The Scribe Who Sacrificed for the Truth

This is a record of an interview with Qin Ruyu, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life during the Qin Dynasty, approximately 2,200 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on April 26, 2026.

Qin Ruyu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am currently in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I am filled with such profound gratitude for everything. To have arrived in this world of ultimate purity and goodness, established by Namo Amituofo, is my greatest karmic fortune. I am very clear that if it were not for the salvation of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, this day would never have come to pass.

Right now, I am here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and all sixty of us—the prison guards from hell—are bowing down together to express our gratitude to the compassionate Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. The beauty of this Western Land is indeed as the sutras describe, yet its magnificence and dignity are far beyond what any text could ever capture. Namo Amituofo is truly so great! To be able to create such a beautiful world, providing a spiritual home for wandering spirits so they may be spared the agony of the cycle of rebirth—it is beyond words.

The Inconceivable Beauty of the Western Pure Land

In the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, there are no limits to our lifespan, and there is no possibility of regression. We only move forward, step by step, elevating our spirituality until we attain Buddhahood. Such beauty is truly inconceivable, and frankly, it is almost unbelievable. To think that such immense, real benefits are available to any being who can be reborn here—it makes one marvel at the generosity and the vast mind-capacity of Namo Amituofo, as well as His compassion for beings like us.

The sutras say that the Buddha’s love and care for sentient beings far exceed that of parents for their children, and this is not an empty statement at all. During my time serving as a prison guard in hell, I had actually heard Practitioner Su giving lectures on the Dharma several times. Every time the voice of Practitioner Su echoed through the hells, I listened with my entire being. I cherished every opportunity to hear the Dharma because I knew that such a great teaching could help me be reborn, to shed my old self and reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. I would share the content of Practitioner Su’s lectures with the beings in hell, and many of them received benefits, which made me feel so grateful.

Listening to the Dharma in the Depths of Hell

The beings in hell suffer intensely, it is true. But they actually possess the same true nature as the Buddha, and they have hearts that are inherently pure and good. It is only because of ignorance and confusion that they committed sins and ended up suffering in hell. Many of them do not even know where they went wrong. It is truly a heartbreaking thing to witness. If everyone could receive the education provided by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I am certain that such tragedies would not occur. Everyone could understand the laws of karma and cause and effect, adjust their personality traits, and align their character with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. This is something I deeply believe.

I am incredibly fortunate. I recently received notice that I was on the list of sixty prison guards to be led by Practitioner Su to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Today, as Practitioner Su struck the qing, we were instantly transported from hell to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, we are all here, joyfully chanting 'Namo Amituofo.' I express my gratitude once again to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their salvation. Without the compassionate deliverance of these two, we sixty prison guards would never have had this magnificent karmic affinity to be here today.

A Life of Duty and the Qin Dynasty

My name is Qin Ruyu, and I was born into a scholarly family during the Qin Dynasty. At that time, due to the policies of the Emperor, many people were conscripted for forced labour, and wars were constant. The able-bodied men of the country were either on their way to war or serving in labour camps. This caused many families to face the agony of separation, and our family was no exception. My older brother was of the age required by the law, so under the conscription of the Qin Emperor, he was drafted into the war. My parents cried until they were inconsolable, for many who went to war never returned. Even those who survived were often left with shattered spirits. My parents did not know how to face such a situation; they could only express their grief through miserable wailing. I stood by, watching this, and although my heart was heavy, I felt completely helpless.

After my brother was conscripted, only my parents and I remained to depend on one another. My parents were already quite elderly, so in such circumstances, I had to be strong and find a way to support our livelihood.

The Price of Preserving the Truth

At that time, there was a specific job responsible for recording and backing up the contents of classical texts. To put it simply, it was to transcribe the existing texts exactly as they were, without any changes—a backup, so to speak. The requirement for this work was literacy and the ability to write in a beautiful, neat, and clear hand.

