The Soldier Who Refused to Kill

This is a record of an interview with Li Liangru, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,400 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Fa Ning, on March 7, 2026.

Li Liangru speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Li Liangru. I was born during the Tang Dynasty, an era that many people today look back upon with such envy, calling it a golden age of prosperity. Yet, heaven did not grant me a childhood like those of other children. From the very moment I entered this world, my life was defined by displacement and the bitter taste of wandering.

My father once held a government position; he was a local magistrate. However, under the immense pressure of the regional governor, my father refused to bow to the corrupt powers of the time. He had no desire to form cliques or engage in the backroom politics that were so prevalent. Because my father came from a commoner background—a rarity in the early Tang Dynasty for someone to easily attain such a post—he was already a target.

A Tragic Origin: The Price of Integrity

Our life of constant movement began the moment my father rejected the governor's demands. Regarding tax collection and the conscription of labour, my father followed the imperial edicts to the letter. He dared not harbour even the slightest greed or desire for personal gain. This stance offended many powerful figures led by the governor. The county where we lived was the most prosperous and bustling area for hundreds of miles, a prize that everyone coveted. My father chose to openly confront his superiors. He knew that if he reported this to the higher authorities, he would likely be the one to pay the ultimate price. With remarkable strategy and courage, he drafted a formal letter of accusation, delivered it to the governor's superior, and then, without a moment's hesitation, he took our entire family and left the magistrate's office forever.

We knew that once that letter was submitted, our family might never be able to return to our hometown. But my father felt that to expose the corruption of those officials, the letter had to be delivered, no matter the cost. As for our fate, we would simply have to find a new sanctuary and start our lives anew.

My grandmother was still alive at the time, and both she and my mother were in full support of his decision. And so, our family of over a dozen people set out from the county seat, travelling further and further south. We hoped to find a place in the deep south to wait out the storm, thinking that perhaps one day, when the political winds had shifted, we might return. It was a hopeful thought, but one that would never come to pass.

The Weight of Collective Karma

Not long after, my parents passed away one after another. For us brothers, it was a devastating blow. My grandmother, unable to bear the grief of losing her son, also departed this world shortly thereafter. We five brothers were left to fend for ourselves, eventually scattering in different directions to find our own paths. My youngest brother stayed by my side, and together, we began a new life.

It was only many years later that I discovered our parents had actually been murdered. After the letter was submitted, the authorities acted quickly, and the governor's family was punished, stripped of their titles, and sent back to their ancestral homes. But in their rage, they had dispatched bounty hunters to assassinate my parents to satisfy their thirst for vengeance.

I was only nine years old at the time, and my brother was five. We were left to navigate the world alone. We were naive and had nowhere else to go, so we sought refuge in a small town along the road. We saw a teacher instructing children in a local academy and, in our desperation, we dared to ask if he would take us in as students. This incredibly compassionate old gentleman brought us inside. He asked where we came from and where our parents were. We could not answer immediately, only saying that we were refugees and that we had no family left. Upon hearing this, the old man took us into the school, found a clean spot for us to sit, and from that day on, we studied alongside the other students.

A Life in the Shadows of the Academy

Because of the education our parents had given us, we were already literate. Though we were still young and struggled to hold the brush properly, under the patient guidance of the old teacher, our progress was rapid. We lived in the academy, acting as its guardians. By day, we were students; by night, we slept in the school, helping the teacher manage the grounds and assisting the students who came and went. At the time, I felt that my fate was truly blessed. To be lost and then find such a wonderful place to stay—my brother and I were filled with gratitude. We dreamed of studying hard, passing the imperial examinations, and serving our country. That was our deepest wish.

A few years passed, and as we grew, my brother’s talent far surpassed my own. I realised that I was not cut out for academic success, so I dedicated all our resources to him. He excelled, and while still very young, he had already memorised the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as the great poetry of our time. I, on the other hand, had a weaker capacity for learning, so I did not force myself. Instead, I worked hard to serve the academy. Within a few years, my brother passed the examinations to become a scholar and then a provincial graduate. Just as he was about to sit for the imperial examinations, he suddenly fell gravely ill. His strength and health deteriorated rapidly, and after the doctor examined him, he told us that my brother did not have much time left. I was filled with terror. Why did everyone in my family suffer such a fate? At that time, I did not know what karma was, nor did I understand the concept of collective karma. These terms were only made clear to me later, when I arrived at the Western Land of Dharma Nature. I realised then that the Buddha’s teachings explain everything—what happened in the past and what will happen in the future are all part of a predetermined path.

