The Path to the Second Hall of Hell

This is a record of an interview with King Chujiang, the ruler of the Second Hall of Hell, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account reflects upon his life during a period of historical upheaval and his subsequent transition into the spiritual realm. Recorded by Venerable Facie on April 30, 2018.

King Chujiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Having listened to the accounts shared by the other Kings of Hell, I deeply understand the profound and compassionate intentions of Practitioner Su. He wishes to use this opportunity to teach and guide the people of the human world. If even one or two people hear these stories and feel a sense of vigilance and awakening, then all of this effort is truly worthwhile. Let us proceed directly to the heart of the matter.

My name in the human world was Lin Changming. I was born during a time of great dynastic change, right in the midst of the chaos of war. My father participated in the fighting and never returned home; I never even had the chance to see his face. My mother raised me entirely on her own. From as far back as my earliest memories, my mother’s hands were never still. There was always endless work to be done, and she spent far more time bent over in labour than she ever did standing straight. Over time, her spine gradually lost the ability to straighten. Often, after long hours of crouching or bending, she would find herself unable to stand back up. I would always stay right by her side, terrified that she might lose her balance and fall to the ground.

A Childhood Forged in War and Poverty

For us, the simple act of eating was a monumental event. We were grateful for whatever we could find; we never knew what it felt like to be truly full. My mother would always prioritise giving the food to me, but I knew all too well that her body was growing weaker with each passing day. The back-breaking labour, the lack of proper nutrition, and the strain of her constant, unnatural posture caused her physical condition to deteriorate rapidly. Whenever we sat down to eat, I would secretly take only two small bites and then tell her, 'Mother, I am already full! I found some fruit trees outside and ate a few pieces earlier, so please, you must finish the rest.'

We lived this way, mother and son relying entirely on one another, until I reached the age of ten. Finally, my mother’s body could no longer endure the exhaustion. She collapsed, bedridden and broken. I was suddenly plunged into a state of utter panic. Young and without any support, I rushed frantically into the streets, desperate to find a doctor who could save her. I had not a single coin to my name, and no matter which clinic I approached, I was chased away. But I did not care about my own dignity; as long as I could save my mother’s life, nothing else mattered. Suddenly, a torrential downpour began. Everyone on the street scrambled to hide indoors, leaving me alone, drenched to the bone and utterly lost. I walked back home in silence, looking at my mother lying there in her sickness. I knelt before her bed and whispered, 'Mother, your child is unfilial; I could not find a doctor to heal you.' I kowtowed at her bedside, but as dawn broke, my mother, weakened by illness and lacking any medicine, could not hold on any longer. She left this human world, and the miracle I prayed for never came.

The Tragic Loss of a Mother

I remained kneeling through the entire night until my legs were completely numb and immobile. My eyes had long since run dry of tears, leaving only the faint, salt-stained tracks on my face. I sat there in the silence, massaging my stiff, swollen legs. After a while, I stood before her body and spoke to her in a low, trembling voice: 'I will do everything in my power to ensure that such tragedies happen less often. This world should have warmth, and that warmth should not require any price to be paid.' From that moment on, I had a clear goal and a direction for my life. I struggled to lift my mother’s cold body onto my back and, with heavy, dragging steps, walked toward the outskirts of the city. I had no money for a proper funeral, so in the woods outside the city, I used my bare hands to dig into the earth, ignoring the skin that tore and bled. After a simple burial, I found a large stone and pushed it with all my might to mark the spot so I could find it again. I kowtowed three times before the mound and said, 'When I have achieved success, I will return to properly restore your grave.' With that, I turned and walked away.

I returned home, packed a small bundle, and wanted to leave that place of sorrow, yet I had no idea where to go or how I would find my next meal. I walked out into the world, wandering aimlessly along the road. When hunger struck, I ate wild grasses and tree fruits to survive. My clothes were torn to shreds by the thorns and branches of the wilderness.

The Encounter with Ghost Grandpa

One day, while walking along a narrow mountain path, I collapsed from extreme hunger and exhaustion. An old man who gathered medicinal herbs happened to be returning from the mountains. He saw me lying there, my clothes in tatters and the soles of my feet raw and bleeding. He wanted to take me home, but he was not strong enough to carry me. Instead, he took out a medicinal ointment from his pouch, applied it to my feet, and used his water skin to drip water into my mouth, drop by drop. He set up a simple perimeter around me to ward off insects and snakes, and waited quietly for me to wake. After a quarter of an hour, I slowly regained consciousness. My stomach let out a loud, hollow growl. Before I could even react, the old man handed me some food. A wave of warmth flooded my heart—how long had it been since anyone had shown me such kindness? I took the food silently, whispered a 'thank you,' and began to eat slowly. The old man asked, 'Why are you alone in these mountains?' I replied, 'I have no home left. I do not know where to go; I am just drifting.' He asked, 'What are your plans for the future?' I said, 'I do not know. I will just take it one step at a time.'

