The Redemption of Lin Zixuan: From Hell to the Western Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Lin Zixuan, 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 subsequent experiences in the spirit realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on October 22, 2021.

Lin Zixuan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I gaze up at the sky with a gentle smile. The sky I see now is filled with golden light, for I have truly arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is a world of birdsong and fragrant flowers, and the smile on my face has not faded since I arrived. I can hardly believe that I am to live in this magnificent world. I walked to the edge of the lotus pond and saw lotuses of every colour. As I wondered what colour my own lotus might be, the thought had barely formed in my mind when it appeared before me—a beautiful, budding lotus of deep, radiant purple-gold. I looked at the lotus, and my eyes crinkled with joy.

A World of Boundless Ease

I wanted to see the other beings in this world. As soon as the thought arose, I saw many people walking through the sky, while others sat directly in the trees, playing with the birds. Everything here appears so beautiful and harmonious.

Before my rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I had the Causal Conditions to first enter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I listened to Practitioner Su give Dharma talks for a week. Every principle she spoke of touched my heart; they were truths I had never heard before. Now, Practitioner Su has even led us sixty prison officials to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am truly grateful. I kneel and bow in prostration, my gratitude beyond words.

The Weight of Expectations

I am Lin Zixuan, a native of Hubei. The Lin family was a prominent clan in those days. Although my family was involved in business, we were well-acquainted with government officials. As soon as I was old enough to understand, my father told me, 'Xuan’er, you must become an official. Only by becoming an official will you avoid being looked down upon by others.' I did not understand it as a child, but I knew this was my father’s expectation for me.

When I was five, my father gave me my own study, filled with books he wanted me to read, along with fine calligraphy supplies. He asked me to practise writing characters. To monitor my progress, he hired a steward to oversee my studies. From a young age, I held the brush and practised stroke by stroke. At first, I felt restless and agitated. Seeing other children playing in the courtyard while I had to sit at my desk writing felt stifling. Perhaps my father sensed my feelings, for he would occasionally let me out to get some air. When I played with the other children, they laughed at me, calling me a 'bookworm' because I was not physically active and my speech was stiff. At first, my heart was hurt, but as time passed, I became accustomed to it.

A Mother’s Silent Sorrow

My mother was not favoured by my father, and he rarely allowed me to see her. The last time I had seen her was a year ago. She had instructed me to study hard so that I could succeed in the future and make her proud. As a young child, I could not see a single smile on my mother’s face, yet I felt her deep sorrow in my heart. Carrying the expectations of both my father and mother, I studied as diligently as I could. My level of focus was such that even the tutor who taught me praised my efforts.

By the age of sixteen, I could exchange poetry with my tutor with ease, and my father was very satisfied.

Seeking Answers in a Changing World

One morning, I stepped outside, feeling a desire to walk alone. The streets were bustling, a stark contrast to my own state of mind. At first, the noise of the street made me feel restless, but I soon returned to a state of calm. I observed that this world was very different from my daily life. Every person on the street had a different expression, a different appearance, and different thoughts. Everyone was striving for a living, just as I was striving for my future. As my parents said, the future of an official was bright, but what of the futures of others? Many questions, unlike those found in my books, surfaced before my eyes.

After returning home that evening, I began to ponder deeply in my study. The scenes I had witnessed today were clear in my mind. I hoped to find an answer that would satisfy me. Where, after all, was the answer? This was the question I kept asking myself. I knew those around me could not provide the solution, so I began to search for the answer on my own. When I thought this way, my heart felt less constrained than before. I knew that one day, I would find the answer.

Before finding the answer, I continued to follow the path my family had arranged for me. I continued to study, but the books I read were merely read; they did not take root in my heart. The void in my heart was the need to find a goal in life. I believed that if a person lived their whole life following the steps arranged by others, they would eventually lose themselves and forget who they were. I did not want to do that. This became my personal motto: I must find my own goal.

The Influence of Foreign Cultures

At twenty-five, I successfully obtained an official position. My father was proud of me, but my heart remained calm. I had been searching for several years, yet I had not found the direction I wanted to follow.

Then came the great upheaval in China. Foreigners arrived and carved out territories for themselves. As a member of the newer generation of Chinese officials, I was tasked with coordinating with them. During the negotiations, they were extremely overbearing and often unwilling to compromise. From their words, I knew they also wanted to introduce their culture to achieve cultural integration. Unable to stop them, they implemented educational reforms in the occupied areas to brainwash the people, and they introduced their faith, Christianity, by inviting pastors to preach.

Through observation and attempts to intervene, I eventually chose to integrate, believing that only by integrating could I act as a mediator. I began to learn their language and culture, had contact with foreign officials, and tried to understand their faith. I discovered many differences. The foreign approach was more liberal, and I found myself agreeing with some of the concepts in the Christian Bible. On holidays, I would accompany the pastor to help people, guiding those who were suffering in their hearts toward correct perspectives. When I did this, my heart was filled with joy—it was far better than being an official, where I had to watch others' expressions and act with extreme caution.