The Soldier Who Chose Peace

After my brother passed away, I felt as though all emotional ties to my past had been severed. I told myself that I had to truly let go if I were to ever do anything of benefit for the country and its people. Because I was slower to learn than my peers, I never dared to dream of becoming an official. But I realised that even without a government post, I could still serve the people. The national situation was becoming increasingly unstable, so I joined the army without hesitation. I intended to use my own frail body to shield the country and its people from senseless slaughter. I thought this was the best good deed I could possibly perform.

Throughout my entire life in the military, I never once personally killed an enemy. My unique approach was to avoid them. Whenever possible, I would lead them into a secluded space—even during the heat of battle, I would lure them into my small tent. Many times, this behaviour angered my superiors, and I was nearly expelled from the army. Because my rank was low, no one paid much attention to me, and I managed to survive until I was over sixty years old.

I carried a sense of righteousness in my heart throughout my life in the army. I truly did not want to kill; I only wanted to protect the country and the people. Whenever I encountered the enemy, a sense of compassion would arise within me. They were human beings too, with flesh and blood. Not only could I not bring myself to strike them, but I also wanted to build a good relationship with them, or at least persuade them to stop the slaughter. I wanted to understand their hearts and their actions. On several occasions, these efforts actually brought the fighting to a halt. In the face of dire circumstances, my words were surprisingly accepted, and the two armies ceased their conflict. When the situation was reported back to the imperial court, the Emperor and the Prime Minister were informed, and the campaign was concluded peacefully.

Those two experiences remain the pride of my life. I know that even though the chances of my small efforts succeeding were slim, I managed to succeed a few times, causing hundreds of thousands of troops to retreat. I was not even a general, just a minor officer, but fate arranged for my words to be heard. In truth, this was due to the causal conditions and the blessings that both armies already possessed. This is something I only clearly understood later, in the place called the Western Land of Dharma Nature.

Deliverance from the Battlefield

My life, from the loss of my family and brother to my years of wandering in the army, was lived in peace and contentment. It was the inherent compassion in my nature that saved me, preventing me from sinking into despair despite the tragedies I had witnessed. Today, many of the soldiers from our army, including the horses and the other beings trapped in that space, have been stuck in the military realm after death, unable to leave. It was only about eight hundred years later that a great being known as Practitioner Su brought Namo Amituofo to our location, radiating brilliant golden light. At that time, we were in what was then Jingzhou, a small town in modern-day Hubei. We received the unforgettable Buddha-light, the twelve rays of golden light that cleansed and purified us, and in an instant, we were brought to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, this Buddha-land.

We were shocked to realise that our bodies, once covered in scars, had become pure and white. We were dressed in white robes, looking dignified and clean. Many of the horses and soldiers who had been missing limbs were also restored to wholeness in this place. Before us stood the towering, majestic Namo Amituofo, and Practitioner Su, who has always smiled at us with such compassion. This was our first time understanding the vastness of the Buddha’s teachings, and our first true recognition that Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss are real.

Reflections on Karma and Compassion

Only now, sitting securely on the lotus flowers in the Western Land of Dharma Nature, do I clearly understand that we are all future Buddhas. Every one of us is filled with Dharma joy, knowing that we no longer need to wander or suffer. As long as we hold firmly to the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo, we can be reborn, and in the future, we will have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Across the vast regions of China, there are many armies like ours—generals, soldiers, horses, and even the tiny creatures that lived in those spaces—all included in this. Such a massive group, under the purification and guidance of the Buddha-light, has been sent directly to the Western Land of Dharma Nature, the Buddha-land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.

Looking back at my family, I realise that we had once created a great deal of collective karma, which is why we were gathered together only to pass away one after another. The reason I was spared was not because I had greater blessings, but because the many kind thoughts I had at the time saved me. Because I sincerely wanted to serve the country and the people, and because I did not harbour too much resentment or dissatisfaction, my mind remained stable. Conversely, although my family also had the desire to serve the people, they sometimes allowed their own selfish interests to mingle with their intentions. Even the slightest attachment to fame and wealth is not permitted, as these things violate the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. I understand now that a true heart of compassion is very rare. It was that compassion that saved me, preventing me from being dragged down by the force of our collective karma and falling into the evil realms.

Disciple Li Liangru now belongs to Namo Amituofo. I am filled with gratitude for the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. One day, I will surely achieve success in my practice and be able to serve the people once again.

Namo Amituofo.

Li Liangru"