The Karmic Roots of a Plague

This is a record of an interview with Wu Yaoqing, a former jailer in the underworld who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Having been liberated from the cycle of reincarnation, he now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his past life, the devastating plague that claimed his family, and the profound karmic truth behind the suffering he witnessed. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on March 7, 2020.

Venerable HaiZe: I respectfully invite Wu Yaoqing, a representative of the sixty jailers being sent to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today, to accept this interview.

Wu Yaoqing speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Wu Yaoqing and fifty-nine other jailers have received the grace of Practitioner Su and have entered the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We are here to kowtow and express our deepest gratitude to the Buddha, to Practitioner Su, and to the entire community." (Wu Yaoqing leads the others in kneeling and performing three kowtows.)

A Childhood of Discipline and Gratitude

"I am Wu Yaoqing. I grew up in a wealthy family where my every need was met. My grandfather and father managed our ancestral assets, running a successful business and overseeing vast farmlands with dozens of workers. Our home was a hive of activity, yet my mother was the pillar that held everything together. Whenever we six children faced a problem, we would run to her room. Because my maternal grandfather was a prominent figure in town, my mother was highly educated and refined; she managed our household with impeccable order and grace.

"You might think that children raised in such an environment would be spoiled, but that was not the case. My older brothers had to rise early to help the servants fetch water, ensuring the kitchen and household had enough for the day. My older sisters had to assist the maids in the kitchen, preparing at least one dish before they were allowed to leave. Only after we had washed our own clothes were our daily chores considered complete. My mother insisted on this to teach us contentment and gratitude—she wanted us to understand that every comfort we enjoyed was the result of the labour and time of many people. Though we siblings occasionally had disagreements, the older ones always yielded to the younger, and we were taught to thank one another to show respect and appreciation for our communication and the bonds we shared."

The Unfolding of a Tragedy

"I was the youngest, the one my siblings considered the most fortunate. Because I was small and lacked strength, they often helped me with my tasks, and I never forgot to thank them. I was ten years younger than my eldest brother. When he married, I was not yet ten, and my sister-in-law treated me like her own child. As my other brothers married, I lived a carefree life for twenty-five years, free from pressure. Seeing my siblings busy with their own families, I told myself: 'There is no rush, just let things follow their natural course.' My parents never forced me to marry, which was truly a great blessing.

"Then, when our family was at its most prosperous—with thirty-two members living under one roof—news spread that a family in town had contracted an unknown illness. They suffered from coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe shortness of breath. The elderly in that house died in the night. Soon, the children fell ill, and from the onset of symptoms to the parents finding them dead with blackened bodies, it took less than seven days. Then, the healthy parents themselves succumbed. A family of five perished in less than a month. At first, people thought it was just a misfortune for that one family, but soon, neighbours and people on the next street began dying. It was declared a plague. People fled, and eventually, the town was sealed to prevent the spread. The town became a ghost land. Everyone stayed indoors, terrified, while the sick were gathered in one place. The sounds of mourning were everywhere; some bodies swelled, faces turned black and purple from coughing, and they would collapse and die in an instant."

The Weight of Loss

"Our family was not spared. Our once-happy home was reduced to ten people. The deaths of our elderly servants, our steward, and then my grandparents left my parents in deep grief. Then, the death of my sister-in-law's newborn infant broke her heart. Most devastating of all was the loss of my strong, healthy second brother. Just as the epidemic was ending, it claimed the lives of my parents—the pillars of our home. It was a pain beyond words; I felt that the living were suffering more than the dead. At twenty-five, I tasted the bitter reality of impermanence—the feeling of calling out to heaven and earth with no response. Because of the plague, we could not bury our dead; they had to be cremated. Seeing the remains of my loved ones, who had been so vibrant and active, reduced to ashes in urns, I sighed at the fragility of life and the ruthlessness of the plague.

"When the epidemic finally lifted, nearly half the town’s population was gone. It took six months for life to return to a semblance of normalcy. People never spoke of those days, fearing the memories would summon the plague back. My eldest brother, having lost his wife, parents, and siblings, took the burden of the family upon his shoulders. I assisted him, and seeing the pain of life and death, I vowed never to marry. I decided to donate my share of the family fortune to support local physicians, hoping they could detect such illnesses early, implement isolation, and prevent such mass casualties in the future. I even urged them to pass on their medical knowledge to the next generation so that such tragedies might be averted."

A New Path in the Underworld

"When I was forty-six, I developed a slight cough. One night, I heard a voice calling: 'Wu Yaoqing, wake up! Stop sleeping, come with us!' I felt my soul quietly leave my body, without any discomfort or restraint. They were officials, dressed like the ones depicted in books before the throne of King Yama. I instinctively asked, 'Am I dead?' They replied, 'Yes! Your lifespan is over, come with us!' I looked at my body lying on the bed and felt a pang of sadness. My life in the human world had ended, and the trauma of the plague was finally laid to rest.

"The officials brought me before the Eighth Hall of King Yama. My life was reviewed—I had come into the world with nothing and was leaving with nothing, save for the merit of my medical donations and education, which had saved many poor families. King Yama judged that I could return to the human realm as a physician, but I begged otherwise. I could not bear the helplessness of watching patients die. Since the Eighth Hall needed a jailer, I gladly accepted. I never expected that one day, I would be summoned by King Yama and told that, due to my remaining blessings and good performance, I was on the list to be sent by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land. My heart was filled with gratitude! I knew that the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a place without sickness or the pain of separation—a place not easily entered."

The Truth of Cause and Effect

"I later learned in the underworld that the plague was the result of collective karma. In previous lives, the people of that town had worked together to cultivate 'gu' insects—parasitic poisons meant to kill others. After the spells were cast, these insects transformed into toxic bacteria. They possessed a sharp, natural affinity for those who had originally raised or funded them. When the bacteria took effect, death was inevitable, just as the victims of the original 'gu' had been helpless. Harm others first, and you will suffer the karmic retribution later. Though no one remembered their past evil deeds, the laws of karma are inescapable. It is not that retribution does not come; it is just that the time has not yet arrived. I urge the world: cause and effect truly exist. Do not harbour any wishful thinking! When the retribution arrives, the suffering is immense.

"Now, after waiting for three and a half years, this day has finally arrived. Having witnessed the work at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I am deeply moved by Practitioner Su’s great vow to bring rain and the success of her mission. If, during the plague, there had been someone with the great vow and heart of Practitioner Su to lead everyone in chanting Namo Amituofo and performing Chao Du for the spirits and the 'gu' insects, I believe this collective karma could have been transformed, and so many lives would not have been lost. It requires tremendous blessings to encounter such an opportunity. For us sixty jailers to be led by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a magnificent and rare event. We will no longer suffer in the cycle of rebirth. This is like being saved from death itself. Please accept our heartfelt gratitude and three kowtows."

"Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su. Thank you to all the virtuous ones at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia."

"Wu Yaoqing and the sixty jailers, kneeling and performing three kowtows."

This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple, Venerable HaiZe.