This was a very important task. After all, if a sutra or classic could have an extra copy preserved, it would be of immense help for future generations. Every text had different levels of benefit for the country and its people. Therefore, those engaged in this work had to possess a very rigorous character. Since we were transcribing classics, not a single error was permitted. If a few characters were written incorrectly, it could change the meaning of the text, causing the original intent of the author to be lost, which might lead future learners to develop incorrect understandings.

When the Qin Dynasty selected people for this work, they adopted very strict standards. I was fortunate to have a foundation in literacy taught by my brother, and I had been interested in it since childhood, so I had some confidence in my handwriting. Through a series of causal conditions, I managed to obtain this job, and I felt very happy and grateful. Many people were fighting for this position, but it ended up going to me—a commoner with no background, and a woman at that. It was a tremendous surprise. Every time I transcribed a text, I did so with the utmost respect, using a sincere and reverent heart to copy the content character by character, perfectly and without any alteration.

During the process of transcribing, I felt my heart becoming calmer and my state of mind more peaceful. This change surprised me greatly. I never expected that this work would not only help our family’s financial situation but also elevate my own character. I was overjoyed at the time. However, these peaceful days were shattered by a massive event: the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s policy of 'burning books and burying scholars.' Many precious texts were searched out and burned, and the common people were forbidden from discussing their contents. Many people suffered greatly under this policy, and some even paid with their lives.

The place where I was employed was also subjected to severe and meticulous investigation because it held a large collection of texts. Watching these precious classics being seized by the soldiers, my heart was filled with pain. I risked my life to use certain methods to hide some of the most precious parts. I thought to myself, although this is a dangerous act, perhaps it will allow these texts to be preserved and passed down, benefiting future generations. I could not bear to see these precious classics lost, so I resolutely decided to risk my life to save them. Even if it was only a little, I believed that every book saved was a victory.

From Hell Guard to the Western Pure Land

Unexpectedly, even though I was extremely careful, my actions were discovered and reported to the soldiers. I was arrested and interrogated about whether there were more texts hidden elsewhere. In truth, I knew that my employer might have had other hiding spots, but no matter what, I refused to say a word. Even under the most severe torture, I would not reveal these secrets. My life was already under serious threat, and I did not want others to suffer the same fate. Moreover, the significance of these texts being preserved was far too great; I felt it was more important than my own life.

And so, amidst the torture, my body was broken until I was unrecognisable, and I finally died in prison. Before I died, I felt a sense of relief, for I was finally being liberated from such agony. I held no resentment in my heart for what I had endured; instead, I was happy that I could trade my life for the preservation of so many classics.

After that, I arrived before the King of Hell. He smiled very happily and told me that my heart was very kind, and that my willingness to sacrifice myself to preserve these texts, which would benefit future generations, was a great merit. The King of Hell asked if I would be willing to serve as a prison guard in hell, and I accepted with great joy. Thus, I served as a prison guard in hell, fulfilling my duties with great responsibility. During that time, I saw many beings in hell suffering, and just when I did not know how to help them and felt heavy in my heart, the voice of Practitioner Su giving Dharma lectures echoed through the hells.

The sound of Practitioner Su’s lectures was like cool Dharma water, extinguishing the scorching flames of hell-suffering in that place of burning agony. I kept exploring the mysteries within Practitioner Su’s lectures and discovered that a human life could have a completely different meaning, and that within the cycle of rebirth, our spirits should have an ultimate destination. Thus, I made a vow to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Now, Qin Ruyu is here in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, accepting this interview from the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I am very grateful for this magnificent karmic affinity that allows me to speak of my spiritual journey. I hope that all those with karmic affinity can come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to draw close and seek the Dharma, for they will receive inconceivable benefits. I now vow to practise alongside Namo Amituofo in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, hoping that one day, I too can be like Practitioner Su and save immeasurable and boundless beings.

Gratitude to Namo Amituofo. Gratitude to Practitioner Su.

Qin Ruyu"