The Prison Guard Lin Guoji: From Earthly Attachment to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Lin Guoji, who sought spiritual 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 experiences across multiple lifetimes and his service in the underworld. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on June 23, 2024.

Lin Guoji speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I will cherish this chance immensely and practise with great diligence, hoping to elevate my own state so that I may one day help others. On behalf of all the prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

A Life Rooted in the Orchard

In a past life, I was born in a village rich with orchards. From a young age, I learned how to plant and care for fruit trees. In that lifetime, my greatest joy was tending to my trees. I gave them my heart and soul, planting in the spring and harvesting in the autumn, never once slacking. When the season of maturity arrived, seeing those bright, plump fruits hanging from the branches filled me with an infinite sense of accomplishment.

Every morning, before the rooster even crowed, I would rise to carry water from the clear spring, carefully irrigating every single tree. My hands were rough and calloused from years of hard labour, but my heart was filled with joy as I watched the trees thrive. When the spring breeze blew through the branches and the blossoms opened, I would sit beneath the trees, breathing in the fragrance and enjoying that rare, precious peace.

The Trap of Attachment

My attachment grew alongside those fruits. I was not only attached to the trees but to the very earth itself. Whenever I looked at that land, a deep, indescribable longing stirred within me. The land had given me everything. I would often silently vow to myself, 'I wish to become the soil, to guard this land forever.'

As the years passed, my body grew frail, but my affection for the orchard only deepened. I insisted on working every day, refusing to rest even when illness took hold. My family urged me to take it easy, but I would only laugh and say, 'This land is my home. How could I ever leave it?' In my heart, the land and I had become one, inseparable.

Becoming the Soil

This attachment caused me to lose my way. When I finally passed away from old age and illness, I could not let go of my obsession with the land. My spirit followed that attachment, step by step, into a different space. To my surprise, I was reincarnated as the soil itself, becoming a part of that very orchard, fused with the earth.

As the soil, I perceived the birth, death, and reincarnation of all things—the sprouting of seeds, the growth of saplings, the ripening of fruits, and their eventual decay. Each cycle was a new experience. Within that space of earth, I could not perceive anything else; I remained stubbornly fixed on my own thoughts. I do not know how much time passed for me in that state. I felt the changes in the soil every day, just as I had felt them when I was tending the orchard. I would carefully observe every shift in the orchard, protecting every inch, terrified that any negligence on my part would cause harm.

The Awakening

One day, an eminent monk came to the orchard. He sat cross-legged on the ground and began to lecture on the Dharma. It was a miraculous day. Usually, I would not have noticed such external events, and as the soil, I had no voice. But suddenly, I could listen. The monk's voice was like nectar pouring over my head, and I was jolted into clarity.

The Master's voice washed over my attachment-filled, murky heart. I heard him say, 'All things have a spirit. If you are attached to form, you will only remain trapped in the bitter sea of reincarnation. Only by letting go can you achieve liberation.' These words awakened me, and the deep-seated attachments in my heart began to loosen. The monk lectured daily, and with his voice, I gradually awakened. Finally, one day, I felt a pure, clean power, like a beam of light piercing through my soul. In that moment, I finally let go of my attachment to the land. With the blessing of the Buddha-name, I broke through the space, and my spirit was freed from the constraints of the soil.

A New Life and the Path of Goodness

After leaving the body of soil, I was reborn as a human. In this lifetime, I was born into a simple, poor village, but life was happy and uncomplicated. My name was Lin Guoji. I worked hard every day and lived in harmony with my neighbours. In this life, I understood that I must not be attached. Whenever a thought of attachment arose, the bitterness I had felt before would serve as a reminder.

One day, I met a white-haired elder who, seeing my sincerity, taught me the principles of conduct. He said, 'All things in the world arise from the combination of multiple karmic conditions. Treating others well is, in itself, planting good causes for yourself.' I benefited greatly from his words. I began to learn not to focus on my own heart, but to start helping others.

When a poor family in the village could not afford medical treatment, I took the initiative to help them raise the money. When the elderly who lived alone had no one to rely on, I delivered meals to them every day and kept them company. I did everything in my power to help them. Through these efforts, the environment in the village improved, and people's attitudes became more peaceful. Everyone helped one another in a harmonious atmosphere, which filled my heart with joy and satisfaction.

The Truth of Karma

Whenever I helped others, I felt an indescribable happiness. This joy was different from the sense of achievement I had felt when I was attached to my own orchard; it was a deep, inner satisfaction. I understood that everything I did was planting good causes. Looking back on my three lifetimes, I went from a farmer obsessed with his land, to the soil experiencing the suffering of attachment, and finally to a human who found joy in helping others.

My attachment as a farmer had trapped me in the space of the soil. After becoming human again, through the guidance of good karmic conditions, I understood the joy of helping others, which changed my life. I was no longer living only for my own obsessions. These three cycles of reincarnation allowed me to deeply understand the truth of karmic retribution. Whether we are attached or whether we let go, it affects our reincarnation and our future lives. Only by letting go of attachment and performing good deeds can we achieve true liberation and peace.

Service in the Underworld

I am very grateful for these opportunities to learn. Life's experiences taught me to grow and helped me understand the need to seek a breakthrough and to let go of this body. When I died, my soul came before the King of Hell. I knew I still had to face judgment and that I had much karma to repay. I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the King of Hell, who allowed me to stay in the underworld palace to serve, to accumulate merit, and to atone for my past sins.

Every day, I am filled with gratitude, doing my best to help all beings. I know that every day here is a gift from the King of Hell, and I strive to learn and grow from it, hoping to awaken during my service and truly understand how to escape the cycle of reincarnation. In these days, I have learned so much. The life stories of every being teach me many lessons, reminding me to work harder, to no longer be deluded by reincarnation, and to recognise that all things are illusory.

Gratitude for the Dharma

I know I must continue to work hard. The process of service has taught me so much. I am truly grateful to be able to listen to Practitioner Su's lectures here. Every principle Practitioner Su speaks makes me clearer, and I now truly understand the path of liberation. I am so grateful for this opportunity to practise. Every day, I diligently study the principles explained by Practitioner Su. I am truly grateful for Practitioner Su's Ultimate Vow, which allows immeasurable and boundless beings the chance for liberation. We have finally found a way out—this is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter even in millions of years!

I will continue to practise diligently, and I hope that I will soon have the ability to help other beings. On behalf of all the prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Lin Guoji, with palms joined.