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This is a record of an interview with King Chujiang, the ruler of the Second Hall of Hell, conducted by Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. This interview, recorded on July 20, 2015, explores the reality of the hell realms, the laws of cause and effect, and the transformative power of ’s .
Practitioner Su: "We respectfully invite King Chujiang of the Second Hall of Hell. Namo Amituofo."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, Namo Amituofo."
Practitioner Su: "King Chujiang, I am very pleased to meet with you today. In the past, I have often called upon you for assistance. Today, however, our purpose is to save the world. We have already published the records of our interviews with the beings of the twenty-eight heavens, and now it is time to reveal the records of the hell realms. We must verify for the suffering beings in the human world that hell truly exists. We must let the people of this world understand the laws of cause and effect. Otherwise, society will continue to fall into chaos, with everyone acting solely according to their own selfish whims. Causes lead to results, and results give rise to new causes—a cycle that never ends. Those who study Buddhism must deeply understand the retribution of good and evil."
King Chujiang: "That is indeed true! Regarding the work being done here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we, the Ten Kings of Hell, will always provide our full assistance whenever Practitioner Su calls upon us. It is truly pitiful that modern society no longer believes in the cycle of rebirth. We all share the responsibility to save these sentient beings!"
Practitioner Su: "We all share this responsibility. By joining the Realm of Namo Amituofo, we can help suffering beings attain liberation from the pain of the three realms and the six realms of rebirth."
King Chujiang: "The teachings of the Buddha are filled with wisdom, virtue, and compassion. The vast, majestic power of the Dharma and the great compassion of Namo Amituofo shine like a beacon. We, the Kings of Hell, will follow Practitioner Su to help deliver those beings who have not yet awakened."
Practitioner Su: "May the Buddha’s compassion prevail. Now, I would like to ask you something further. Since we have already guided the previous Ten Kings of Hell to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you are the newly appointed Kings. Congratulations! This is a truly magnificent opportunity."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, I believe King Qin Guang of the First Hall has already provided a brief description of this transition."
Practitioner Su: "Then please, King Chujiang, explain it more clearly so that all sentient beings can understand the nature of the Ten Kings of Hell."
King Chujiang: "The concept of the Yama Kings and the rulers of hell has been recorded since the Southern Dynasties, though the legends of the Yama Kings of hell actually date back to ancient India. Practitioner Su, after the time of ancient India, it was Shakyamuni Buddha who emerged to make the Buddha’s teachings flourish. Because of this, the understanding of became much clearer and more explicit. The primary goal was to teach all human beings to perform good deeds and to refrain from harming others or creating negative . That was the main focus; there was never a time when the Yama Kings themselves were delivered through ."
King Chujiang: "At that time, the Yama Kings and the Ghost Kings went to the Trayastrimsa Heaven to listen to the Buddha’s teachings, and we raised several questions. Our main concern was that, even though we were there to help the people, they would often create new negative karma, making it impossible for us to assist them. For example, consider childbirth. In ancient times, a mother giving birth was seen as a good thing—a way to continue the family line. Yet, during the process of birth, there is blood and suffering. During this time, we, the Ghost Kings, would act as guardians, hoping for the safe delivery of the child. However, some people, upon hearing that they had given birth to a boy, would immediately go out and slaughter pigs and sheep to celebrate!"
Practitioner Su: "They do not understand the laws of cause and effect, which is why the Buddha often calls them 'pitiful beings'."
King Chujiang: "Exactly. That is another form of bloody sin. How could they possibly receive any from such actions? It is simply not allowed! Regarding the Ghost Kings, I should mention that the Ghost Kings have many dependents within the ghost realm. Whenever they see a household reciting the Sutras, they will stop at the door. If they see that the family is reciting the Sutras or even lighting incense out of respect, they recognize these as good people performing good deeds, and they will depart. Therefore, everything is a manifestation of one’s own heart—what one thinks and contemplates creates the karma. Whatever cause you plant, you will reap the corresponding result. It is as simple as that."
King Chujiang: "The reason the Yama Kings are here is because of your compassion, Practitioner Su. When you held the and opened the twenty-eight heavens, all the Ten Kings of Hell wanted to go to the Western Pure Land. The Yama Kings were already aware of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, but we never imagined that you would also open the gates of hell. We never thought it possible. Because of your compassion, you save those at the level of Equal , and you also save those in the hells. You dared to open the gates of hell, saving many beings who had finished their sentences, as well as those who were suddenly suffering, those who suddenly awakened, and those who were repenting. Because of this, the Yama Kings hold you in the highest respect."
Practitioner Su: "You must respect the Buddha. It is the vast, majestic power of Namo Amituofo’s great compassion!"
King Chujiang: "Indeed, that is why the Ten Kings of Hell come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre at night to seek deliverance. It is only through your compassion, Practitioner Su, that we can reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!"
Practitioner Su: "May the Buddha’s compassion prevail. You save those at the level of Equal Enlightenment, and you save the suffering beings in the hells. This confirms the Buddha’s Forty-Eight Vows to save all sentient beings."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, earlier today, I also witnessed the 'ugly' truth regarding King Qin Guang."
Practitioner Su: "Yes, indeed! You saw it too. In fact, every celestial being from the twenty-eight heavens has descended into the hells to suffer. Everyone has done so—I have as well! As long as one has an , there is always the opportunity to create karma. That is why our thoughts are so terrifying!"
King Chujiang: "Every life is different, and every incarnation is unique. It is the Alaya that takes the lead, and thus, karma is created."
Practitioner Su: "That is why accumulating merit and virtue in the human world is so important. It is perfectly normal that everyone who visits the twenty-eight heavens still possesses an Alaya consciousness. Now, King Chujiang, where were you from? Let us ask that first."
King Chujiang: "I am from Wuhan."
Practitioner Su: "I have been to Wuhan. I visited about forty years ago. May I ask, what was your profession when you were in the human world?"
King Chujiang: "Alas, I was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine."
Practitioner Su: "So you were saving the world!"
King Chujiang: "I prescribed herbal medicines, and my ability to take a pulse was top-tier!"
Practitioner Su: "In traditional Chinese medicine, taking the pulse is the most important thing, is it not?"
King Chujiang: "It is! Only by taking the pulse can one know which part of is experiencing problems."
Practitioner Su: "So you were a doctor, and you were very well-versed in medicinal herbs, were you not?"
King Chujiang: "I was deeply involved with herbs. I would shake them, smell them, and then test them."
Practitioner Su: "May I ask, since you practiced medicine and were skilled at taking pulses, your business must have been very good! How many children did you have?"
King Chujiang: "I had only one son and four daughters."
Practitioner Su: "Did any of those five children learn traditional Chinese medicine?"
King Chujiang: "One daughter—my third daughter—followed me and learned. My son had no interest in it, though he would help with drying the herbs. Herbs sometimes need to be dried so they do not become moldy."
Practitioner Su: "May I ask, since you said you were very skilled at taking pulses, at what age did you begin to learn?"
King Chujiang: "I followed my father and began learning when I was about eleven years old."
Practitioner Su: "Eleven years old. Master Li Bingnan used to say that the younger one starts learning traditional Chinese medicine, the better."
King Chujiang: "My uncle was also a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine."
Practitioner Su: "So you did not cultivate that habit in your son when he was young?"
King Chujiang: "Because he was my only son, I let things take their natural course. I let him pursue whatever he was interested in... He preferred literature and did not like studying medicine."
Practitioner Su: "Did he prefer teaching?"
King Chujiang: "He liked reading essays and practicing calligraphy."
Practitioner Su: "In the old days, people had excellent brush calligraphy skills! Very well. How old were you when you passed away in Wuhan?"
King Chujiang: "I was sixty-nine years old."
Practitioner Su: "Wow! And how long have you been in the underworld?"
King Chujiang: "In the underworld... to be honest, I will tell you directly, Practitioner Su. I will speak about myself. In the underworld, I actually served as a jailer."
Practitioner Su: "You served as a jailer? I suppose you started from the basics!"
King Chujiang: "That is correct! I served as a jailer, starting from the very bottom."
Practitioner Su: "So, immediately after you passed away, you went to the underworld and were qualified to be a jailer. One must have some cultivation to be a jailer; without it, one cannot serve in that role."
King Chujiang: "A jailer’s heart must also be kind. One cannot have created too much evil while in the human world. To say one has created no evil at all is difficult! But one must not have committed great evils. Small mistakes are still acceptable. As for the 'creation of evil,' those who have committed murder must pay with their lives; they must receive their retribution. This is the truth of the universe."
Practitioner Su: "Since you were able to serve as a jailer, you could not have committed any major evils, otherwise they would not have allowed you to serve in that position."
King Chujiang: "That is true! One must accumulate virtue while in the human world."
Practitioner Su: "How long did you serve as a jailer?"
King Chujiang: "I served as a jailer for over a hundred years—nearly one hundred and fifty-six years."
Practitioner Su: "One hundred and fifty-six years. May I ask, when the Yama King left, did they promote you?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, at that time, the Ten Kings of Hell all sought rebirth in the Western Pure Land simultaneously. This was a major event in the hells. The Ten Kings of Hell suddenly left their posts vacant. In fact, before they came to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek rebirth, they had all heard your lectures, Practitioner Su; otherwise, they would not have dared to collectively seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss all at once."
Practitioner Su: "At night, when the patriarchs and venerable masters come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to invite spirits, the Ten Kings of Hell decided to leave together. They asked me to send them off, and out of the Buddha’s compassion, I did. The six realms of rebirth in the human world are too painful! To be able to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and follow Namo Amituofo is a sign of deep good roots. Those who leave early are people of tremendous blessings!"
