The Metaphysics of Fate and the Fire of Deliverance

This article records an interview with Liao Guangling (46), a victim of the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court, located at 3821 Tai Po Road, Yuen Chau Tsai Section, Tai Po District, Hong Kong. After his passing, he sought deliverance and now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on December 11, 2025.

Liao Guangling speaks:

"The white clouds in the sky drift aimlessly, much like the people of this world—drifting with the current, never knowing where they are truly headed. When the alarm blared, I was taking an afternoon nap in my rocking chair. It was the indoor fire alarm. I thought to myself, 'So, this day has finally arrived.' I brushed the dust off my clothes with a calm gesture, trying to feign composure, but I could not hide the frantic pounding of my heart. The room was already filling with thick smoke, and the temperature was rising rapidly. I poured a large bucket of water I had prepared over my body, donned my pre-prepared mask and thick, wet towels, and pulled on heavy-duty gloves. After one minute, I rushed out, beginning this final game of chess against fate.

A Life Defined by Destiny

Do you find my words mysterious? Yes, I was a metaphysics teacher and a fortune teller. Having lived for forty-six years, I understood that everything in this world has a fixed destiny. A friend had calculated that I would encounter a fire this year, so I had prepared accordingly. Many people dismiss fortune telling, metaphysics, numerology, and astrology as scams. That is only because they have encountered 'half-baked' practitioners. Those who are truly skilled usually have a lineage; they are identified by genuine masters in their youth. If a child has the aptitude, they are taught; if not, there is no point in wasting time. I would not claim to be the greatest, but within this industry, I knew exactly who had real skill and who was a fraud. My keen eye was my pride and my true ability.

When the alarm sounded, I knew this was the calamity destined for me. Whether I would survive depended on my own fortune. Compared to many who were caught completely unaware, I was already quite lucky. Outside, the corridor was thick with smoke and filled with raging fire. I grinned and thought, 'I am ready for you.' I calmly followed the escape route I had planned in advance. I knew the elevator was unusable. The fire was intense, but because I was soaked in water, I charged directly through the flames. When I reached the stairwell, I felt a moment of relief, but as I descended, I saw someone crushed by a fallen pillar of fire. I continued downward without expression, following my plan, but the fire grew too fierce. In the end, I could not escape the death that was written in my fate.

The Burden of Intervening in Karma

In truth, I had known this for a long time. In our profession, those with true attainment rarely interfere with the karma of others. If you intervene, you must bear the consequences for them—this is the hard-won experience of many predecessors. But to survive, one often has to intervene; otherwise, how would people know you are skilled? There are levels to this. Take name analysis, for instance. By looking at a name, one can describe a person's character, their situation, and their destiny. If they want to change their name, I could offer ten options, ranging from fifty to one hundred points in quality. The problem is, letting them choose is one thing, but selecting it for them is another. Giving them a choice of three, where one is a perfect hundred-point name, is different from giving them ten. People often ask, 'Which one is best?' Whether you tell them or not is part of the trade. This is not an easy way to make a living. The more upright you act, the less you earn. Even if you are careful, as the saying goes, 'If you walk by the river often enough, you are bound to get your shoes wet.'

Having met so many people, I learned that eight out of ten cannot escape their destiny. Thus, I died in this fire, just as it was fated. I was not surprised; I was calm. To me, this outcome was logical. If you can defy fate, you must truly possess some extraordinary ability. As for the two out of ten who managed to change their fate? After years of experience, we summarized a rule: they were fundamentally good people who consistently did good deeds.

The Power of Goodness

Being a good person and doing good deeds is not a matter of a day or two. Can you change your fate by 'fishing for three days and drying the nets for two'? Ha! It is not that simple. These people were good their entire lives. We found that such individuals could often resolve the calamities destined for them, leading to a life path different from their original chart. In reality, if you see enough, you realize that some things are not yours, and no matter how much you beg, you cannot have them. If it is yours, you will receive it without asking. If it is in your destiny, you must still do good to attain it.

Let me give you an example. If you give someone ten names ranging from sixty to one hundred points, who can pick the hundred-point one? Each name carries a different potential. One might say, 'Easily obtain everything you desire,' another, 'Blessed with a career in government,' and a third, 'Gentle, refined, and wealthy.' You cannot tell which is the hundred-point name. Perhaps the first looks excellent, but it clashes with the person's father. Is that good or bad? The person who picks the hundred-point name is the one who is not changing their name for selfish reasons, but for the sake of their father. By choosing a name that is merely 'good' but beneficial to his father, he might accidentally pick the one with the most blessings. That person must have immense merit. If he were selfish, he might never have found it. Of course, the logic behind this is rarely understood by anyone other than the one who changes the name.

From the Flames to the Buddha-Light

I knew that by working in this industry, I had to pay a price. I was not a saint, so I knew my end in the fire was not unjust. When the flames consumed me, I could not help but scream, thinking, 'Even if I knew my fate, I could not change it. What was the point?' After death, I became a pen in a sea of fire. I did not know what I could do. It felt as if someone was using me to write, and the ink was fresh, red blood. I felt terrified. I did not want to do this. I screamed incessantly, but it was meaningless. The writing continued, and the fire burned on.

Suddenly, a massive golden light pierced through the sea of fire. I arrived in a place filled with the sound of the Holy Name 'Namo Amituofo.' On a lotus seat, I saw someone striking a chime and calling out, 'All 156 victims of the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court are now led to the Dharma-Nature Land...' I immediately understood that this Practitioner Su had saved our spirits. That massive golden light was the Buddha-light of Namo Amituofo. I had heard of Namo Amituofo, but I never knew He was so compassionate.

A New Life in the Western Pure Land

On the lotus seat, I was no longer a pen; I had regained my human form. In the Dharma-Nature Land, the light is everywhere. There is no darkness here; it is always bright. The sound of the Buddha's name never ceases. I naturally began to chant, and slowly, my terror faded. After a few days in the Dharma-Nature Land, my heart has settled into this 'Namo Amituofo.' I am filled with joy. This is truly a wonderful place. I am now completely at ease, chanting 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo' every day, following the sound that fills the air. Looking at the towering Namo Amituofo radiating golden light, I cannot stop smiling. This is the answer I had been searching for all my life.

By listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma here, I finally understand the importance of Buddhist education. I realize that even a hint of selfishness can attract karmic creditors. I realize that practicing Buddhism can truly change one's destiny. I am deeply grateful to the Greatly Compassionate Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for saving a sinner like me. My future now lies in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I also thank everyone at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

I hope all my former clients and friends will come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, to find me and talk. Everyone wants to avoid misfortune, but in truth, no one can escape the shackles of fate on their own! Come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to see the Buddha. The answers you seek are here.

Namo Amituofo.

Liao Guangling"