The Spiritual Awakening of Hu Jianzong: Beyond Worldly Success

This is a record of an interview with Hu Jianzong, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his subsequent service as a prison guard in the afterlife. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on May 23, 2021.

Hu Jianzong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Most people in the human world spend their entire lives hoping to stand out, to achieve greatness, and to be recognised as successful. I once believed I had achieved all of this. I was, by every worldly standard, a successful man. But now, standing here with the clarity of the spirit, I realise that those worldly achievements were not achievements at all. They were merely shadows, fleeting and hollow.

I am deeply grateful to Practitioner Su for bringing me here today to participate in the magnificent event of rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. My heart is filled with an indescribable joy. When I first encountered Practitioner Su, it forced me to look inward and reflect upon my own existence. I saw that Practitioner Su’s achievements in this life were not driven by fame or profit. When I compared that to my own past, the so-called brilliance of my life in the human world seemed not even worth mentioning. Everything I experienced—the status, the wealth, the accolades—none of it could follow me. Only my consciousness remained. Yet, my consciousness had not grown; it had only accumulated layers of habits and worldly impurities. Unlike the achievements of Practitioner Su, which are true spiritual accomplishments, my own past feels like a wasted opportunity. I am filled with such profound regret."

The Difficulty of Practice Without a Body

"I am so thankful that I was able to meet Practitioner Su. It forced me to re-examine my entire existence. I told myself, 'I want to be like Practitioner Su.' I decided then and there to begin my practice. From the moment I first met Practitioner Su, I listened to every Dharma talk, learning and trying to transform my consciousness. But let me tell you, it is incredibly difficult to practise once you no longer have a physical body. All the impurities of the world were already etched into my Alaya consciousness. Without the vessel of the human body, it is nearly impossible to adjust or change those deep-seated patterns.

This is exactly as Practitioner Su has taught: without the physical body, the path of practice is arduous. I could not adjust my consciousness on my own; I lacked the strength to break through and attain liberation. I could never have reached the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss by my own power, because my level of consciousness was trapped within that specific realm. I was stagnant, unable to cross over or change. To those of you still living in the human world, please, listen to me: do not be so consumed by worldly affairs. Do not blindly chase after worldly success. When your final breath leaves you, all these things will have nothing to do with you, and you will not be able to take even a single grain of sand with you. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su for compassionately leading us to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am also grateful that Practitioner Su broke through the barriers of space and time, allowing our spirits to awaken, to hear the Buddha’s teachings, and to finally practise. I, Hu Jianzong, on behalf of sixty other prison guards, bow in gratitude to the Buddha’s grace and to Practitioner Su. We cherish this opportunity more than words can express."

The Regret of a Missed Opportunity

"Having walked this path, I now know how tragic it is to miss the chance for true liberation. You all have so many examples before you; you can ask yourselves: 'Is this choice good? Is it appropriate?' Your blessings are immense. If you can awaken now, while you still possess a physical body, and actively practise and transform yourselves, you will be elevating your consciousness. This is the most important thing you can do. Once you lose this body, these things become impossible to achieve. By the time you reach that point, regret will be of no use. I hope you will all seize this opportunity and actively strive to break through your own limitations.

I am deeply grateful that Practitioner Su is willing to dedicate such effort to helping sentient beings. Practitioner Su’s great power transcends space and time, helping countless spirits attain liberation and leave suffering behind. When we were in the human world, we did not understand the importance of spiritual achievement; we were confused by the world and sank into the cycle of rebirth, suffering endlessly. If not for the appearance of Practitioner Su, who brought the bright light to all spirits, we would still be trapped. Practitioner Su’s great vows and great power have unlocked these spaces, and we are all so grateful. It is because of Practitioner Su that these dark, sunless spaces have finally been opened."

The Truth of the Afterlife

"After listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, I finally understood the truth about these spaces. Practitioner Su explained the reality of these dimensions in great detail. When I was serving as a prison guard, I witnessed many instances of karma, but when I heard what Practitioner Su taught, there were many things I had never heard before. I was astonished! I had no idea that these things existed within the dimensions of the afterlife. I am so thankful to Practitioner Su for revealing this to the public. If not for Practitioner Su, no one would ever know the truth about these hidden realms.

Before I became a prison guard, I lived in the human world. My mother passed away during childbirth, and my father later remarried, soon having a younger brother and sister. I was never close to my stepmother or my siblings. Perhaps because my mother left this world the moment I entered it, I always felt a distance from them. I did not want to interact with them; I would offer a simple greeting and retreat to my room, avoiding any real connection.

When I was seventeen, my father insisted that I take the exams for a prestigious school in the city. I followed his wishes and was admitted. During my studies, I worked tirelessly, hoping to meet my father’s expectations. Every goal he set for me, I achieved. My life became a reflection of his desires, and I became the person he wanted me to be. I had no goals of my own; I didn't even know if the person I had become was truly 'me' anymore."

The Emptiness of Success

"Following my father’s expectations, I became a 'successful' man in the eyes of the world. I possessed the fame, money, and status that everyone craved, yet my heart remained hollow. I began to constantly chase after more—better living conditions, material luxuries, and even higher social standing. My life followed this pattern, but I never felt happy. I was only ever moving forward, searching for something I could not name.

