The Prison Guard’s Journey to Liberation

This interview was recorded on July 10, 2022, by the Chief Writer, Shi Fa. The speaker is Kim Seon-myeong, a former teacher who, after passing away, served as a prison guard in the underworld. Seeking to leave suffering behind, he eventually found deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Kim Seon-myeong speaks:

"I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for her compassion in helping so many spirits achieve liberation and leave suffering behind. We all cherish this Causal Condition immensely, for we know it is the only opportunity for true liberation. I urge everyone to chant Namo Amituofo immediately; opportunities do not wait for anyone. You must seize the moment and strive for liberation now.

On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha’s grace and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

A Life Defined by Learning

"My name is Kim Seon-myeong. I am Korean. In the past, I travelled to China to conduct business. I earned a significant amount of money there, but eventually, I chose to return to Korea to live out my days. I spent the latter half of my life educating children. With the money I had earned, I built a school where I taught the experiences I had gathered throughout my life, free of charge, to any student who wished to learn.

I did not possess any extraordinary skills in my life, but I understood the value of observation. I learned from the experiences of others, which helped me grow in every aspect. From a young age, I knew that one must learn from different people. No one is perfect; everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Yet, whether good or bad, there is always something worth learning. One must be observant and possess the awareness to reflect upon oneself, taking these precious experiences and turning them into new knowledge for personal growth. In this way, one’s progress becomes visible every single day."

The Simplicity of a Contented Heart

"I am very happy that the environment in which I was born was simple, as it prevented me from developing too many negative habits. We were not a wealthy family, and every cent of our living expenses was earned through hard work. However, we lived with great contentment. We lived according to our means. My parents never complained about the hardships of life; instead, they taught my siblings and me many positive attitudes toward living.

I was the youngest of twelve siblings. From a young age, I was very pampered; all my older brothers and sisters cherished me dearly, and my parents gave me so much love. Yet, I did not become spoiled because of this. I learned whatever I could from each of them to grow. I listened to what everyone taught me, and I took the initiative to observe their words and deeds, knowing that I should apply what I learned to myself.

My parents were quite old when they gave birth to me, so there was a significant age gap between me and my siblings. In their twilight years, my parents were most worried about me. After they passed away, my brothers and sisters discussed how to take care of me. Everyone wanted to take the initiative to look after me, but I chose to decline one by one. I told my siblings that I wanted to go to China to learn. I had read about the beautiful moral foundations of China in books, and I wanted to see the lives of the Chinese people for myself. I told them I would conduct business to support myself. Finally, my brothers and sisters gave me a large sum of money and, after repeatedly urging me to take care of myself, they finally agreed to let me travel to China alone."

The Moral Beauty of China

"When I first arrived in China, although life was difficult, I was incredibly happy. I cherished every day I spent there. I did simple business, and although I did not earn a vast fortune, it accumulated into a significant amount. Every day, I watched the lives of the people in the markets, learned about different customs, and observed the ways people interacted. I was very happy to learn about these diverse people and events, which I felt benefited me greatly.

I stayed in China for over twenty years, during which time I moved between several cities. I studied a great deal of literature there. I read the books of Confucius and Mencius, studied Buddhist sutras, and read the works of many scholars and refined individuals. I was very happy to be able to learn these things. The moral culture of China is truly worthy of respect. It fully expresses the character of humanity, and this is something that every country should focus on learning. I believe this is the character and personality that people should cherish and elevate the most.

Whether a person’s life is successful or not does not lie in external enjoyment, wealth, or status, but in the quality of one’s inner character—the temperament revealed from within the heart. This is the most precious thing a person can possess."

A Legacy of Education

"At the age of seventy-five, I decided to return to my hometown. By that time, my brothers and sisters had already passed away, but they had always kept me in their thoughts over the years. Together, they had prepared a generous sum of money to pave the way for my later years, which they entrusted to their descendants to pass on to me. I am very grateful to have had such caring family members. Although the money I had saved over the years was enough for me to live on, I accepted this money and decided to use it in a better place, allowing more people to benefit.

I opened a school in my hometown, specifically to teach character. I invested the funds my siblings had prepared for me, along with the money I had saved over the years, into this school. I taught everyone for free and shared all the experiences I had gained abroad with the children who came to learn. I hoped that they could learn principles from these observations and know how to change themselves and grow.

I was very happy to be able to do this meaningful work, and in the process, I also gained many insights. In the final days of my life, I handed the school over to my first student, and I left this world with a peaceful heart. I truly lived a very satisfied life."

From the Underworld to the Western Pure Land

"I did not suffer much during the process of dying. After death, I came to the side of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to practice, and listening to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva give Dharma talks allowed me to learn many new truths. I do not know how many years passed, but later I was invited to the Yama Hall to counsel sentient beings. I did my best to help these beings, sharing my life experiences with them, hoping to help them resolve the attachments in their hearts, learn to change themselves, and attain liberation.

In recent years, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the underworld, which surprised me greatly. The sutras Practitioner Su speaks are very powerful, and every sentence is the Truth of life. I am very grateful for the aspiration and great power of Practitioner Su, which helps more sentient beings to wake up and attain liberation. Today, having the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I must truly thank Practitioner Su for her great heart and Ultimate Vow. I will continue to practice diligently, hoping that in the future I will have the opportunity to help more sentient beings, so that all beings may leave suffering behind and gain happiness.

Kim Seon-myeong, on behalf of all prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity, bows in gratitude to the Buddha’s grace and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Kim Seon-myeong, with palms joined.