The Prison Guard's Journey: From Grassland to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Guo Muzhen, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and subsequent journey through the realms of existence. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on May 7, 2023.

Guo Muzhen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for the compassionate grace of the Buddha, which has granted me this precious opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. I am profoundly thankful to have encountered Practitioner Su. It is only because of Practitioner Su's compassionate vow and tireless efforts that I, along with many others, am able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land today. 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 Childhood on the Open Grasslands

I was born several hundred years ago on the vast, open grasslands. From my earliest memories, I lived a simple, joyful life with my parents and my grandmother. The expansive horizon of the plains shaped my heart, making me a cheerful and carefree girl. My parents raised me to be a person of kindness and integrity, teaching me the fundamental principles of living a good life. In that world, everything was pure and uncomplicated. I loved to ride horses and tend to the cattle, fully embracing the freedom and joy that the grasslands provided.

Looking back, those days were truly a time of immense happiness. I was free from worry, free from afflictions, and free from any unhappiness. Every day was spent immersed in the warm embrace of nature, living in perfect harmony with the world around me.

The Cruelty of War and Displacement

However, beautiful days are often fleeting. A ruthless war shattered my home and destroyed our happiness. My family and I were forced to flee the grasslands. My parents took my elderly grandmother and me on a long, arduous journey of escape. We eventually ended up in a remote village on the frontier, living in extreme poverty. Though the life we led there was incredibly difficult, we were at least fortunate enough to have survived. My parents were wonderful people; they constantly encouraged me to remain positive and to face the future with courage. They would tell me, 'No matter how hard life becomes, as long as you do your best, there will always be a path forward.'

I had hoped that we could finally settle down, but I never imagined that I would encounter the greatest catastrophe of my life. I was forcibly abducted.

A Life Stolen and the Despair of Captivity

It was a quiet afternoon. My grandmother and I were returning from the market when we suddenly encountered a large group of men from the Central Plains. As we tried to move aside to avoid them, one of the men grabbed my hand. I struggled with him in the middle of the market, but they eventually overpowered me and dragged me away, forcing me to separate from my grandmother. I wept and begged them to let me go, but the terrifying, cold smiles on their faces told me that my fate was sealed. I was taken overnight to a place I did not recognise. In the dead of night, I gazed up at the sky, consumed by worry for my grandmother and my parents. I knew they must be frantic with fear for me, yet I was utterly powerless to escape. I could only shed silent tears beneath the vast, uncaring night sky.

I was forced into marriage by a Han man. I resisted his advances for a long time, successfully avoiding him on many occasions, but I knew my luck would not last forever. I waited for any opportunity to escape. I tried to flee several times, but each time I was caught and brought back. My heart was filled with profound sorrow and despair. I had lost my freedom, lost my family, and was forced to live a life that was not my own. I wept every single day, praying that my family would come to save me. Gradually, however, that hope began to fade. I knew my family could never find me, and my heart slowly began to die.

The Final Choice and the Cycle of Rebirth

Not long after, the man succeeded in violating me. I was in absolute agony. When he decided to move back to the Central Plains, I made a final, desperate decision: I would take my own life while riding my beloved horse. In that final moment of death, I felt an overwhelming, crushing pain. I ended my own life, and even though the agony of that passing made me realise I had made a tragic mistake, there was no turning back.

After I died, I was reincarnated as a horse. I remained trapped in the space of my own attachments, galloping across the grasslands, running with a joy that felt like a dream. In that state, I forgot my past and all my suffering. I felt as though I had returned to my happy childhood. I became a joyful horse of the plains, and I did not want to wake up from that blissful space at all.

A Second Chance and the Path to Deliverance

However, fate constantly tests us. Through a karmic opportunity, I encountered my former family once again. Subconsciously, I wanted to avoid them, but the memories of my past came rushing back like a tidal wave. I remembered all my suffering and the deep, aching longing for my family. I followed them silently, only to discover that they had grown old and lived lives devoid of happiness. Even though I felt deep sadness, I was powerless to change their circumstances.

Later, during an accident, I gave my life to save my family. I walked toward death once more. Even though I lost my life, I had no regrets. To have seen my beloved family again in my second life brought me true happiness.

After this death, I arrived in the underworld and was brought before the King of Hell. He reviewed the course of my life, and every scene was replayed before me. I was in such pain, kneeling before him and weeping uncontrollably. The King of Hell punished me for my failure to cherish my life. After experiencing hundreds of years to atone for my past sins, and through the sincerity of my repenting, the King of Hell compassionately granted me an opportunity to serve in the underworld. I am deeply grateful for his compassionate arrangement.

I cherished my opportunity to serve in the underworld, and through this service, I became more clear-minded. I realised that I needed to seek liberation from this cycle of rebirth. It was only recently that I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the underworld. The teachings of Practitioner Su made me realise that I must engage in diligent practice and that I could no longer remain attached to the cycle of samsara.

I am so grateful for the compassionate vow of Practitioner Su, which has given me the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. 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."

Guo Muzhen, with palms joined.