The Redemption of Zhuang Zhengyang: From Hell to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Zhuang Zhengyang, who sought Spiritual 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 subsequent spiritual journey through the realms of samsara. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 14, 2023.

Zhuang Zhengyang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today is a truly magnificent and solemn day. I can hear the beautiful, resonant sound of the Buddha-name chanting. Practitioner Su took the hands of us sixty prison guards, and in an instant, a brilliant light shone forth. We had arrived at the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It has been such a long time since I felt such profound beauty. In this realm, my heart is filled with gratitude; I am so relieved that this is not merely a dream.

Since arriving in the Western Pure Land, my heart has felt a sense of peace that I have not known for an eternity."

A Life of Resentment and Darkness

"I am Zhuang Zhengyang. Looking back at my past, I am filled with deep repentance. I was, quite simply, an evil person, and because of that, I suffered the retribution of being reborn as an earthworm.

When I was a human, I was a rebellious child with a volatile temper. When I lived with my grandmother, I felt so much resentment. I wondered why other children had parents to care for them while I did not. When they wanted something, they could just ask their parents, but I felt too shy to ask my grandmother. I kept everything bottled up inside, and time after time, my resentment grew. My character became twisted, and because of this, I was bullied at school. Both my body and mind were deeply wounded. From that moment on, a void opened up in my heart.

Eventually, my parents finished their work away from home, and our family was reunited. But by then, I had no affection left for them; there was only hatred. They could not understand why my tone was always so harsh whenever I spoke to them.

I could not explain to them why I had become this way. By that time, even if they had given me all the material wealth in the world, it could not have healed the wounds in my heart."

The Unthinkable Act

"With my explosive temper, after one final disagreement regarding their discipline, I flew into a rage, grabbed a knife, and killed my parents. I was still young, and I was thrown into prison. Many people cursed me, but I felt nothing. I did not feel a shred of regret or repentance.

Because I was a minor, I was not sentenced to death. After serving twenty years, I was released, only to become one of those despised outcasts in the corners of society. Just when I had finally managed to find a job, I got into an argument with a customer and was beaten to death.

After death, I descended into the hells. Because of the heinous crime of killing my own parents, and because of my own violent nature, I suffered through the Hell of Intestinal Piercing, the Hell of the Mountain of Knives, and the Hell of Crushing. Every hell caused me to wail in agony, but my wailing was only because the spirit was suffering so intensely—my character had not truly changed. After suffering through one hell after another, because I did not know how to repent, I was reborn as an earthworm. I spent my time burrowing and crawling through the soil. I had no eyes, no mouth, and no ears; I relied only on touch. While burrowing, my body would often hit hard stones and be injured. When I crawled to the surface, I would sometimes be washed away by heavy rain, or I would be snatched up and eaten by a bird.

Many times, my body was severed into several pieces. Although I could regenerate, the process was incredibly painful—it was a form of torture. My body was that of an earthworm, but my soul felt as if it were locked in a darkness from which I could never escape."

A Turning Point in the Soil

"Through suffering again and again, my nature was no longer as rigid as it once was. Each time I died and was reborn, I waited in silence. When my state of mind finally shifted, I found myself on a vast piece of land. The magnetic field of this land was incredibly peaceful. As I crawled across it, I felt a sense of calm that I had never experienced while living as an earthworm.

This peaceful land allowed me to settle down, and because of this, my spirit began to clear. Although I did not know why I had become an earthworm, I knew that I had committed heinous acts, and in my heart, I wanted to make amends for what I had done in the past.

I began to use my heart to feel this peaceful land. I wondered why this land was so different from all others. I saw the farmers who came to cultivate it. Although they did not smile, their hearts were exceptionally bright and open. I was puzzled as to how they could be like that. I listened to the farmers discussing how the crops from this land were intended for an old-age home to the east, another section for people with disabilities, and another for orphans. The farmers were chanting as they worked, telling the plants to grow quickly and beautifully so they could go and do good deeds. The farmers were so happy, and I was deeply moved. I thought to myself, 'These farmers are so dedicated to helping others; is there anything I can do?'"

The Sacrifice of a Small Being

"While I did not yet know how I could help, I continued to observe. One day, I felt a massive swarm of insects entering the soil, and the magnetic field of the entire land changed instantly. Before I could understand what was happening, I heard the farmers who were patrolling the fields shouting, 'What do we do? The locusts are here! The locusts are here!' The farmers paced back and forth, their hearts filled with worry. To provide everyone with the freshest, most natural vegetables, this land had not been sprayed with a single drop of pesticide. The harvest was almost ready, and they never expected to encounter the dreaded locust plague.

I looked at these locusts—there were so many of them—and I saw how nervous the farmers were. Without thinking too much, I used my own strength to counsel these locusts. When they would not listen, I begged them, pleading with them to withdraw and not harm this land. I used all the sincerity in my heart, hoping they would help, but they were incredibly fierce, like an army of soldiers. In the end, I was attacked by them and torn to pieces.

After that painful death, I arrived before the Yama King. The Yama King told me, 'It is you who suffers from evil thoughts, and it is you who turns things around through good thoughts. In the past, you suffered retribution because of your evil thoughts; now, because of a single moment of goodness in wanting to help others, you can be released from your retributive body.' After the Yama King finished speaking, I finally understood that the difference between a good thought and an evil thought is so vast. Because of that single good thought, the compassionate Yama King allowed me to serve as a prison guard, giving me the opportunity to serve the masses. My heart was filled with gratitude.

While serving as a prison guard, I saw so many children suffering retribution because of their personalities, and creating karma because of their selfishness, just like I did when I committed crimes in the past. They did not know how to repent. My heart ached for them, and I tried my best to counsel them, but many of the young people remained incredibly stubborn and insistent on their ways.

In the hells, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. I deeply hoped that these suffering hell-beings could be liberated and receive teachings. After listening to the sutras, I understood the suffering of this world and longed for liberation. Today, I have finally received the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I kneel in gratitude for the Buddha's compassion.

Now, I stand upon a lotus in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The sound of the Namo Amituofo Buddha-name is circulating throughout my entire being; it is incredibly pure. I am grateful to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su.

Zhuang Zhengyang"