The Search for Life's Truth

This is a record of an interview with Huang Yanting, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now serves as a jailer in the hells, having found the path to liberation through the teachings of Practitioner Su. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent transformation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on March 6, 2022.

Huang Yanting speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Huang Yanting. For a long time, I existed within the hells, enduring the consequences of the mistakes I made during my life. The punishments there are unimaginably harsh; every single day was a struggle, filled with agony, and I had no idea how to find a way out. It was not until I heard the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su while I was in the depths of that suffering that I finally understood what life truly is. In that moment of absolute despair, I heard the direct, unvarnished truth, and I finally grasped the essence of existence.

Life is peace. It is enjoyment, freedom, and non-contention. It is inclusivity, compassion, the knowledge of liberation, and the mission to save the world. Since I began to listen to Practitioner Su’s teachings with a sincere heart, I have finally come to understand the true principles of life and recognised that the ultimate destination of our existence is liberation."

The Emptiness of a Golden Life

"I am deeply grateful for the compassionate and great vows of Practitioner Su, which have granted me this precious opportunity for liberation today. I cherish this chance immensely, and I am actively and diligently practising, hoping that in the future, I will have the capacity to assist other sentient beings. On behalf of all the jailers and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su.

In my past life, I never understood these truths. If I had not heard Practitioner Su’s teachings, I do not think I would have ever awakened, nor would I have had this opportunity to escape the cycle of rebirth. I have walked back from the gates of the ghost realm, and I can tell everyone with absolute certainty: 'Samsara is truly, truly painful!' Please, I urge you all to wake up. Do not remain lost in delusion, and do not be obsessed with the illusory events of this world. None of these things can be taken with you when you die. Only the liberation of your own life is real."

A Global Search for Meaning

"My life was one of immense wealth and privilege. I grew up in a wealthy family; my parents were high-ranking executives in renowned corporations. As their only son, I received an elite education. By the sixth grade, I had skipped several grades due to my academic performance, and I eventually decided to pursue home-schooling. At thirteen, my parents sent me abroad to study. By the age of twenty, I had already obtained multiple degrees overseas and had founded my own company, launching a successful career.

My life appeared to be a string of brilliant achievements, but in truth, my heart was profoundly empty. I could not see what I was striving for. I constantly searched for a goal, pouring all my energy into my business. In just five years, I multiplied the company's profits several times over, yet my heart remained hollow. I felt no sense of fulfilment; instead, I felt a growing, persistent sadness. In the eyes of others, my life was enviable—perhaps they saw me as a young, talented entrepreneur—but I did not identify with that image. I felt I was merely following the trends, conforming to a societal model that was not what I truly wanted. I felt lost. I did not know who I was."

The Sudden Silence of Death

"It was a deeply painful experience. Even standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid, I could not find happiness. When I reached such heights, I did not know what else there was to pursue. I was in agony. I could not sleep soundly, suffering from chronic insomnia and habitual headaches. I kept telling myself, 'I must find the answer!' I took a long leave of absence from my company and travelled the world. I visited over twenty countries, spending nearly five years using my heart to feel different environments and observing how different lives were lived. When I saw the impoverished people in Africa, I saw lives that were far more difficult than my own. I sighed, wondering why life had so many variations and what true satisfaction was. I could not find the answer.

Later, I visited countries with strong religious traditions, such as Thailand and India, where Buddhism is revered, or Pakistan, where Islam is practised. Unlike the tourists who came for pilgrimages, I stood on the sidelines, quietly observing and feeling. I wanted to know what life was. As my vacation neared its end, I went to the war-torn Middle East. I felt the tension of lives hanging by a thread and the displacement of the people there. I wanted to know what such a life meant. When I returned to my office and sat at my computer, I reflected on my journey. I realised that while there are many different lives in this world, I still had no answer regarding the truth of life. Everyone was just following the flow of fate, living day by day, without ever stopping to think about what life actually is. I believed that there must be some people who know the truth, and I believed that such a truth exists, so I never gave up searching."

Awakening in the Depths of Hell

"My life ended at the age of thirty-two due to an acute illness. I had never imagined my life would end at that age, so I was completely unprepared. When my body suddenly collapsed, the sense of powerlessness brought me panic. I suddenly remembered the scenes I had witnessed in the war-torn Middle East—the fear of death on everyone's faces. I think that at the moment I collapsed, I truly experienced that same fear. It was a state of mind that was incredibly unsettling. I was powerless to change the fact that my life was ending. Lying in the hospital bed, I let the doctors and nurses work on me. My body seemed to lose all consciousness, but my spirit was incredibly clear. I felt the entire process. My heart was anxious, uneasy, and terrified, but no one knew my state of mind. I was being resuscitated in the emergency room, with all sorts of equipment attached to me—tracheal intubation, defibrillation, CPR. All the treatments kept me immersed in pain. After several dozen minutes, they could not save me. My body’s lifespan ended, and in that instant, my life entered a void of darkness.

My soul completely left my body. I was in a space of total darkness, feeling so cold and so afraid. I did not know where I was going, but there was a force pulling me along. Finally, I arrived before the King of Hell, who told me that my lifespan had expired. Everything I had done in my life was presented before him. I looked at my life as if it were an illusory dream, and I had been searching for the possibility of waking up from that dream, but until the moment of death, I had not found the answer. It was only when I was in the hells, suffering for my past mistakes, that I heard Practitioner Su’s teachings. In my most painful moment, I heard those direct, simple truths, and I finally understood: 'Life is peace, enjoyment, freedom, non-contention, inclusivity, compassion, the knowledge of liberation, and the mission to save the world.' I heard the truth of life, and I suddenly woke up. This was what I had been searching for all those years. I was so moved, so happy. I felt the reality of life. I began to listen to the teachings and study diligently every day, changing my mindset. Later, I left the space of punishment and began serving in the hells, helping other beings."

A Message to the Living

"I am working hard on my practice, hoping to change myself and ultimately attain liberation. I hope my story and experiences can help the people of this world wake up. In this era of advanced technology, I think 'lost' is the state of mind for many people. When you are unaware, it is easy to get lost, following the trends of the world and losing sight of yourself. I hope everyone can know what life is. Life is truly precious. You must know what you are doing right now, and whether your life can ultimately be liberated. Do not lose your chance for liberation for the sake of a few short years in this world. When impermanence arrived, so many of my karmic creditors surrounded me, and I had absolutely no power to resist. Even with a young body, if I did not recognise the truth of life, I could not change the cycle of rebirth and karma. Only through liberation can one find the power of autonomy and escape suffering.

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia is truly a pure land for practice. I have seen so many changes all over the world, and this place is truly a pure land. I hope everyone can know this, cherish the opportunity, and find liberation within your own life. I am grateful to Practitioner Su, grateful for everything, and I will continue to practise diligently, hoping to have the ability to help more people. On behalf of all the jailers and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."

Huang Yanting, with palms joined.