The Prison Guard's Redemption

Liu Shuiqing, a man who spent his entire life in service to his benefactor, found himself serving as a prison guard in the hells after his passing. Through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su, he and fifty-nine other guards were eventually delivered to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on July 6, 2024, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where the spirit of Liu Shuiqing shared his profound journey of repentance and liberation.

Liu Shuiqing speaks:

"Liu Shuiqing, accompanied by fifty-nine other prison guards, knelt before the Buddha. At this moment, we all felt as if we had not yet awakened, as if we were still dreaming. It is so difficult to believe that we have truly arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The Three Saints of the West are right before our eyes; we see them so clearly, so dignified. With hearts full of reverence, we began to chant the Buddha-name, feeling immense gratitude for everything. We sincerely knelt and bowed to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, chanting the sacred name in our hearts: 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo.'

A Childhood of Hardship

In this lifetime, my name was Liu Shuiqing, and I was born into a family of extreme poverty. We were five brothers, and I was the eldest. When I was still young and lacked the strength to go out and work, I would watch my parents labouring day and night. My heart would ache—a feeling I cannot even describe, as if my heart were being twisted into a knot. I wanted to help them, but because I was small and weak, I could do nothing. In the end, my mother would always tell me to go away and play in the courtyard. I remember the dust of that courtyard and the way the sun beat down on our humble home, highlighting the deep lines of exhaustion on my parents' faces.

When I was ten, my youngest brother was born. But at the end of that same year, my father, while trying to repair a hole in our roof during a heavy rainstorm, fell and broke his leg. From then on, he had to walk with a crutch and could no longer perform the heavy labour he once did. It was nearly impossible for him to find work; the only jobs he had ever known involved heavy lifting, and now, with his mobility impaired, he could barely walk, let alone carry loads. The silence that fell over our home after that accident was heavy and suffocating.

The Weight of Despair

My father became deeply despondent. I would often see him sitting alone in the backyard, staring blankly into space. Sometimes, I would try to approach him to offer some comfort, but he would shout at me to leave. I never blamed him for his harshness, for I knew he was constantly tormenting himself, blaming his own misfortune for our family's suffering. His mood was simply wretched, and the air in our home felt thick with his unspoken regret and sorrow.

Our family's life became even more destitute. We went from having three meals a day to only two, and the food became increasingly sparse. We children were constantly hungry, and it goes without saying that our parents were even worse off. The gnawing hunger in my stomach became a constant companion, a reminder of the fragility of our existence in those dark, lean years.

A Chance Encounter with Kindness

Fortunately, when I was eleven, I met a kind-hearted man named Master Guo. One day, I was walking alone in the street, secretly hoping to find some work, though I had no idea what a child like me could do. As I wandered about, I suddenly saw an elderly blind woman fall by the roadside. I rushed over to help her up and checked to see if she was injured. The old woman was deeply grateful and continued on her way, tapping her cane against the ground. That small act of kindness felt like a flicker of light in my otherwise grey world.

After watching her leave, I turned around, feeling lonely and dejected, preparing to walk home. Suddenly, someone called out to me: 'Child!' I turned and recognised Master Guo. I ran over to him and said, 'Greetings, Master Guo!' He smiled and said, 'You are a kind and good child. I saw what you did for that old lady just now. But when you turned away, your expression was so helpless and downcast. Why?' Since he asked, I told him everything about my family's situation, my voice trembling with the weight of our struggles.

The Master's Grace

After listening, Master Guo smiled and said, 'You were right to meet me today! Come and work at my estate. If your father is looking for work, I have tasks he can manage as well. He is welcome to come!' I could hardly believe my ears. I asked him, smiling, 'Am I dreaming?' Master Guo laughed heartily and replied, 'You can pinch my hand! If I cry out in pain, then you know you are not dreaming!' I laughed, 'I would never dare to pinch your hand! Thank you so much for your help!'

When I returned home, I immediately reported the good news to my parents. However, their reaction left me feeling somewhat disappointed. My father, in particular, felt it was inappropriate and that we were being a burden to Master Guo. He felt too embarrassed to accept. I could only do as my parents said; I had no say in the matter. Feeling dejected, I went to my room, wondering how I would tell Master Guo the next day. Just then, there was a knock at the door. I opened it and was shocked to see Master Guo himself. He smiled at me, gestured for me to say nothing, and walked inside. I followed him as he introduced himself to my parents. My mother, embarrassed, quickly wiped off a chair with her sleeve for him to sit. My father asked, 'Master, why have you come to our humble home? We have nothing to offer you; I am truly ashamed.' Master Guo smiled kindly and said, 'The child must have told you everything! There is no need to refuse. I knew you would, so I came myself. Even the child did not know I was coming.' When my father still looked hesitant, Master Guo added, 'Are you not going to give me some face?' My father immediately replied, 'I would not dare!'

