The Prison Guard's Journey to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Guang Yifang, 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 life as a Dharma protector, a human, and a prison guard in the hell realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on January 20, 2023.

Guang Yifang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, I have the karmic affinity to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I offer my heartfelt gratitude to the Buddha. The Buddha has always been in my heart, and I truly wish for more people to realise the magnificence and dignity of the Buddha. Having obtained this human body, I tried my absolute best, though I have come to understand that under great Causal Conditions, some things simply cannot be forced. In the beginning, I was so attached to trying to grasp at results, but now I finally realise that one must let everything follow its natural course.

Now that I reside in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the beauty before my eyes is beyond description. All the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are gathered here, and every corner is filled with wonder. Only after arriving in the Western Land did I truly feel the Buddha's genuine compassion and his equality toward all beings."

From Dharma Protector to the Human Realm

"I am Guang Yifang. Before I came to the human world, I served as a Dharma protector, guarding the peace and sanctity of the temples. I watched as many devotees came to the temple, carrying offerings of flowers and fruits, and donating generous amounts of incense money. They appeared incredibly sincere, but because I possessed the ability of reading minds, I could clearly see what was truly in their hearts. Most people came to the temple to pray for their families, for themselves, or even to ask the deities to help them ensure everything in their lives went smoothly. Most of their intentions were selfish and filled with greed.

Year after year passed, and this situation only grew more severe. People's hearts were covered by layers of dust. I felt such heartache, but in my position as a Dharma protector, there was nothing I could change. Finally, I made a decision: I would enter the human world, obtain a human body, and do my utmost to change something."

A Household of Pretence

"Once I made that decision, I did not hesitate; I entered a mother's womb and was subsequently born into a middle-class family. On the surface, this family appeared harmonious, but in reality, everything was a facade. My father, like many men of his time, had taken several wives. I was the eldest son of the third wife. It could be said that my mother was only able to secure her position in the household because of me; otherwise, given her background, she would never have been qualified to be the third wife.

My mother was the youngest, the most beautiful, and the most favoured by my father. Naturally, the first and second wives looked upon her with disdain. They would constantly seize upon any minor mistake she made to speak ill of her to my grandmother. Every time my mother was misunderstood, I would become incredibly angry, because I was with her every day and I knew exactly what she was doing."

The Chaos of Family Conflict

"After living in such an environment for a long time, my mother's originally simple heart began to change. She started to ignore the words of the first and second wives, and she even told me to do the same. I felt so sad in my heart, because I never wanted to create negative karma with anyone. I still remember one particular Lunar New Year when they started arguing over a chicken. My mother had gone to great lengths to buy a chicken to offer to the ancestors, but the first and second wives claimed that the chicken was too thin and that it showed no respect to the ancestors. This time, my mother could not hold back, and she began to quarrel with them. Before the ancestors could even be worshipped, the area in front of the altar was already in an uproar. In the end, all three of them left in anger.

With three women in the house, there was never a moment of peace. My father chose to turn a blind eye to all of this, wanting to avoid the conflict entirely. He knew that if he intervened, no matter which side he took, it would only cause a greater disturbance. Over the years, he had learned to remain silent. But the result of his silence was that the competition between the three women was brought out into the open."

Seeking Answers in the World

"Growing up watching these scenes of chaos, my heart was filled with helplessness. I desperately wanted to use my own strength to resolve these conflicts. Although I saw the first and second wives and my mother fighting and competing, all for the sake of pride and for my father's attention, I could deeply feel the mindset of each person. Everyone wanted to present their best side to the world. Back then, I kept wondering: how could such complex relationships be changed? From a young age, I was searching for the answer.

Although they often fought, I knew that deep down, they still possessed a side of Goodness. Their hearts were also searching for a way to find peace. Although my father was their support, he could not provide stability for any of them. At the age of fifteen, I decided to rely on my own strength to live outside. I left home temporarily, as this house held memories that were far too heavy for me. After moving to a large city to work, I saw many people and felt the constant changes in the human heart. I came into contact with several different religions, and in the end, I chose Buddhism, which brought a sense of peace to my heart."

The Rigid Path of Learning

"I actively listened to sutras and heard the Dharma, learning many Buddha’s teachings. Whenever I encountered difficulties in life, I applied these principles, and sometimes it seemed as though the problems were resolved. I always thought this method was excellent. Whenever people around me had problems, I would bring in Buddhist logic, believing that since the Buddha is so compassionate, this would surely solve everyone's issues. However, I never considered that the method I was using was too rigid. It was not suitable for everyone, and I had never realised this point. I was trying to pass on the Buddha’s teachings using my own methods, hoping to let more people know about the Dharma.

After I began practising Buddhism, the first thing I did was return home to try to save my mother. Her heart had suffered so much throughout her life, and I hoped she could follow the Buddha and let go of the grievances of the past. When I spoke to her with earnest, bitter words, she remained stubbornly attached to this body. No matter what I said, she could not let go. Helpless, I had no choice but to stop forcing her."

A Life of Service and the Reality of Hell

"The Buddha compassionately teaches us to have a broad mind-capacity, so I let go of the past and wanted the first and second wives to learn Buddhism as well. When I saw the first wife, her eyes had already gone blind. The once-imposing first lady could now only rely on others for care, which left a deep impression on me. When I taught her to chant Namo Amituofo, she still held much hostility toward me, as if she were determined to defend her position for her entire life. The second wife, who had been very elegant in her youth, now showed signs of old age. She was more open-minded; only after my father passed away did she feel that her past behaviour had been foolish, having wasted her youth and her peace of mind, only to end up with nothing. I explained the laws of karma and cause and effect to her, and she was willing to chant Namo Amituofo with me, hoping that the latter part of her life could be stable because of it.

I became a volunteer at the temple. Whenever I had the karmic affinity to speak with devotees, I would introduce the Dharma I knew to them, hoping they would stop clinging to this lifetime's body and understand the importance of liberation. Until I was old and my body had no strength left, I continued to work hard at these tasks. Quite a few people were inspired to start learning Buddhism through my efforts. When I introduced the Dharma, my heart felt a special kind of joy. At the age of sixty-two, my organs began to degenerate, and my body lost its strength. In my heart, I prayed for the Buddha to come and take me. One day, as I was thinking about this, my body simply did not wake up again. My spirit arrived before the throne of Yama. Yama told me that because I had dedicated my life to the Buddha's work, the various illnesses and pains that I should have suffered as karmic retribution had been resolved one by one. I was very grateful to the Buddha. However, Yama also told me that although I had dedicated myself to the propagation of the Dharma, my own stubbornness and attachments had not been released, which was why I could not go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Deliverance and Gratitude

"After hearing Yama say this, I reflected on myself and admitted that I still had these faults. Yama then arranged for me to serve as a prison guard based on my merits. During my time as a prison guard, I saw things that opened my eyes. The hells were filled with suffering beings; some were clear-headed, while others were lost. Watching them suffer, I sincerely hoped they would have the chance to know the Buddha, to believe in the Buddha, and to stop paying the price for their own personalities. During my time as a prison guard, I listened to every word of Practitioner Su's Dharma talks. The version of myself that had learned Buddhism in the past knew too little; now, I understood the true Truth, and I longed even more to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The magnificent Causal Conditions finally arrived today, and I was able to seek liberation. Namo Amituofo, with great compassion, thank you, Practitioner Su, for leading us sixty prison guards to the West.

Guang Yifang, with palms pressed together."