The Restoration of a Soul: From Prison Guard to Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Li Xiazhen, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his path to deliverance. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on April 17, 2026.

Li Xiazhen speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Xiazhen. I am now a disciple of the Buddha, and I am here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, sincerely bowing before the Buddha alongside fifty-nine other former prison guards. I am filled with such profound gratitude for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and the boundless compassion of Practitioner Su. It is entirely because of your great compassion and the power of your vows that we, as prison guards, were granted the precious opportunity, time and time again, to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

When we were still serving as prison guards, we had already heard whispers of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and its work in delivering prison guards to the Western Pure Land. Upon hearing such news, our hearts were filled with immense joy, and we lived in constant, hopeful anticipation of the day when it would finally be our turn to be reborn. In truth, many of the spirits in the Western Pure Land have long known of the existence of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su; we were well aware that there was a Buddha in the hells, actively working to save sentient beings. We envied those who were chosen, and we yearned with every fibre of our being to be placed on that list. Today, I, Li Xiazhen, have finally been granted this life-changing opportunity to report for duty here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss."

A Childhood in the American Heartland

"Let me begin by providing a brief report on my life before I became a prison guard, and share some reflections on this journey. My name is Li Xiazhen. I was born in a small town in the heart of the United States to parents who had immigrated from China. In those days, there were very few Chinese people in our small Midwestern town. During that era, Chinese immigrants—whether they were Han Chinese from the mainland or overseas Chinese from other regions—rarely settled in these small towns, which were situated so close to vast ranches and pastures. Most people aspired to develop their careers in the major metropolitan cities, or at the very least, in a reasonably sized urban area. It was quite rare for someone like me to be born in a place where one could hardly find another Chinese person or even an Asian face.

The American Midwest is defined by its vast, sprawling landscapes—endless stretches of land dedicated to raising cattle, pigs, and other livestock. The environment in these areas was not always ideal; some regions suffered from severe pollution or various food safety issues. Because these areas were dedicated to long-term animal husbandry, if the drainage systems were not properly managed, many people would fall victim to strange illnesses or accidental poisoning. In our region, we would occasionally hear of such tragic occurrences."

A Legacy of Courage and Hard Work

"My parents chose to settle in such a remote area entirely due to the arrangements made by a relative. They had heard that this relative had purchased some property there and had seen great success. My parents, lacking extensive formal education, were worried that they would not be able to establish a foothold in a large city. Thus, they followed in that relative's footsteps, coming to this place with the hope of using their own two hands to build a bright future. Looking back, it was an incredibly brave decision. They were strangers in a strange land, knowing only a few basic English words. Yet, they summoned the courage to rely on the help and support of others to finally put down roots.

By the time I was born, our family's economic situation had improved slightly. My father started with absolutely nothing, but through his own small business in the cattle industry, our finances gradually stabilised. In those days, cattle ranching was not typically a profession for Han Chinese people. Because we knew nothing about the industry, how could we possibly have managed such an enterprise? It required very specific experience. However, because my parents were honest and kind-hearted, they were fortunate enough to receive help from the local people along the way. They managed to take root, and as the years passed—one, two, three years—they gradually became accustomed to everything there. Occasionally, they would travel to a 'big city' to purchase supplies. By 'big city,' I do not mean the major metropolises on the East or West coasts, but rather the capital of our state, which was a wonderful experience for us."

The Longing for Ancestral Roots

"As a child, those trips were my favourite times. I could see the few Chinese people who were rarely encountered, speak Mandarin, and use the language I could only share with my parents. I could eat authentic Chinese food and feel the culture of my own people. For my young heart, these were incredibly special and joyful moments. Growing up in the sparsely populated American Midwest, the inner sense of loneliness was truly difficult to put into words. Apart from my two brothers, I could find almost no other Chinese children. Consequently, we grew up alongside American children of various backgrounds—white, black, and others. We lived together without distinction, which was an experience all its own.

When I grew older, I decided to head to the West Coast to pursue higher education. My grades were quite good, and thanks to my father's business, he was able to support all three of us through university. With a heart full of excitement, I entered the big city, interacting with children from urban backgrounds for the first time. I studied design, and before long, I began to specialise in interior design. At that time, this field was still quite unfamiliar and uncommon in China, whereas in the United States, it was already a booming industry. I had a thought in my heart back then: if I could master interior design, perhaps one day I could return to my parents' motherland—the land of China—to create a career of my own. My Mandarin was quite standard; my father had put a great deal of effort into ensuring I kept my Chinese roots firmly planted, which meant mastering the language. I never forgot this, and I always kept the study of my culture and language close to my heart."

The Call of Ancient Architecture

"Li Xiazhen was raised under the gentle guidance of his father, and as a result, he was someone whose character education was deeply rooted. My brothers were the same; we were taught from a young age to be kind to others, to be polite, and to remain humble and modest. These were the values my father instilled in us. Therefore, when I entered the big city, even though I faced people from all walks of life with complex personalities and backgrounds, I was always able to embrace everyone and focus on their good qualities, rather than dwelling on their shortcomings. Because of this, I was well-liked in school, and my teachers and colleagues were very kind to me. I walked through the world with a heart of gratitude, and everything I learned was with the intention of giving back to my parents' motherland. Although I grew up in the United States, I maintained a very deep connection to China, and I never forgot that I was a descendant of the Yan and Huang emperors.

