The Sacrifice of a Righteous Guardian

This is a record of an interview with Guang Qianxiang, who sought to be saved 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 service as a spirit. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on March 8, 2024.

Guang Qianxiang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today is a truly magnificent day for me, and my heart is overflowing with a gratitude that words simply cannot capture. It is a day of great joy for me and fifty-nine other prison guards. We must express our deepest thanks to Namo Amituofo for creating the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, to Practitioner Su for her immense kindness and virtue, and to King Yama for granting us, the prison guards, this precious opportunity. My heart is so stirred that even the word 'thank you' feels inadequate to express the depth of my emotions!"

A Foundation of Integrity

"I grew up in a single-parent household, raised entirely by my grandmother. In my memories, I was an orphan; my grandmother found me at the entrance of a large temple and brought me home. Throughout my upbringing, her education was strict. She always led by example, especially in front of others. If I ever did something wrong, she would crouch down, look me in the eyes, and explain the principles of right and wrong. She never scolded me loudly in public. Only when we returned home would she call me before the ancestral altar, make me kneel in self-reflection, and point out exactly where my behaviour had been misguided or my thinking flawed. Only after I had answered her would she allow me to stand. She would tell me, 'Child, if you know you are wrong, you must change. Being able to repent for your mistakes shows that you are a responsible child capable of bearing burdens!'"

"My grandmother's teachings became the cornerstone of my growth, stabilizing my character. We lived in a small, simply furnished house. We led a humble life, but I never felt a shred of grievance. I never envied other children for having a mother and father, because I had a grandmother who cared for me so deeply. In our spare time, we would do handicrafts or collect discarded cardboard boxes to sell for extra money."

The Kindness of Strangers

"After school, I would run to a nearby noodle shop to help wash vegetables, clean dishes, or chop side dishes. When the shop was about to close, the owners—a kind couple—would give me uncooked noodles and braised side dishes, and they would often slip me some money or powdered milk to take home. That family filled my childhood with love, and I am eternally grateful. In particular, the shop owner's son provided me with tutoring. Because my grandmother was illiterate, it was he who taught me my lessons, stroke by stroke. I will always remember that act of kindness!"

"Time passed quickly, and I was soon a university student filling out my applications. My grandmother’s health, however, was not what it used to be. I was terrified; if I lost her, I would have nothing. Every day, I prayed to the heavens, asking if I could trade my own lifespan for hers. I begged the Bodhisattvas not to take her, for she was both my grandmother and my mother. Whenever I had a spare moment, I would rush home to be with her. Because our finances were tight, I began looking for part-time work and even started tutoring children from families who couldn't afford schooling."

A Path Toward Justice

"One afternoon, I went to the noodle shop to help out as usual. The older brother who had tutored me had married and moved away, leaving only the uncle and aunt running the shop. Their noodles were delicious—all handmade, and they never used MSG. It was a small, vegetarian noodle shop.

Many police officers and passersby were eating there. Seeing they were short-handed, I went down to help serve the customers. One customer, an elderly police officer, grabbed my hand and said, 'Child, are you interested in applying to the Police University? Being a police officer allows you to serve society and earn a stable income without having to run around everywhere. I’ve been observing you for a long time, young man!'"

"The officer pulled an application form and information about the police academy from his bag for me to consider. Other customers at the table chimed in, 'The police force needs fresh, clean blood, and you have excellent aptitude and grades.' Everyone kept encouraging me, and my heart began to waver. Perhaps this was a good choice. My grandmother wouldn't have to suffer anymore, living in that damp little house—it was bad for her health. Before I could even respond, the application was already in my hand. Everyone clapped and cheered. I couldn't refuse, so I happily accepted! That is how I entered the Police University. As for my grandmother, I entrusted her to the noodle shop owners, who would deliver meals to her, and she could go there to chat and pass the time."

The Call of Duty

"I became a police officer, filled with passion and entering a completely different life. I didn't fit in with others quickly—perhaps because of my single-parent background, it took me a long time to adjust to strangers. I would just find a quiet place to study, hoping to earn scholarships to make my grandmother happy. I became very quiet and spoke little, but I could sense the thoughts of others and see their problems at a glance. I took electives in psychology, criminal psychology, and human counseling, and studied national law. It was a fulfilling time! I also participated in all the academy's activities and actively practised my marksmanship."

"Soon, my grades were at the top of the class, and my seniors included me in their plans for future assignments. Some of the older officers suggested I have a religious faith because, in the line of duty, one often encounters mysterious events. Many of them had their own lists of temples—Guan Sheng Di Jun temples, Wang Ye temples, City God temples, Bao Gong temples, and spirits of the land temples were the places they visited most often. If they encountered an unsolvable case, they would go there to pray and draw lots. A senior enthusiastically hand-copied a list of temples for me, including addresses. I had to respectfully accept the well-intentioned paper. In truth, I was skeptical about ghosts and gods, but I couldn't say I didn't believe in them at all, as my life had been so sheltered from such things!"

Upholding the Righteous Path

"Because of my excellent academic record, I was assigned to a major district. Seniors told me my beat included some red-light districts, just a few blocks away from high-end school zones—a complex, tangled city. I worried that I would have less time to spend with my grandmother. I heard that my position had been 'pre-arranged' by an older officer, as working in a rural area would mean fewer performance bonuses, making it impossible to ever buy a house! I secretly resolved that once I reached the big city, I would not lose my way. My grandmother’s education had always been to seek the righteous path in the natural course of things, not to let the pollution of the external environment change one's original intention. One must be kind and just; one must not take what is not rightfully theirs, and one must hold fast to one's duty!"