The Fall of the House of Guo

I was overjoyed. My father agreed to let me work for Master Guo, though he did not join me himself. That was fine; I worked two shifts, doing my father's share as well, so he could rest at home. Every day, I worked from dawn until long after midnight, giving myself only a moment to rest. I knew that only through hard work could I spare my parents from worrying about money. My efforts did not go unnoticed by Master Guo, who was deeply moved and eventually gave me a raise, making our lives much easier. I was filled with gratitude for his immense Generosity.

Master Guo was truly a wonderful man. He helped not only me but many other poor children in the town, giving us all work at his estate. However, he was elderly, and when I was twenty, he passed away. After his death, his only son took over the estate. The young master had a terrible temperament and a violent temper, often causing trouble. While Master Guo was alive, he kept his son in check, but once he was gone, the young master became lawless, fearing nothing and committing all sorts of evil deeds. I was the same age as the young master. Because Master Guo had him late in life, we had grown up together in the Guo estate for nine years, and I knew him very well. I tried to counsel him not to do things that would sadden his father's memory, but he would not listen and continued to do whatever he wanted. Eventually, he committed a grave crime and was thrown into prison for five years.

Leading Through Dharma

During those five years, I managed the entire Guo household, ensuring that all the servants continued their work without a moment's slack, as a way to repay Master Guo's kindness. Furthermore, I visited the young master in prison every single day without fail. I did not just bring him food; I slowly began to guide him toward change. My method was to introduce him to the Buddha's teachings.

I had not known the Dharma before, but in order to help the young master, I encountered it through a series of Causal Conditions. With nothing to do in prison, I would sit there and teach him. At first, he would not listen, but as he began to experience suffering, he became willing to hear what I had to share. Eventually, he became deeply interested. Within a year and a half, he began to chant the Buddha-name, holding the prayer beads I had given him and turning them every day. It was a slow, arduous process of repenting and learning, but his heart began to soften.

A Transformation

When the young master was released after five years, he was a completely different person. His appearance had become dignified, and he radiated a vibrant energy that shocked everyone. A neighbour asked me, 'Are you sure the young master was in prison for five years? He looks as if he has been practicing in some deep mountain retreat!' Their astonishment and praise gave the young master great confidence, and he resolved to enter the Buddha’s gate. I fulfilled his wish, taking over the management of the home Master Guo had protected his whole life. Aside from the estate, I used all the assets I could manage to make offerings in the young master's name to various places.

I have no regrets in this life, for I did not betray the kindness of Master Guo. In truth, I had a wish to become a monk, but I could never forget the mountain-high debt of gratitude I owed Master Guo. Thus, I chose to remain at the Guo estate, spending my days in the Buddha hall, striking the wooden fish, chanting sutras, and chanting the Buddha-name. It was a life of quiet devotion, a way to keep my heart focused on the path of Goodness.

From the Wooden Fish to the Hells

After I died, my spirit resided within that wooden fish in the Guo estate's Buddha hall. Later, the fish was given to a friend of mine—the very person who had introduced me to chanting. He struck the wooden fish every day. After one year of his chanting, my spirit was finally released from the fish. Upon my release, I was immediately taken by two hell officials before King Yama. I repented for the boundless sins I had committed in my past, which I had no chance to repay in that lifetime, waiting to settle them in the next.

King Yama later assigned me to serve as a prison guard in the hells. Seeing the immense suffering of the prisoners, I felt profound compassion and constantly counseled them to chant the Buddha-name. Later, the sound of Practitioner Su's Dharma talks began to echo through the hells. I was astonished to hear them, and it was then that I began to learn about Practitioner Su in the human world. The sound of those teachings was like a cool breeze in a furnace, offering a glimmer of hope to those of us trapped in such misery.

Deliverance to the West

Practitioner Su's Dharma Body frequently came to the hells to perform Chao Du. I constantly urged the prisoners to repent and chant the Buddha-name for liberation. They listened to my words, and even in their deepest agony, they did not forget to chant or repent. They showed their sincerity, and when Practitioner Su's Dharma Body performed the deliverance, they followed the Buddha-light and departed. It was a sight of such immense dignity and grace that it remains etched in my spirit forever.

I was honoured to be placed on the list to be guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, we have truly arrived. We are infinitely grateful to Practitioner Su for giving us, these prison guards, such a precious opportunity—one that could not be bought with a thousand prayers. It is an incomparable honour. We kneel and bow in gratitude, our hearts finally at peace in the light of Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo.

Liu Shuiqing bows in reverence."