Consequently, at the age of twenty-one, having graduated from university and finished my studies, I was eager to develop my career in China. At that time, China was in the midst of the Reform and Opening-up era, and many industries were flourishing. Although I did not know exactly what I could contribute to China, the opportunity arose when my parents decided to return to their homeland to visit relatives. I accompanied them back to the land of China, returning to my father's ancestral home in Anhui Province. Although I had studied interior design, I was also very interested in exterior design, and I had a basic understanding of architectural design as well. Upon returning to China, I was captivated by the many ancient, elegant buildings. I felt it was a very special culture, full of character. However, because China had experienced the Cultural Revolution, many places—especially ancient buildings—were in ruins. Some had been bombed, and others had been left in a state of chaotic disrepair by the soldiers of that time.

I felt a deep sense of pain in my heart when I saw this, and I became single-mindedly determined to dedicate my efforts to this cause. Whether it was interior or exterior architecture, I wanted to participate and build a career. Thus, I joined a local institution dedicated to the restoration of ancient relics. It was a government-affiliated agency; although it was not very large, everyone involved was wholeheartedly committed to the effort of restoring these ancient treasures. I signed up for an initiative focused on the restoration of ancient architecture, both interior and exterior. I was the only foreigner among them. Even though I was of Han Chinese descent, everyone treated me as a foreigner simply because I could speak fluent English. I felt a bit awkward, but because of my genuine interest and passion, I found the work to be incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable."

A Decade of Devotion

"For ten years, I travelled across Anhui, visiting many ancient buildings. I even ventured as far as Shandong and Beijing to participate in various restoration projects. These restoration efforts required not only immense physical strength and endurance but also tested our meticulousness and sensitivity toward ancient architecture. Through keen observation and unique restoration techniques, we ensured that these ancient relics could truly be preserved for future generations, without coating them in too much of a modern veneer. We did our utmost to present these ancient relics in their original state to the world. As the nation's tourism industry gradually developed, the government placed even greater importance on our work, hoping to restore more ancient buildings so that people from all over the world could see the ancient architecture preserved by China, thereby attracting interest and encouraging more visitors.

I devoted myself to this work with such intensity that I neglected many of the milestones one typically experiences in life. For instance, I never married, as I was too focused on the career I loved, which caused me to miss the prime years for marriage. Later on, I dismissed the thought entirely and simply continued to bury myself in my work. My parents were far away in the United States, but they would return to the motherland from time to time to visit relatives, so I was able to see them frequently during those years."

Yet, unexpectedly, I passed away in the prime of my life. People often say that those who die young are 'talented individuals taken too soon,' but I would rather not describe it that way. I simply left this human world earlier than my parents—a case of the 'white-haired person sending off the black-haired person.' This was a profound shock to them. My death was, in truth, the result of extreme exhaustion; I never allowed my body the chance to recover. Perhaps, looking back now from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I can see that my karmic creditors were at work, causing me to lose all sense of time and focus entirely on my projects. I was unaware that I was being controlled, so I kept working tirelessly, unable to stop. My body was flashing red warning lights, yet I ignored them, thinking I was still young and had plenty of time. But after I finally collapsed, the hospital examinations revealed that my days were numbered. When the news of my passing reached my parents in the United States, they were devastated, but there was no way to save my life.

A Spirit Wandering in Architecture

Consequently, after I died, I wandered through the spaces of the ancient buildings I had fought so hard to preserve. I had never done anything truly evil in my life; I was a kind-hearted person, and my thoughts were always very simple. Thus, I simply drifted through the architectural spaces to which I was so attached, not knowing how much time had passed. It felt as if I were silently guarding these structures, emitting positive signals and spreading messages of goodness. I hoped that people would appreciate these ancient buildings and find joy in their hearts, and I hoped that these structures would retain their original spiritual energy and excellent culture for the world to admire.

From Wandering Spirit to Hell Guard

I spent decades in that space, carrying these well-meaning thoughts. Then, not long ago, I saw the officials from the hells appearing within a beam of light. Although they came from the hells, the righteous energy they radiated allowed me to perceive the light of their bodies. They told me that my time wandering there had come to an end and that I should report to King Yama. I initially thought I was going to be punished, but King Yama took one look at me and decided to assign me the responsibility of a prison guard. He believed that because I was kind-hearted and willing to help others, I would be able to perform well in that role. He placed great trust in my ability to handle the task.

My days as a guard in the hells were fulfilling and satisfying. I diligently counseled the inmates to turn toward goodness. It was not until I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the hells that I truly came to know the Buddha and Namo Amituofo. Only then did I realise that learning the Dharma is such a magnificent thing.

The Path to Deliverance

After I came to know the Buddha, I continued to urge the inmates in the hells to keep Namo Amituofo in their hearts. I would shout, 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo,' hoping they could hear me and join me in chanting, thinking that perhaps they, too, might have a chance at deliverance. I worked so hard at this, hoping they would no longer have to endure such painful karmic retribution.

Holding onto this goodness, I was astonished to see my name, Li Xiazhen, on the list of those being guided to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre last week. I was even chosen as a representative to share my testimony. My heart is filled with joy, knowing this is my one and only chance to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am overflowing with gratitude toward Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.

A Vow to Return and Help

I am deeply grateful for this magnificent Causal Condition that allowed me to end my career as a prison guard and arrive at the true Buddha-land, no longer suffering in the cycle of the six realms of rebirth. Furthermore, I am deeply moved that, at this very moment, one can encounter a living Buddha in the human world—like Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature and attained Buddhahood—who can do so much good for people all over the world.

It is not just for humans; Practitioner Su also provides the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land to the vast number of beings in the spiritual realms, from those in the Dharma Realm to those on Earth. This is something extraordinary, something I had never heard of or seen before, yet it has truly happened to me, Li Xiazhen. My gratitude is beyond words. I can only make a vow before the Buddha: I will diligently practice, and in the future, I will return to the human world to help the vast, boundless number of suffering beings. This is my sincere vow, and I hope Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su can hear it.

Thank you all. Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo.

Li Xiazhen