The Redemption of a Prison Guard: The Story of Lin Ming-an

This is a record of an interview with Lin Ming-an, who sought Chao Du 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 his time serving as a prison guard in the hells. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on December 2, 2022.

Lin Ming-an speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I cherish this present moment deeply. Along with fifty-nine other prison guards and countless other spirits, I have arrived at the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The moment I reached this place, I was completely stunned by the profound stillness. Namo Amituofo radiates golden light, and here, there is none of the clamour of the human world. It is a place of perfect harmony and equality; I am truly moved by this magnetic field. In the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have witnessed the eternity of the spirit. This is truly the final destination for all spirits. The Buddha is so great, so compassionate toward all sentient beings. I am also deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for leading us here."

A Childhood of Cruelty

"I am Lin Ming-an, from Shanxi, China. My family made a living by raising dogs. We kept various types—some were purebreds for breeding, and others were mixed breeds. They were kept in different areas, each serving a different purpose. The purebreds were sold as pets, while the mixed breeds were sold to shops to be consumed as dog meat.

Our business was very successful. The purebreds fetched high prices due to their lineage, and since there was a high demand for dog meat, the mixed breeds sold well too. Because of this, our family was quite well-off. My parents were busy every day managing the business and caring for the dogs, and we even hired several workers to help.

During meals, my parents would tell me that I would inherit this business one day. They said that while I might not become wealthy, I would never go hungry. When they spoke these words, their eyes were filled with greed. Because of this, from the age of eight, whenever we were short-handed, I was expected to take over. I cared for both the purebreds and the mixed breeds.

My parents fed the purebreds better because they were investments, while the mixed breeds were given just enough to survive. In my eyes, there was no difference between the dogs I cared for. But every time I thought about how the mixed breeds would soon lose their lives, my heart would ache, and I often shed tears. I felt it was too cruel. They had done nothing wrong; why should they be treated this way?"

The Act of Compassion

"When I was eleven, I passed by my parents' room one day and heard my mother excitedly telling my father that someone wanted to buy fifteen mixed-breed dogs in one go. The buyer promised that if the quality was good, there would be more large orders in the future. My mother was thrilled, and my father’s eyes lit up. I, however, was heartbroken. Back in my room, I thought, 'I wonder when these poor dogs will be taken away.' Lying in bed, the more I thought about it, the more restless I became. Finally, I made a decision. In the middle of the night, I snuck to the cages, let all the dogs out, and drove them to a place some distance from our home before returning, drenched in sweat.

The next morning, my parents discovered the dogs were gone and were frantic. My mother sat on the ground, wailing, 'What are we going to do? The money is gone! How will we survive? The big deal is ruined, how can I explain this?' Seeing my mother crying so bitterly, my father sat nearby with a blank stare. I stepped forward and admitted that I had let them go. My parents were shocked and furious. My mother, unable to contain her rage, grabbed a bamboo stick and beat me repeatedly. Finally, she packed my clothes and told me to leave and never return. My father tried to stop her, but she was like a madwoman, driving me out.

I picked up my clothes and walked away. My father wanted to pull me back, but my mother stopped him. Leaving home, I had no idea where to go."

A New Beginning

"After walking for several days without food, I collapsed by the roadside. When I woke up, a kind farmer had taken me in. He asked where I lived and offered to take me home. I told him what had happened, and he said I had a kind heart for saving so many lives. He asked, 'If you are willing, stay and help me farm. It is hard work.' I nodded immediately and said, 'I am not afraid of hardship.'

Watching the rice and vegetables grow in the fields every day, so full of vitality, my heart became much happier. I no longer had to worry every day about which dog would soon lose its life. I am very grateful to that farmer; he brought peace to my heart. He had two sons who were very filial, and I became like a brother to them.

Life was stable, but often I would hear the sound of dogs barking in my ears. When I turned to look, the fields were empty; there was not a single dog in sight. When I mentioned this to the farmer, he told me, 'These sounds are likely the spirits of the dogs that were harmed in the past. If you find the opportunity, help them.' I nodded."

The Karmic Truth

"On the night of my sixteenth birthday, I dreamt of my parents. It was the first time I had dreamt of them since leaving home. In the dream, I saw them transformed into dogs. A knife was held to my mother's throat, and my father was waiting to be slaughtered. I felt deeply saddened, as if I had hit rock bottom, because I knew that what I saw was real—they would truly face this fate. After waking up, I was in a terrible state because I had no power to help them, and I knew this was the retribution they had to face.

From then on, I constantly searched for ways to resolve this for them. Every night, I knelt in my room and prayed for guidance. I repented, and I repented on behalf of my parents. Eventually, I found a temple. Upon entering, I felt a profound sense of peace. From that day on, I visited the temple frequently.

When I learned that the temple was holding a Dharma assembly for deliverance, I arranged for the deliverance of the dog spirits connected to me and my parents, as well as for my parents' karmic creditors. I knew my parents had no affinity with the Buddha's teachings in this lifetime, so the best I could do was to perform these deliverances and allow the harmed spirits to leave suffering behind. Every time I participated in the deliverance, I was sincere, truly hoping they could leave suffering behind.

Through the Buddha's teachings, I learned the concept of equality among all sentient beings. I understood that the six realms of rebirth are all results of one's own karma, and that being born as a dog has its own Causal Conditions. Knowing that the laws of karma and cause and effect involve endless cycles of retaliation, I felt sad. I cherished my rare human body even more, hoping to repay what I owed to my karmic creditors. Therefore, I served at the temple with great diligence, never complaining. I was willing to do whatever others would not, because no matter how much I did, it would never be enough to repay the sentient beings."

From Death to Deliverance

"Seeing the suffering of the people coming and going at the temple, I sincerely wished to help them. At twenty-six, I decided to shave my head and become a monk. I chanted Namo Amituofo every day, hoping that every Buddha-name I recited would allow the connected sentient beings to hear it and be reborn in a better state. I was very diligent every day until I reached forty, when I developed a chronic cough.

My life was not long. At forty-two, during a violent coughing fit, I coughed up blood. My breathing grew weaker and weaker until I finally passed away. After my breath ceased, I travelled through a long, dark path until I met King Yama. Upon seeing him, I immediately knelt to await his judgment. King Yama revealed the scenes of my past life in the human world. In a previous life, I was an animal in the forest, about to be hunted, when a group of monkeys helped me escape. That group of monkeys was later reincarnated as the dogs I helped escape in this life. My parents had been harmed by this group of dogs in a past life, which is why they came to seek revenge in this one. The Causal Conditions were complex and deeply intertwined.

King Yama said that because I had a kind heart in this life and truly repented for the karma I had created, I was able to experience a 'heavy karma with light retribution.' Otherwise, I should have suffered the agony of being dismembered before death. I felt immense gratitude. After the judgment, King Yama gave me the opportunity to serve as a prison guard. In the hells, I saw the suffering sentient beings and felt deep compassion, truly hoping they would have the chance to be liberated.

Finally, while in the hells, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. I knew it was the Truth. After adjusting my heart bit by bit, I hoped for the chance to go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I finally waited for this moment. Along with the other fifty-nine prison guards, I received the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I am grateful for Practitioner Su's guidance. The supreme beauty of the Western Land is right before my eyes. I hope everyone can go there, seek liberation, and escape the cycle of rebirth. Gratitude to the Buddha."

"Lin Ming-an, with palms joined in reverence."