King Chujiang: "Indeed. During those one hundred and fifty-six years as a jailer, it was quite strange, but my actions were being observed. Naturally, one day, a judge came to find me. He was like what you would call a court clerk today. I was still on duty, holding my jailer’s staff. He said, 'You, come here!' I went over, of course. I asked, 'Judge, is there something you need?' He said, 'Follow me.' I followed him, and when we arrived, it was strange! Where was the Yama King? I did not see him. He said, 'First, come with me to change your clothes.' Change my clothes? He wanted me to change? I did not understand."
Practitioner Su: "So he had you change your attire?"
King Chujiang: "Yes, it was a skillful means. I followed him inside. Once inside, there were changing rooms and curtains."
Practitioner Su: "The robes of the Yama King must be very dignified!"
King Chujiang: "He also taught me some of the proper decorum. He told me that I could not put my feet on the chair, nor could I put them on the table. Other parts of my hands were fine; I could move my hands as I pleased, but I could not prop my feet up on the furniture. Everything else was acceptable. I was also told not to pick my nose—I understood that. Because he was a judge, I showed him a measure of respect."
Later, after I had changed into my new attire, the judge actually bowed to me. I was startled. What was going on? 'Judge, is there some mistake? Why are you bowing to me?' He replied, 'You do not understand. The Yama King has already arrived at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Our Second Hall is a massive operation, and all ten halls have been waiting for you to take your place. How could you not accept this? Furthermore, the Inspector of Records says you are the most suitable candidate.' The Inspector of Records is the one who assists me with these matters; he knows everything that everyone has done. At that moment, I had to put on a show of authority! In truth, I was still a little bit afraid.
Practitioner Su: You must have received orders from above before he could ask you to take the position, right?
King Chujiang: That is correct! The orders came from above.
Practitioner Su: Was the order from the Jade Emperor?
King Chujiang: I did not ask. I did not ask who it was from.
Practitioner Su: It seems that one can only assume such a role if there is an imperial decree. You cannot just take the position on a whim!
King Chujiang: That is exactly how it is! Oh! And the decree was golden.
Practitioner Su: Hahaha! Exactly, there must have been an order.
King Chujiang: There was! Practitioner Su, now that you ask, I have confirmed it! The recording secretary said, 'Yes!' and I quickly chimed in, 'Yes! Yes! Actually, yes! Yes!'
Practitioner Su: He did not even explain it clearly to you before telling you to become the Yama King!
King Chujiang: He simply knelt before me, and I was stunned. That was it! So, my current posture is just like this: 'Who comes before me? Bring them forward!' (Voice deepens) That is authoritative enough, is it not?
Practitioner Su: Hahaha! Authoritative, very authoritative! The King of the Second Hall, King Chujiang, has great dignity!
King Chujiang: I glare upward with my eyes and make a fierce face to scare them to death, though in my heart, I am actually quite terrified. Do not judge the Yama King by his appearance; the Yama King possesses a compassionate heart.
Practitioner Su: One could not be the Yama King without compassion, could they?
King Chujiang: Indeed! I may look fierce on the surface, but inside, I am compassionate. The main point during the time of reward and punishment is to wake them up. Practitioner Su, you understand, do you not? I must wake them up so they do not continue to commit wrongdoings. That is my intention. So, I became King Chujiang. It is truly dreadful! Practitioner Su, I oversee the Second Hall, and every hall is filled with blood! There is blood everywhere! Whether it is the Sword-Leaf Hell, the Blood Pool Hell, or the Excrement and Urine Hell, there is blood. It is terrifying! When they are pierced, they bleed.
Practitioner Su: And yet, people today are not afraid! The laws of karma and cause and effect follow one like a shadow.
King Chujiang: These people are stubborn and difficult to transform. Therefore, Practitioner Su, your disciples at the Buddha-land—Yu Yutao, Chen Xiulan, Lu Jinyu, and Chen Suqing—sometimes have personalities that are also stubborn and difficult to transform. You must cherish your time at the Buddha-land; otherwise, you will not be able to escape the six realms of existence, and you will inevitably continue to cycle through samsara without release.
Practitioner Su: Those individuals—Yu Yutao, Chen Xiulan, Lu Jinyu, and Chen Suqing—their personalities are indeed troublesome! At the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land, my Buddha is compassionate, and Namo Amituofo provides his blessing. Very well, King Chujiang, let us return to the main topic. You served as a prison guard for one hundred and fifty-six years. That means you passed away at sixty-nine and have been in the underworld for one hundred and fifty-six years. You became the King of the Second Hall in one hundred and fifty-six years; that is quite fast.
King Chujiang: As people say, I just happened to sit into the position.
Practitioner Su: People say that one must accumulate Blessings and do good deeds. Do you feel that way?
King Chujiang: Indeed! I did many good deeds while I was a prison guard! I would tirelessly tell those receiving their retribution, 'Do not come back here, you must not come back here. It is so painful, do not commit these acts again.'
Practitioner Su: They seem ignorant and commit the acts again. One must know the root cause of their own actions.
King Chujiang: They did! At the time, they would say, 'Very well! Very well! I will not do it again.'
Practitioner Su: And then they come back again. People cannot be the masters of their own minds; they are always a mixture of Goodness and evil.
King Chujiang: That is true! That is why I say they are stubborn and difficult to transform.
Practitioner Su: Looking at you, I can tell your heart is very good. Now that you are the Yama King of the Second Hall, where are your wife and your son?
King Chujiang: My son has been reincarnated as a human and is currently teaching.
Practitioner Su: That is good. And your wife? Where is she?
King Chujiang: My wife is in the ghost realm, still running a traditional Chinese medicine shop. She is still the boss.
Practitioner Su: Hahahaha! The ghost realm can be saved, so we must save her, right?
King Chujiang: Save her! Save her!
Practitioner Su: We must save those in the ghost realm. Write down her name. As the boss, does she know how to take a pulse?
King Chujiang: She counts money. She is interested in money; she counts money.
Practitioner Su: It is because of greed that she is in the ghost realm!
King Chujiang: She loves money. She also has another hobby; she loves the scent of Chinese herbs.
Practitioner Su: She is quite an expert, then. What about your daughters? Four daughters or three? Four daughters.
Practitioner Su: Please give me the names of your wife and children, Practitioner Su.
King Chujiang: (Writes down: Cai Zhengming; Wife's name: Cai Luyu)
Practitioner Su: You are Cai Zhengming, and your wife is Cai Luyu. She is in the ghost realm running a medicine shop. Come, I invite the Yama King of the Second Hall, Cai Zhengming, to call for his wife, Cai Luyu.
Practitioner Su: Lady Luyu, your husband, Cai Zhengming, is the Yama King of the Second Hall. Did you know that?
Cai Luyu: Who is calling me? Who is calling me?
King Chujiang: My dear wife!
Practitioner Su: Your husband, Cai Zhengming, is here!
King Chujiang: My dear, my dear!
Cai Luyu: My husband!
Practitioner Su: Your husband has become the Yama King of the Second Hall, and you did not even know?
King Chujiang: My dear, my dear!
Cai Luyu: I did not know! Husband, how could it be you?
King Chujiang: Although my attire is a bit...
Cai Luyu: Everything is so different.
King Chujiang: Indeed! Look at how majestic I am! I never wore such fine clothes before!
Practitioner Su: Now, Lady Luyu, have you been listening to the Dharma talks from the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land at your medicine shop?
Cai Luyu: I have heard them, but I am very busy.
Practitioner Su: Now your husband wants you to go to the Western Pure Land. He is accumulating Blessings so that he can go, and he wants to perform Chao Du to send you to the Western Pure Land so that you will never be separated again.
Cai Luyu: But I see my husband, and I want to be with him. I want to go together.
Practitioner Su: It seems you cannot enter the Yama King's hall. He is very busy every day, handling cases.
King Chujiang: That is impossible, impossible. I am too busy; the cases never end.
Cai Luyu: Husband, why are you so dignified!
King Chujiang: My dear, listen to me!
Cai Luyu: I have not seen you for so long; why have you become so handsome (she says, moving closer to King Chujiang)!
King Chujiang: Do not come closer, do not come closer! Do not be deluded!
Practitioner Su: He is the Yama King of the Second Hall. Are you not afraid that someone will arrest you?
Cai Luyu: How could he become the Yama King?
Practitioner Su: You are a ghost, while he is a Yama King. Only by accumulating Blessings in the world, being upright and compassionate, can one achieve what he has today. Lady, listen to your husband.
King Chujiang: My dear, stop loving money! Money, wealth—do not love them anymore!
Cai Luyu: But money can buy so many things!
Practitioner Su: Where? In the ghost realm, it is all greed! It is all deception. Now, Lady Cai Luyu, your husband wants to save you. Are you willing to listen and go to the West?
Cai Luyu: I do not see the West. How can you tell me to go?
Practitioner Su: My Buddha is compassionate. Look to the West! I will open it for you to see. Come, take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm.
Cai Luyu: The West! It is shining with golden light.
Practitioner Su: Do you see it? There is plenty of the gold you love so much!
Cai Luyu: Wow! I like it, I want to go.
Practitioner Su: Then you must chant Namo Amituofo.
Cai Luyu: If I chant Namo Amituofo, can I go there? Are there many things there?
Practitioner Su: Yes! During the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies on Sunday, I will send you to the West. For now, listen to the Dharma talks at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land. I will not let you return to the ghost realm. My Buddha is compassionate and will now cover your spirit. Take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Step onto the lotus seat.
(To the disciples) Keep her spirit covered, let her listen to the Dharma, and we will talk again in a week. Write this down (the list of names for the Sunday Thrice Yearning Ceremony): Cai Luyu, wife of the Yama King of the Second Hall. Yama King of the Second Hall, is there anyone else you wish to save?
King Chujiang: Yes! My son has gone to the human world to teach. My daughter, my third daughter.
Practitioner Su: Your third daughter is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine? Did you not say she practices medicine? Where is she now?
King Chujiang: (Writes down the name: Cai Wanzi) Cai Wanzi. She is currently in the ghost realm, but in this reincarnation, she is in a male body.
