The Jailer's Path to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Ke Hong'an, 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 various lifetimes, including his time as a jailer in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on June 18, 2023.

Ke Hong'an speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su and to all those who have assisted me along the arduous path of samsara. I am profoundly thankful for this Causal Conditions, for I know that this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. I am so fortunate to have encountered the chance for 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's grace and to the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Life of Indulgence and the Weight of Karma

"In a past life, I was a wealthy young man, living a life of extreme luxury. I had a particular, almost obsessive, fondness for duck meat. I loved to experiment with every conceivable way of preparing it—roasting, stir-frying, or braising—and every day, my household would produce a mountain of duck bones. People whispered that the spirits of these ducks were gathering around my home, and some even claimed that I had duck spirits attached to my body, but at the time, I was far too arrogant and self-absorbed to pay any attention to such warnings."

"However, fate eventually pushed me toward a turning point. My death in that life was not a peaceful one; I succumbed to a severe illness, and the process of dying was agonising. After I passed, I found myself trapped in a dark, suffocating space for what felt like an eternity. Just as I was on the verge of being reincarnated, a chaotic event occurred—my mother suffered an unexpected miscarriage. In the midst of that confusion, I was compressed into a goose egg and reincarnated as a goose."

The Cycle of Suffering: From Human to Goose

"Later, I hatched in my mother's home. By chance, she discovered me and felt an inexplicable, deep connection. She cared for me with extraordinary tenderness, feeding me by hand and naming me 'Xiao An.' As I grew, I became her most cherished companion, a pet she loved as dearly as a child."

"Yet, as the days turned into months, the cruel fate of a goose seemed impossible to escape. Despite my mother's immense affection, the shadow of the kitchen loomed over me. One day, when I was taken into the kitchen to be prepared for a meal, I saw the conflict and sorrow etched onto my mother's face. After much contemplation, she decided she could not bear to slaughter me. She apologised to me, telling me she could not bring herself to send me into the oven. Her love for me filled her entire heart."

A Mother's Love and the Cruelty of Fate

"I felt her love deeply, and from that day on, I was filled with gratitude. Every morning, I would greet her as she rose, and we would walk together in the courtyard. We shared a bond that felt as profound as that between a mother and son. She cared for me with even greater devotion, providing me with food and constant affection."

"But then came a fateful afternoon. We were hosting a grand banquet, and the house was filled with guests. To entertain them, the kitchen prepared a feast of meat and fish, including a beautifully roasted goose—which was, in fact, me. My mother was busy attending to the guests and had no idea what had been served. When the meal began, everyone ate with great delight, and my mother, seeing the spread, felt a sudden hunger. But as she reached for a piece of the roasted goose, she looked down and saw the closed eyes of the bird on the platter. She let out a sudden, piercing cry, and tears of profound sorrow streamed down her face. She was overcome with a heart-wrenching pain. The guests were shocked by her behaviour, and then, to their horror, she began to retch and ran out of the room, with my father rushing after her in a panic."

A New Beginning Through the Dharma

"My mother stumbled all the way to the goose pen, only to confirm that her beloved Xiao An had indeed been slaughtered. She broke down in uncontrollable sobs, eventually fainting from the sheer intensity of her grief. Someone nearby suggested, 'Could she be pregnant again?' A doctor was summoned, and upon checking her pulse, it was confirmed: she was indeed pregnant. And so, I was granted another opportunity to reincarnate as a human."

"Following the tragic loss of her beloved goose, my mother resolved to become a vegetarian and began to draw close to the Buddha's teachings. Knowing she was carrying a child, she gathered her strength, refusing to remain trapped in her sorrow. She began to cultivate the mind and study the Buddha's teachings, tirelessly seeking Wisdom and Truth. She was deeply inspired by the Dharma and firmly resolved to impart this wisdom to the child she was about to bring into the world."

The Jailer's Search for Truth

"After I was born, my mother provided me with a wealth of Buddhist education. This transformed me completely. I am so grateful for everything she did; it allowed me to be reborn in spirit. She passed on her own insights from her practice, and from a young age, I was taught to understand the preciousness and impermanence of life. I strove to learn compassion and wisdom, attempting to treat all beings with kindness and tolerance."

"As I grew older, I became a young man who truly cherished life. My mother's example filled my heart with compassion. I began to actively help the poor, encouraging others to adopt a vegetarian diet, and I would even provide free vegetarian meals so that more people could experience the beauty of a compassionate lifestyle. I wanted to see an end to killing and a world where all life is protected."

Finding the Path to Ultimate Liberation

"Life is truly precious. Deep within the memories of my soul, I awakened to the true meaning of existence. After years of practicing the Buddha's teachings, I realised the urgent need to seek liberation. I searched constantly for a way to help all beings find their exit from suffering."

"When I reached the end of that life, my heart was filled with peace and gratitude. I understood that my experiences had brought me closer to awakening. I had grasped the essence of life and was striving for the exit from samsara, hoping to lead others to leave suffering behind."

"Even after I left the human world, I did not forget to continue my diligent practice. When I arrived in the underworld, the King of Hell gave me certain duties, but beyond my service, I continued to practise with great intensity. I never stopped searching for the way out. It was only recently, while in the underworld, that I encountered Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk. I knew instantly that this was the Great Dharma I had been searching for all these years—the true exit for the liberation of life."

"I was so moved; I knew I had finally found it! I began to listen to every sutra lecture given by Practitioner Su, practising earnestly and truly changing myself. That is why I have been granted this opportunity today to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I have longed for this for so long. I am profoundly grateful for the Ultimate Vow and the great power of Practitioner Su. I will continue to practise diligently, hoping that in the future, I may have the opportunity to help more sentient beings, guiding them all to find their own way out of the cycle of rebirth."

"Ke Hong'an, on behalf of all the jailers and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, bows in gratitude to the Buddha's grace and to the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

"Ke Hong'an, with palms joined in reverence."