The Sacrifice of a Qing Official

This is a record of an interview with Liu Zhide, 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 during the Qing Dynasty. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 27, 2024.

Liu Zhide speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Liu Zhide. After I had read ten thousand volumes of books, I still failed to realise that the ultimate goal of life is to seek liberation. It was only after my spirit had traversed the six realms of existence that I finally understood the necessity of surrendering to the Buddha. In the past, I was blinded by the obstacles of intellectual knowledge. Now, having been cleansed by the Buddha-light, I realise how profoundly wrong I was—my errors were truly staggering.

Upon arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Buddha-land established by Namo Amituofo, I finally understood that what I had studied previously was merely worldly knowledge. It provided my physical body with information, but my spirit—which I had neglected—had been searching for a home all along. After thousands of years of wandering in the cycle of rebirth, I have finally awakened. I have let go of the pride and attachments that my physical body once clung to. In the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, there are only beings of superior Goodness; such worldly attachments simply do not exist here."

A Debt of Gratitude

"I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for leading me, along with fifty-nine other jailers and countless other beings, to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. My life in the human realm feels as though it happened only yesterday, yet I have experienced so much since then.

I was born during the Qing Dynasty and served as a local magistrate. In truth, my ambition was never to be an official; I merely inherited the position from my father. From a young age, my father prepared me for this path, cultivating the skills and rhetorical techniques he deemed necessary for a career in the imperial court."

The Burden of Officialdom

"Ever since I was old enough to understand the world, I approached matters with my heart, which allowed me to perceive the true nature of others. Observing my father and his colleagues in the government, I could see that they were largely driven by self-preservation. They gathered together only to maintain their influence in the political sphere. As for genuine sincerity, I suspect that in every ten parts, there was not even three parts of truth; the remaining seven or more were entirely for their own benefit. This was true not only of their attitude toward my father but also of my father's attitude toward them.

Their conversations, beyond mere pleasantries, were always focused on power and personal gain. This filled me with a growing sense of rebellion. As the time approached for me to take over my father's position, this inner resistance only intensified. Despite this, I dared not speak out, as I did not wish to see the disappointment in my father's eyes. Thus, I followed the path he had laid out for me, becoming a magistrate at the age of forty-two.

By then, the Qing government had become increasingly corrupt. Sensing the impending crisis, the authorities attempted to bribe and manipulate officials, hoping to turn me into their puppet. I had long been dissatisfied with the government, and I seized this absurd situation as an opportunity to resign from my post and return to the life of a civilian. The day I officially stepped down, the heavy weight that had been pressing upon my chest finally lifted. I could breathe freely at last, no longer bound by the suffocating constraints of the court."

A Simple Life and a Brush with Death

"After resigning, I lived a life devoid of fame and fortune. My wife, unable to endure such a simple existence, decided to leave me. I held no resentment toward her, for I understood that life is a series of personal choices. I rented a plot of land in a remote area and lived a modest life. Though I no longer enjoyed the material luxuries of my past, my heart was finally at peace, and I was free to be my true self.

After several years, I began to dedicate myself to repairing the dilapidated roads that connected our mountain village to the city. The paths had fallen into disrepair and were incredibly dangerous, yet many civilians had to traverse them daily. I threw myself into the work of road repair, initially working entirely alone. Before long, many civilians joined me, all united by the same goal: to look out for the well-being of our community.

During the construction, another man and I nearly fell to our deaths. We were clinging to tree branches, and just as the branches began to snap, I believed my life had reached its end. Yet, in that moment of extreme crisis, a mysterious force caught us and safely returned us to solid ground. The event happened so quickly it felt like a dream, and I was left wondering if it had truly occurred. Looking at the scrapes on my hands, I knew it was real. I did not know who had saved me, but I felt a profound sense of gratitude toward the Heavens."

The Ultimate Sacrifice

"Outside of my service, I spent my time reading. I immersed myself in every book I could find, seeking to understand more and to feel the time and space described within those pages. I would often become so engrossed in my reading that I would continue by candlelight late into the night, only sleeping when I was utterly exhausted. I also gathered a group of children to teach them, and I found great contentment in sharing knowledge with them. I lived in this stable, joyful state for about seven years—the happiest period of my life.

Seven years later, the corrupt Qing government extended its reach into our village, attempting to conscript children for the front lines of war. The civilians were plunged into panic; they dared not resist, yet they cried their hearts out in despair. I could not bear to see these children taken. The government officials had been ordered to act discreetly to avoid causing deaths that might incite a public uprising. I discovered that the official sent to carry out this task was Xiao Ziyang, a former subordinate of mine from my days in the government. Despite his high rank, he was still under the control of the Qing authorities.

When we met, he was astonished. We drank wine and spoke at length; he confided in me about the frustrations of his life in the bureaucracy, and I shared the peace I had found over the last seven years. He admired my courage and envied my life. I asked him if there was any way to resolve the situation regarding the conscription. He replied, 'Only if the situation escalates and lives are lost will the Qing government consider stopping.' The moment he finished speaking, I looked at him with firm resolve and said, 'I will do it.' He was shocked, but I insisted, 'Do not wait any longer, or you will have a difficult time reporting back to your superiors.'"

From Jailer to Deliverance

"Three days later, Ziyang and I stood in the village square. When the civilians learned that I was willing to sacrifice myself to save them from this calamity, they gathered to watch. Several civilians offered to take my place, but I turned them all away. To me, every extra day I lived was a bonus, and having no attachments left, I was ready to go. At high noon, I told Ziyang, 'Strike now!'

Ziyang wept, bowed to me, and then drew his long sword, thrusting it into my heart before withdrawing it. Shortly after, I fell with a smile on my face, my consciousness blurred, and my life in that world came to an end. In that moment, I felt a sense of liberation. My mind returned to the space where I used to read—a space that brought me the greatest comfort, which was my final attachment. I became a book, though I did not know it; I simply remained buried in reading.

I do not know how much time passed, but eventually, I heard the chanting of the Buddha-name, 'Namo Amituofo.' I naturally began to chant along, and to my surprise, my spirit found itself before the King of Hell. The King of Hell reviewed my experiences and, seeing my sincere heart and the karmic fortune I had accumulated from helping others, assigned me the role of a jailer. During my time in the hells, I witnessed many scenes that gave me a deeper understanding of human nature. I longed for these beings to have a chance at liberation.

However, many beings in the hells are stubborn and difficult to transform, as they find it hard to let go of their own personalities. I am so grateful that Practitioner Su’s lectures were transmitted into the hells, giving both me and the other beings there the opportunity to hear the Dharma. The more I listened, the more moved I became. The principles were so simple, easy to understand, and pointed directly to the heart, which gave me the determination to seek liberation. I am truly grateful that I have finally reached this day of deliverance. The Buddha-light is infinitely bright, and the scene of the Chao Du was truly magnificent. I am grateful to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su.

Liu Zhide bows in reverence."

Namo Amituofo.