Practitioner Su: So she was reincarnated as a male. If I call out the name of your father, Cai Zhengming, and then call Cai Wanzi, can I summon your daughter?
King Chujiang: She is currently a quack doctor in the ghost realm. A quack doctor is someone who only half-understands medicine, but she especially likes to use acupuncture to treat people.
Practitioner Su: Cai Wanzi, third daughter of Cai Zhengming.
Practitioner Su: My Buddha is compassionate; I will first return her to her past life. Take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Take off these clothes. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo. Restore her to her past life as Cai Wanzi, the third daughter of Cai Zhengming.
(To the disciples nearby) Give her some Buddha-water to drink, nourish her, and clear her head.
(To Cai Wanzi) You see, your father, Cai Zhengming, is here.
(To King Chujiang) Do you see your daughter?
King Chujiang: Yes! My daughter!
Cai Wanzi: Father! How could it be you?
King Chujiang: Yes! My daughter! When you were learning pharmacology and medicine in the past, you should not have been satisfied with half-knowledge. When you did not understand, you should have asked.
Cai Wanzi: I did not dare to ask.
King Chujiang: This needle—if you get the acupuncture point right, it is fine, but if you get it wrong, you could cost someone their life.
Practitioner Su: You all practice acupuncture? Does it work? You must be honest.
King Chujiang: It actually works.
Practitioner Su: It only clears the blockages in their meridians, right?
King Chujiang: "Sometimes it is qi stagnation, and sometimes it is blood stasis. If the qi is cleared, it can actually be effective, but this depends on one's level of skill. The depth of the needle insertion is the first thing; one must be able to hit the acupuncture point accurately. Furthermore, the depth of the needle is crucial, and when manipulating the needle, the force must also be controlled appropriately."
Practitioner Su: "So, let us talk about acupuncture. Even for traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, are illnesses not all caused by spiritual obstacles?"
King Chujiang: "It is only after listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma that one realises physical pain and illness are indeed caused by spiritual obstacles."
Practitioner Su: "Therefore, a doctor must have medical ethics and perform many good deeds. Otherwise, will their also attach themselves to the doctor?"
King Chujiang: "Now that Practitioner Su has mentioned it, I look back and verify the past. Yes, they will come to me. They certainly will!"
Practitioner Su: "You have also been subjected to spiritual attachment, have you not?"
King Chujiang: "Yes, and it brings great discomfort. Because of this, some who practise acupuncture now will sometimes chant Namo Amituofo to clear these attachments."
Practitioner Su: "Chanting Namo Amituofo is one way. Now, consider this: if you earn one hundred dollars, after taking what you need for your living expenses, if you give the rest away through Generosity, these beings cannot come after you! That is what I have heard from others."
King Chujiang: "That is true! Indeed, if one practises medicine to save the world, one will not be found by these beings. But if the purpose is solely to make money, one must naturally face the karmic retribution."
Practitioner Su: "Exactly. I have seen many doctors who treat others, yet their own faces turn grey—this is common in traditional Chinese medicine. If one earns only enough to eat and gives the rest away, these beings will not bother them. But if one keeps all the money for their descendants, these beings will all remain attached to them."
King Chujiang: "Indeed! This is the Truth of the universe. Every debt has a creditor, and every wrong has a source."
Practitioner Su: "It is truly terrifying! King Chujiang, you must bear witness to this. Now, does your daughter, Cai Wanzi, know how to chant Namo Amituofo? While you were practising as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, did you ever hear the Dharma talks at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land?"
Cai Wanzi: "I have! I have! I often hear 'Namo Amituofo,' and I have even heard the word 'Buddha'—" (she elongates the final syllable with effort).
Practitioner Su: "Then, do you all wish to go? Your father is going to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! He is currently the King of the Second Hell."
Cai Wanzi: "Can I go with my father?"
Practitioner Su: "You must go with your mother now and take care of her. Your mother, Cai Luyu, is already on a lotus seat."
Cai Wanzi: "My mother is already there."
Practitioner Su: "Together, then. Good. I will place you on a lotus seat first, and you shall listen to the sutras for one week. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not fall into the animal realm. Rebirth in the Pure Land, a complete transformation of body and mind, ascend the lotus seat. Covered!"
(To King Chujiang) "Are there any others who need Chao Du? My Buddha's compassion is difficult to encounter in millions of years."
King Chujiang: "I have three daughters."
Practitioner Su: "Oh! Three daughters. In which realm are they?"
King Chujiang: "One daughter is in the animal realm, as a pig. That is my eldest daughter."
Practitioner Su: "What is her name?"
King Chujiang: (Writes down the name: Cai Meijun) "This is the eldest daughter, a pig, in the animal realm. The second daughter is in the ghost realm, selling sewing kits; she loves embroidery." (Writes down the name: Cai Ruyun) "The youngest daughter is a little bird." (Writes down the name: Cai Ziling) "Originally, I had hoped for a son, but when she was born, she was still a daughter."
Practitioner Su: "Oh! So she is called Cai Ziling. In the past, there was also a preference for sons over daughters."
King Chujiang: "Indeed! In the past, one had to have a son to carry on the family line!"
Practitioner Su: "Very well. My Buddha's compassion—now, let us call the eldest daughter who is a pig, Cai Meijun. Her father is Cai Zhengming."
Cai Meijun: (Makes the sound of a pig)
Practitioner Su: "Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not fall into the animal realm. Please ascend the lotus seat. Namo Amituofo. Take off your clothes, open the zipper, Namo Amituofo."
(To the fellow practitioner beside her) "Give her some Buddha-water to drink."
(Asking Cai Meijun) "How did you end up as a pig?"
(To King Chujiang) "You are the King of the Second Hell, yet you could not save her?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, each person must bear the karma they have created. How could I save her? This is the Truth. If it were not for the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land and my Buddha's compassion, I truly could not have saved her."
Practitioner Su: "You see? Without my Buddha's compassion, there is no way to save them. His daughter became a pig, and he could not save her. Very well, come now. Her name is Cai Meijun. Your father is here, Cai Zhengming is here."
Cai Meijun: "Father."
Practitioner Su: "How did you end up as a pig? Tell us about it."
Cai Meijun: "Why did I become a pig? I was chasing—in my dream, I was chasing a chicken, chasing, chasing, chasing. I wanted to catch the chicken, catch the chicken, catch the chicken. I kept chasing and ran right into it. How did I end up as a pig?"
Practitioner Su: "Pigs represent ignorance. How did you end up as a pig? What ignorant things did you do in the world? Tell everyone! Speaking of it can help eliminate your sins. Your father is here; repent to your father!"
Cai Meijun: "I thought I was very clever. I was smarter than my sisters! Whatever they could do, I could do too. Why? I felt a sense of injustice."
Practitioner Su: "You were jealous of your own sister! Jealousy is ignorance. That is why you became a pig. You were all one family, yet you thought you were right and hurt your sister. Your heart was too small; no wonder you became a pig!"
(To King Chujiang) "Is it true that such ignorance leads to becoming a pig, King Chujiang?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, it is good that my daughter has spoken her heart. Actually, in the beginning, my eldest daughter also intended to learn medicine from me. However, to learn medicine, one must know the properties of herbs. Sometimes it requires cutting; the medicinal materials must be sliced, and some must be dried. My third daughter was more diligent, but the eldest would always work for a little while, then complain that the work was too heavy and return to her room to rest. So, when it came to learning medicine, she lacked patience."
Practitioner Su: "Exactly! And she was jealous too."
King Chujiang: "So she would try to avoid it as much as possible, always making excuses to return to her own chambers. Or she would claim she was sick and needed to rest, using illness as a pretext. Sometimes she would say, 'Oh! I am truly exhausted.'"
Practitioner Su: "Lazy and selfish. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Just like us in our practice, we cannot be lazy; it only harms ourselves."
King Chujiang: "Because of this, although her Wisdom was not inferior to her sisters, she used her cleverness in the wrong place."
Practitioner Su: "It is like saying, 'I don't need to do anything, I already know it,' but in the end, she knew nothing. If you do not study the medicinal materials, people could die if they take them, yet you still dared to feel a sense of injustice! You must be careful. Look at the cause and the fruit. Because of your calculating nature, you suffered and became a pig. Yet, your father has saved you! Now your mother is here; your mother, Cai Luyu, is above. Do you see her? Go to the Western Land with your mother. Ascend the lotus seat first and listen to the sutras so you can understand the Truth. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not fall into the animal realm. Please ascend the lotus seat. Amituofo. Now, let us call the second daughter, Cai Ruyun, the one who sells sewing kits."
Practitioner Xian: "Cai Ruyun has arrived."
Cai Ruyun: "Who is calling me? I am very busy with my business! I just finished embroidering a pair of mandarin ducks today. I am very busy; I have many customers, and I am negotiating business with them."
King Chujiang: "Daughter, child Ruyun!"
Practitioner Su: "Do you see that your father, Cai Zhengming, is here?"
Cai Ruyun: "Father, why do you look so majestic today? Your clothes are different, too."
Practitioner Su: "Your father is now the King of the Second Hell!"
Cai Ruyun: "He has become a King of Hell?"
Practitioner Su: "He has accumulated enough Goodness! Unlike you, who have not accumulated enough Goodness, selling sewing kits."
Cai Ruyun: "Why have I never seen Father in the underworld?"
King Chujiang: "Stop embroidering. Child Ruyun, stop embroidering."
Cai Ruyun: "But I embroidered it so beautifully, and I am in the middle of a business deal. Someone wants to buy my mandarin ducks."
Practitioner Su: "Is it because there is no sun or moon in the ghost realm? Look at your mother over there, and your second sister and eldest sister."
Cai Ruyun: "Why is everyone here today?"
Practitioner Su: "You are enjoying the merit of your father, which allows you to go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Look at how bright the West is; do you see it? You can go there—what do you need sewing kits for?"
Cai Ruyun: "It is so beautiful! I want to go, I want to go!"