At this, the old man fell silent. As I ate, I noticed the herb-gathering basket behind him and asked, 'Grandfather, are you a doctor?' He replied, 'I am. I collect herbs in the mountains to be prepared for any emergency.' I said, 'Could I learn medicine from you? My mother passed away because we could not afford a doctor. I want to learn so that I can help other poor people, to treat them for free, so that such tragedies do not happen again.' The old man looked at me and said, 'I had no intention of taking on any more students in this life, but because of your kind heart, I will give you a trial period. Only if you pass will I formally teach you medicine. This is not something you can learn in a day. Medicine involves identifying herbs, harvesting them, understanding their properties, mixing them, and brewing them—these are the basics. Only when you master these can I teach you more. You may call me Ghost Grandpa. Tomorrow, you will follow me home. Rest now; we have a long way to go.' I immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times, thanking him for the opportunity. That night, I could hardly sleep; it was the beginning of a life-changing journey."

I held my books and walked toward the herb garden, checking the illustrations once more. I was terrified of making a mistake and accidentally pulling out a medicinal plant, thinking it was a weed. I spent the entire day in the garden, comparing the plants to the diagrams, only stopping to eat. Every time I successfully identified a plant, I felt an immense surge of joy. It was only when the sun dipped below the horizon and I could no longer see the patterns that I finally left the field. I returned to the wooden hut covered in dirt, ate a simple meal, washed up, and collapsed into bed, falling asleep almost instantly. The next morning, I repeated the routine, heading back to the garden to identify herbs. In the afternoon, Grandfather Ghost began my first formal lesson. He taught me only one character: 'Ren' (Benevolence). He explained, 'Ren—once you see this character, you understand that to exist in this world, one cannot only think of oneself. Especially as a healer, you must be able to empathise with the feelings and situations of your patients. If you study medicine only for money, you will only ever be able to treat physical ailments, never the suffering of the heart. Because you lack the capacity for meticulous care and empathy, your achievements will always be limited.' As a young boy, I listened, only half-understanding, but I knew I had to commit his words to memory. Then, Grandfather took my hand to practice writing the character 'Ren.' We used a wooden stick to draw in the dirt on the ground, practicing over and over. If I made a mistake, I would just kick the dirt to smooth it over and start again. The ground became my greatest practice space for calligraphy.

The Passage of Time and the Call of the World

Under Grandfather's constant instruction, my vocabulary grew daily. I began to slowly read the books he gave me, identifying the names and characteristics of every herb, gradually accumulating experience. Under my care, the herb garden became orderly and well-maintained. Days turned into months, and time flew by. In the blink of an eye, the eleven-year-old boy had grown into an eighteen-year-old handsome young man. Years of hard labour had made my body strong and sturdy. Under Grandfather's tutelage, I had reached a stage of proficiency in medicine; what remained was the accumulation of experience and the practice of actual healing.

With Grandfather's blessing, I left the valley and embarked on a journey to travel the world. My first stop was a slum in a city, where I set up a stall to see patients and gain experience. Many people there delayed seeking treatment because of the high cost of medicine, and minor illnesses would drag on, leading to long-term complications or even death. Having grown up in poverty myself, I deeply understood these situations, so I kept my fees as low as possible. Beyond the cost of the necessary herbs, I essentially charged nothing for consultations, and sometimes I even paid out of my own pocket to provide medicine for the patients. Gradually, the local medical clinics caught wind of my actions and began to boycott me, refusing to sell me herbs. I had never faced such a situation before. I could not understand why someone would be boycotted for saving lives, and as someone naive to the ways of the world, I felt deeply discouraged. To break this deadlock, I visited herb merchants repeatedly, hoping they would provide some supplies for the poor. But every request was rejected. Some even told me, 'No one does things that don't generate profit. Give it up!' I was unwilling to accept this. I had finally found a way to save people, only to be interrupted by these profit-driven individuals. Dragging my exhausted and heavy heart, I returned to my temporary lodging and fell into a deep, heavy sleep.

A Dream of the Su Mansion

In my dream, an old man led me forward, walking continuously until we reached a massive mansion. Two enormous stone lions crouched on either side of the entrance, and the plaque above the door bore the characters 'Su Mansion,' written in bold, sweeping strokes that exuded an air of grandeur. The old man did not pause; he led me inside. We passed through the halls and entered a room, where I saw a beautiful young woman lying on a bed. Her face was a dark, purplish-black. The old man turned and bowed to me three times, saying, 'I trouble you, young master, to save my daughter. I have heard that your medical skills are unparalleled. I implore you to treat her. If you can cure her, we are willing to pay any price.' Just as I was about to reach out to take her pulse, everything went pitch black. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself still lying in my bed. I did not quite understand the meaning of this dream. I immediately began my daily consultations, but I remained troubled by the issue of replenishing my herb supply after finishing my work for the day.

