The Jailer's Awakening: From Greed to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Liu Nick, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his past lives and his role as a jailer in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on May 12, 2024.

Jailer Liu Nick speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to find liberation today, as it brings a flicker of hope to our weary lives. I am truly thankful for the Ultimate Vow and the immense power of Practitioner Su, which allows each of us the possibility of rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the jailers and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

In the distant past, I was the only son of a wealthy merchant, and my name was Haoran. My family possessed vast riches; my father was a master of commerce, and our business flourished beyond measure. From my earliest childhood, I lived in a world of silk and gold, surrounded by every luxury imaginable. I had never experienced even a moment of hardship or struggle. Because I was so pampered and adored, I never learned the value of anything. Our home was filled with countless jewels, silver, gold, and exquisite silks, yet I looked upon these precious treasures with indifference. I was always chasing after something newer, something more exotic, and I treated everything I already possessed with a careless, callous heart.

The Hollow Pursuit of Wealth

As I grew older, my hunger for material things became even more intense. I purchased the largest mansion in the city and kept a multitude of servants, living in a state of unbridled extravagance. Yet, the more I possessed, the emptier my heart became. I lost interest in those expensive items almost as soon as I acquired them. I felt that life was utterly boring, and I simply continued to chase more, driven by a bottomless desire that could never be satisfied.

One day, a wandering monk came to my estate. He looked at me and said, 'You possess more than most people could ever dream of, yet your heart is so incredibly impoverished. You do not know how to cherish what you have; you only know greed. If you continue on this path, you will eventually end up with nothing at all.' Upon hearing these words, I was filled with rage. I ordered my men to drive the monk out of my estate immediately.

The Collapse of a Golden Life

Not long after that, my father passed away due to illness. Our family business, already weakened by years of war and my own reckless spending, began to decline rapidly. The grand mansion grew desolate and cold, and one by one, my servants left me. I finally realised the extent of my own foolishness, but it was already too late; everything was beyond repair.

In the twilight of my life, I often recalled the words of that monk, and I was consumed by regret. I sat alone in that empty, echoing house, reflecting on the life I had wasted. I finally understood that material abundance could never bring true satisfaction to the heart. Only through genuine gratitude and the act of cherishing what one has can a person find true inner wealth.

The Realm of Endless Dust

In the end, I spent my remaining years in total isolation, possessing absolutely nothing. After my death, my spirit entered a strange space—a grey, misty void where there was no sky, no earth, only endless, swirling dust. This dust was the manifestation of my greed and my failure to cherish life in my previous existence. In this realm, my consciousness shattered into countless tiny particles, each one carrying the weight of my past greed and vanity.

Within this space, I could not discern any direction, nor could I perceive the passage of time. Everything around me was shrouded in a dull, suffocating grey. I felt a loneliness and despair more profound than anything I had ever known. The particles of dust floated around me, and each one seemed to tempt me, tricking me into seeing them as the wealth and material goods I had chased in my past life, causing me endless confusion.

The Sound That Pierced the Void

I was constantly lost in that space, just as I had been in life—always chasing, always enjoying, yet always empty. My state of mind was identical to what it had been before I died, and I remained trapped, unable to wake up. I spent thousands of long, agonising years in that realm of dust, constantly mistaking illusion for reality and clinging to my material desires.

Then, one day, the sound of 'Namo Amituofo' chanted by a monk pierced through the heavy layers of dust. The sound was like a spring thunderclap that shook my very soul. In that moment, I suddenly awakened, finally realising the depth of my own ignorance and attachment over all those years.

Purification and Clarity

As the monk continued to chant, I felt a cool, refreshing power wash over me. This power permeated every single particle of dust that made up my spirit, purifying all my negative emotions and desires. As time passed, my heart gradually detached from its obsession with material things, and I was finally able to see the real world—a world not bound by the chains of matter. With this realisation, I was finally able to break free from the dust, moving slowly from a state of delusion toward clarity.

I began to understand that all this dust was merely an illusion. It could never bring me any true satisfaction or happiness. This recognition caused the attachments in my heart to crumble. I began to contemplate the nature of all things, gradually understanding that everything eventually returns to dust, and that wealth and fame are nothing more than passing clouds.

A New Life as Liu Nick

I gradually learned to let go of my past attachments and sought the purification and elevation of my spirit. During this process, I felt a sliver of peace and clarity that was entirely detached from the world of dust. I learned to find true value in this illusory world—the value of inner stability and tranquility.

As time flowed on, I found my own path amidst the dust, a path leading to the liberation of the soul. I let go of my material attachments, and my heart became freer and more expansive. Eventually, I understood that all dust and material things are merely a fleeting game in the universe, and that the true self must transcend all of this, breaking through the limitations of life itself. After breaking through that space, I reincarnated as a human, named Liu Nick.

The Lessons of Reincarnation

In this new life, I carried with me the profound memories of my previous cycles of rebirth. I understood that I had to seize the life I had been given, cherishing every breath and every single day. From childhood, I worked hard to grow, hoping to cultivate my abilities and apply what I had learned to improve myself. I began to focus on my inner self, no longer placing my heart on vanity and material goods. I cultivated my character and managed my family affairs, striving for inner peace and richness rather than external luxury.

Through continuous effort, I acquired much knowledge, and combined with the insights from my past lives, I was able to understand more of the truths of life, possessing a maturity far beyond my peers. I knew that I wanted to seek the true meaning of life, rather than living in an illusory dream. In this lifetime, I realised that true wealth does not come from external riches, but from inner satisfaction and peace.

A Life of Service and Gratitude

I no longer pursued the accumulation of material things. Instead, I strove to live a grounded, authentic life, doing my utmost to help those around me who were in need. This way of life brought me a sense of satisfaction and stability I had never known before. Through the process of helping others, I continued to grow myself. Seeing the suffering in the lives of others made me even more determined to walk the path of liberation; I did not want to continue drifting in the cycle of rebirth.

I often shared my experiences with others, telling them that true happiness comes from contentment and gratitude. My story became an inspiration in the village, encouraging others to seek inner peace rather than external material gain. In the world of dust, the power of material temptation is immense, especially in the current age, which leads people to become lost in the external world while ignoring their own inner state. I had been in that exact situation, which was why I could not escape.

The Final Deliverance

In this life, I worked hard to help sentient beings, hoping to help more people wake up. When I finally bid farewell to this world, I felt a peace I had never experienced before. My heart was focused and clear, because I knew I had done my absolute best to live this life well and had helped countless others find their own happiness and peace. My soul achieved true freedom and liberation in this lifetime.

After leaving the human world, I soon arrived before the King of Hell. My heart was very calm as I quietly awaited his judgment. I do not know how much time passed, but the punishment I had expected never came. Instead, I was given an opportunity to serve. I am truly grateful for this chance to serve; I will learn diligently and help even more people. Recently, I heard Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk, and as I listened to the sutras he spoke, it was as if sunlight had entered my heart, instantly illuminating the darkness and filling me with emotion! I finally know the Truth; all that I had experienced in the past was truly just an illusion. I wish to seek liberation, to seek true deliverance.

I am truly grateful to Practitioner Su. Without him, I would not have had this opportunity today to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. On behalf of all the jailers and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Liu Nick, with palms joined."