Practitioner Su: "Ascend the lotus seat first and listen to the sutras with your mother."
Cai Ruyun: "But I want to talk to Father. Father, my embroidery is truly excellent."
King Chujiang: "Child Ruyun, what you are most proud of is your great skill, isn't it?"
Cai Ruyun: "Yes! Every time Father praised my embroidery, that was when I was happiest."
King Chujiang: "A true young lady of the house."
Cai Ruyun: "Yes! That is me! Father loves me the most."
King Chujiang: "Father loves you, so you must listen. Child Ruyun, do not embroider anymore."
Cai Ruyun: "I cannot embroider anymore? Why?"
King Chujiang: "Child, do not be deluded anymore."
Practitioner Su: "Strange, are none of your four daughters married? None of them?"
King Chujiang: "Indeed, they are not married. Do you know why they are not married?"
Practitioner Su: "Hahaha! King Chujiang, do you have too many prison guards? Otherwise, our Renhao would be sleeping."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, it is not easy to interview the King of Hell! Naturally, the prison guards all want to come and watch, to listen in."
Practitioner Su: "Even if they are watching, they must follow the rules and take good care of Renhao."
King Chujiang: "They can hear more clearly when they are closer to Renhao."
Practitioner Su: "Then let me ask you, none of your four daughters are married?"
King Chujiang: "Do you know why they did not marry?"
Cai Ruyun: "I wanted to stay by Father's side. I love Father the most."
Practitioner Su: "Very well. Father is going to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Are you going or not?"
Cai Ruyun: "Of course I am going! I want to follow Father. But why now... am I not supposed to be by Father's side?"
Practitioner Su: "You cannot. He still has to work; he has cases to handle!"
Cai Ruyun: "Why handle cases?"
Practitioner Su: "Because we are saving the world. Don't you see? It is not like your life in the ghost realm, living for yourself by selling sewing kits."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, my daughters are still very good at acting spoiled."
Cai Ruyun: "Father, Father, I am happiest when I see Father. Father loves me the most."
Practitioner Su: "Hahaha! Namo Amituofo."
Cai Ruyun: "Why would I need to marry? Being by Father's side is the happiest thing."
Practitioner Su: "Very well. Now, I will place you on a lotus seat to listen to the sutras so you can understand what life and death are. Stay with your mother first. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not fall into the animal realm. Please ascend the lotus seat. The youngest daughter is a little bird; her name is Cai Ziling, and her father is Cai Zhengming."
Cai Ziling: (Makes the chirping sound of a little bird)
Practitioner Su: "Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not fall into the animal realm." (Turning to the fellow practitioner beside her) "Give him some water. Remove the clothing. Namo Amituofo. The Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo can transcend all space. How did you end up as a little bird? Cai Ziling."
Cai Ziling: "I love to chirp and chatter, on and on, and I love to complain. I hate my older sister, and Father always loved my third sister the most."
Practitioner Su: "Third sister is a good girl."
Cai Ziling: "But I love Father too. I love to act spoiled, and he likes it when I act spoiled. So I would just chirp and chatter, on and on, hoping Father would notice me."
Practitioner Su: "And so you became a little bird. Alright! Do you want to say something to your father? Or should you ascend the lotus seat first?"
Cai Ziling: "Father, I love you the most."
King Chujiang: "Father knows, Father knows, my child Ziling!"
Cai Ziling: "Yes, Father!"
King Chujiang: "You must listen to your father's counsel. You must chant Namo Amituofo, you must chant Namo Amituofo!"
Cai Ziling: "What is the benefit of Namo Amituofo?"
Practitioner Su: "Only then can you be with your family forever!"
King Chujiang: "Child Ziling, if you chant Namo Amituofo, you can be with Father forever!"
Cai Ziling: "Really! Then I will chant the Buddha's name constantly, I will keep chanting, I will keep chanting Namo Amituofo."
Practitioner Su: "To love one's father so deeply. Ascend the lotus seat first. Do you see your mother over there?"
Cai Ziling: "Oh! Why is Mother here today? But I want to be by Father's side."
Practitioner Su: "You must go up first, listen to the sutras, and then we shall talk. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not fall into the animal realm. Rebirth in the Pure Land, a complete transformation of body and mind. Cover him! King Chujiang, your family members will all be saved through the compassion of the Buddha during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony. Now, I would like to ask you: you were a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine; what were you in your previous life that allowed you to become a physician?"
King Chujiang: "In my previous life, I was a simple farmer."
Practitioner Su: "A farmer, someone who worked the land. You were also filial, were you not?"
King Chujiang: "Of course. In the human world, filial piety is the first of all virtues."
Practitioner Su: "I have heard it said that only through filial piety can one become a true physician."
King Chujiang: "To use the ways of Heaven, to share in the benefits of the Earth, to be disciplined in one's conduct and frugal in one's needs, all to provide for one's parents—this is the filial duty of a commoner."
Practitioner Su: "Filial piety is the first of all virtues; only then can one be a farmer. It is this simplicity that provides the opportunity for study, which in turn allows one to become a good physician. You must have also had a great fondness for medicinal herbs."
King Chujiang: "Indeed! I was a farmer, but what set me apart from the others was this: every day before I went to work in the fields, I would always walk along the roadside to observe the plants, identifying which was this medicinal herb and which was that. This was because my wife's family had some knowledge of pharmacology. Once, when I was injured—I was accidentally bitten by a snake—my wife immediately pounded some herbs and applied them to my wound. The wound healed naturally and very quickly. From that time on, my wife would sometimes have me accompany her to gather herbs in the mountains. So, whenever we were not busy with farm work, we would go up the mountain to gather herbs. We would also dry them in our courtyard. At that time, many people were suffering from an affliction where they would break out in bumps all over their bodies."
Practitioner Su: "They were ill, with bumps all over their bodies? Was it something toxic?"
King Chujiang: "It was just like what people call a rash. We would extract the roots of this plant—what is known as 'cogongrass root'—and have them boil it. At first, they did not know how, so my wife and I would work together to boil this detoxifying root soup for them to drink. After they drank it for three consecutive days, it was incredibly effective."
Practitioner Su: "Was it that kind of rash? Measles, that kind that looks long and white?"
King Chujiang: "Yes, yes! That is the one."
Practitioner Su: "That is measles. Measles causes a fever, you know!"
King Chujiang: "We called it 'breaking out in spots'!"
Practitioner Su: "That is wonderful! You were doing good deeds. One must do many good deeds; accumulating virtue allows one to become a good physician!"
King Chujiang: "Because my wife's family had passed down some knowledge, I was able to do these things and help the people in the entire village. Otherwise, because it was easily transmissible—at the time, we did not know why it spread—many would have suffered. It was precisely because we understood herbs that we were able to save many people."
Practitioner Su: "A heart of compassion to save the world naturally manifests. You became a physician because you had good . Now, let us return to the main topic. When you were sixty-nine—that is, looking back from your one hundred and fifty-six years as a prison guard—did you ever descend into the hells?"
King Chujiang: "As the King of the First Hall just mentioned, in truth, every hall is connected by certain karmic conditions. I was once a general."
Practitioner Su: "You were a general in the past? A great general?"
King Chujiang: "I served as a great general."
Practitioner Su: "Which country were you a general for? How many lives back was this, counting from the one hundred and fifty-six years?"
King Chujiang: "It was approximately my ninth life. Practitioner Su, this general life was not the ninth. The general wants me to speak of the part where I saw myself as a general; the general has a karmic connection with this person here." (Pointing to Practitioner Yu Chan)
Practitioner Su: "It has a connection with Jiang Yu Chan?"
King Chujiang: "It has a connection with Yu Chan. Furthermore, regarding my ninth life, in that life, I was also a physician. Let me speak of my ninth life first, and then I will speak of the general's life. I was a physician, the kind who carried his medicine kit to practice, and I also had a small herbal shop."
Practitioner Su: "So you were treating people's illnesses."
King Chujiang: "A small herbal shop. Some women would come—most of them were housekeepers for wealthy families, some were the 'first wives' of prominent men, and others were ordinary civilians or respectable women—they would come to me to obtain a certain medicine. This medicine of mine was quite special."
Practitioner Su: "What kind of medicine was it?"
King Chujiang: "What was known in the past, and what people today call abortion medicine."
Practitioner Su: "You should not have given that to people. Giving that to others carries great sin and karmic consequences. Because a fetus comes into this world with a purpose, to abort it is a sin!"
King Chujiang: "At the time, I did not know that I should not provide it. For instance, when a woman came to me—I would look at her face and see a kind woman—crying and saying her daughter had been raped and was pregnant, would you say I should give it to her or not? Of course, I had to give it to her! Or the 'first wife' would tell me that a concubine was pregnant—they would tell me this because we were familiar—and she wanted to induce an abortion by putting medicine in the concubine's food. A housekeeper might be a maid who fell in love with the master, and the housekeeper, following the mistress's orders, would buy medicine to poison the maid. There were too many cases of women being poisoned and miscarrying, suffering massive hemorrhaging and dying."
Practitioner Su: "So you took many lives through abortion. Chinese medicine can be very toxic, too! Taking medicine to induce an abortion is terrifying!"
King Chujiang: "Some Chinese medicines are indeed like that. At the time, this was not something that could be spread around casually."
Practitioner Su: "Many doctors today who do not believe in the laws of karma do not realize this. Abortion carries karmic consequences because it is a life!"
King Chujiang: "Abortion is a modern phenomenon; back then, it was done through herbal medicine. In the human world today, Western medicine is more common, using external force to remove the fetus. All of this carries sin."
Practitioner Su: "That is correct! It all carries sin. I saw a Western doctor in our neighborhood who later closed his practice; many children were clinging to him—there were many infant spirits. You say you provided abortions, and later you died and fell into the hells. Is that what you mean?"
King Chujiang: "At the time, my intention was actually to help people. How was I to know that I was also harming infant spirits?"