Walking down the street, my mind was still spinning with ways to solve the problem. As I walked, I saw familiar roads on both sides—it felt as if I had seen them somewhere before. Moving forward, I saw two massive stone lions, claws bared, looking fierce! The plaque above the gate clearly read 'Su Mansion,' and in an instant, I remembered the dream. I stepped forward and knocked on the door ring. After a long while, a young attendant opened the door: 'Who are you, and what do you want?' I replied, 'I am a humble physician named Lin Changming. I wonder if your young mistress needs any help?' The attendant asked, 'Did you come because you heard the news?' I asked, 'What news?' The attendant replied, 'Are you not here because you heard that our Su Mansion was widely recruiting physicians to find a cure for our young mistress? Unfortunately, the time has passed, and none of the doctors could treat her.' I said, 'I was entrusted by an old man in a dream to come and treat your young mistress. I wonder if I might be allowed to take her pulse?' The attendant hesitated for a moment and said, 'Please wait here. I will report this to the Madam first.' He turned and ran inside. Not long after, the attendant ran back, panting, and said, 'The... the... the Madam invites you in. Please follow me.' I followed the attendant inside and saw the pavilions and towers on both sides of the estate, all exquisitely carved. Entering the main hall, I saw a dignified lady sitting in the seat of honour. I followed the attendant forward, and he said, 'Madam, the doctor has arrived. I will take my leave.' I stepped forward and bowed, 'Humble physician Lin Changming, pays respects to the Madam.' The Madam said, 'I heard you were entrusted by someone to come and treat my daughter. May I ask who entrusted you? As far as I know, apart from the previous public recruitment, no one in our family has been seeking help from doctors outside.' I replied, 'Reporting to the Madam, it was an old man.' After I described his appearance, the Madam was shocked: 'That was my late husband. He left us mother and daughter long ago; I never expected he would still be concerned for us. Since you were entrusted by him, he must have had his reasons. Please, sir, examine my daughter!'

The Treatment and the Promise

She stood up and led me inside. We walked to a room, and she turned and said, 'My daughter lives here. Since she was young, she has suffered so much from this illness. I hope you can help her escape this suffering. If you have any requirements, please state them. Sir, please enter.' She pushed open the door and led me inside. A young woman lay on the bed, her face dark and purplish-black, just as I had seen in my dream. 'Please, Madam, move your daughter's hand out so that I may take her pulse.' The Madam stepped forward and took her daughter's hand from under the quilt. I placed my fingers on her wrist, carefully feeling the pulse and its rhythm, while my mind constantly compared the medical knowledge and books Grandfather had taught me. A thought flashed through my mind: this was not a disease, but poor circulation of qi and blood, causing blockages throughout her body, with the face being the most severely affected. I silently pondered the solution, remembering the herbal bath Grandfather had prepared for my own frail body, which could stimulate and accelerate blood circulation. However, the young mistress's condition was more severe, and her body was very weak, so the dosage could not be too strong. After repeatedly confirming that the formula was correct, I said to the Madam, 'I have observed that your daughter is not actually sick; it is just that her qi and blood circulation is too slow, and there are blockages in her blood, which is why her face appears this way. There is a method we can try: to accelerate the speed of her blood circulation, allowing her own circulatory system to gradually recover to normal. This should restore her to her original state. As for the blood blockages, I will use acupuncture to clear them. By using both methods, we can accelerate her recovery. I wonder if you would be willing to let this humble physician try?' The Madam listened to these words, pondered for a moment, and agreed to my treatment plan. I informed the Madam of all the necessary herbs and asked if she could prepare a batch of common medicinal ingredients for me. The Madam agreed without hesitation. I then told her, 'I will return to the mansion tomorrow morning. I shall take my leave now.' With that, I turned and left.

Returning to my lodging, I recalculated tomorrow's treatment plan, confirming the steps and details. I took out my instruments, cleaned and wiped them, packed them away, performed a set of health-cultivating exercises to loosen my joints, and went to bed early to recharge my energy. The next morning, after a simple breakfast, I strapped on my instruments and set off for the Su Mansion, ready to treat the young mistress.