"These were the values my grandmother instilled in me from childhood. Every day, I would look in the mirror and tell myself: 'I am a police officer to uphold justice and protect everyone's safety. There is no "self"; I must sacrifice and dedicate myself.' Becoming a police officer was something my grandmother approved of, so I began to patrol the area with great passion every day!"

The Final Sacrifice

"One morning, I received a call from the police department. A senior told me I had to go on a temporary assignment: 'You need to support another precinct. Someone there is going on their honeymoon, and another officer is on annual leave, so the front desk has been unmanned for a long time, which reflects poorly on the police station. But don't worry, I will have you transferred back to the North District soon. Relax! I've told their old chief that you are important and that your safety must be ensured!' I didn't react immediately and just said, 'Okay, I understand.' I went to the new unit, thinking it would only be for a few months. I comforted myself, chewing gum as I headed out."

"I arrived at the new unit. The front desk was indeed unmanned, with only a piece of paper posted saying 'Out on official business' and a phone number. I walked inside and saw an auntie cleaning. She stared at me and asked, 'Who are you? How can you just walk in?' I calmly replied, 'I was sent by the North District precinct. Where is my desk?' She looked me over and pointed to the front desk outside. It was as I thought. Actually, my rank didn't require me to sit there, but it didn't matter; I went to sit and wait."

"Less than half an hour later, an emergency call came in about criminals causing trouble, and I was asked to provide support. Without a second thought, I put on my jacket and rushed to the dangerous location, feeling a sense of dread as I prepared to storm the scene. But I overlooked one thing! I hadn't put on my bulletproof vest or helmet, and in the emergency, I couldn't go back to the station to get them. When I arrived, I saw three gunmen threatening a bank. Everyone was screaming and fleeing, except for the gunmen, who were raving like madmen, shouting that they would destroy everything! They began to laugh hysterically."

"I kept calling out to the gunmen, 'Can you please stay calm? You need my help, we can talk about this. Please don't hurt innocent people; I have no evil intent.' At that moment, a school bus was parked on the main road, ready to take children home. It was full of students who had just finished school, all laughing happily. The teacher on the bus hadn't noticed the madman nearby looking for hostages!"

A Soul's Awakening

"In the blink of an eye, the gunman targeted the school bus. He grabbed the handle, pulling the female teacher and the students out. My heart shook. What should I do? Should I confront him head-on? The gunman shot at the bus tires, and both adults and children watched in terror. The more irrational gunman said he would start killing. I tried to call out to him, 'Don't do this, what are your conditions?' I hid in the shadows, observing. Who would have thought the gunman would suddenly say he would kill all the children? In my tension and carelessness, I revealed my position, and a bullet struck the ground right next to my feet. 'You'd better come out, I don't have much patience,' he shouted. I walked straight out of the alley."

"At that moment, I had no other thoughts; I only cared about the safety of the teacher and the children. The gunman looked at me and said, 'Put your gun on the ground, and I'll let the teacher go.' For a split second, my grandmother’s face and her teachings flashed through my mind. I agreed to his request, using my life to trade for the lives of the teacher and the children."

"The gunman didn't wait for me to reach for the teacher; he shot me straight in the forehead. I didn't even have time to react before I collapsed in a pool of blood! He fired repeatedly into my head. I didn't even know I had died. My spirit had already left my body, still trying to persuade the gunman, directing the children to run to another location, and preparing to push the teacher to safety or attack the gunman myself."

"I kept repeating these actions until the local spirits of the land appeared, patted my shoulder, and said, 'Child, you have died for the sake of the masses. Do not be afraid. A large police force has already arrived, and your physical body has been taken away!' The spirit of the land even said 'Namo Amituofo' to my spirit. When I heard that, I thought, 'Am I dead?' I wasn't overly agitated; my only thought was, 'What about the children? Are the children on the bus safe? Did the teacher get away safely?'"

The Grace of the Pure Land

"Just then, a golden light shone upon me, and a surge of energy filled my heart! I hadn't fully awakened yet, but my spirit was already standing in the Hall of King Yama. A man with a dignified expression sat at a large table, striking a red gavel, and the sound echoed throughout the hall. I suddenly woke up. It was King Yama, who said to me, 'Child, your heart is pure and your thoughts are righteous. You acted selflessly for the sake of others, and I have seen it all. Your lifespan has ended. Do you choose to be reborn into a better family to receive good retribution, or do you have any unfulfilled wishes?' I couldn't help but burst into tears. My grandmother, who raised me, was still alone in the world. I felt that because I died in the line of duty, I had failed to live up to the education she gave me—to be purely kind, to think of others, and to sacrifice myself. As her child, I felt I owed her so much; it is such an impermanence tragedy for the 'white-haired to send off the black-haired.'"

"Seeing my concern for my grandmother, King Yama said, 'Then, would you be willing to serve in my underworld? If you are willing, you can accumulate merit here, which you can dedicate to those you care about. But as my prison guard, you must be impartial. I will mark your name in the ledger. I will have an experienced guard show you the environment and how to handle the procedures!' That is how I, Guang Qianxiang, became a prison guard!"

"I have served here with great diligence. As time passed, I lost track of how long I had been in the underworld. In the underworld, the Dharma sounds of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are always circulating. I listened to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks with great interest; the True Teachings remained in my heart, just like the education my grandmother gave me. Today, I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su! She allowed me to hear the Buddha’s teachings while I worked! The Buddha’s teachings helped me understand how important it is to have a purely kind heart! I have received the Buddha’s grace! Rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a gift from Practitioner Su! I bow in gratitude to Practitioner Su! With a joyful heart, I praise Namo Amituofo!"

"Guang Qianxiang"