The Jailer's Awakening: From Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Xu Wenda, 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 and his time serving as a jailer in the hell realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on June 2, 2023.

Xu Wenda speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Only now, having arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, have I finally found true peace in my heart. Entering my own lotus kingdom, I am enveloped by a sense of coolness and divine fragrance. The Buddha’s land is so magnificent and beautiful; it is truly breathtaking, and it has opened my entire heart. The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, this eternal home for our spirits, is truly inconceivable. I am so grateful for the Buddha’s compassion, and I am even more grateful to Practitioner Su, who led all sixty of us jailers into the Buddha’s land. I am filled with gratitude.

I am Xu Wenda. Throughout my life, I often felt that existence was like a dream, a bubble, or a shadow—it would simply vanish as quickly as it appeared. Because of this, I often tried to contemplate the constant changes of the world. I knew that life was fleeting and that we would all face the impermanence of the world, so, in truth, I never really had a desire to live a long life."

The Veil Between Worlds

"Sometimes, images would naturally appear in my mind. Often, the moment I closed my eyes, another space would manifest right before me. Entering these spaces felt just like acting in a play; I would perform my role with such sincerity, only to realise, upon opening my eyes, that it had all been a hollow illusion. This did not just happen when I was awake; it occurred even in my dreams while I slept.

The visions I saw were incredibly clear. When I was within those spaces, I often struggled to distinguish whether I was in reality or in one of these other dimensions. I once told a Taoist practitioner about these experiences, and he gave me a protective talisman to wear. From that point on, the visions of these spaces were no longer as clear, and I could not remember them as vividly.

I never understood why I was so different from everyone else. In truth, I only wanted to live a normal life, to experience the world like an ordinary person. But it seemed I was born with the ability to perceive so much—the complexities of human interaction, the likes, the dislikes, and the frictions between people."

The Energy of the Soul

"I could see many electrical signals radiating from people. When a person was deep in thought, they were like a base station emitting electricity. That base station would attract many corresponding magnetic fields from the surrounding spaces. Therefore, every person is actually surrounded by spirits from various dimensions. These spirits must have a connection—a thread—tightly bound to the body for them to follow so closely.

I could even see people emitting light of different colours: pale yellow, pale green, light grey, and deep grey. The colour and brightness of these lights depended entirely on the person’s heart. Whatever the heart was like, the light on their body would reflect it. To me, the human body is truly a remarkable thing.

Yet, while I could see the light of others, I could never see my own. Sometimes, I could look deeper to understand the cause of a person's changes. If the causal conditions were right, I would find an opportunity to remind them. Some people suffered misfortune because they were not filial, while others became miserable because they harboured negative thoughts. When I discovered the truth, I would try to counsel them. Those who listened and made even the slightest change would find their entire magnetic field transformed. But those who could not change remained the same, or sometimes, they even grew worse."

The Search for Truth

"Later, through certain causal conditions, I began to study the Dharma and served in a bodhimanda. Every day, I would recite the Diamond Sutra. The words, 'All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew and like lightning; thus should one perceive them,' made me realise that I needed to cherish my life and practice properly.

I saw every devotee who came to the temple to pay their respects. Each of them carried burdens they could not let go of, and each held their own suffering in their hearts. I often wanted to speak up and counsel them, but seeing their stern faces and knowing that everyone held so firmly to their own ideas and views, I knew they might not listen.

Eventually, I saw many people grow old and sick, dragging their heavy bodies through life, yet still unwilling to let go of their attachments. I asked myself: 'Am I the same kind of person?' I could not answer that question, because I knew there were still parts of myself I could not see clearly."

A Life of Bubbles

"I often wondered what would happen at the end of my life. I believed the Buddha would come to receive me, but I lacked absolute confidence. Every day was filled with a sense of panic and fear—a fear that I felt emanating from the very depths of my soul. Although my physical life had not been too difficult, my soul had no place of peace to return to. That is why I was so anxious, and why I kept searching for answers through my practice.

I shared the truths I understood with many people and encouraged them to study the Dharma. A force within me constantly urged me to find the ultimate answer to spiritual liberation. I visited many bodhimandas and met many Venerables, and my intuition told me whether or not I had found the answer I was looking for. I was constantly praying to the Buddha.

One day, I dreamt that I had entered a space that made my whole body feel incredibly comfortable. This space allowed my spirit to relax. I knew it was not the final destination I was seeking, but I chose to enter it anyway. Once I went in, I never came out."

The Jailer's Lesson

"In that illusory space, I suffered an accident—I fell from a great height. The moment my life ended, I entered that space I had seen in my dream. It felt comfortable, but in reality, I had become nothing more than a bubble. A life of bubbles, a life of impermanence—it had truly happened to me. Just as I had anticipated, life was fleeting; I was only forty-three years old.

I do not know how long I spent in that space; it felt as though I were caught between illusions. Then, one day, I heard the sound of a wooden fish. I remembered that sound—it was so familiar. I remembered the Buddha, and I remembered that I had once wanted to follow the Buddha, not remain in such a space. The moment that thought arose, I emerged from that bubble-like dimension and entered the Hall of the King of Hell.

The King of Hell told me that I had been a bubble for thirty-five years, and the cause was entirely my own attachments and pursuits. I had always wanted to find a definitive answer, but I did not realise that studying the Dharma and practicing are all about being earnest. Only by walking earnestly and realising the truth earnestly can one truly find the answer. It was then that I had an 'Aha!' moment: my practice had never been earnest enough.

The King of Hell also told me that my fall from a height at the end of my life was the karmic retribution for having caused someone to jump into a well in a past life. Because of my attachments, I should have entered the ghost realm, but I begged the King of Hell for another chance to serve the beings. The King of Hell, in his compassion, granted me the position of a jailer."

The Path to Liberation

"During my time in the hells, I saw many people who had studied the Dharma, even monastics, who had entered hell due to their ignorance and the karma they created. Some were there to receive their retribution, others were there for judgment. My heart was heavy, and I realised that true practice is not an easy task. I tried to share my insights on why I had failed to achieve success in my practice with them, but most were arrogant and ignored me. I felt a great deal of sorrow.

It was during my service as a jailer that I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. Every word Practitioner Su spoke was incredibly direct, striking at the core and pointing out the true problems of many practitioners. Practice involves many coarse and subtle aspects that require attention and guidance, especially regarding one's deep-seated personality traits—things I had never paid attention to before.

In my past practice, I focused too much on names and forms, which is why I was eventually led away by illusions and failed to achieve success. Practice requires a genuine, earnest change of heart. This is a truth I only understood recently. I am grateful for the explanations provided by Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks; this is a spiritual delusion that many people need to understand.

Today, I have arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am preparing to stay by Namo Amituofo’s side and learn and grow under the Buddha’s guidance. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the day Xu Wenda truly follows the Buddha. I am grateful for the establishment of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and I hope that in the future, it can help even more beings move toward the light and find liberation in life.

Namo Amituofo.

Xu Wenda, kneeling in gratitude."