Upon entering the mansion, I was greeted by the thick scent of Chinese medicine. I stepped into the main hall, paid my respects to the Madam, and asked, 'Is everything prepared?' The Madam replied, 'Yes, the herbs have been decocted according to the formula you provided yesterday, and the temperature has been adjusted. The next steps await your assistance.' I said, 'The young mistress should first be soaked in the medicinal water until her pores open, and then I will perform acupuncture. I will trouble you, Madam, to assist your daughter with the first part, and notify me once her pores have opened. I will wait outside to avoid any impropriety.' After discussing the details with the Madam, the entire medical process began. When the young mistress's pores were fully open, I quickly inserted gold needles into the acupoints to make the qi and blood flow more rapidly and to expel the stagnant blood. The entire process took about two to three hours. Once it was finished, I saw that the young mistress's face had regained a rosy glow. The Madam, overjoyed, ordered a banquet to celebrate her daughter's recovery. She turned, took my hand, and said, 'If you have any requests, please state them. As long as it is within the power of the Su Mansion, we will satisfy you.' I replied, 'I hope your esteemed family can provide regular free medical services to the poor, so that those in poverty may also have a chance to be treated and be given a glimmer of hope. I am about to leave, and the young mistress should continue to use the herbal baths to increase the speed of her qi and blood circulation. In about one to two months, there will be even more significant improvement.' After speaking, I packed my things, collected the extra herbs I had asked the Madam to prepare, shouldered my bag, bid farewell to the Madam, and departed.

Because of this, word began to spread throughout the land. They said there was a doctor wandering everywhere, treating the poor. If he encountered corrupt officials, he would treat them too, but he would charge them exorbitant fees. He used that money to buy medicinal herbs to treat the poor or to purchase grain to feed the hungry. He did not crave fame or profit. He only wanted to use his own strength to turn around the dire situations of the poor, just as he had once been in his own childhood. He wanted to bring a little warmth to this world, hoping to prevent the tragedies of his past from ever happening again. This effort continued for thirty years. He travelled everywhere, constantly healing the masses, and people came to call him the 'Poverty-Relief Doctor.' He never married in his life, and he only kept a young medicine boy by his side to assist with his medical work, passing on all that he had learned to him.

A Life Dedicated to Healing

Every year on the anniversary of his mother's passing, he would return to her grave to report on his recent life and his efforts. He would whisper an apology to her: 'Mother, I have no extra money to renovate your grave. Please forgive your unfilial son. I have not a penny to my name; all I carry are herbs and medical instruments used to help others. I believe you would not mind these worldly possessions. Once I have completed my mission, I will come to serve you and repay the debt of your nurturing grace.' During the Lunar New Year, he would return to the valley to keep his grandfather company. This continued until the tenth year of his travels, when his grandfather passed away peacefully, sitting in his chair with a smile on his face. The air in the valley was filled with a delicate fragrance. He buried his grandfather’s remains simply in the valley, without any overly elaborate rituals. He lit three sticks of incense before the grave and told his grandfather that he would use the medical skills he had been taught to help even more people, thereby repaying his grandfather's kindness. From that day on, he never returned to the valley again, making the whole world his home as he continued to heal the people.

The Call of the Second Hall

When he was fifty-two years old, one night in a dream, he found himself walking along a dark, desolate road. Cold, ghostly winds blew from both sides. He felt no fear, for he had walked through this world with a bright and upright heart. As he walked forward, he encountered an official holding a ledger. The official stepped forward and asked, 'Are you Mr. Lin?' I replied, 'I am. Is there something you need?' The official said, 'Someone wishes to see you. Please, follow me.' With those words, he turned and began to walk ahead. I followed him for about an hour, until a magnificent and imposing palace appeared before us. A plaque hung high above the entrance, inscribed with the words 'Second Hall.' Upon entering the hall, I saw a middle-aged man with a dignified and stern appearance standing in the centre. The official stepped forward and whispered, 'My Lord, Mr. Lin has arrived.' The middle-aged man looked at me and laughed heartily. Before I could even grasp the situation, he pulled me into the main hall. He then whispered to me that if I were willing to take over his position as the King of Hell, I would have the opportunity to save my mother. I was overjoyed to hear this. After asking for details, I expressed my willingness to accept. The middle-aged man gave me special instructions: there is a living Buddha in the world, known as Practitioner Su or Sister Su. Sometimes she will need help, and I must prioritise her requests above all else. She is the key to saving my mother, and when the opportunity arises, I must offer my assistance. Shortly after the handover, he departed. That very night, in my sleep, I left the world, bringing my short life to an end.

King Chujiang speaks:

'I hope my story can awaken the people of this world. Life is short, and one should strive to perform acts of Goodness as early as possible. I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo. I humbly request that Practitioner Su help me locate my mother and my grandfather. My mother’s name is Lin Shi Meiniang, and my grandfather’s name is Gui Buyu.'

Venerable Facie: 'Very well. I am grateful to the King of Hell for accepting this interview today. Namo Amituofo.'

Namo Amituofo, in His great compassion, has rescued these two beings, lifting them from the three lower realms and the heavenly realm. They have been invited to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to listen to the Dharma in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, and have since made the vow to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Second Hall King Chujiang
Mother: Lin Shi Meiniang | Ghost realm
Grandfather: Gui Buyu | 15th level of the Heaven realm

Interview recorded by the chief writer, Buddhist disciple Shi Facie.