The Jailer's Path to Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Zhuo Wenlong, 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 as a jailer in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on March 5, 2021.

Zhuo Wenlong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Zhuo Wenlong. In my final moments in the human world, I felt as if my entire body was being consumed by a raging, uncontrollable inferno. The pain was absolutely excruciating—it was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. As my consciousness detached from my physical form, I found myself standing before the gates of the underworld, directly in front of the King of Hell.

The King of Hell examined my life and told me that my accumulated blessings were just enough to spare me from the most severe punishments; in fact, I was only a hair's breadth away from ascending to a higher realm. He offered me a choice: I could serve as a jailer in the underworld, or I could choose to be reborn into a wealthy and prestigious family in the human world. I chose the former, and thus began my long, arduous service as a jailer."

The Choice at the Gates of Yama

"In the realm of cause and effect, there is no room for deception. During my time as a jailer, I witnessed the suffering of my own karmic creditors. Every hall of the underworld was packed to capacity with beings enduring the consequences of their past actions. Seeing this, I felt a profound, genuine sense of repentance. I prayed with all my heart that I might one day have the opportunity to repay my debts. Once I truly saw the beings I had harmed, I became incredibly diligent in my duties. I did not dare to slacken for even a single moment. I buried myself in my work, losing all sense of how much time had passed.

Then, one day, I received a notification. It was a list of names—beings who were to be delivered to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su. When I looked at that list, my heart nearly stopped. My own name, Zhuo Wenlong, was there! I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I remained dedicated to my duties until the very last second, and I am eternally thankful to Practitioner Su for reaching out and guiding me into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Life of Wealth and Suppression

"My life began under the glow of red lanterns hanging high at the Zhuo family estate, signalling a joyous occasion—my birth. The moment I arrived, a crowd of people swarmed around to see me. My grandmother was first in line, followed by my father's four other wives. I was only handed to my mother when I began to cry from hunger. My father was away on business, so the news of my birth was sent to him via carrier pigeon. Even then, my family began to bicker over my name. My grandmother, being illiterate, relied on the suggestions of the four wives. Each had a different vision: one wanted me to be a scholar, another wanted me to be handsome and wealthy, another wanted me to be a simple protector of the family line, and the fourth wanted me to be a high-ranking official. Only my mother, the fifth wife, held me and smiled in silence.

My mother was only a young girl when my father, forty years her senior, spotted her on the street and decided he must have her. He showered her family with money and gifts until they agreed to the marriage. My mother’s own father was only three years older than my father! She was essentially sold into a marriage she never asked for. When she first entered the Zhuo household, she was met with endless, suffocating rituals. She was polite, but her face remained cold and expressionless. She was a woman trapped in a golden cage, and though she eventually bore me, she knew her only purpose in that house was to provide an heir."

The Weight of Expectations

"When my father finally returned and saw me, he was ecstatic. 'This child looks just like me!' he exclaimed. 'He will bring glory to the Zhuo name.' He decided on the name 'Wenlong,' and my grandmother agreed. As I grew, I was subjected to a rigorous education—arithmetic, literature, and even the erhu. I was never allowed to play freely in the courtyard. One day, I caught a glimpse of a martial arts school while out with my mother. The discipline, the movement, the unity of the students—I was mesmerised. From that day on, a fire burned in my heart to learn martial arts.

One day, after a long, exhausting session of sitting perfectly still for my studies, I went to the courtyard and began to mimic the movements I had seen at the school. My father caught me. His face darkened instantly. 'You are not going to be a bodyguard,' he snapped. 'Why would you waste your time on such things?' I walked back to my room, my heart heavy with a suffocating sense of repression. Everyone in that house loved me, yet not a single person truly understood me or offered me any genuine companionship."

Breaking Free from the Golden Cage

"That night, I thought deeply about my life. I knew I had fulfilled my duty to the Zhuo family by marrying a woman named Shuyao and fathering a son, but I felt a desperate need to break free from the life that had been arranged for me. After my father passed away at the age of ninety, the entire burden of the family business fell upon my shoulders. I spent my days running from place to place, utterly exhausted. I felt no deep affection for my wife or child—only a sense of duty. I lived forty years of my life according to the plans of others.