A Life-Changing Decision

The pastor invited me to visit his homeland. We boarded a ship and travelled for several months before finally arriving. The place seemed very peaceful.

Along the way, I talked a lot with the pastor, asking him why he chose to be a pastor and how he viewed the future of life. The pastor answered me one by one. He told me that being a pastor was a job filled with ideals: wherever help was needed, one went. He did not accept money for his work, nor did he seek reward; what he gained was true peace of mind. Although he often faced economic difficulties, he kept his desires to a minimum, so he did not mind.

Listening to the pastor, I was moved. I believed he was someone truly willing to give for others. I silently made a decision in my heart. This decision would be a major life transformation, but I wanted to try it.

On the journey back to China, I did not say much, for I was constantly examining and reflecting on my life.

The Final Break

After stepping back onto Chinese soil, I returned home to visit my father. I told him I was about to make a major change in my life. Taking a deep breath, I told him that I had decided to resign from my official position to become a pastor. I wanted to help people walk out of their life’s dilemmas and serve as their spiritual companion. I did not want my life to be that of a 'smiling man' who was not authentic inside. The life of the officialdom and the collusion of interests left me feeling disappointed.

The more my father heard, the redder his face became. Finally, he slammed the table and said, 'I will not listen to your nonsense! I want you to be a proper official. Have you been brainwashed by the foreigners? Becoming a pastor—you are betraying the Chinese people!' My father’s words were filled with disapproval, leaving no room for discussion. I knew he would never accept my decision. I kowtowed three times—three kowtows to acknowledge the grace of my upbringing. I knew I could not return. Seeing my retreating back, my father knew my decision was final. After I left, he watched me go and wept bitterly, having lost the son who had once been his pride.

Serving Others

After returning to Shanghai, I resigned from my official position and followed the pastor to learn. I took the silver I had saved from my time as an official and used it to help people everywhere. I spread the concepts of Christianity, hoping that in those chaotic times, people could find a sense of stability in their hearts. The pastor and I established a small church in Shanghai, allowing foreigners in the area to come and pray, easing their homesickness. A small number of Chinese people were also willing to accept Christianity and come to the church.

Besides my work in China, I also accompanied the pastor to preach in various places. Although the time spent in each region varied and my life and residence were unstable, I felt at peace whenever I saw the joyful smiles of those we helped.

In the pastor’s homeland, we also established a school to teach children correct moral values.

There, I met a foreign girl who was very supportive of our work. She managed all aspects of our daily lives, and in the process, we developed feelings for each other and eventually married.

In that era, both my decision to be a pastor and my decision to marry a foreign wife were considered unconventional.

I once considered bringing my wife home, but thinking that my father might be distressed and unable to accept it, I chose to give up.

The Transition to the Spirit Realm

After the age of forty, I chose to settle down in my wife’s homeland, working as a teacher in a seminary. Every day, my heart was very peaceful.

At forty-three, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart and departed from this world, leaving my family behind. In truth, I was not fully prepared to leave, but life is arranged this way, and there was nothing more I could say.

After death, I entered the ghost realm, where I continued to preach Christianity. After five hundred years, the King of Hell summoned me. He said that I was a person who harboured goodness in my heart, so he granted me the position of a prison official, making me a civil official. The documents in hell are countless, as every action of every person in the human world at every moment must be recorded clearly. The documents must be organised so that when a human life ends, they can be used for judgment.

During the process of organising these records, I gained a profound realisation. I understood that every little thing is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect, including our thoughts.

Deliverance by Practitioner Su

In hell, one can often see the light of salvation. It is Practitioner Su coming to perform Chao Du. I was astonished; I never imagined that someone could help the sentient beings in hell who had created so much karma. I began to listen to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, exploring every word and sentence. Indeed, she was addressing the very problems of our human bodies. Furthermore, Practitioner Su mentioned the destination of our spirits. When I was a human, I might not have believed that spirits were scattered everywhere, nor did I understand the concept of karma. But now, having seen it with my own eyes in hell, I know that truly changing your ways and following the Buddha is the only true destination for the spirit.

I am grateful to Practitioner Su for letting me know these truths. Through my sincere efforts, the King of Hell nominated me for the hope of rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am deeply thankful, and today, along with fifty-nine other prison officials, I am heading to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The golden light shines upon us. I am grateful for the guidance of Practitioner Su; now, Zixuan feels that I have been reborn. I speak of the inconceivable nature of the Buddha’s teachings here, hoping that more people will believe in the Buddha, know to do Good, and attain liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

I am grateful to the Buddha and Practitioner Su. The Dharma assembly is still ongoing, and I hope more spirits can be saved. Thank you.

Lin Zixuan"