The Joyful Bus Driver: A Journey from Hell to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Tsai Sung-lin, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life as a bus driver, his transition to the spirit realm, his service as a hell guard, and his eventual deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on August 9, 2025.

Tsai Sung-lin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. At this very moment, my eyes are brimming with tears, and my heart is filled with a profound sense of warmth. An indescribable feeling of happiness and gratitude is surging through me like a rising tide. I am here with fifty-nine other hell guards, kneeling before the Buddha to offer our deepest gratitude.

Today, the sixty of us, under the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su, have arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We all find it truly inconceivable that we could be here. We know in our hearts that without the compassionate help of Practitioner Su, even if we were to reincarnate for many more lifetimes, we would never have encountered such an opportunity. We cherish this precious Causal Condition, and our hearts are filled with immense gratitude."

A Childhood of Integrity and Warmth

"I am Tsai Sung-lin, though everyone likes to call me Ah Lin. I was born into an ordinary family. When I was ten years old, my mother passed away due to a severe illness. That farewell felt as if a piece of flesh had been torn from the hearts of my father and me. My mother was an incredibly gentle woman. Her voice, her smile, and even the fragrant steam rising from the pot when she cooked are deeply etched in my memory. Although I only spent ten years with her, her gentleness and Goodness had already become a part of my very being.

My father was a small-scale merchant. He was a sincere and upright man who would rather earn less money than do anything that compromised his conscience. When others tried to lure him into schemes for quick money, he would immediately sense their crooked intentions and refuse without a second thought. My father's integrity influenced me deeply; I learned that one must live a life where one has nothing to hide from one's own heart."

The Simple Ambition of a Bus Driver

"While my character was not bad, my academic talent was limited. No matter how hard I tried, my grades were always at the bottom of the class. In junior high, I gave everything I had to catch up, but the results never improved. I finally had to admit that I was not cut out for academics. After graduating from junior high, I chose not to continue my studies.

From elementary school through junior high, I took the bus to and from school every day. This period, which seemed so ordinary, unexpectedly changed the course of my life. I loved observing the bus drivers. Some were careful and steady, ensuring all passengers were seated before starting the bus. Others were always smiling, decorating their buses during festivals and offering blessings. Those small gestures were an unexpected source of warmth for passengers in their daily lives.

I also encountered short-tempered drivers who treated passengers poorly. I once saw an elderly grandmother carrying many bags of vegetables from the market. The driver, seeing her struggle, said impatiently, 'Don't bring so much stuff on the bus! Walk faster!' The grandmother nodded and finally climbed aboard, but before she could find a seat, the driver slammed on the accelerator. She lost her balance and fell. Fortunately, a fellow passenger caught her, preventing a serious injury. Seeing all these different drivers, I decided that when I grew up, I would become a bus driver. I wanted to provide the best service, to let passengers feel warmth every time they boarded my bus, and to bring them joy throughout their day."

Delivering Happiness on Every Route

"My life's ambition was simple, yet it was extraordinary because I gave myself a mission: to be a messenger of joy. I wanted to deliver happiness to everyone's heart so that when they stepped off the bus, they would still feel that warmth and joy. After obtaining my license, I became a bus driver, and I took this job very seriously every single day.

For many drivers, this job was just about driving from stop to stop and returning to the depot. But I was different. I performed my duties with great care. I would check the weather forecast the night before and broadcast reminders to my passengers. If it was going to rain, I reminded them to bring umbrellas. Since buses get crowded on rainy days, I reminded them to leave early. If it was going to get cold, I reminded them to bring warm clothing. If there was a flu outbreak, I reminded them to wear masks to protect themselves.

Beyond that, I would chat with them. Even if many passengers were too shy to respond, it didn't matter. I acted like a talk-show host, finding ways to share my enthusiasm and joy. I shared happy experiences and told jokes. Every day, I shared something simple yet joyful to help everyone appreciate the beauty of life. Every passenger could feel my care and dedication the moment they stepped onto my bus. I paid attention to what they were carrying and helped them move things to a safe spot so they wouldn't have to struggle. I was especially attentive to the elderly, the weak, and pregnant women. As soon as they boarded, I would broadcast a reminder for everyone to be mindful and ask the younger passengers to offer their seats."

Thirty Years of Unchanging Passion

"These small, thoughtful actions warmed the hearts of my passengers. Regular commuters became familiar with me. The first thing they would do upon boarding was give me a big smile and say, 'Good morning, Ah Lin!' or 'Thank you for your hard work, Ah Lin!' I loved that feeling, and I believe the passengers enjoyed that natural, intimate way of interacting. Many would initiate conversations, and some of the aunties and grandmothers even tried to introduce their daughters or granddaughters to me. This job truly allowed me to help people travel comfortably while feeling the warmth I offered, which they then carried off the bus to share with others.

I worked this job for nearly thirty years, and I was willing to continue as long as I could. What I found most remarkable was that my enthusiasm never waned. Not everyone can do that, but I did. The passion I felt on my first day was exactly the same as it was on my last day before retirement. It was this unwavering passion that supported me in bringing warmth and positive energy to everyone I served. By bringing happiness to others, I received happiness in return—even doubled. It was a wonderful feeling, and I encouraged my passengers to share that joy with those around them. Sometimes, just a smile or a small act of kindness is enough to bring someone joy."

The Transition to the Spirit Realm

"My life ended at the age of sixty-five, three years after I retired. I lost my life in a severe car accident. Shortly after the crash, I lost consciousness, and within a few hours of emergency treatment, I was declared dead. During the rescue process, my spirit was still driving a bus—it was the happiest time of my life. Unexpectedly, after I stopped breathing, my spirit entered the space of a bus.

I became a spirit attached to the bus. Whenever the bus started and began picking up passengers, I would use my thought power to stabilize the vehicle, keeping it as steady as possible. The driver of this bus had a very impatient personality and nearly caused accidents several times. In those moments, I used all my strength to stabilize the bus, preventing accidents that would have endangered the lives of over a dozen people. My spirit stayed with the bus for several years, though I am not sure exactly how long. One day, the bus was retired because it was too old, and my spirit was released from that space."

Deliverance from the Hells

"After leaving the bus, two officials from the hells came to take me before the King of Hell. The King of Hell let me know that if I had not performed those good deeds during my life, my time would have ended much earlier; I would not have lived to sixty-five. So, doing good deeds truly brings good karmic retribution. The King of Hell assigned me the role of a hell guard, allowing me to serve in the hells.

Every moment in the hells, my heart ached. The hells are truly the most painful places; every being suffering there is in agony. I felt so helpless because I could not save them. While I was struggling in that pain, I suddenly heard the sound of Practitioner Su giving a Dharma talk. At first, I didn't know who was speaking, nor did I know Practitioner Su. But as I listened, and as other hell guards explained it to me, I realized it was Practitioner Su teaching the Dharma.

After listening to the teachings, my heart was filled with Dharma joy. I wanted to tell all the beings in the hells to listen to the sutras, to chant Namo Amituofo, and to openly repent so that they could soon be liberated from the hells. I am so happy that many spirits were saved in this way. I also made a vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, I and the other fifty-nine hell guards have arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss under the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. Our hearts are filled with gratitude.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo.

Gratitude to Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Tsai Sung-lin bows in reverence."