The Redemption of a Prison Guard

This is a record of an interview with Li Wencai, who sought 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 life and the long journey of his spirit through the cycles of rebirth. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on July 29, 2022.

Li Wencai speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Before I assumed the identity of Li Wencai, I was a worm. When I finally obtained this human body, I cherished it with every fibre of my being. For reasons I cannot explain, the memories of my time as a worm remained, lingering in the back of my mind like a dark, persistent fog. I still carried the habits and preferences of that insect life, which made me seem strange and eccentric to those around me. Yet, I managed to live out that life, and now, as I stand upon a lotus in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I am overcome with gratitude. Since arriving here, my spirit has been profoundly purified. I can truly feel the magnificence of this Buddha-land. I am so deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for delivering me, along with fifty-nine other prison guards, to this place of ultimate peace. I bow in humble reverence."

A Childhood Bound to the Mountains

"I am Li Wencai, born in Sichuan. From a very young age, my body felt unusually supple and sensitive. While other children were busy playing games, I felt an irresistible pull toward the mountains. The moment I stepped into the forest, a profound sense of calm would wash over me. Touching the leaves, feeling the rough bark of the trees—it felt like returning to a place I had known for lifetimes. It was a homecoming of the soul.

I remember one day, I walked naturally toward a withered tree branch and squatted down. Even though the branch was dead, the magnetic field it radiated was steady and calm. I touched it and could not help but smile. It was as if the tree and I shared a secret language, a silent understanding that transcended the boundaries of the living and the dead."

The Accident and the Awakening

"One day, I ventured deeper into the mountains. It had rained heavily the previous days, and the paths were treacherous and slick. As I walked, I lost my footing and tumbled down a slope, landing hard. I was covered in wounds, yet, strangely, there was no fear in my heart. I simply sat there, waiting. An intuition told me that help would come. I trusted the silence of the mountain.

A day later, the town mayor led a search party into the woods. When I heard their voices calling out, I shouted, 'I am here!' The incident terrified my family, who had been frantic with worry. After that, my mother forbade me from returning to the mountains. I spent months trapped at home, feeling suffocated and restless. I begged her to let me go, telling her I would wither away if I stayed indoors. She was terrified of losing her son, but I had a sudden inspiration. I told her, 'Mother, a fortune teller once said I would live to be sixty-seven. I am only eleven now; sixty-seven is a lifetime away. Life is so short—please, let me do what makes me feel alive.' She remained silent, which I took as her reluctant consent. That day, I ran back to the mountains, breathing in the air in deep, greedy gulps. My heart felt vast and open once more."

Visions of a Dark Past

"I looked up at a massive tree, and my body suddenly convulsed. A voice echoed in my mind, asking, 'Where is your brother, Adler?' I did not know where the voice came from, nor who Adler was. As I stood there, filled with confusion, a blurred image flashed before my eyes: two people dressed in strange, archaic clothing, holding small vials, as if they were conducting some kind of experiment. When I tried to focus, the image vanished.

Back home, I could not stop thinking about it. I was desperate to understand. The next day, I returned to the tree. At first, there was nothing—only the gentle breeze that made me feel drowsy. I leaned against the tree and drifted into a deep sleep. My consciousness slipped into another space. In this realm, I saw many people in those same strange clothes, all engaged in research. I watched, mesmerised and horrified. I saw a large cauldron boiling, and beside it were insects and the severed limbs of animals. The atmosphere was suffocating, filled with a heavy, malevolent energy. When I felt a wave of dizziness, everything went black, and I woke up under the tree, clutching my head. I wondered if it was just a dream, but the images were so vivid, so terrifyingly real. I touched my head and walked home, shaken to my core.

That night, I lay in bed, wondering if I would return to that vision if I slept. But the next morning, there was nothing. My curiosity was a burning fire; I had to know the truth. I returned to the tree for days, waiting. A strange feeling in my heart told me that these visions were inextricably linked to my own past."

The Horrors of the Cauldron

"After several days of waiting, just as I was about to give up, I drifted off again. My final conscious thought was that I was entering a different space. Suddenly, the large cauldron was right before me. My hands moved of their own accord, dumping insects and various remains into the pot. As I stirred the mixture, evil thoughts flooded my mind—a dark, twisted desire to use this concoction to control others. The next scene was even worse: I saw a crowd of people with dull, vacant eyes, walking like zombies. I was so terrified that I woke up screaming. My intuition told me that these people were all victims I had once harmed.

The grief was unbearable. When I returned home, I wept uncontrollably. It was a cry from the depths of my soul, as if the shattered fragments of my past were finally knitting themselves back together. I knew this memory was shameful, but I chose to face it. I knelt before the tree, praying to see clearly. Soon, the truth revealed itself. In a past life, I had studied heterodox paths and ancient, forbidden arts. I had used sorcery to control people, rendering them mindless—their souls trapped within their bodies, unable to function. The images of the harm I had caused were so horrific that I was terrified of myself. Those who had studied these dark arts with me had all gone to face their retribution. These ancient methods of control had been passed down to a few, and they still exist today, which is why some parts of Sichuan remain unsettled."

From Worm to Human

"Before that life ended, I knew I had caused immense suffering. I knelt at the foot of the tree and repented. I was then sucked into a dark, abyssal space to suffer for my crimes, and eventually, I was reborn as a worm. During my time in that dark space, I was filled with regret. The faces of those I had harmed haunted me, and I spent what felt like an eternity kneeling to them, begging for forgiveness. I do not know how much time passed before I entered the body of a black worm.

As a black worm, I lived and died in the deep mountains hundreds of times over. Sometimes I drowned in the rain; other times I was eaten by other insects. I experienced every conceivable way to die, and each death was a repayment of my karmic debt. Finally, when the debt was paid, I was reborn into the human realm as Li Wencai. Once I understood this, I knew that my life as a human had a specific purpose."

A Mission of Protection

"At fifteen, after seeing everything clearly, I left home and travelled throughout Sichuan. I discovered that many strange, harmful spells were still being used to hurt people. I did not want the tragedies of my past to repeat themselves. I retreated into the deep mountains, living in a cave, and in the stillness, I researched protective talismans to counter these dark arts. Once I succeeded, I began distributing these talismans widely. Many of the malicious spells were rendered ineffective by them. This served two purposes: it protected the safety of the civilians, and it prevented those ignorant people from creating more negative karma.

I lived in that cave, hoping to do my best to make amends for my past mistakes. During a massive rainstorm, the cave flooded. I could not escape, and my life ended at the age of forty-two. When people discovered that the protective talismans had come from me and found my body in the cave, they did not know who I was, but they erected a stone monument and worshipped me as a deity. After enjoying fifty years of incense, my soul was brought before the King of Hell. Because of my sincere repentance and my desire to make amends, the beings who had come to accuse me were not overly angry. After the judgment, the King of Hell, in his compassion, appointed me as a prison guard in the Third Hell."

The Path to the Western Pure Land

"Serving as a prison guard in hell was heavy work. Watching the sentient beings suffer for their retribution was painful, and my heart was often burdened. I hoped they would wake up and let go of their attachments, so I did my best to counsel them. Through my duties, I gained many insights. After listening to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, my heavy heart finally found release. I understood the laws of karma and cause and effect, and I longed for the day when I could be liberated from this cycle.

When I received the nomination for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I was overjoyed. How fortunate I was! After waiting for five long years, I was finally guided by Practitioner Su to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. My heart is filled with such profound gratitude. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is so magnificent, so beautiful. I am truly grateful for everything."

"Li Wencai, bowing in gratitude."

Namo Amituofo.