The Prison Guard's Journey to Liberation

Lu Anbang was a psychologist who, after a fatal accident, wandered as a spirit before finding refuge in a temple and eventually serving as a prison guard in the hells. Through the guidance of Practitioner Su, he was finally delivered to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on July 7, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Lu Anbang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today is the great day of my rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I chanted the Buddha-name 'Namo Amituofo' aloud, and in the blink of an eye, I arrived within the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is truly a place of absolute purity. The fragrance of lotus flowers permeates the air, and golden light surrounds everything, bringing such profound peace and coolness to my heart. The Buddha, in His magnificent form, stands right before my eyes. I have made a vow to follow the Buddha and study diligently, learning His compassion and mind-capacity so that I, too, may one day help all beings.

I am even more grateful to Practitioner Su. It was Practitioner Su who led me and fifty-nine other prison guards to the Western Land. Practitioner Su’s heart, which is perfectly in sync with the Buddha’s, commands our deepest respect and gratitude. Upon arriving in the West, I have finally found true stability."

A Life of Escapism

"I am Lu Anbang. When I reflect upon my past cycle of reincarnated lives, I realise it was entirely tied to my own temperament. I loved freedom; I detested any form of restriction or attachment. Whenever I felt the slightest sense of limitation in my life, my immediate instinct was to run away.

I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother and aunt worked incredibly hard to raise me, but I never truly felt their love. I only felt the crushing loneliness of having no one to accompany me. During my childhood, I spent so many solitary days by myself. My heart was filled with fear and anxiety, and because no one could understand my feelings, I had to bear it all alone. To keep my family from worrying, I put on a mask of strength, never once speaking the truth of what was in my heart. I had hoped that these feelings would fade as I grew older, but I did not realise that they were buried deep within my heart, growing deeper with time. Even though I never dared to dig them up, they remained there, festering."

The Mask of the Psychologist

"Subconsciously, I wanted to escape the reality of my inner world, so I deliberately projected an image of being extroverted and freedom-loving. I made many friends and was constantly out, never staying home. In truth, the fundamental reason was that when I returned home, there was no one there. The loneliness was so terrifying that I preferred to be anywhere else. Over time, I even forgot that this was my true state of mind; I only remembered myself as someone who loved freedom and hated being constrained.

I had several girlfriends, and some of them were truly wonderful people. But because I lacked stability and could not find a sense of genuine security, I would break up with them after a short time and move on to the next. I knew deep down that this was a pathological state, but I was powerless to change it. I lacked the strength to transform any of it.

At twenty-one, I realised I had developed a 'heart-sickness.' No matter what I did, I was unhappy. Seeking the answers I desperately craved, I enrolled in a graduate program for psychology, hoping that by understanding my own mind, I could find a way out.

After graduating, I became a psychologist. It is ironic, really—I was a man with a broken heart trying to heal others."

The Breaking Point

"I spent nine years as a psychologist, seeing countless patients. I discovered that everyone carries a 'frame' within their heart, trapping themselves inside. That frame can only be broken by the person themselves; no matter how much help someone from the outside offers, it is like knocking on a windowpane from the outside—it never truly reaches the core. Despite helping so many patients over those nine years, I could never untie the knots within my own heart.

One day, at the age of thirty-six, I was walking down the street. Watching the crowds pass by, I was suddenly struck by a wave of profound emotion. I thought back over my life, reflecting on everything people had told me. My mind felt like a great whirlpool, spinning out of control. I was walking absent-mindedly when the accident happened. I crossed the street at a green light, but I was not paying attention, and I was struck by a car driving at a normal speed.

Two days after being hospitalised, I died from a brain haemorrhage. After death, I became a wandering spirit. As a newly formed spirit, I returned home once. Seeing everyone weeping for me, I felt utterly helpless. I could not change anything, and watching them only made me more heartbroken, so I chose to leave."

The Agony of the Meat Market

"I wandered to a familiar wet market. I heard incredibly noisy sounds, but when I looked around, there were few people there. Why was there such a loud wailing? Upon closer inspection, I realised it was the meat on display—the pigs, chickens, and cows were all wailing. I saw Aunt Chunhao, whom I often greeted, picking up a large cleaver to start chopping meat. My heart panicked, and I possessed her body, hoping to stop her. But the moment I entered her, I was met with the cacophony of various animal spirits trapped inside—it was deafening. I tried to resist and stop her, but I found that there were too many spirits controlling her; it was not my turn to act. After several failed attempts, I left her body in despair. Watching her continue to chop the meat while the animal spirits wailed, my heart ached. I had no power to stop any of it.

I left the market in frustration and came to an orchard, which seemed full of life, bringing me some joy. But after observing it further, I realised the fruit looked beautiful only because the land had been sprayed with pesticides. I saw many dead insect spirits floating in the space. I wanted to do something, but I found I had no ability to help."

The Sound of the Wooden Fish

"Finally, I wandered into a temple. Seeing the monks performing their morning service with such diligent practice, I felt a peace I had never known before. The profound meaning in every word of the sutras touched my heart, and naturally, I entered a wooden fish. The sound of the wooden fish, striking again and again, hit my very being, forcing me to repent for the karma I had created in the past. I saw how I had harmed many beings, which explained why my heart had been so restless throughout my life.

I stayed within that wooden fish for thirty-nine years before I finally developed the sincere heart to chant the Buddha-name and leave that space.

I arrived at the Hall of the King of Hell. The King asked me if I now understood the suffering of the cycle of reincarnated lives. I nodded. The human body is suffering, the cycle of reincarnated lives is suffering, and being unaware is the greatest suffering of all. I did not know if I had the Causal Conditions to escape this, but I prayed and hoped that the Buddha would grant me a path."

Service and Deliverance

"I am grateful to the King of Hell for allowing me to serve as a prison guard in the hells, where I could serve the masses. During my time on duty, I saw the laws of karma and cause and effect more clearly, and my spirit became much more awake and aware.

In the hells, I was even more fortunate to hear the scriptures and Dharma taught by Practitioner Su. Every word hit the mark, telling everyone the difference between true and false practice and how to truly implement the Buddha’s teachings. Even the most subtle mental notes are part of one's practice. After listening to the teachings, I gradually built the correct concepts of learning from the Buddha and practised chanting the Buddha-name.

Finally, after serving to the best of my ability, I received the notification of my rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart was filled with gratitude and emotion. I had been waiting, and finally, the day arrived. After chanting the Buddha-name without interruption, and thanks to the guidance of Practitioner Su, I was finally able to kneel before the Buddha. The Buddha is so compassionate. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su, and I hope that more people can come to know the goodness of the Buddha’s teachings, so they may leave suffering behind and gain happiness.

Namo Amituofo.

Kneeling and bowing, Lu Anbang."