The Prison Guard's Path to Redemption

Interview conducted by: Shi Faxi

August 18, 2024

Prison Guard Che Fengding speaks:

"I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to attain liberation today. It is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, one that I will cherish dearly and use to practise diligently. On behalf of all prison guards, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

My name is Che Fengding, and I was born in a small village during the glorious Tang Dynasty. From a young age, I was told that my destiny was already set by the heavens. As the only son in my family, I bore the heavy responsibility of continuing our ancestral line. My parents often said that my life was preordained and that I had no choice in the matter. They always used 'destiny' as a reason to counsel me to simply listen and obey.

A Life of Unforeseen Hardship

When I was fifteen, a great tragedy befell my family. My parents contracted a plague and passed away one after another, leaving me all alone. I packed my humble belongings, took the little money left in the house, and set out on a journey to Chang'an.

In Chang'an, through the introduction of an old acquaintance, I began studying at an academy, striving to achieve academic success and official rank. Yet, in such a bustling city, I felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness and unease, as if something was pulling at me from the shadows. This anxiety grew stronger with each passing day, often leaving me unable to sleep at night.

One day, I met a Taoist in a small alleyway. He wore tattered robes but possessed deep, piercing eyes. His appearance was no coincidence; he already knew I would pass by that spot. He spoke to me directly: 'Young man, I see dark clouds gathering on your forehead. Your heart is burdened with heavy spiritual obstacles. If you do not resolve them in this lifetime, you will suffer endless torment.'

The Weight of Past Lives

At the time, I dismissed his words, thinking it was merely the trickery of a wandering charlatan. The Taoist remained calm and told me: 'In your past life, you were a warrior who took countless lives, accumulating a mountain of blood debt. You and I have a karmic affinity from the past, and I have come to repay that kindness, which is why I am waiting for you here. The heavy suffering you face in this life is all because of the sins of the past that remain unpaid. You must face them and resolve them.'

His words struck my heart like a thunderclap. In that instant, many childhood memories suddenly surfaced. The nightmares I had since I was young, the inexplicable fears—did all of this relate to the past life he spoke of? I began to doubt whether I was truly a person reborn, carrying the sins of a previous existence as he claimed.

Although my heart was shaken, I did not take immediate action, nor did I truly heed the Taoist's counsel.

The Haunting of the Soul

As the years passed, I gradually established myself in Chang'an and opened an academy to teach young students. Despite my growing success, the inner torment intensified. Whenever the night was deep and quiet, I would dream of swords and shadows. Countless spirits would surround me, their wailing cries endless. Their eyes were filled with resentment and despair, as if they were accusing me of my crimes. I would wake up in a cold sweat, my heart filled with endless regret and unease.

One night, the scenes in my dream became even more vivid. It was as if I were in the midst of a brutal war, my sword piercing the chests of countless enemies, blood splattering my clothes. At that moment, I finally understood that the Taoist's words were true. I was indeed carrying the blood debt of a past life, and these dreams were the manifestation of my past spiritual obstacles.

The images in my dreams repeated over and over. No matter how hard I tried to escape, these memories remained fresh and would not fade. I tried to seek help, but nothing could improve the entanglement of these spiritual obstacles. Thus, I began to perform good deeds more actively, hoping to wash away the sins in my heart. I gave up the academy and began to travel, performing good deeds, providing for the poor, and helping those in need. I also visited the temples in Chang'an, asking the monks how to resolve spiritual obstacles and seeking inner peace and liberation.

The Search for True Repentance

As I quickened my pace of doing good deeds, I met many like-minded people—local individuals with kind hearts. Together, we established porridge stations to provide food for the poor every day; I also raised funds to help build temples and repair dilapidated bridges. However, despite my best efforts to do good, the inner pain and unease remained like a shadow. The spirits in my dreams continued to appear, reminding me that the sins of my past had not been fully repaid.

On a rainy night, I met a beggar. He was dressed in rags and looked haggard, but his eyes shone with wisdom. He said to me: 'Good deeds are important, but if your heart has not truly repented, no matter how many good deeds you do, it is difficult to resolve your spiritual obstacles.'

These words were like a lamp, illuminating the darkness within my heart. I suddenly realised that everything I had done in the past might have been just to escape my own sense of guilt, rather than true repentance. I began to ponder: what is true liberation? How can one truly break free from the entanglement of spiritual obstacles?

The Awakening of the Heart

Years later, I met a wise person who told me that true liberation does not rely solely on doing good deeds, but on deep, genuine repentance and awakening within the heart. He counselled me to let go of my inner attachments and to stop dwelling on past spiritual obstacles. Only then could I walk toward true liberation.

I sat quietly in the meditation hall of the temple, pondering these words deeply. Finally, I understood that destiny is not unchangeable; true freedom comes from inner awakening and clarity. I resolved to let go of everything from the past, to no longer be trapped by the sins of my previous life, and to restart my life.

From that moment on, I never dreamt of those spirits again. My heart gradually became peaceful. I did everything in my power to hold countless Dharma assemblies at the temple to perform Chao Du for the souls who had suffered because of me, sincerely praying for Namo Amituofo to lead them to liberation and leave suffering behind.

I understood that no matter what happened in the past, the choices made in this life are the key to truly changing one's destiny. One must take that step to change; only through practice can one save oneself and break through one's own limitations.

A Life of Service and Gratitude

I am very grateful that I encountered the opportunity to change. Until the end of my life, I did everything I could, striving to change myself until my body could no longer move, and finally, I left this world in peace.

At the end of this life, my heart was very calm because I knew I had done my best. I worked hard to change myself and to break through my own limitations.

When I left the human world, I was brought before the King of Hell. My heart felt no fear. When I heard the words of the King of Hell, I was very grateful for his compassion in arranging a position for me, allowing me the opportunity to continue serving sentient beings even after death. I will cherish this, and I hope to continue to break through my own limitations.

I have been working very hard in my service, while also continuing to learn how to change myself. Recently, I heard the sound of Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks, and my heart was filled with emotion. Every principle deeply moved my heart. I knew that this was the Truth I needed to learn, and it was the power that could help me attain liberation.

I have begun to practise even more diligently in modifying myself, hoping to attain liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

I am very grateful for the compassionate power of Practitioner Su, which allows us all the opportunity to understand the Truth and to change ourselves. These experiences in the cycle of rebirth are truly too painful! If one does not listen to the Dharma talks, it is very difficult to know that one must wake up. I am grateful for the dedication of Practitioner Su, which allows us to know that we must wake up.

I will continue to work hard. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, and I am grateful for the compassion of Practitioner Su. On behalf of all prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and the grace of Practitioner Su.

Namo Amituofo.

Che Fengding, with palms joined."