The Jailer’s Journey: From Hero to Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Michael, a spirit who served as a jailer in the underworld, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects on his past lives, the nature of his existence, and his eventual path to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on June 11, 2023.

Michael the Jailer speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the boundless mercy of Practitioner Su. It is only through their grace that we have this precious opportunity to finally be liberated from our suffering. On behalf of all the jailers and the sentient beings with karmic affinity who have been trapped in the cycle of rebirth, I offer my most sincere gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

I was born as a young boy on a beautiful estate in the western part of the United States. My name was Michael. From the very moment I entered this world, I was a quiet child. I did not care for idle chatter, and I rarely spoke at all. I possessed a strange, heightened sensitivity; I could feel the thoughts of those around me with startling clarity. Yet, I felt no urge to respond to them. I preferred to live my life in a state of profound, solitary silence.

The Dream of a Past Life

When I was five years old, I experienced a dream so vivid, so overwhelming, that it changed the trajectory of my soul. In that dream, I saw my previous life. I was born in ancient China. One day, while I was wandering through a dense, mist-covered forest gathering medicinal herbs, I heard the sound of a crisp, melodic bird call. I followed the sound, and there, standing before me, was a magnificent crane. Its feathers were as white as freshly fallen snow, and its eyes shone with an intelligence that felt ancient and mysterious. It was a creature of such elegance that I was struck dumb with awe.

The crane approached me, and in its gaze, I felt a deep, piercing concern. It spoke to me, not with words, but through a direct transmission of thought. It told me that my village was facing a terrifying crisis. A malevolent demon was wreaking havoc on the nearby mountains, plundering the villagers' hard-earned wealth and threatening to steal the most precious treasure of all—the hearts of the children. My heart surged with a sense of duty. I knew I could not simply turn away. I promised the crane that I would do everything in my power to help my village escape this evil threat. The crane looked at me and told me that only a true hero could defeat such a demon, and that I had been chosen for this sacred task.

The Hero’s Burden

I left my home behind and embarked on a long, arduous journey toward the mountains. Along the way, I encountered many people who were suffering and in need of help. I met an elderly woman who had lost everything and was left homeless; I shared my food with her and provided her with shelter. I found a young child who had wandered off and lost his way; I took him by the hand and guided him safely back to his family. Every time I reached out to help another, I felt a profound sense of joy and satisfaction blooming within my heart. It was as if I were fulfilling a purpose I had carried within me for lifetimes.

Finally, I reached the mountain. The lair of the demon loomed before me, a dark, jagged scar upon the landscape. A wave of fear washed over me, cold and suffocating. But I steeled myself, reminding myself of the mission I had accepted. I could not retreat now. I stepped into the darkness of the demon’s cave. The air inside was thick, stagnant, and filled with a sense of dread. The demon was a massive, grotesque monster, its eyes burning with a cruel, insatiable greed. We engaged in a battle of life and death. I poured every ounce of my strength and courage into the fight, but despite my best efforts, I could not overcome this terrifying enemy. I was severely wounded, my strength failing, and eventually, I collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness as the darkness swallowed me whole.

The Garden of Awakening

When I finally opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a place of breathtaking beauty. I was in a lush, vibrant garden where flowers bloomed in every colour imaginable, and birds sang songs of pure joy. In the centre of this garden, I saw the crane again. But as I watched, it transformed into a celestial being. The immortal told me that although I had not physically defeated the demon, my courage and my innate kindness had moved the heavens and the earth. My spirit of sacrifice had united the entire village, and through that unity, they had overcome the threat of evil. I felt a profound sense of peace. I finally understood a vital truth: kindness and compassion are the greatest powers in existence. Even if I could not defeat the demon with my own hands, my heart had already achieved the ultimate victory.

My dream ended there, and I awoke in my bed in the American estate. The first thing I did was look around, confirming my surroundings, trying to ground myself in the reality of my current life. I knew in my heart that the dream was not merely a fantasy; it was a memory of a truth that had existed long before I was Michael. This dream confirmed for me the reality of the cycle of rebirth. I felt compelled to write down my experiences, hoping to share them with others so they might understand that life is a journey spanning many lifetimes. I was Michael, but I had been someone else before, and I would be someone else again.

The Search for Truth

My account caused quite a stir at the time. Many people resonated with my story, finding comfort in the idea of a larger purpose, while others were skeptical, dismissing my experiences as mere superstition. I did not fear their opposition. I knew that what I was doing was right. Later, due to a specific set of Causal Conditions, I travelled to China, hoping to find the traces of the life I had lived so long ago. I spent many years searching, but I could not find the physical remnants of that past. Instead, my karma caught up with me. I fell into a severe illness. During that time of suffering, I gained many profound insights. I realised that life is a process that we cannot truly control. I began to provide counseling to others to let go of their attachment to this physical body, hoping that they, too, could wake up to the truth of our existence.

Throughout my life, I helped some people find clarity, but my methods were not ultimate. I did not yet know of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was only after I passed away and entered the underworld that I finally learned of this glorious realm. I began to search tirelessly for a way to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so incredibly grateful that in this lifetime, I was able to encounter Practitioner Su. Practitioner Su resolved all of my questions and guided me to the true method for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am deeply thankful for the compassionate heart of Practitioner Su.

I will cherish this opportunity dearly, and I vow to begin my practice in earnest. I am profoundly grateful for the great vows of Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the jailers and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I offer my deepest thanks to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Michael, with palms joined in reverence."