Practitioner Su: "If someone is pregnant now and you remove the fetus, it is a sin—it is a life. How many hells did you fall into?"
King Chujiang: "The Hemolysis Hell, which is the Blood Pool Hell. So, the karmic conditions are such that one must know that no life can be harmed! Especially by using medicine to injure them."
Practitioner Su: "That is true. How long were you in the hells before you came out?"
King Chujiang: "It was truly agonizing, coming up from the hells."
Practitioner Su: "Did you go into the animal realm? After coming out of the hells, did you become any kind of animal?"
King Chujiang: "I was in the blood, in the human bloodstream, as a blood cell—a red blood cell."
Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo! Wow! The sin was that heavy! Today, civilization diseases like red blood cell disorders—Namo Amituofo! How did you eventually get out?"
King Chujiang: "Fortunately, I was in this person's body. This person was also studying Buddhism and believed in the Buddha. Practitioner Su, this matter is very important! The beings in the blood of the human body in this world—there are what are called red blood cell diseases and white blood cell diseases. I was a red blood cell disease. Think of how many red blood cell diseases there are! I happened to be in the bloodstream, and because I said that at the time my heart had no evil intentions, I did not know that I was harming people in that way."
"When I was a red blood cell in this person's body, this person went to a temple one day to listen to the monastics give teachings. He was also a practitioner, also studying Buddhism, and that was how I was able to hear the Buddha's teachings through his pores and within his body. It was also because of this that when this person's character truly turned toward Goodness, I no longer had to be busy running back and forth in the bloodstream. Otherwise, I was always running back and forth in the blood."
Practitioner Su: "You were in his bloodstream; how did you eventually get out?"
King Chujiang: "I came out when he had his final thought, chanting the Buddha's name to be reborn in the Western Pure Land."
Practitioner Su: "I see. At that moment of chanting, was the Buddha-name also Namo Amituofo? Only then would it have that power!"
King Chujiang: "That is right! Although I was in his physical body, it was equivalent to him chanting that 'Namo Amituofo,' which opened up the entire space. Therefore, he also saved billions of beings in his blood!"
Practitioner Su: "Oh my! Namo Amituofo! Let me ask you, what is a white blood cell disease? Is there no blood? What kind of karma creates that?"
King Chujiang: "I do not understand; I do not know what white blood cell disease is. I only know that when I passed by them, their speed seemed much faster than ours. Every time I paid special attention, we were also moving very, very fast, but it was never enough, never enough, because what we encountered was not necessarily the same. The one we encountered now might not be the same as the next one we encountered; it seems we never really met them."
Practitioner Su: "You said that when you were a red blood cell, you entered this person's body. Did you enter naturally, or were you already inside when he was born?"
King Chujiang: "I was already inside his body when he was born."
Practitioner Su: "You were inside from the moment he was born. Are you sharing Collective Karma with this person?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, that is a good question! I am sharing Collective Karma with this person."
Practitioner Su: "What is the nature of the Collective Karma you share with that person? Was he also the one who provided you with medicine in the past?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, he is the very housekeeper who bought the medicine for me!"
Practitioner Su: "Ah! Oh! This Causal Condition is truly terrifying!"
King Chujiang: "Because the housekeeper was also loyal to the master."
Practitioner Su: "So, out of loyalty to the master, she helped with the abortions. Later, the housekeeper reincarnated as a human, and because you share this Collective Karma, your spirit waited for her to be born. As soon as she had a body, you entered her bloodstream, wandering within it. This is what is called polycythemia—a terminal illness, is it not?"
King Chujiang: "That is correct! I entered her bloodstream, and it was precisely because of that magnificent Namo Amituofo that I was saved and able to depart!"
Practitioner Su: "After you emerged from the housekeeper, did you reincarnate again?"
King Chujiang: "I reincarnated as a human once more."
Practitioner Su: "Were you born as a woman or a man?"
King Chujiang: "I reincarnated as a woman."
Practitioner Su: "You said your ninth life was in the hells, so that would be your eighth life?"
King Chujiang: "The ninth life was in the hells; the eighth life was as a red blood cell within the housekeeper's body."
Practitioner Su: "Then there is the seventh life. You were a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine for several lives, including as Cai Zhengming."
King Chujiang: "Indeed! Because of this Alaya consciousness, once an improper thought arises, the karmic retribution is endless. That is why I have such a natural affinity for traditional Chinese medicine and herbs."
Practitioner Su: "Yes, you see, it has been going on for nine lives. It is truly terrifying!"
King Chujiang: "And it all happens so naturally, so very naturally."
Practitioner Su: "It is indeed terrifying. May I ask, within these nine lives, have you ever been in the animal realm?"
King Chujiang: "I was once an ox."
Practitioner Su: "Was that because you owed someone a debt? Reincarnating as an ox is to repay debts. Did you have a debt to someone that caused you to become an ox? What kind of debt was it? We must clarify this. King Chujiang, please provide some guidance to the people of this world; every single detail is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect, and one must face the consequences."
King Chujiang: "Buying rice, buying rice—I had not repaid the money for the rice, and there was also grain that remained unpaid."
Practitioner Su: "So, you borrowed money and grain but never repaid them, and after you died, you had to become an ox. How long did you serve as an ox?"
King Chujiang: "I spent one lifetime as an ox to repay that debt!"
Practitioner Su: "Oh! Everything must be repaid; it is all so subtle. Today, King Chujiang of the Second Hall, you must give us some teachings. Your story today is truly remarkable! Your family—including your four daughters and your wife, five people in total—only your son is currently human, yet he cannot be saved from the cycle of rebirth, and your family members are all trapped in samsara. Today, you have attained the position of King Chujiang, and through the compassion of the Buddha, the family members I have interviewed can all be saved and delivered from the cycle of rebirth. Today, you have saved your wife and daughters, allowing them to be reborn in the Western Pure Land."
King Chujiang: "Every bite and every sip is preordained. Any mental note that creates evil must face its karmic retribution. Only by keeping the heart pure—pure and filled with Goodness—can one avoid the retribution of samsara! The Buddha’s teachings are magnificent! The power of Namo Amituofo transcends space and time; it is vast and incomparable!"
Practitioner Su: "That is true! Understanding the six-character name, Namo Amituofo, can save many people."
King Chujiang: "When one is human, one should seize the Causal Conditions. Just as when I was the spirit of a red blood cell, I received the benefit of this person chanting Namo Amituofo, which allowed me to be reborn and receive a human body. People in this world must understand the laws of karma and cause and effect in everything they do; the laws of karma are terrifying! Namo Amituofo."
Practitioner Su: "Indeed, Namo Amituofo. Xiuli, do you have any other questions?"
Xiuli: "May I ask King Chujiang a question?"
Practitioner Su: "Please, go ahead."
Xiuli: "I am quite curious about the red blood cells. I never imagined that red blood cells also contain spirits reincarnated into the blood. So, there are so many red blood cells in the blood, which means there are so many sentient beings within the blood? Wow! That is truly countless and immeasurable."
Practitioner Su: "Did we not say there are fifty trillion cells in our bodies?"
Xiuli: "Yes! So, the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets—each and every one of them is a spirit! May I ask, does a 'lifetime' refer to the lifespan of a red blood cell? In medical terms, it is about 120 days, after which it naturally breaks down and the cell decomposes. Is that considered one lifetime?"
King Chujiang: "Yes. What you described—the red blood cell naturally splitting and dissolving after 120 days—is what we call 'death,' the death of the body! Then, new red blood cells are born. In fact, in terms of space, the spirit moves to another red blood cell; it is the same process. Because the red blood cell ruptures after 120 days, as I just mentioned, red blood cells can never meet the same white blood cells twice. Do you understand now?"
Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo. Creating karma is truly terrifying!"
King Chujiang: "Therefore, Practitioner Su, the point is that chanting Namo Amituofo can transcend space and help so many beings. This is the important reason I wanted to speak about this. The Buddha-name is vast and incomparable; you must cherish it!"
Practitioner Su: "Indeed, the six-character name 'Namo Amituofo' is now revealed."
King Chujiang: "So, you see, when a red blood cell is undergoing its retribution, if it did not have this Namo Amituofo, it would simply be replaced every 120 days. In this space, it is the spirit of a red blood cell; that is the nature of these sentient beings. Because it is within this person's body, the replacement of cells is just a natural phenomenon, but the spirit moves as quickly as if it were riding the red blood cell. Does this answer your question, Practitioner Cai?"
Xiuli: "Yes. Thank you, King Chujiang, for explaining the red blood cells. Taking refuge in the power of the holy name of Namo Amituofo can save many people."
King Chujiang: "Therefore, Practitioner Su, the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land is truly magnificent beyond compare!"
Practitioner Su: "It is. Now, to save the world, the Causal Conditions are magnificent. Namo Amituofo has come to save those in suffering. That is why you are being interviewed today; you can save many people, and they will finally understand that the illnesses in their bodies are all caused by sentient beings."
King Chujiang: "Many people do not study the Buddha’s teachings and do not know the laws of karma and cause and effect. They are born with a body of karmic retribution, coming here to settle their debts."
Practitioner Su: "Very well, we have now written memorial tablets for your wife and four daughters."
King Chujiang: "I am grateful, Practitioner Su."
Practitioner Su: "For now, they will listen to the sutras at the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land. On Sunday, through the compassion of the Buddha, I will safely escort them to the Western Land. When the Buddha’s compassion leads me to depart, we will all go to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss together with the Ten Kings of Hell."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, do you know that these daughters are the ones I poisoned in the past?"
Practitioner Su: "Oh! So those you poisoned and aborted have come to be your daughters?"
King Chujiang: "Now you understand why they have never married; they came to collect a debt!"
Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo. Yes, that is why they never married. Very well, let us chant the Buddha-name ten times to send off King Chujiang. Today’s Causal Conditions were magnificent; I am very happy!"
