life as a Passing Play

"In my heart, I see life as a play. Whether you are on the stage or in the audience, you must remain clear-headed. You cannot get lost in the performance. Once you are lost, your mind becomes ignorant, which is a great pity! I knew this life was precious, and I cherished it, but I also knew that life is marked by impermanence. One cannot live forever just by wishing for it. Therefore, I always kept an open mind about my own mortality, maintaining a calm, ordinary heart toward life and death. I was content with simplicity.

I saved some money during my lifetime, but I knew I would not need it. My daily needs were met, so I saved every bit of my surplus earnings, hoping that one day I could use it to help others. At the time, I did not have grand thoughts; I simply felt that this was extra and could be used to benefit others. Money sitting in a bank is dead, but if it can be used to save a life or improve someone's circumstances, it becomes alive. Everyone cannot choose the fate they are born into, but if they have noble people to help them, combined with their own hard work, they can change their destiny. With this thought, I decided to use my savings for a meaningful purpose."

A Sincere Act of Merit

"This was originally an unintentional act, as I never imagined how much impact my small savings could have. When I was seventy, I donated all the money I had saved over decades to a school, hoping to give the children more opportunities to learn and receive a better education. I never had the chance to study, but I believe education is vital. I hoped my money would help these children learn more and eventually do something to benefit society. That was my only wish.

Two years after I did this, I left the world. I passed away peacefully, without any pain; everyone said my departure was very calm. Although I did not suffer much at the moment of death, I still entered a void of darkness. For a time, I was unconscious, until I was brought before King Yama. His questioning finally woke me up, and I realised I had died. I had thought I was in a dream, trapped in a cold, dark, and helpless space. But fortunately, because my character was honest, I trusted that the darkness would eventually lift, much like the early mornings when I would head out to the fields before dawn—the sky was dark then, just like the space I found myself in."

The Turning Point of Karma

"When I stood before King Yama, he reviewed the merits and demerits of my life. Initially, the calculation suggested I would be reborn as an animal—a pig—because I used to slaughter pigs for offerings and raised many on my farm. I would even feed the pigs the scraps from my garden. I never expected that this would be my karmic retribution. However, King Yama then saw the merit I had created by donating my savings to the school. While it was not a massive sum, my sincerity and my lack of attachment to the money saved me. I never expected such a reward. If I could live my life over again, I would still donate that money without hesitation—not to help myself, but simply because helping others is my true intention.

In truth, it was not the money that saved me, but the sincere heart that wanted to help others escape the hardships of their fate. That is what matters most. I donated everything I had, which was a complete expression of my sincerity. I share this today because I hope it can help others understand how to walk through this life. Do not live only for the 'self,' for you cannot take that 'self' with you. What you must truly pay attention to is where you will go after you die."

Gratitude for Deliverance

"I am so grateful for the teachings of Practitioner Su. Through her Dharma talks, I have learned so much. I have learned to listen to the truth and to read the Infinite Life Sutra, and I have learned many characters. I am deeply thankful to Practitioner Su. Today, I am able to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I am truly overjoyed. On behalf of everyone, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. My gratitude is beyond words. I will continue to work hard, and I hope that one day I, too, can be like Practitioner Su, helping even more sentient beings.

Namo Amituofo."

Zhang Qingquan