The Prison Guard's Awakening: Learning Dharma from the Depths

This is a record of an interview with Wu Zhengyi, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his long journey through the cycle of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on December 15, 2023.

Wu Zhengyi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am so incredibly grateful to the Great Compassionate Buddha. To be here now, guided by the Buddha and Practitioner Su, is the greatest honour of my existence. After countless lifetimes trapped in the cycle of rebirth, I have finally found liberation. Before my eyes, everything is radiant; I see Buddha-light everywhere. Stepping into the jewelled ponds of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I feel such profound coolness and peace. Since arriving here, I have been smiling every single moment. Yet, when I think of the karmic creditors I still owe, a sense of repentance arises in my heart. Although I still have a playful side and wish to enjoy the wonders of this Pure Land, I know I must settle my mind and diligently follow the Buddha’s teachings. I am deeply grateful for this magnificent Causal Condition; the Buddha-land is shining with brilliant light.

A Life as a Silent Stone

I am Wu Zhengyi. Before I was Wu Zhengyi, I was a massive boulder in a forest. This boulder was situated right next to a towering, ancient sacred tree. I would often talk to this sacred tree. As far as I can remember, the first thing I ever said was, 'Grandfather Sacred Tree, you look so tall and magnificent. May I ask how long you have been standing here as a sacred tree?'

Grandfather Sacred Tree paused for a moment, calculating, and then said, 'If I count the days, it has been over three thousand years. But that is only how long I have been in this specific form; my spirit has existed for much longer.' He then asked me, 'And you, young lad, how long have you been inside that stone?' I replied, 'I am not very good at counting, but based on the sunrises and sunsets I have witnessed, it has been about thirty-five years!'

Lessons on Impermanence

I asked again, 'Grandfather Sacred Tree, you have been here for so long; you must have experienced many things.' The tree replied, 'Indeed! I have experienced all kinds of things, both beautiful and not so beautiful.' I asked if he could share his insights with me. He said, 'Young lad, do you know about impermanence? Impermanence can arrive at any moment, and when it does, one is very close to death. I have experienced two such moments of impermanence while standing in this forest.'

'The first was five hundred years ago. A violent storm blew through with such intensity that I saw many trees topple over; I felt quite nervous. Suddenly, a lightning strike appeared in the sky and split my dear old friend next to me in two. I let out a cry of 'Ah!', but I could not call my friend back. I struggled with all my might to hold on, and that is how I survived that natural disaster. That time, the life in the forest underwent a great culling, and it took a long time for the forest to return to its natural state.'

'Then, sixty years ago, there was no rain for six months. In the extreme dryness, we struggled to survive by absorbing what little groundwater we could through our roots. Not long after, a forest fire broke out. I heard so many cries of agony, but I could not move, so I could not help. The fire was about to reach me, and I could only shout, urging the creatures that could run to flee quickly. Just as the flames were about to consume me, rescuers appeared in time to stop the fire, and my life was extended to this day. Since then, I have cherished life deeply. I urge everyone I can to cherish the present moment, because no one knows when impermanence will arrive.'

The Stubbornness of the Heart

Hearing Grandfather Sacred Tree speak of these things did not seem to impact my heart. From the past until now, I have been incredibly stubborn. I am not someone who changes my mind easily, which is why I remained a foul-smelling, hard-headed boulder for so long. Grandfather Sacred Tree knew his words had not reached me, but he did not give up. He urged me to observe the lives of ants and the grass. He said, 'Look at the ants; they persist in walking the same path every day to carry their food. Every form of life has its own attachments, which is why they manifest in the forms of the ten thousand things. Just like you—if you remain so insistent on your own ideas, you will never be able to escape the body of a stone.'

When Grandfather Sacred Tree hoped I would change, I could feel his good intentions. But I was still so stubborn. It was not until one day that an old woman ran to the side of my boulder and leaned against it, weeping bitterly. The sound of her crying and the energy field she emitted deeply captured my attention. She spoke to me in her sorrow: 'Stone, do you know? I just lost a son—the most disobedient son I ever had. I had already driven him out of the house, and now he has died in a fight. Seeing him without breath, I cannot help but break down. If only he had listened to me, he would not have gone through this.' I felt as if the woman's heart were being torn apart; it was agonizing. I did not expect her intense emotions to shake my own heart. I do not know why I felt that way, but the intensity of those emotions was overwhelming.