(Practitioner Su leads the fellow practitioners in chanting the name of Namo Amituofo ten times to send off King Chujiang of the Second Hall.)
Revisiting the King of Hell: King Chujiang of the Second Hall
August 4, 2015
Practitioner Su: "We respectfully invite King Chujiang of the Second Hall. Namo Amituofo."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, Namo Amituofo."
Practitioner Su: "Congratulations! Many of your family members have gone to the Western Land. Are there one or two left in the Second Hall? You should counsel them."
Fellow Practitioner: "The family members of the Second Hall have either gone to the Western Land or the heavenly realm."
Practitioner Su: "Congratulations, King Chujiang! All of your family members have been reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss or the heavenly realm."
King Chujiang: "I am grateful to Practitioner Su."
Practitioner Su: "You must be grateful for the compassion of the Buddha. I had overlooked this before. You mentioned that you were a general in the past and that you saw you had a connection with this person (pointing to Yuchan), and now you are attached to his body. In which life were you a general?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, that was in the ninth life. I just mentioned that I was a physician, but I also said that the ninth life was as a general. Yuchan’s ninth life was also as a general in the Northern Song Dynasty."
Practitioner Su: "He was also a general in the Northern Song Dynasty. You both have a connection; you were with Yuchan in the past, is that right?"
King Chujiang: "That is how it was. The Emperor of the Northern Song was once captured by the Jin soldiers. I said I had a connection with Yuchan because when I was a general, Yuchan was also a general. To protect the Emperor, we ended up losing the entire army. At that time, the entire Song army was wiped out, and even the Emperor later jumped off a cliff and died. I mentioned my connection with Yuchan because my eighth life happened to be Yuchan’s ninth life. I had a meeting with him. When speaking of lives (space and time), there will always be discrepancies and inaccuracies, so when I say ninth life or eighth life, I am referring to the relationship with Yuchan."
Practitioner Su: "Oh! Were you both fighting while protecting your respective masters?"
King Chujiang: "Yes. But during the battle, we were both highly skilled in martial arts—we were both commanders leading our armies. Because our martial arts were evenly matched, we fought several times, until we were forced off our horses."
Practitioner Su: "And then you continued fighting on foot, is that right?"
King Chujiang: "Yes. At that time, I only knew that I wanted the other's head; I wanted to put him to death. I did not pay any special attention to anything else. After returning to the camp, before going to sleep, his image would always appear so vividly in my mind. Why did this person keep appearing in my mind? It was such a deep impression, such a deep impression—it was an indescribable sense of familiarity. But at the time, we were each protecting our own masters. I belonged to the Jin army, and Yuchan belonged to the Song army, a general of the Northern Song. I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. At that time, my confidant—Practitioner Su, my confidant saw that it was late at night and the lamp in my tent was still on, so he came to check on me and asked, 'What is the matter?' I said, 'Actually, I have already lain down and wanted to get some good rest, but I keep tossing and turning, and this person's image keeps appearing. And what is inconceivable is that I clearly saw that he would die, but I do not know why...'"
Practitioner Su: "You said Yuchan would die, but did he not die in the end?"
King Chujiang: "I saw his future, but because we were serving different Emperors and were facing each other as enemies, I could not understand why I felt so particularly..."
Practitioner Su: "May I ask, King Chujiang, Yuchan was a general of the Song army, but what about you?"
King Chujiang: "I was a general of the Jin army. At that time, the Emperor was Huizong of the Northern Song. He was trapped, and I already knew he would die. But without realizing it, a sense of sorrow arose in my heart. Because of the familiarity with him, sorrow arose, but I could not offer any advice or hints."
Practitioner Su: "You thought of the sense of familiarity you had with him, so you could not sleep. What happened next?"
King Chujiang: "My trusted confidant, seeing my distress, devised a plan: 'Why not lure him near our camp during tomorrow's battle and speak with him then?' My confidant added, 'General, you have your ways, you certainly have your ways.' Because my confidant was so resourceful, I trusted him. So, when we fought again the next day, I feigned defeat, drawing only Yuchan in. Driven by his competitive spirit, he pursued me until his horse stopped. He dismounted, and I led him into a nearby dilapidated house."
"Yuchan was a fierce warrior. Even though the door was old and broken, he pushed it open with great force. When he saw me, and noticed that the area was deserted, he seemed to lower his guard. I lowered my sword, pointing the hilt downward, and said, 'General, this is...' I spoke slowly. At first, he tried to capture me, but I gestured for him to stop and said, 'I asked you here because I have something to tell you.' He replied, 'Since we are opposing armies, what is there to advise? We should each protect our own masters and remain loyal to our respective Emperors. What kind of advice could you possibly have?' But as we spoke, the atmosphere gradually softened. He seemed to realise I held no hostility, and his anger began to dissipate."
"I said to him: 'I know your martial skills are extraordinary; I am certainly no match for you. But there is one thing I must tell you: you must be careful!' I was blunt. After returning to camp, I could not sleep; I was tossing and turning. 'I have seen your fate, and I know you are loyal to the imperial court. That is why I came to ask you to stop this endless killing.' I knew that saying this would not change much, but I had to speak the truth. Furthermore, I told him that we seemed to share a deep sense of familiarity."
Practitioner Su: "Did Yuchan feel it too?"
King Chujiang: "At first, when I told him he would die, he angrily retorted, 'Why should I easily believe your words?' But later, when I mentioned the sense of familiarity, he seemed to look at me properly for the first time."
Practitioner Su: "It seems there was a sense of familiarity, indeed!"
King Chujiang: "Yes! After our eyes met, we both realised it. We sat down properly, and for a long time, neither of us said a word, but it seemed..."
Practitioner Su: "Heart to heart, a meeting of hearts."
King Chujiang: "Exactly, a sense of familiarity, heart to heart."
Practitioner Su: "Yuchan felt the familiarity, and you felt it too, is that right?"
King Chujiang: "Yes! In terms of current time, we sat there for about a quarter of an hour, I suppose."
Practitioner Su: "Fifteen minutes."
King Chujiang: "We didn't speak a word. Then, for some reason, images surfaced in my mind—I saw that in a past life, he and I were brothers."
Practitioner Su: "Oh my! Namo Amituofo. Did Yuchan know?"
King Chujiang: "At the time, I didn't check if he knew. I only knew he was my elder brother. I reached out and held his hand, saying, 'General, you are my brother from a past life, a brother with whom I shared everything. We depended on each other for survival, and for some reason, that memory is particularly vivid right now.' As I held his hand, the fierce, murderous general began to soften. It was as if that single touch made him understand everything. But my brother, Yuchan, replied, 'No matter what happened in the past, since I am a subject, I must remain loyal and follow orders.'"
"So, he had to fight to the end. That was that. I did not return to the battlefield. Other generals came to support the army, and as I had predicted, the entire force was wiped out in the valley. I knew the terrain of that valley; it was easy to surround them, and the Northern Song soldiers were completely annihilated."
Practitioner Su: "Oh my! Namo Amituofo!"
King Chujiang: "I was not in that battle; I was slightly unwell at the time."
Practitioner Su: "The Song army was wiped out, including Yuchan, is that right?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, what I want to say is that when you give Dharma talks and speak of the Alaya consciousness, and when that consciousness manifests and connects with someone—it is truly, absolutely certain. I don't know about Yuchan himself, but at the time, I said as much. In truth, I wasn't really loyal to the country; although I acted out of private emotion, I still felt a sense of guilt in my heart."
Practitioner Su: "This is truly tragic! To be honest, people are different in every lifetime. So you say Yuchan was your brother in the past. Now you are King Chujiang of the Second Hall, and Yuchan is at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, also working to save the world. Both of you are doing the same work of salvation. This past life connection is truly..."
King Chujiang: "One should counsel one's past-life brother to cherish this current life."
Practitioner Su: "But it is too late, isn't it? According to what you say, King Chujiang, did you have a premonition, or did you see it when you were a Jin soldier?"
King Chujiang: "At the time, it seemed to surface on its own, it was as if..."
Practitioner Su: "You were shown visions. Yuchan sees visions now, too. Is it because you two brothers studied these things in the past?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, you mean for me to look into the time when he and I depended on each other?"
Practitioner Su: "Yes. Did you lose your parents when you were young?"
King Chujiang: (Nods)
Practitioner Su: "Oh! Depending on each other. Did both of you learn martial arts? Did you practice?"
King Chujiang: "At that time, there was a kind woman who saw us doing odd jobs. We were young and could only help carry firewood or do small tasks. This woman had a kind heart and advised us: 'Since this is the case, why not go to the temple in the mountains?' She said that in the mountain temple, we would have food to eat, wouldn't have to work so hard, and could learn to read. Learning to read meant someone would teach us. Seeing that we were obedient and hardworking children, she asked us to go help out at a small temple."
Practitioner Su: "Did you learn meditation?"
King Chujiang: "We did. When we first went, my brother and I were very happy because we had three meals a day. We were very willing to work, and the Master was very good to us. As for what you call Zen meditation, we were just children then."
Practitioner Su: "How old were you? How old was your brother?"
King Chujiang: "He was eleven, and I was ten."
Practitioner Su: "One year apart. What were your names then? Write them down. What was your brother's name?"
King Chujiang: (Writes down: Chen Fuxing)
Practitioner Su: "The brother is Chen Fuxing, and the younger brother?"
King Chujiang: (Writes down: Chen Xuemin)
Practitioner Su: "Did you learn martial arts there later? Could your meditation allow you to travel through the universe?"
King Chujiang: "At first, sitting was just for fun. When I meditated, I was always thinking about things. My brother was more studious; I was just playing around. After a while, we stayed in the temple. By the time my brother was fifteen, four years later, he seemed to have confidence in meditation. I just accompanied him. Because the Master's teachings became better and better, we were able to stop our minds from wandering so much."
Practitioner Su: "Did you become monastics? Both of you?"
King Chujiang: "We shaved our heads."
