The Prison Guard's Revelation: Wealth and the Path to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Hou Zhengxin, who served as a prison guard in the underworld before seeking deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his experiences in the cycle of rebirth and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa-Xi, on January 28, 2024.

Hou Zhengxin speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Hou Zhengxin. I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for granting us this precious opportunity today, which has allowed us to finally be saved from the cycle of rebirth. Samsara is truly an exhausting and arduous journey; so many sentient beings remain lost and deluded to this very day. Countless people spend their entire lives chasing after gold, silver, and worldly treasures, never realising that in the end, everything is nothing left. Everything is illusory; nothing is truly real, for when the final moment of life arrives, one cannot take a single thing with them.

I am filled with gratitude for the compassion of Practitioner Su, who has helped us attain liberation today and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is an incredibly rare and precious opportunity, and we all know that we must grasp it with our whole hearts. On behalf of all the prison guards, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

The Hollow Pursuit of Greed

"In the past, I too was lost, wandering aimlessly within the Five Desires and the Six Dusts. For the sake of money, fame, and personal gain, I sacrificed my true self. At that time, even though I possessed great wealth and all the status I had ever desired, my heart remained empty and unhappy. I was never satisfied with what I had; instead, I was constantly tormented by the craving for what I did not yet possess. I was suffering deeply, and even though I was acutely aware of that suffering, I found myself trapped, unable to find a way out.

In that lifetime, I spent my days in a frantic, endless pursuit. It followed me like a shadow, and I could find no liberation. Finally, the curtain fell on that life, and I was transformed into a gold ingot—the very symbol of the wealth I had chased so relentlessly. My body shimmered and glowed with a brilliant golden light, yet inside that golden shell, I felt no sense of richness at all. My heart was as cold and lifeless as the metal of the ingot itself."

A Witness to Human Delusion

"For countless ages, I drifted through the world of gold ingots, witnessing the frantic, feverish pursuit of wealth by those still living. In their eyes, there was only the cold glint of money; they disregarded everything else, chasing after these illusory treasures with reckless abandon. I saw the ugly face of greed, the endless running, and the desperate struggles of humanity.

One day, while resting in a vault, I overheard a conversation between two merchants. One merchant said, with an air of smug triumph, 'Look at this bag of gold! It is enough for me to hold the world in my hands, to possess endless power and prestige.' Another merchant retorted with disdain, 'But is this not just a fleeting pleasure?' The first merchant replied, clearly annoyed, 'Fleeting? This 'fleeting' moment is enough for me to enjoy a lifetime of luxury. Who cares about the future?' Watching them, a sense of alarm began to grow within me. I realised that this was the true face of humanity—ignoring the present moment just to chase after the phantom of wealth.

Another day, in a teahouse, I heard a group of young people talking. One youth declared, 'We must strive with all our might to earn money so that we can have a better life.' Another young man asked, with a hint of doubt, 'But does this kind of struggle cause us to lose the true meaning of life?' The first youth scoffed, 'What do you know? How can you live a good life without money?' I felt their obsession with money, as if they had completely forgotten the very essence of life itself."

The Wisdom of Letting Go

"Trapped in the form of a gold ingot, I spent a vast amount of time witnessing such scenes over and over again. People rushed about, busy and exhausted for the sake of money, only to lose themselves in the process. I began to wonder: is this wealth a blessing, or is it a curse?

One day, a wise person came before the vault and stared at my shimmering body. The wise person smiled and asked, 'You are a spirit from the human world, bound by the chains of wealth. But have you ever considered whether this process of chasing wealth has caused you to lose the richness of your own heart?' My heart stirred, but I remained silent. Perhaps wealth is not the sole meaning of life, but rather a process of losing one's true self.

As I pondered this deeply, a wind blew, and I felt my golden light begin to fade. Perhaps I finally understood: true wealth does not lie in external money, but in the peace and contentment of the heart. Thus, I decided to let go of the pursuit of wealth and allow my spirit to find liberation. That moment of clarity in a past life changed my perspective on existence, and I resolved never again to chase the vanity of riches. Due to a karmic connection from many lifetimes ago, the opportunity to be reborn in the human world did manifest, and I finally left the constraints of that space."

A New Life and the Path of Service

"When I was reborn into the human world, my name was Hou Zhengxin. I knew deeply that I should no longer be troubled by wealth, but instead, I should seek the true meaning of life and help those in need. In this life, I let go of my attachment to riches and did my utmost to share what I had with those who were suffering. I hoped to help more people live a better life while helping them realise the true meaning of existence, transcending this illusory world.

Throughout my journey, I encountered many people, some of whom were trapped in the whirlpool of greedy pursuit. I, too, had once felt the temptation of money, but I had already seen through its illusions. One day, I met a merchant who asked me curiously, 'Brother Hou, why do you not chase after money?' I smiled and replied, 'Money is important, but the true meaning of life does not lie in the accumulation of wealth. The pursuits of this world often lead us far away from the essence of life.' The merchant looked at me, puzzled, and said, 'You have wealth, but do you not want to enjoy a life of luxury?' I looked quietly into the distance, took a deep breath, and said, 'Luxury may bring temporary pleasure, but true happiness comes from helping others and sharing compassion and care.' The merchant looked at me in surprise, seemingly deep in thought. I continued on my path, seeking the Truth, hoping to bring a glimmer of warmth and hope to this world.

Until the very end of my life, I did everything in my power to help others. On the day I passed away, I had no regrets; I knew I was heading toward a brand-new future."

The Final Deliverance

"After I passed away, I arrived in the underworld. The King of Hell gave me an opportunity to serve sentient beings, which I gladly accepted, feeling deep gratitude for his arrangement. During the years I served in the halls of the underworld, I witnessed the life experiences of many people, all of which made me even more aware of the importance of liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

When I first heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the underworld, my heart was deeply moved. I knew in my heart that this was the Truth, and I knew this was my only chance for liberation. I began to practise with diligent practice, listening repeatedly to the Dharma talks of Practitioner Su, carefully taking every precious teaching to heart. I cherished this rare opportunity immensely.

Finally, today, I am fortunate enough to have received this opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I truly cherish it, and I have made a vow to help more sentient beings in the future. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Hou Zhengxin, with palms joined in prayer.