The Prison Guard's Redemption

This interview was recorded on January 15, 2023, by the chief writer, Shi Fa. The subject is Ototake Yoko, a spirit who formerly served as a prison guard in the underworld. Having sought deliverance through the compassionate teachings of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Ototake Yoko now shares his journey of finding liberation and his aspiration for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Ototake Yoko speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is something I never dared to imagine, and I will cherish it dearly. I offer my heartfelt thanks to Practitioner Su for his great compassion. I will continue to practise diligently and grow, hoping that I, too, may one day be like Practitioner Su, helping more sentient beings to find liberation and leave suffering behind.

On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings connected by karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

A Life Between Two Worlds

I am Ototake Yoko. I am a Japanese man who lived in Taiwan. When I was young, I followed my father back to Japan for a period, but compared to my time there, I much preferred life in Taiwan. The people of Taiwan possess a deeper sense of humanity; their interpersonal interactions are so much warmer and more genuine.

I was born during a time when life in Taiwan was very difficult. The island was under Japanese colonial rule, and the people were suppressed and controlled everywhere they turned. They faced the brutal force of the Japanese military. The Taiwanese people lived through incredibly arduous times, and that was the world into which I was born.

The Burden of Heritage

Because I had Japanese blood, my status allowed me to be treated well by the Japanese military. My father was an officer in the Japanese army, so I did not suffer the same mistreatment as others. However, I felt profound sympathy for the Taiwanese people on this beautiful island who were subjected to such unfair treatment. I often reached out to help them in secret. I loved this beautiful island from the bottom of my heart.

My father was aware of what I was doing, but he chose to turn a blind eye. Sometimes, he even had to pull strings to ensure I would not be discovered. In truth, what I was doing was extremely risky. At any moment, the Japanese military could have found out, and if they had, I likely would have been executed on the spot. In that chaotic era, they would rather kill a hundred innocent people than let one potential rebel escape. They wanted to control and suppress every possible element of resistance in society.

A Mother's Sacrifice

My mother was a virtuous Taiwanese woman. My father had come to Taiwan with the army and unexpectedly fell in love with her. Because of this, he extended a measure of kindness to the Taiwanese people, not wanting to destroy them completely. My parents were deeply in love, but due to the sensitive nature of the times, they had to love each other in secret. Even after my mother gave birth to me, she could not tell anyone that the child's mother was Taiwanese.

My mother sacrificed so much in that relationship. My father was never able to give her a formal status, and she bore the weight of many cruel accusations. She faced a lack of understanding from everyone around her, and her own parents scolded her for being 'indiscreet.' Her life was not easy, yet she remained willing to believe that their love would have a beautiful ending.

The Search for Home

Later, my father returned to Japan with the army and took me with him. For several years, we did not return to Taiwan, and we lost contact with my mother. Years later, my father remarried in Japan and had children with his new wife. Although my father still showed me affection, I could clearly feel that his love for my mother had gradually faded. In my heart, I felt it was so unfair to her. My father had started a new family, and I did not participate in it much. I could not forget that my mother was still left alone in Taiwan, waiting. I do not condemn my father's actions, for I know that everything has its own Causal Conditions.

When I turned fifteen, I took the initiative and told my father that I wanted to return to Taiwan to find my mother. My father did not object; he even gave me a sum of money, hoping that once I found her, I would take good care of her. He told me that he had failed her. I nodded in agreement, and the very next day, I boarded a ship my father had arranged and set sail for Taiwan.

A Final Resting Place

Upon arriving in Taiwan, I returned to the place where we used to live. I spent days asking about my mother's whereabouts, but there was no news. I went to my maternal grandparents' home, but I dared not approach. I could only observe them from afar, knowing that my existence was a source of shame for them regarding their daughter. I did not reveal myself. I hid and watched for a long time, eventually confirming that my mother was no longer there. I could not help but ask myself: Where could my mother have gone?

I continued to hide in the shadows, searching for her. It took about a year before I finally found her. It was a beautiful cemetery; my mother was resting there. I was heartbroken by her passing, but I was also relieved, thinking that perhaps this was her true liberation. I thought to myself: Let her never know that my father had betrayed her.

The environment of her grave was beautiful, much like her own character. The area was filled with pure white lilies, and when they bloomed, they emitted a faint, gentle fragrance. I stayed with my mother for three days, gathered my emotions, and decided that I must live well.

A Quiet Life and the Afterlife

I returned to the house where we had once lived as a family, cleaned it up, and moved in. By the time I had been back in Taiwan for five years, time had flown by. I opened a business with a few Japanese friends, and the trade was quite good. We conducted business with integrity and never cheated anyone. When we saw families in distress, we took special care of them, sometimes giving them goods from our shop. We had a good relationship with the local people. Such a simple life brought me a sense of peaceful happiness.

I never returned to Japan, and I did not even see my father one last time. This life was, in truth, a bit lonely, but fortunately, I had the ability to help others. It was only when helping people that I felt satisfied and happy.

When I passed away, I was alone, just as my mother had been. This life made me feel much sorrow. I closed my eyes and ended my journey. After death, I arrived in the underworld. My heart was filled with attachments to the past, which prevented me from being pure. When I was brought before the King of Hell, he reviewed the course of my life. As I looked back on those events, my heart still felt heavy with misery. The King of Hell told me to let go of these emotions, and I tried, but the results were not very good. Later, the King of Hell gave me the opportunity to serve in the underworld palace. I am very grateful for his help, and I did my best to fulfil my duties.

The Light of the Dharma

It was only in recent years that I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. At first, I did not understand what he was saying, but as I gradually calmed my heart, I began to comprehend his teachings. My heart was filled with emotion, and the complex miseries of the past were finally, gradually, being let go. I am so grateful for the compassionate vow of Practitioner Su, which allows so many suffering beings like us to find liberation. After listening to the sutras explained by Practitioner Su, I finally knew how to let go and be liberated.

I am grateful for the great vow of Practitioner Su, which gives us such a wonderful opportunity today to be liberated and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We will all cherish this dearly and will practise with diligence. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings connected by karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.

Ototake Yoko, with palms joined."