Practitioner Su: "Not fully ordained, just shaved heads."
King Chujiang: "Just shaved heads. The Master said it was cooler, for cooling off—Practitioner Su, you understand."
Practitioner Su: "Haha! That's right! Your brother meditated very well."
King Chujiang: "Four years later, my brother became interested in meditation because I saw him still meditating even after returning to his quarters. He would sit for a while longer. I would lie down and fall asleep immediately. When I woke up, my brother was already meditating. He went to bed later than me and woke up earlier. That's how it was. What you call the spirit leaving the body?"
Practitioner Su: "Could your brother's spirit stay out for a week, or two or three days? Or a month? That is the practice of the Four Dhyanas and Eight Samadhis."
King Chujiang: "Later, when my brother meditated, it was for two weeks."
Practitioner Su: "Two weeks, that is very impressive!"
King Chujiang: "My brother was twenty-eight at the time."
Practitioner Su: "Twenty-eight years old and could sit for two weeks. How long could you sit?"
King Chujiang: "I think I could sit for three to four days."
Practitioner Su: "Why didn't you learn as well as your brother, to sit for two weeks?"
King Chujiang: "I said I thought it was just for fun; I wasn't particularly interested. I just felt my body needed to move after a while. Later, I didn't seem to have any particular breakthrough."
Practitioner Su: "Only your brother had a breakthrough."
King Chujiang: "Because he went to bed later and woke up earlier than me, and he did his chores quite quickly. Once finished, he would listen to the Master. The small temple didn't have many people, and the Master seemed to love my brother even more than me."
Practitioner Su: "The abbot was compassionate! So your brother was very good at meditation."
King Chujiang: "It wasn't that he was 'good', he was just diligent. I wasn't diligent; if I had been diligent, I would have been stronger than my brother!"
Practitioner Su: "Oh! Did you spend your whole lives in the temple?"
King Chujiang: "Now that you ask me to look, I don't know why, but I later went down the mountain."
Practitioner Su: "You went down alone?"
King Chujiang: "My brother stayed on the mountain."
Practitioner Su: "Did you get married and have children when you went down?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, you truly have sharp eyes!"
Practitioner Su: "What trade did you work in when you went down?"
King Chujiang: "I learned to make some food on the mountain, making... (gestures with hands)..."
Practitioner Su: "Mantou? Noodles? Are those noodles or mantou?"
King Chujiang: "They were in balls."
Practitioner Su: "Fried dough sticks, noodles, steamed buns? Steamed buns, that's it! With fillings inside."
Fellow Practitioner: "Xiao long bao."
King Chujiang: "Yes, whole ones. I started making mantou and steamed buns."
Practitioner Su: "And you got married and had children. How many children?"
King Chujiang: "Yes! I married a very gentle wife who did business with me. She was quite frugal because the Master on the mountain had taught us to be kind to others and to use a compassionate heart. My wife's character was very compatible with mine, and she helped me a lot. Whenever we had to go up the mountain to burn incense, she would bring food up."
Practitioner Su: "To visit your brother, right?"
King Chujiang: "My wife and I had two sons."
Practitioner Su: "Did your brother become a monk later?"
King Chujiang: "He became a monk. His appearance as a monk was so dignified. Every time I went to see him, I felt that my brother was constantly making progress in his practice."
Practitioner Su: "Indeed! You can see that his true nature has emerged now. It is no wonder that the Buddha and Bodhisattvas called him here to save the world."
King Chujiang: "Speaking of this, I truly feel that my elder brother was..."
Practitioner Su: "It is such a pity about your brother. Did he not go to the Western Pure Land when he ascended to the heavens? Did he ascend to the heavens?"
King Chujiang: "I do not know. I only know that in the end, my brother had what people in the world call a 'clean and pure face'."
Practitioner Su: "Did he ascend to the heavens?"
King Chujiang: "My brother passed away at the age of fifty-three."
Practitioner Su: "He passed away at fifty-three. Did he go to the heavenly realm?"
King Chujiang: "Now that you ask, Practitioner Su, I do not know why, but I only see a purple light."
Practitioner Su: "A purple light means he went to the Western Pure Land!"
King Chujiang: "I do not know. I look back at him again, and I only see the purple light."
Practitioner Su: "The purple light signifies a being of the Western Pure Land."
King Chujiang: "Is the purple light a sign of the Western Pure Land? I did not know that."
Practitioner Su: "The Western Pure Land is the land of the 'True Gold Body of Purple-Tinged Lustre'. Liu Mingyu also has a purple light."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, what you see now is exactly as you say."
Practitioner Su: "So, it cannot be verified, then?"
King Chujiang: "It cannot be verified."
Practitioner Su: "Does this have any connection to Liu Mingyu? Or to Qiu Yuxiang, the eldest son of Practitioner Yuchan in this lifetime?"
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, why does the purple light keep appearing in my mind?"
Practitioner Su: "The purple light indicates he is a being of the Western Pure Land."
King Chujiang: "The purple light is flashing, wave after wave."
Practitioner Su: "The Buddha's compassion allows me to see it—it is beautiful! Yes, it is completely transparent."
King Chujiang: "I do not know why, but it is just so."
Practitioner Su: "Perhaps Yuchan is a being from the Western Pure Land, and this time, she has also 'returned on a boat of compassion' to help sentient beings."
King Chujiang: "I do not know what that truly means either."
Practitioner Su: "Look at the two brothers. You are now the King of the Second Hell, and he is in the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land. This is a tremendous blessing."
King Chujiang: "That is true! That is why I am here in my brother's presence."
Practitioner Su: "You can speak here because of your brother."
King Chujiang: "Correct."
Practitioner Su: "Your brother practiced very well. No wonder he could see the past."
King Chujiang: "My brother was diligent back then; his practice was truly very intense. I could never figure it out—I would be ready to sleep, and he would still be sitting in meditation. When I woke up, he was still there. I wondered, 'Did he even sleep?' I did not dare to disturb my brother."
Practitioner Su: "Everyone has different Causal Conditions."
King Chujiang: "However, I also lived a decent life. I practiced great Generosity. I took the money I earned and gave it to my brother's temple. I would also bring steamed buns—I sold vegetable buns! These vegetable buns were made to look quite like meat buns. I do not know why, but while I was preparing the filling, I would chant. The Master had taught us to chant Buddha's name."
Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo. Cooking while chanting makes the food especially fragrant!"
King Chujiang: "Indeed! I do not know why, but my business was quite good, and it kept getting better."
Practitioner Su: "This story is truly magnificent! This general is Yuchan. Look, eight or nine lifetimes have passed. Yuchan is in her ninth lifetime, and you are in your eighth. These Causal Conditions are magnificent. It is fortunate that we, the fourfold assembly, are all going to the Western Pure Land together. We must try our best to save sentient beings; if there is a connection, we will save them."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, since we are speaking of this, may I ask for your compassion?"
Practitioner Su: "For whom?"
King Chujiang: "For my two sons and my wife."
Practitioner Su: "Certainly!"
King Chujiang: "Could you see where they are?"
Practitioner Su: "Where are your two sons?"
King Chujiang: "They are locked in a cage, living as poodles."
Practitioner Su: "Poodles have blessings. Are they both poodles?"
King Chujiang: "They are both locked in the same cage, living as poodles now."
Practitioner Su: "Both are poodles? The two brothers are so close!"
King Chujiang: "Now, let us speak of my wife."
Practitioner Su: "Please write down her name so we can invite her."
King Chujiang: "(Writes down: Eldest son Chen Qunli, second son Chen Qunren)"
Practitioner Su: "King Chujiang, how did they end up as poodles? What were the Causal Conditions? In this lifetime, how did they become poodles?"
King Chujiang: "Back then, my sons Qunren and Qunli, along with myself and my wife, were all..."
Practitioner Su: "Where is your wife? Should we not save her? We must save her too; she helped you so much."
King Chujiang: "(Writes down: Chen Shi Li Fang)"
Practitioner Su: "Where is your wife?"
King Chujiang: "My wife is in the heavenly realm."
Practitioner Su: "Which level?"
King Chujiang: "The first level."
Practitioner Su: "That is not bad! The Desire Realm heaven. May the Buddha's compassion invite her. Let us first invite his wife, Chen Shi Li Fang. Look, your husband is already... your husband is named Chen Xuemin."
Practitioner Jiaxian: "Chen Shi Li Fang has arrived."
Chen Shi Li Fang: "Practitioner Su, Namo Amituofo."
Practitioner Su: "Have you been listening to the sutras?"
Chen Shi Li Fang: "Yes, I listen to the sutras every day."
Practitioner Su: "Your husband is over there now. Do you see him? You used to make steamed buns with him. How did you manage to reach the first level of heaven?"
Chen Shi Li Fang: "Oh! My practice was not good enough, that is why I am only in the first level of heaven."
Practitioner Su: "The first level of heaven is better than the human world. Your husband, Chen Xuemin, is now the King of the Second Hell. Of course, he is also assisting the Hsiang Kuang Buddha-land to help sentient beings. The issue now is that he wants you to go to the Western Pure Land. May the Buddha's compassion take you there. Will you go this Sunday?"
Chen Shi Li Fang: "I will."
Practitioner Su: "Can you bring your two sons along?"
Chen Shi Li Fang: "I am grateful to Practitioner Su."
Practitioner Su: "We must write a memorial tablet for the accumulated lifetimes. Chen Shi Li Fang of the first level, take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Please step onto the lotus seat. Cover it! We will perform the Chao Du for her this Sunday. Now, for the eldest son, Chen Qunli, who is a poodle."
Chen Qunli: "(Makes a barking sound.)"
Practitioner Su: "Take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Please step onto the lotus seat, Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo. Take off the clothes, take off the clothes. Chen Qunli, your father is over there, Chen Xuemin."
Chen Qunli: "(Makes a soft barking sound.)"
