The Legacy of Compassion: A Prison Guard's Journey

This is a record of an interview with Wang Ding, 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 compassionate official and his subsequent service in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on December 25, 2022.

Wang Ding speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wang Ding. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for her immense compassion. Because of her, we were all able to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss during today's Dharma assembly. Everyone here treasures this opportunity immensely; we all understand that we must now diligently practise and strive forward, so that in the future, we too may join the ranks of those who save the world. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and for the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Life of Privilege and Purpose

"In my past life, I was born into a wealthy family. My grandfather was a high-ranking official in the imperial court, which brought our entire family immense prosperity. For generations, we lived a life of luxury, never having to worry about food or clothing, surrounded by fine silks and exquisite meals. It was a life of great comfort and prestige.

My grandmother was a renowned noblewoman in the capital. She was dignified, graceful, and deeply virtuous. From the moment she married into the Wang family, she strictly adhered to the traditional virtues expected of women, managing the household with wisdom and care. She was a woman of profound insight and moral character. From the time I was a small child, she would take us out to perform acts of charity, helping those in society who were suffering and in need."

The Wisdom of My Grandmother

"My grandmother taught us that because we were blessed with such abundance, we had an even greater responsibility to create blessings for others. She reminded us never to forget to be grateful for everything we had, as it was not easily come by. Even though we were born into a wealthy family, she insisted that there were many things in life we still needed to learn—such as the practice of Generosity, the importance of not being attached to our possessions, and the necessity of helping others.

She placed a tremendous emphasis on education. Having accompanied my grandfather as he rose from a local official to a minister in the imperial court, she had seen much of the world and experienced many trials. She firmly believed that the prosperity of a region did not depend on the wealth of its people, but on the quality of their education. If education is sound, then everything else in that region will flourish."

Education as the Foundation of Society

"Good education brings peace to the human heart. Therefore, even when my grandfather was still a local official, they both dedicated themselves to improving the educational standards of the local people. They were particularly committed to assisting those who could not afford schooling, ensuring that everyone had equal access to education. They believed this would transform people's hearts and, in turn, change the entire social atmosphere.

My grandparents were convinced that social change must begin with education, and this became our family's ancestral teaching: to take education as the foundation. From a young age, our elders focused heavily on the cultivation of our character. They taught us the principles of how to conduct ourselves in the world. My grandfather would often speak to us about the complexities of official life, teaching us how to handle various situations with grace and integrity. My grandmother, meanwhile, would take us out to observe the world, to witness the hardships of the human world, and to teach us to cherish what we had while doing our utmost to help others."

A Choice to Serve

"In this world, if everyone could learn to empathise with others and help one another, then society would be stable, and life would be filled with harmony and joy. My grandmother hoped that as we grew and learned, we would all develop the initiative to help others and care for their needs, rather than just focusing on our own comfort. She taught us that expanding our hearts to care for more people makes life truly meaningful, rather than living a life that revolves only around oneself.

My grandparents were people of great virtue. They raised my parents well, and they raised us grandchildren well. We all learned to be grateful, to serve, and to live lives of significance. From a young age, I never cared for the life of an official—that environment was full of deceit and rivalry. I only wanted to be in places where I could use my heart to help people. I often helped children in various schools, and I assisted many impoverished children with their studies. I hoped that when people were in difficulty, they would receive the help they needed to overcome their obstacles, so that they, in turn, could use their own strength to help even more people. This has always been the deepest wish in my heart. I wanted everyone to be well, not just myself. This is what my grandparents taught me."

From the Underworld to the Western Pure Land

"I am so grateful for everything I have had, and I have always shared what I possessed in the hope of helping more people. In this life, I was fortunate, and even when I encountered those whose lives were filled with misfortune, I wanted to share my good fortune with them. I wanted everyone to find a little more strength to discover the value of their own lives and to realise the significance of their existence. This life cannot be lived in vain.

My family was very wealthy, so I had the power to help many. Since I was old enough to understand, I have always been doing things to help others. I never married; I wanted to dedicate the energy I would have spent building a family to caring for many more families instead. That felt like a more meaningful path. Although my parents hoped I would have descendants, I told them, 'I help so many children, and they all call you grandfather and grandmother. With the innocent voices of so many children, is that not enough?' My parents only smiled and accepted it; I know they respected my choice.

I lived my whole life in gratitude because I knew I was blessed with the ability to help others, which brought me great joy. Even after I passed away, I continued to help people in the underworld until one day I was brought before the King of Hell. He gave me an opportunity to serve, hoping I would do well so that I might accumulate merit and eventually be liberated from the cycle of rebirth.

I am so grateful for the arrangement the King of Hell made for me. For all these years, I have served diligently in my duties. It was only recently that I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. Because of the merit I had accumulated, I was able to encounter this great Dharma and understand the true meaning of liberation. I am so grateful and cherish this deeply; I have begun to follow Practitioner Su in my practice every single day. During this time, after listening to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks, my heart has awakened significantly. I see the cycle of rebirth clearly, and I know that I must seek liberation and escape. I am so grateful for this opportunity today to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I will continue to practise diligently, and in the future, I too will be like Practitioner Su, saving the world and delivering sentient beings. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and for the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Wang Ding, with palms joined in reverence.