The Merchant's Gold and the Weight of Karma

Liao Guangming, a spirit who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This interview, recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on February 21, 2026, recounts his past life as a merchant during the Qing Dynasty and his journey toward spiritual liberation.

Liao Guangming speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for saving this helpless spirit. It is only because of the compassionate deliverance of Practitioner Su that I am able to be here today, residing in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, to share my story.

My name is Liao Guangming, and in my past life, I was a 'Red-Topped Merchant' during the Qing Dynasty. To put it simply, my role was to act as a broker for those wishing to purchase official government positions. The political landscape of the Qing Dynasty was incredibly unstable at the time, with foreign powers circling like vultures. Because the imperial examination system had been suspended, there was a severe shortage of officials, which gave rise to the practice of buying offices. If you had the money, you could buy a title. Many people were desperate to pay high prices for these positions, and I was the middleman who facilitated these transactions. We were called 'Red-Topped Merchants' because of the red-buttoned hats worn by high-ranking officials.

The Burden of a Family Legacy

I always treated those who bought their way into power with great respect, though I would often offer them a word of caution: 'Since you have become an official, you must serve the people well, or you will surely face disaster.' It was a small, well-intentioned warning. I used the commissions I earned from these deals to support my parents and many elderly people in our community who had no children to care for them. I kept only a pittance for my own living expenses.

These elderly people were connected to my family's history. The Liao family was once a renowned textile dynasty. The fabrics and textiles we produced were of exceptional quality, and through years of diligent operation, our business flourished. But who could have foreseen the tragedy that followed? While we were developing a new type of fabric, someone maliciously poisoned our dyes. The workers who handled the materials, and even some of our household servants, were poisoned. Because it was a slow-acting toxin, we did not notice the symptoms until two months later. By then, it was too late to save them. The poisoned textiles were sold to many customers, causing widespread illness. When the truth came to light, our family was forced to pay massive reparations and shut down our business to appease the public outrage. My parents and I knew this was the work of our competitors, but we had no evidence. We were powerless. Our once-great textile family collapsed overnight. My parents sold off almost all our remaining assets to compensate the victims, leaving us with barely enough to survive. My parents told me, 'You must find a way to care for the families of those innocent workers and servants.' I knew this was my duty, and that is why, with no other path left, I became a Red-Topped Merchant.

From Prosperity to the Prison Cell

Although the money came quickly as a merchant, it was never the righteous path. As the saying goes, if you walk the night path often enough, you will eventually encounter a ghost. Eventually, one of the officials I had helped purchase a position committed serious crimes. When he was investigated, I was implicated as his middleman. I was thrown into prison, where I ultimately met my end.

After I died, I transformed into a gold ingot. My heart was so consumed with worry for my parents and the elderly people I had been supporting—I kept thinking, 'Without the money, how will they survive?' This intense attachment and obsession trapped me within the form of a bright orange gold ingot for over two hundred years. I remained in that state until Practitioner Su, using his infinite Dharma Bodies, entered the spiritual realms of mainland China to save sentient beings. Only then was I finally released from that golden prison.

The Clarity of Cause and Effect

Now, I spend my days in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, listening to the sutras and chanting, 'Namo Amituofo.' I have finally seen the past connections between myself, my parents, and those elderly people. In a previous life, we were a band of bandits. My parents were our leaders, and I was their most trusted second-in-command. We had poisoned the water source of a village, causing many to die or fall ill. That is why we suffered such karmic retribution in that lifetime. Seeing this, I realise that every detail of life is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect. From the smallest thought to the most significant life decision, everything is driven by karma. Life is ever-changing, but the one constant is the reality that we cannot master our own fate. This is why Buddhist education is so vital. In this modern era of advanced technology and material comfort, people must clearly understand the relationship between the human body and the spiritual realms. Only by realising the suffering of being unable to control one's own body can people truly develop the vow to study and practise the Buddha's teachings. This can only be achieved through the Buddhist education provided by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, which can truly unravel the mysteries of the human body and lay them bare for all to see.

A Glimmer of Hope

In mainland China, many people live in great suffering. Logically, in such an environment, the desire to seek liberation should be intense. Yet, the Buddha's teachings are currently blocked there. This is simply the way of Causal Conditions. If any Chinese people with the right affinity can encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, they must seize the opportunity to draw near and seek the Dharma. It will be their glimmer of hope.

The magnetic field of the Western Land of Dharma Nature brings me such peace; it is a place where I am willing to reside forever. However, Practitioner Su has taught us that our true home is the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Therefore, I chant the Buddha's name very diligently every day, hoping that one day I will be reborn in the Western Pure Land. From here, I look down at the lives of people on Earth today. They are much more colourful and abundant than in my time, yet I see that everyone, without exception, is suffering. They suffer from aging, from illness, and from death. These are questions that can only be answered at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. The mission here is to be free from aging, free from illness, and to realise that your spirit never dies. Practitioner Su has truly achieved this, and it is a fact that everyone can come and verify for themselves.

I am filled with gratitude for all of this. I hope more people can be like me and receive the magnificent benefits of the Dharma, with Namo Amituofo residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Namo Amituofo.

Liao Guangming"