At forty, a powerful force within me finally compelled me to change. I quietly handed the business over to a young, capable steward who had served us for twenty years. I told him to take care of the family, and I left. Stepping out of that house, I felt as if the world had suddenly opened up. I was finally my own person, free from the weight of expectations. I wandered on foot, enjoying the simple freedom of the road. Months later, I encountered a travelling healer. I watched in awe as he saved a man who had collapsed on the street. I begged him to teach me, and though he initially refused, saying I was too old, I refused to leave his side. I followed him everywhere, learning the secrets of herbs and the art of healing, until I, too, was able to help those in need."

A Royal Summons and a Village of Despair

"One day, while we were trekking through the mountain forests in search of medicinal herbs, a group of imperial soldiers suddenly surrounded us. They demanded to know if the healer was indeed the one who specialised in curing strange illnesses. The healer nodded. The soldiers then spoke: 'Please accompany us to the imperial palace. Consort Xiao has requested your presence.' With so many soldiers present, we had no choice but to comply and follow them back to the capital. The journey to the palace took us an entire month. Upon arriving in the capital, we were immediately ushered into the palace to meet Consort Xiao. She sat behind a screen and spoke: 'I have heard that you are capable of curing many bizarre ailments.' The healer replied: 'I shall do my utmost.' Consort Xiao continued: 'My home village has recently been plagued by a mysterious sickness. I wish for you to travel there. If you succeed in helping my people, you shall be handsomely rewarded.' The healer bowed respectfully and we withdrew.

We set off for the village afflicted by this strange disease. Before we even reached the village, a foul stench hit us. Upon closer inspection, we saw that the villagers were suffering from pustules that erupted from their stomachs, slowly spreading across their entire bodies until they rotted and died. The symptoms were highly contagious. Nearly half the village had already fallen ill. People from neighbouring villages had sealed off the area to prevent the spread of the disease; entering the village was essentially a death sentence. Some of the villagers were simply waiting in despair for their end. The healer and I each carried a basket filled with herbs, prepared to use them once we entered. Upon arriving, the healer remained silent, quietly observing the root cause and the progression of the illness. He discovered that the fundamental problem lay in the water source; the water they drank daily contained foreign substances. He urged the village head to resolve this, and the village began by digging new wells for clean water. As for the villagers who were already ill, the healer and I began to research a medicinal formula. We tried many different combinations, but eventually, I, too, contracted the strange disease. The rotting sores had already invaded my eyes and were fast approaching my head.

The Ultimate Sacrifice for the Cure

I decided to test a highly potent medicinal formula on myself. As I tested it, I recorded the results. Finally, I found a formula that was truly effective in treating the rotting sores across the body. However, because I had used such a powerful concoction, my internal organs were scorched. As my body was on the verge of collapse, I wrote down the correct formula and then fell to the ground, unable to rise again.

In my final moments, I felt as if my body were burning in a raging inferno. The pain was excruciating. I departed from my body and found myself before the King of Hell. The King told me that my blessings were just a fraction short of allowing me to ascend to the heavens. He offered me a choice: I could serve as a jailer in the hells, or I could choose to be reborn into a wealthy family in the human world. Reflecting upon the wealth and status of my past life, I realised it was all just an illusion. I decided to serve as a jailer. Seeing the beings coming and going through the hells filled my heart with profound emotion. People must wake up! Most people end up in the hells for the sake of a single breath—is it really worth it?

A Path to the Western Land

Today, the hells are graced by the Chao Du and the broadcasting of Dharma talks by Practitioner Su. I hope the beings in the hells will cherish this opportunity. I, Zhuo Wenlong, along with fifty-nine other jailers, have been granted the chance to reach the Western Land in this lifetime. I am filled with gratitude to the Buddha and Practitioner Su. I am grateful for all the experiences I have endured, for now, everything has returned to emptiness. The world of light is right before my eyes. Wenlong and the fifty-nine jailers bow in reverence."

This interview was recorded by the chief writer, disciple Shi Faxin.