The Scholar Who Became a Book

This is a record of an interview with Luo Zhengshan, who sought 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 approximately 900 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on June 30, 2023.

Luo Zhengshan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. It was only after I became a prison guard in the hells that I truly understood the meaning of liberation. In the past, I was only concerned with the artistic beauty of the written word; I was so obsessed with the literary realm that I became deeply attached to it. Now, seeing the magnificent, towering figure of the Buddha standing before me, leading beings to salvation, and witnessing Practitioner Su working tirelessly for all beings at every moment, I realise that such a heart is entirely different from my own. I feel a profound sense of shame. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn this, rather than continuing to be lost and trapped in the cycle of rebirth within those spaces.

The Splendour of the Western Pure Land

The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is truly magnificent and beautiful. Upon arriving in the West, as I listened to the celestial music, I instinctively began to compose poetry, writing these lines:

The Pure Land is a realm of wondrous grace,
Fragrance and light permeate every space.
The jewelled pools clear the heart of all strife,
Pavilions and towers manifest for my life.
The Buddha-name echoes throughout the expanse,
Lotus flowers bloom as the Dharma’s advance.
Beneath Namo Amituofo, the truth I hear,
The Western Land is my home, drawing near.

I feel incredibly lucky. Only upon seeing the Buddha did I truly understand His compassion, greatness, and selflessness. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the very manifestation of the Buddha’s mind-capacity. I was once a being of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and now, I have finally returned home. Thinking of the many foolish and illusory paths I walked during my human life, and seeing that the Buddha was still compassionately waiting for me, I knelt and bowed in gratitude. I am even more grateful for the guidance of Practitioner Su, who allowed all sixty of us prison guards to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Life of Letters and Literary Injustice

I am Luo Zhengshan. When I held a human body, I was a scholar of the Song Dynasty. I served in the Hanlin Academy, managing books and sutras, which meant I had the privilege of reading a vast array of texts during my tenure. Among them were several classics that I cherished above all others. When I pored over these works, I would become completely immersed in their words and the worlds they described, which brought me great joy.

Initially, the imperial court placed great importance on civil officials. However, after certain political incidents, the court established a 'literary inquisition' to control and suppress any writings that might incite the hearts of the people. I had a group of like-minded colleagues who shared my interests, and we would often meet in private, sometimes joined by famous local talents. We would drink wine, discuss our arts, and exchange verses. Over time, we became old friends, creating many works under the moonlight or amidst the rain.

But once the literary inquisition began, we had to be extremely cautious. We ensured that the poems and essays we exchanged were never leaked, for if someone were to twist our words, the consequences would be dire. Yet, no matter how careful we were, we could not escape the traps set by those who envied us. Officials who opposed us planted spies as servants in our homes, specifically to dismantle our influence. One servant stole our writings and selected passages to slander us, accusing us of hidden meanings. The court was furious, and before long, we were stripped of our official positions.

The Weight of Resentment

Five of us were implicated in that incident. We were demoted to commoners and placed under surveillance. At the time, I was filled with rage. For a long time, I could not calm my heart, nor could I let go of the bitterness. Without my official salary, life changed drastically. At first, I tried to make a living by copying sutras for others, but the pittance I earned was not enough to survive. When I was at my lowest, a private school in the next village invited me to be a teacher. For the sake of survival, I accepted without hesitation. I felt deeply sorry for the burden this placed on my wife and children.

After being dismissed, I never saw my old friends again; everyone returned to their respective hometowns. I, who had been so dejected, began to pour all my energy into the school. Whenever the children made even the slightest progress, I felt a genuine sense of joy. Many parents wanted their children to pursue fame and fortune and asked for my help, which plunged me into an internal conflict. I did not want these innocent children to sacrifice their souls for worldly success. Having served as an official for years, I knew the corruption of the bureaucracy all too well. Therefore, I chose to teach them good values and a positive outlook on life. As for whether they would eventually enter the official path, I left that to them.

From Scholar to Silent Book

When I was alone and quiet, I would reminisce about the books I had read, entering the realms within them. Only by immersing myself in those pages could I forget the many troubles and frustrations of the human world. I never imagined that this escapism would become the destination for my next cycle of rebirth. The knot of resentment I held toward the court and the helplessness of the world remained untied. This suppressed frustration accumulated in my heart, leading to a chronic cough that worsened with every change in the weather. My family urged me to seek treatment, but I knew the root cause was in my heart, not my body, so I refused.

At the age of fifty-six, one night, my entire body seemed to tremble violently. I felt immense pain, and after sitting up and coughing up blood, I departed from the human world. To my family, it was sudden, but for me, I had long since tired of living in this world. I loathed the nature of human hearts, and I was relieved to no longer have to face them. As I suffered, many scenes from my past flashed before my eyes: talking with old friends, reading quietly, and finally, the image of myself as a Hanlin scholar, flipping through books. It was in that final image that I entered the book and became a book myself. Because I had spent the latter half of my life teaching, I became a book of educational value, one that could teach readers certain truths.

The Long Silence and the Path to Deliverance

I remained in that book for several hundred years. The days inside were very quiet. Of course, a book does not contain only one spirit; there are as many spirits as there are words within it. I always hoped to bring a positive influence to others. When someone picked up the book, I could feel their mental notes, and I would use my positive energy to guide them to what they truly needed in their hearts, hoping they might change after reading. Thousands of people picked up my book, and I always felt this way. Seeing some of them influenced by it brought me joy.

I remained in the space of the book until one day, a man invited me home to read and placed me on his desk. I heard a sound echoing around me. At first, I was confused, but as I listened more clearly, I realised it was the sound of someone explaining the Buddha’s teachings. This man was learning Buddhism and was constantly listening to Dharma talks. The energy of these sounds made me feel at peace, and thus, I came to know the Buddha. One day, subconsciously, I chanted, 'Namo Amituofo—' and I exited the space of the book, entering the Hall of the Yama King. I knelt before the King, seeing that this man had once been saved by me, and now, he had saved me in return. Seeing the many karmic causes and effects before me, I knelt and repented, hoping for a chance to make amends. The compassionate Yama King, seeing my sincerity, allowed me to serve as a prison guard.

In the hell realms, the laws of karma and cause and effect are perfectly clear, and it is terrifying to behold. There are so many stubborn beings who created karma due to their own personalities; looking at it now, it was truly not worth it. While diligently performing my duties, I heard the sound of Dharma talks and could not help but listen intently. To my surprise, the sounds coming through the hell realms were the Dharma talks of Practitioner Su. Every sentence was brilliant and touched the human heart, making me realise the importance of seeking liberation. I sincerely prayed that one day I could follow the Buddha, and I never expected that day would finally come. Today, I and the other fifty-nine prison guards chanted the Buddha’s name in unison and were led by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We are filled with gratitude, and we kneel and bow in thanks.

Luo Zhengshan"