The Jailers Who Found the Path to Liberation

During the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, the jailers of the Ten Halls of Hell offered their reflections on their duties and their connection to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. They spoke of their existence, their responsibilities, and the transformative power of the True Teachings.

The Silent Guardians of the Underworld

While you were away from Australia, we were silently maintaining order within the depths of the underworld. Compared to the external Bodhisattvas from the cosmos who now grace this place, our strength is truly insignificant. We are much like ordinary civilians who have voluntarily formed a neighbourhood watch team, doing our best to patrol and keep the peace. However, to be perfectly honest, there are many moments when we are in a terrible fix and must rely on the external Bodhisattvas from the cosmos to rescue us.

This world is unique. It is the only place that truly extends a helping hand to us. It is the only place that recognises us for who we are—the jailers from the Ten Halls of Hell. Our existence is akin to working a shift in the hells, yet the prospect of being reborn in the Western Pure Land once felt like an impossible fantasy. Everything changed when we learned of this place.

A New Dawn for the Ten Halls of Hell

We heard the Yama Kings of the Ten Halls speak of their impending rebirth in the Western Pure Land. They spoke of a lay practitioner who had appeared in the human world—a person who had achieved Awakening and possessed a profound understanding of all phenomena. During that period, the Yama Kings held frequent meetings. They sought to open a skillful means to allow the fourfold assembly of disciples at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to focus entirely on their Pure Land practice.

Driven by this spirit of saving the world, the Yama Kings pledged their full cooperation to resolve the conflict of karmic grievances. Their new approach was as follows: for those with deep and heavy sins, they would temporarily pause proceedings and hold the cases for further review; for those with lighter karmic debts, they would assist in bringing the cases to a swift and peaceful conclusion. They ensured that these karmic creditors were not treated unfairly, guiding them into the good realms, or for those with sufficient Goodness, granting them the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land.

The Profound Compassion of Practitioner Su

The Yama Kings were incredibly busy during this time, yet despite being exhausted, they had not smiled so happily in a very long time. They had finally caught a glimpse of hope for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Many people mistakenly believe that being a Yama King is a position of great prestige. While it is true that they hold the highest authority in the hells, they have witnessed the endless cycle of karmic retribution and the difficulty of managing the suffering sentient beings within. For years, the Yama Kings had worn no smiles, but now, they were filled with Dharma joy once again. They had finally encountered a true bodhimanda of the True Teachings and a person who had truly realised their original nature.

They hold Practitioner Su in the highest regard. Although the requests made by Practitioner Su at that time were unprecedented, the Yama Kings cooperated with unwavering dedication. They believed in the magnificence of this Dharma affinity. They even provided all the records from the Ten Halls concerning the fourfold assembly of disciples, hoping to help them eliminate the karmic obstacles accumulated over countless eons. For the sake of this great salvation, they fulfilled every request, including the later assistance in retrieving the lost three hun souls and seven po souls of the disciples.

The Path of Repentance and Liberation

The jailers are the humble workers of the hells. Our duties are diverse: some are responsible for escorting those who have committed transgressions, some are tasked with the delivery of official documents, some are assigned to patrol and maintain order, and some are responsible for carrying out the necessary corrections in the execution grounds. Whenever the Yama Kings visited Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to discuss matters, large groups of jailers accompanied them. Later, we were able to participate in the Dharma talks alongside the Yama Kings.

Because of the compassion of Practitioner Su, we were given a weekly task: to look after the fourfold assembly of disciples. Through the weekly Dharma assembly, we were granted the opportunity to be saved and reborn in the Western Pure Land. Every week, Practitioner Li compassionately writes down our names, and we register with the Yama Kings. So many of us are waiting for this precious opportunity. We are, at heart, quite kind, but without these skillful means, we would likely remain trapped in the cycle of reincarnated suffering for a very long time. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity.

Cherishing the Dharma Affinity

Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is different now than it was in the beginning; it is supported by an immense amount of Goodness. Our work now consists of doing our best to manage the spirits who attempt to flee the hells; those who resist are sent back for further review. In our remaining time, we diligently practise by studying the sutras. We cherish this Dharma affinity deeply.

Throughout the Dharma realm of emptiness, everyone yearns to come here to listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma. Everyone prays for the chance to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. We jailers are blessed with the great fortune to participate in these magnificent events every week, and we will seize every opportunity that comes our way. We are well aware of our many shortcomings, and we have all made a vow to practise diligently. We are here today because of that vow. We are grateful for the compassion that allows us this opportunity. We are grateful to the Buddha, we are grateful to Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and we are grateful to Namo Amituofo.