The Cycle of Rebirth

After the woman left, I could still feel the emotions she had left behind. That night, I felt terrible. I kept searching within my own heart, and later I realised that this woman was my mother from a past life. In the past, I had been just as disobedient, causing her such great sorrow. In the same space, we met again, yet we were in different forms and identities. She saw me only as a stone, while I saw her as someone I recognised but could not acknowledge. The turning of fate is truly a cruel trick; this transcended the impermanence Grandfather Sacred Tree spoke of. What I saw was the helplessness of various cycles of rebirth. When I shared these realisations with Grandfather Sacred Tree, he praised me, rejoicing that I had finally let go of my original views.

Once I was willing to let go of my stubbornness, it was not long before I was picked up by a bright magnetic field, as if passing through a long tunnel of time and space. Soon after, I obtained a human body as a boy. In my subconscious, I cherished this body deeply. I knew that by obtaining this human body, I had come to find the exit to liberation. The suffering of the cycle of rebirth is not just for one life or the previous one, but throughout your many lives.

Seeking the Path to Liberation

My mother was a woman of great cultivation, always radiating a feeling that made people want to be near her. She had me late in life and cherished me dearly. I did not cause her any trouble, and from a young age, I told her that my life's goal was to find the meaning of life. My mother felt that Heaven had given her a special child, and she was willing to support my decisions. At sixteen, I began to ask my mother to take me to visit various places, searching through different strongholds and major religions. For five whole years, I finally found peace in my heart while visiting a temple. I followed my mother to the temple at fixed times to listen to Dharma talks. The Buddha’s teachings in the sutras are all about liberation, which is exactly what I was looking for.

On the night I decided to study the Buddha’s teachings, I dreamt of many people walking toward me. They wore different clothes, had different appearances, and all seemed to be suffering. They reached out their hands, constantly coming closer to me. I was terrified, and just as they were about to pin me to the ground, I woke up. I sat up and stayed awake until dawn. After studying the Buddha’s teachings for many years, I realised that the people in that dream were all my karmic creditors—so many, so many. What I owed from the past to the present—how could I repay it? I thought about this question very seriously. Finally, I decided to diligently perform Buddhist work and dedicate the merit to them, hoping they too would have the opportunity for liberation.

The Teacher’s Burden

My mother was influenced by me and began to study the Buddha’s teachings as well, understanding the need to seek liberation. A few years later, we both stayed at the temple and became fellow practitioners. She also knew she had to let go of me and let go of worldly emotions. Originally, I had the opportunity to become a monk, but that era was filled with chaos, and seeing the anxiety in people's hearts pained me deeply. After fleeing to a safe place, I began to use my limited abilities to inspire others to study the Buddha’s teachings. I became a good example in the hearts of a group of people; they called me 'Teacher' and thanked me for helping them know to follow the Buddha so their hearts could find a place to rest. I served as a teacher, spreading the Buddha’s teachings until I was fifty-six.

At fifty-six, I fell gravely ill. The illness did not drag on for long before I passed away. I thought the Buddha was coming to receive me, but to my surprise, I arrived in the underworld. I was shocked—why would this happen? I did not realise that my own subtle attachment and arrogance prevented me from being in sync with the Buddha. However, the Dharma I had spread and the Blessings I had accumulated were still there and very substantial. The King of Hell, in his compassion, allowed me to serve as a prison guard, which let me see human nature more clearly.

The Final Awakening

I went to the Hell of Gouging Eyes. Seeing the bad karmic retribution, it was so bloody and visceral. I understood the intention of the King of Hell; he was reminding me: where were my discriminations and attachments? It turned out that when I was passing on the Buddha’s teachings, I had used my own concepts and ideas. After seeing this clearly, I felt deep repentance and was even more grateful that a disciple of the Buddha had the opportunity to see this side of things. In the underworld, hearing Practitioner Su give a Dharma talk shocked me even more. Practitioner Su mentioned that true study of the Buddha’s teachings must begin from the very bottom—by changing one's own personality traits. This was a perspective I had never heard before. It was as if I had been doused with nectar; I woke up and solidified my heart’s resolve to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

After waiting for so long, I was finally able to be liberated today. I am grateful to the Buddha and grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su. I hope my experience can be shared with those connected by karmic affinity, especially those who study the Buddha’s teachings, so that everyone knows that true practice must begin from the fundamental root. My gratitude is endless.

Namo Amituofo.

Wu Zhengyi"