The Shepherd Who Found the Pure Land

Shamu Ke, a former shepherd from the grasslands of Xinjiang, sought deliverance through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. After his passing, he served as a prison guard in the underworld before being guided to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su. This interview was recorded on April 24, 2026.

Shamu Ke speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am so deeply grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Today, I, Shamu Ke, have arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I have been given the incredible opportunity to represent fifty-nine other prison guards and share my testimony of rebirth here. I am overflowing with gratitude toward Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined that my life could undergo such a magnificent transformation. I once believed that being a prison guard was the happiest I could ever be, but I have discovered that rebirth in the Western Pure Land is infinitely more beautiful than anything I could have experienced in the underworld!

A Transformation Beyond Imagination

You might be curious: why was I so eager to be a prison guard? You see, I have always been a kind-hearted person who finds joy in helping others. The work of a prison guard is, at its core, about helping those in distress. I watched so many suffering beings, and my heart would ache right along with them. But when I saw them begin to develop a heart of repentance, knowing they had the chance to move toward a better place, I felt a profound sense of purpose.

Everything I witnessed brought me such joy—this was the most rewarding part of my work. Sometimes, I would diligently counsel the inmates to chant 'Namo Amituofo.' When they were willing to listen and chant along with me, my heart would be filled with satisfaction. I longed to help more suffering beings find liberation through the power of this single, sacred name: 'Namo Amituofo.'

The Shepherd's Vow

Later, when I was selected as one of the sixty prison guards, I learned that Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre truly had the power to guide so many of us to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I waited for this day with bated breath, and today, it has finally arrived. I have spent a long time listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, and I have a very clear understanding of everything at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

But let me tell you my story from the beginning. It is not a long story, as I did not live a long life. I left the human world when I was only eighteen or nineteen years old, so my life was a simple, beautiful experience. I grew up in a small village called Kebala, about twenty kilometres outside of Urumqi in Xinjiang. Although we were not far from the capital city, we rarely had the chance to visit. My fondest childhood memories were of the Lunar New Year, when my parents would take us to Urumqi to visit relatives.

A Heart-Wrenching Realisation

We were three brothers, and our family owned vast pastures inherited from our ancestors, so we raised many sheep. Many of these sheep were eventually sent away to be slaughtered for food. As a child, I was completely oblivious to this. I thought that by spending every day with these lovely creatures, milking them, and watching them grow, they were simply being sent off to live better lives elsewhere. I was truly that innocent.

But then, one day, I overheard my father discussing how delicious our mutton was, and my heart sank. My young soul was deeply wounded. I never imagined these sheep were destined to end up in people's stomachs. When I asked my parents where the meat came from, my father said, 'Silly child, it comes from our own sheep!' My heart fell into the abyss. From that day on, I refused to eat mutton. I felt these sheep were so spiritual; I could even communicate with them when I was young.

The Path of Chanting

My life was simple, and my heart was clean. I could 'speak' with the sheep—or at least, I naturally understood what they were trying to tell me. I knew if they were full or if they were uncomfortable. I felt a deep bond with them, unlike my brothers. When I begged my parents to release all the sheep, they thought I had gone mad. Our family's livelihood depended on selling mutton and milk, and they could not understand my plea to set them free.

I had to endure in silence, waiting for the day I could set them free. I spent my days talking to the sheep, asking them how they felt. They were so pure; they didn't know the cruel fate that awaited them. When my parents took them away, the sheep followed happily, thinking they were going for a stroll. It broke my heart. I didn't know about the Buddha then, but there were many temples in our area. At fifteen or sixteen, I sought out a temple in Urumqi. There, I heard the six-character name 'Namo Amituofo,' and my heart felt an immediate, soothing resonance. The abbot told me that chanting this name could dispel disasters. I told him about my sheep, and he advised me: 'If you cannot convince your parents, then let it go. But if you chant for every sheep and teach them to chant, leading them to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, that is a great deed. If you teach them, you might change their destiny.' I was overjoyed and returned home to chant for every single sheep in our flock.

The Tragic End and the New Calling

I decided to become a shepherd for life. My parents were puzzled, but they trusted me. I spent my days chanting with the sheep, letting them breathe the fresh air of the vast grasslands. I could feel the change in them—the sheep that chanted were calmer and more peaceful. They no longer clung to their young with such anxiety; they treated all the sheep as their own children. It was a beautiful thing to witness.

Alas, my time was short. One day, while I was out with the flock, I saw a car speeding toward them. I rushed to protect them and lost my own life in the process. I was only nineteen. But I was not afraid; I had been chanting, so my heart was calm. My soul left my body instantly, and I continued to watch over the sheep in the spiritual space. Later, I was summoned by two officials who told me that the King of Hell had selected me to be a prison guard because of my dedication to the sheep. I accepted, and for twenty years, I served in the underworld, chanting for the suffering beings there.

Rebirth and the Path Ahead

Today, after twenty years of service, I was finally on the list for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. When Practitioner Su took our hands, we arrived here in an instant. The peace I feel now is beyond words. We know this rebirth is a precious gift, and we will not be lazy. We will follow the Buddha's path, step by step, and practise diligently. Practitioner Su has warned us not to return to the human world until we have achieved the Dharma Body, as the world is too polluted. We understand this well. We will continue to practise here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss until we realise our true nature and attain Buddhahood. Only then will it be time to return. Once again, I offer my most sincere gratitude to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."