Practitioner Su: "First, open his throat and irrigate it with Buddha-water. Do you see? Your father is over there, Chen Xuemin. Do you see him?"
King Chujiang: "My son!"
Chen Qunli: "(Crying) Father."
King Chujiang: "My son!"
Chen Qunli: "(Crying) Father."
Practitioner Su: "How did you end up as a dog? How did you end up as a dog? Tell us about it."
King Chujiang: "Do not be deluded anymore! Do not be deluded anymore!"
Chen Qunli: "(Crying) Father."
Practitioner Su: "Alright, no need to cry! Take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Take off the clothes. Why did you become a dog? How did both brothers end up as dogs?"
Chen Qunli: "We were not obedient."
Practitioner Su: "In what way were you not obedient? Did the two of you commit killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, or lying? Did you? Did you force yourselves upon others? You did? Being a poodle is not bad—poodles are high-class. Now, your mother, Chen Shi Li Fang, is sitting on a lotus seat. Go and join her. This Sunday, at the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we will chant Namo Amituofo to ascend to the Western Pure Land. Your younger brother must go too. Take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, step onto the lotus seat. Call your younger brother, the second son, Chen Qunren."
King Chujiang: "And it is happening right now; they are still dogs, still poodles."
Chen Qunren: "(Makes a barking sound.)"
Practitioner Su: "Take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Please step onto the lotus seat. Irrigate with Buddha-water to clear the throat. Namo Amituofo, unzip the zipper, Namo Amituofo, open it. Your father is over there, Chen Xuemin. Do you see him? How did you end up as a poodle? Tell us, do not be afraid. You cannot lift your head? Take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, unzip the zipper."
Chen Qunren: "I dare not look."
Practitioner Su: "You dare not look at your father? Did you do something bad?"
Chen Qunren: "I hid many bad things from my father while I was away, so I have no face to see him."
Practitioner Su: "What bad things did you do?"
Chen Qunren: "I abducted innocent women."
Practitioner Su: "So, sexual assault. This is a serious matter. Now, look at your mother up there!"
Chen Qunren: "I am sorry, Mother, for making you sad."
Practitioner Su: "You are all going to the Western Pure Land together, do you hear me? I give you the refuge: take refuge in the Buddha and do not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma and do not fall into the hungry ghost realm; take refuge in the Sangha and do not fall into the animal realm. Forget the past. Come, Namo Amituofo, take off the zipper. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, step onto the lotus seat, cover it! (To King Chujiang) Wow! Look, all three have been saved. This Sunday, at the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we will chant Namo Amituofo, and they can be delivered to the Western Pure Land. King Chujiang, you spoke of the general today, and you can reconnect with your brother Yuchan; you are not separated. You are truly a person with blessings."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, may I ask, may I request for the Jin soldiers I led, as well as the Song army that was completely wiped out back then?"
Practitioner Su: "Certainly. The Buddha's compassion is here to save everyone. You may. Write it down quickly; write down as many as there are. How many are in the Song army? We will write the memorial tablets for you immediately. (To the fellow practitioners) These must all be written down; we must chant them during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony."
King Chujiang: "(Writes down: 157,458 soldiers, representative: Hong Xiuquan.) These are the Song army."
Practitioner Su: "157,458 soldiers and generals of the Northern Song, representative: Hong Xiuquan. We must perform the Chao Du during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony."
King Chujiang: "(Writes down: Jin soldiers, 39,247 soldiers, representative: Li Jinduo.)"
Practitioner Su: "May the Buddha's compassion first invite the Jin soldiers: 39,247, representative: Li Jinduo. Is the general here?"
Li Jinduo: "I am here."
King Chujiang: "Jin soldiers, this person has a connection with you (pointing to Practitioner Jiaxian), she also has a connection; he is also a general of the Jin soldiers."
Practitioner Su: "You have a connection with Jiaxian. Now, King Chujiang of the Second Hell is already a King of Hell. He used to lead you Jin soldiers; he was your general. Li Jinduo, he wants to perform the Chao Du for you, to deliver you to the Western Pure Land through the Thrice Yearning Ceremony. Do you want to go?"
Li Jinduo: "I will go, I will go! I am grateful."
Practitioner Su: "Now, may the Buddha's compassion place you all on the lotus seats. 39,247 soldiers, representative Li Jinduo, step onto the lotus seat. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo."
King Chujiang: "I am deeply grateful, Practitioner Su. My elder brother, the Song army."
Practitioner Su: "There are 157,458 generals and soldiers from the Northern Song Dynasty. Representative: Hong Xiuquan. Please, Hong Xiuquan, step forward."
Hong Xiuquan: "I have arrived."
Practitioner Su: "Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn as animals. You are all currently in this space. King Chujiang has already assumed his role as the Yama King of the Second Hall. Previously, Jiang Yuchan led you as the Song army, but now, you must go to the Western Land."
Hong Xiuquan: "How do we go? How can we possibly reach such a place?"
Practitioner Su: "The Buddha's compassion can guide you there. For now, perform prostrations, listen to the Dharma talks, and step onto the lotus seats. Listen to the scriptures, all of you, as a group. This is the way to begin your journey."
Hong Xiuquan: "Then what about these soldiers of mine? What will become of them?"
Practitioner Su: "They will all ascend together. First, look toward the Western Land. That place is free from the horrors of war. I will lead you all there, where you can be reborn and shed your old forms to enter the Pure Land. Take refuge in the Buddha, and you shall not enter the hells; take refuge in the Dharma, and you shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts; take refuge in the Sangha, and you shall not be reborn as animals. Please, step onto the lotus seats. Namo Amituofo. Good, all of you, ascend now. King Chujiang, I congratulate you; your merit is immeasurable. You are saving so many people today. Congratulations, truly, congratulations!"
King Chujiang: "I am deeply grateful, Practitioner Su."
Practitioner Su: "We are grateful to Namo Amituofo for His great compassion. Now, King Chujiang, would you please offer us some guidance?"
King Chujiang: "The so-called sins of the hells are all caused by the individual laws of karma and cause and effect. Cause and effect, cause and effect—it is absolute. Whatever cause one sows, one will inevitably reap the corresponding fruit. One must never take this lightly, thinking that these actions are of no consequence. Take the generals, for instance; they were once warriors amidst the chaos of war. Think of how many perished in those conflicts! In today's society, we must prioritize peace. If everyone truly understands the importance of peace and lives in contentment, there would be no ambition to invade or occupy other nations. Naturally, this would mean fewer sins are committed. We must be grateful for the compassion of Namo Amituofo."
Practitioner Su: "Namo Amituofo, the Universal Buddha, saves all beings in the worldly realm from suffering! We must cherish everything and chant Namo Amituofo to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."
King Chujiang: "Practitioner Su, your compassion is profound."
Practitioner Su: "I am nothing! It is the Buddha's compassion!"
King Chujiang: "It is vital for people to understand the importance of listening to the Buddha’s teachings. They must realize that the sins that lead to the hells are truly unbearable. Within the Alaya consciousness of every being, it is impossible to predict when these seeds will manifest. Only by truly dwelling within the name of Namo Amituofo—as Practitioner Su says during her Dharma talks—and remaining steadfast in the Buddha-name, can one avoid the excessive thoughts that lead to committing sins, often without even realizing it or being able to master one's own fate. Sometimes, it is so mysterious; the seeds within the Alaya consciousness manifest, and one is unable to master them, committing sins without even knowing it."
King Chujiang: "One must listen to the scriptures and the Dharma to understand the Goodness of the Buddha’s teachings. Only then can one truly understand the importance of seeking rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, just as Practitioner Su has taught. Do not return to the hells! Do not come back to the hells to suffer! Just hold onto a single thought of goodness."
Practitioner Su: "Indeed! It is truly terrifying! Namo Amituofo. We are also grateful. We have now completed the interview with the general. I thank King Chujiang for his great compassion; today, you have saved your wife and your two sons as well. Look, generation after generation, it is all different, and it is a joyous occasion for everyone. Furthermore, the Jin soldiers have been saved, and the Song soldiers have been saved. It is a joyous occasion for all. Let us chant the Buddha-name ten times to send off King Chujiang."
(Practitioner Su leads the fellow practitioners in chanting the name of Namo Amituofo ten times to send off the Yama King of the Second Hall, King Chujiang.)
King Chujiang, the ruler of the Second Hall of Hell, shares his life story—from a childhood of extreme poverty and the tragic loss of his mother to his journey as a healer and his eventual rise to the underworld.
King Qin Guang shares his profound life story—from a vengeful warrior to a compassionate leader—and his eventual transition into the role of the judge of the First Hall of Hell, seeking deliverance for his beloved wife through the compassion of Namo Amituofo.
In this profound interview, Practitioner Su speaks with the City King of the Eighth Hall of the Underworld. He reveals the harrowing reality of karmic retribution, his own past lives as a dedicated teacher and a physician, and the complex web of cause and effect that led him to his current role. This testimony serves as a stark warning to the living: every action leaves a mark on the Alaya consciousness, and the laws of karma are absolute.
An interview with King Taishan, the ruler of the Seventh Hall of Hell, who shares his past life as a compassionate blacksmith and his journey to the underworld.
A candid reflection from the spirit of Elizabeth Taylor, who shares her journey from the blinding lights of Hollywood to the serene, transformative teachings of the Buddha in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Michael Jackson shares his journey from the pressures of global fame to the peace of the Western Pure Land, revealing the truth behind his life and his ultimate deliverance.
Helen Keller, the renowned deaf-blind philanthropist, shares her journey from the darkness of the ghost realm to the light of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, guided by the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.
Albert Einstein, once considered the most brilliant mind in human history, reflects on his life, the nature of 'science' versus the Truth of the Dharma, and his existence in the Western Pure Land.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, reflects on his life, his political career, and his profound journey from the depths of hell to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss through the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.
This is a record of an interview with Kim Il Sung, the founder and former leader of North Korea, who sought deliverance 32 years ago. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library