The Price of Greed: From Manipulator to Object

This is a record of an interview with Chou An-kuang, 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 and his subsequent spiritual journey. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 13, 2025.

Chou An-kuang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I know that this path is a vital breakthrough in my existence, and I understand that this is a rare Causal Condition. I am filled with gratitude, and I truly understand the need to cherish and grasp this opportunity! I am deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. On behalf of all the prison guards, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and for the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Life Built on Deception

"In my past life, I was born into a scholarly family. From a very young age, I knew I was different. I could recite classics at four, compose couplets at five, and by the age of eight, the local magistrate had even taken my poems to hang in the public hall. I was gifted, articulate, and precise in everything I did. Everyone praised me as the pride of the family.

As I grew older, I held several legitimate jobs, but I soon discovered that the most profitable paths were not the righteous ones. I turned to trading second-hand goods. To put it bluntly, I was a dealer of other people's lives. I specialized in acquiring antiques from old families, wealthy households, and widows. Whether it was ancient books, old paintings, jewelry, porcelain, or sandalwood cabinets—I took them all. As long as the price was low and the owner was ignorant, I would buy them and sell them for a massive profit."

The Weight of Stolen Lives

"I never used force, but I was a master of persuasion. I would say, 'No one recognizes the value of this item in your home; it is just gathering dust.' I would say, 'This floorboard is cracked; it is worthless now.' Or, 'If you are not in a hurry, you can wait, but I can offer you cash right now.' The more I did this, the more pride I took in my ability to identify who was soft-hearted, who was desperate for money, and who was ignorant of the true value of their treasures.

Once, I acquired a trunk from an elderly woman. She told me it was left behind by her grandfather, filled with old books and paintings. She hesitated, her eyes filled with doubt: 'I originally wanted to keep these, but...' I interrupted her, 'Sister, no one will look at these, and they just take up space. It is better to trade them for something practical.' I paid her six thousand for the whole trunk and immediately sold it to a collector for three hundred thousand. A few months later, I heard that the old woman had passed away. There was no one to inherit her estate, and even her house was seized by the court. I did not think much of it. If she died, that was her fate; if I made money, that was my luck."

Trapped in the Silence of Objects

"Until one day, I fell from a warehouse shelf and hit my head on the floor. I fell exactly where I usually stored my goods. In that instant, I saw the trunks, furniture, and antiques I had collected, all silently watching me, like countless pairs of eyes. I thought I would wake up, but I did not. When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying in a narrow, sealed, lightless space. I tried to scream, but there was no sound. I tried to move, but I could not. My senses seemed to have been restricted.

I did not know what I was until I heard someone speaking outside: 'I wonder how many years this trunk has been here? Is the wood carving inside still intact?' 'I don't know, let's open it and see! But be careful, I heard this trunk came from a dead person's home.' A trunk! What I heard was 'trunk'! It was then that I realized I had become a wooden trunk. It was not a dream; I was the old, sealed wooden trunk in the warehouse that no one opened. I had no eyes, but I could hear; I had no body, but I could feel. I felt myself being sealed, stacked, and trampled in a corner, forgotten and sold just as I had once treated the belongings of others."

The Light of Repentance

"The most terrifying part was that I could hear the voices in the warehouse—people using the same familiar language to appraise, bargain, and collect goods. I wanted to scream: 'Don't do this to me!' But no one could hear me. I was merely an object. I do not know how many years passed. Perhaps ten, perhaps thirty; time has no meaning there. I only knew that I was constantly experiencing the way I was being treated, which was exactly how I had treated others. I finally understood that those items were not just old things; they were other people's lives, the final, cherished remnants of their existence. And I, in my past, had stripped them away without a shred of compassion, turning them into silver for my own gain.

I cried for the first time when a young man entered and noticed the wood carving on my surface. He said, 'This trunk is carved so beautifully; it must have been left for someone important.' He knelt down, touched my surface, and whispered, 'Who were you a treasure for?' That sentence was like a long-lost ray of light piercing through the cracks of my sealed existence. I responded in my heart: 'I was once a human being.' He did not take me away, but he wiped the dust from me."

A Life of Simplicity and Service

"I do not know if I was ever taken away, but I felt some of the weight disappear. The purpose of this experience was to make me endure a life of being dominated, suppressed, and sealed—a life I had never imagined. It taught me: when you use schemes to seize from others, one day, you too will be abandoned by the world and no longer be human. You ask if I have regrets? I remember that old woman, when she handed her treasures to me, I only saw the price. Now, it was my turn to be the one labeled, bargained over, and stacked away.

Later, I heard a sound—the clear, resonant sound of a monk chanting the Buddha's name as he passed by. It was then that I awoke, finally realizing my errors, and I shed tears of repentance in agony. Soon after, I saw brilliant rays of light shining upon me, guiding my spirit to the next cycle of rebirth. When I was reborn, I returned to the human world. In this lifetime, I no longer possessed a sharp, clever mind. I became very simple, often being deceived and cheated. My parents were heartbroken, but they could find no way to help me. I was cheated countless times throughout my life, but strangely, I never felt angry. Instead, I would smile and ask the other person what else they needed. I do not know why I was so naive in this life; I only knew that my heart did not want to be angry or calculating. Whatever others wanted, I would give."

The Path to the Western Pure Land

"My life was not filled with great achievements. The only major event was that I was cheated out of all my family's property. Yet, my heart felt no sorrow. When I passed away, I was covered only by a straw mat. It seemed miserable, but my heart was filled with warmth and contentment, and I left this world with a smile. My life ended there, and my spirit was led before the King of Hell. Because of the smile I carried from that lifetime, I felt no fear. The King of Hell, in his compassion, gave me an opportunity to serve, allowing me to accumulate merit and virtue to pave the way for my future.

I have served here for many years, witnessing many different people and stories. My heart understands much now; we truly must not commit evil, for the consequences are too heavy to bear. It was only in recent years that I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. This allowed me to understand even more clearly, and I began to focus my heart on seeking the Pure Land and liberation, vowing to engage in diligent practice. I am so grateful that today I can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. 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. Chou An-kuang, with palms joined."