My father and stepmother lived a life of luxury in their later years, and they were very satisfied with my achievements. This led me to believe that my success was real. When I was forty-seven, I fell ill. During that time, I had to pause all my work and focus on recovery. Lying on that hospital bed, my body racked with pain, I began to question what I had lived for. If it was for fame, I had already attained a status many would never reach, yet my heart was not happy. If it was for wealth, I had earned more money than most would see in a lifetime, yet I was still suffering. I began to think about the purpose of my life. That was the first time I resisted the expectations my father had imposed upon me, and the first time I began to suspect that the path he had chosen for me was wrong.

After I recovered, I liquidated many of my investments and decided to find the life I truly wanted to live. My father and stepmother were vehemently opposed, even claiming that I was destroying my own life. But in my heart, I was determined. I wanted to step outside the boundaries my father had set for me; I wanted to see what my own heart desired.

As I wound down my investments, I suddenly had so much time. I began to manage my own life. Once I stepped outside the framework my father had built, my heart felt incredibly light—a sense of freedom I had never known before. I followed my heart and encountered many things I had never had the chance to experience. Eventually, I discovered the joy of doing good deeds."

The Warmth of Kindness

"It happened by chance. I was walking down the street and encountered an elderly woman begging. Her clothes were tattered, and she walked with great difficulty. I had never had the opportunity to see such a person before, and it sparked a curiosity in me. I followed her from a distance, observing. I noticed that in the bustling street, no one stopped to help her; some even looked at her with disgust. My heart ached. I saw a small iron bowl in front of her with a few coins in it. I reached for my wallet, wanting to help, but as I searched, I realised there was no small change. I had spent my life dealing only with large sums of money. This realisation hit me hard: I saw that every person in this society has a completely different fate. We live in the same world, but our lives are worlds apart.

After I helped that old woman, I gained a deep understanding of the differences in life and the value of existence. That day, I used my connections to have daily necessities and warm clothing delivered to her. I wanted to improve her life. To my surprise, when she received these things, she refused to accept them. She told me, 'Child, I am very happy for your kindness, but I cannot accept these. I am not the person in this world who needs help the most. You should send these things to those places.' She named several locations, smiled, and took my hand. She gave me a handkerchief she had woven herself. She said, 'This new handkerchief was woven for my son who had just started university. I never had the chance to give it to him before he passed away. You look to be about his age. This handkerchief isn't worth much, but it is my greatest gratitude.' I smiled and accepted it, feeling a warmth in my heart I had never felt before. I was truly happy for the first time. Helping others was so meaningful.

That old woman gave me the warmth of a mother, something I had never experienced. I continued to help her in various ways, and we grew closer. I was so happy to have met such a person; she illuminated my life. My existence was no longer just about data and worldly achievements; it finally had warmth.

I accompanied her for over a decade until she passed away due to illness. I stayed with her until the very end. I was heartbroken by her departure, but I was also happy that my life had been transformed because of her. After knowing her, I began to do many good deeds. She taught me about the suffering in the world that I had been blind to. She told me who truly needed help and who didn't. I listened to her advice, made regular donations, and eventually gave away all my wealth to those in need.

I no longer considered my worldly achievements to be successes; I saw them as a failed life. It was only after meeting that woman and doing those good deeds that I felt the joy of life. For the first time, I felt that life had a temperature."

From the Hell Realms to Deliverance

"The old woman had a daughter, and we eventually formed a family. My father and stepmother were strongly opposed, but I trusted my decision. After I spoke openly with my father, he was furious and severed our relationship. I thanked him for raising me and left him a large sum for his retirement. That was the last time I saw him. After we married, my wife and I moved to a place where no one knew us.

We did not have children. We dedicated all our energy to helping students in need, hoping to help the next generation grow and spread that warmth further. I was so happy to complete these meaningful tasks with my wife. My life finally had meaning.

My life had its moments of brilliance, but in the end, I found that returning to simplicity was the happiest path. After my life ended, I arrived at the Yama Palace in the hell realms. I first had to pay the price for the karma I had created during my investment career. I was sent to the brain-gouging hell and the heart-gouging hell to suffer retribution. After several years of punishment, I finally left the execution grounds. King Yama saw that I had done many good deeds and granted me the position of a prison guard, allowing me to have a better life in the hell realms and to accumulate merit. I am very grateful for King Yama’s grace.

After I began serving as a prison guard, I saw much of the karma of sentient beings. I realised that the world is mostly about creating karma. When you come here, all worldly achievements cease to exist; only the karma you have created and your spirit remain. I was quite sad at the time because I didn't know if there was any way out, until I met Practitioner Su in the hell realms.

I am truly grateful for the appearance of Practitioner Su, who saved me from my confusion. Practitioner Su’s teachings ignited hope within me. I finally understood that life is not just about worldly success; there is also spiritual achievement. After listening to a few of Practitioner Su’s lectures, I decided to follow Practitioner Su and practise. I hoped to attain spiritual achievement. But when I prepared to follow Practitioner Su, I found that many things were difficult to adjust because I no longer had a physical body. It is not an easy task to practise without one. I am so grateful that Practitioner Su still gave us the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This gives us a chance for liberation. Without Practitioner Su, we would have no way to reach the Western Pure Land.

I am so thankful to Practitioner Su. That we can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today is entirely due to Practitioner Su’s compassionate power. I, Hu Jianzong, on behalf of sixty prison guards, bow in gratitude to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su. We are deeply grateful for this great kindness and virtue. I, Hu Jianzong, will certainly practise diligently, hoping that in the future I can join the mission of Namo Amituofo to save the world, and like Practitioner Su, make a vow to save the world.

Namo Amituofo.

Hu Jianzong"