The Testimony of Huang Renzhong: From Hell to the Western Pure Land

The Burning Consequences of Desire

I am Huang Renzhong. If you recall a man who once lived in such extravagance that even his toilet was crafted from solid gold, you may remember me—a person who passed away many years ago. During my life, I was constantly surrounded by beauty and luxury. Despite my vast wealth and possessions, I was plagued by illness, and my final moments were far from peaceful. After my death, I descended into the hells to suffer the torment of the copper pillar. In that place, I was stripped of everything, forced to cling tightly to a pillar heated to thousands of degrees. It felt as though the fires of my own past desires were consuming me from within. The agony was far worse than being burned by fire, yet I could not die. My spirit was fused to the searing metal, and I could only scream in endless, unbearable pain. I implore the people of this world to understand: of all the evils, lust is the foremost. The fleeting pleasures of wine, beauty, and illicit desires in the human world are paid for with the unimaginable suffering of the hells. It is a price far too high; it is truly not worth it.

From the Depths of Suffering to the Light

After enduring the hells for what felt like an eternity, the Buddha’s compassion reached me. Practitioner Su rescued me from that abyss. However, my mind was still clouded by the lingering seeds of desire, and I was reborn as a soft, white worm. In that state, I knew nothing but the endless, mindless cycle of mating and base instinct. I existed without feeling or awareness, trapped in a cycle of base behaviour. After a long time, I was once again blessed by the mercy of Practitioner Su, who saved me from that lowly existence. Standing before the Buddha, I felt deep, profound repentance. I reflected on the vanity of my life and the tragic retribution I suffered after death; the memory of it still fills me with terror. Thankfully, the compassion of Practitioner Su, which is stern yet filled with boundless tolerance, gave a child who had truly recognised his mistakes a chance to start anew. Through sincere repentance and the constant chanting of Namo Amituofo, I was finally able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su who saved Huang Renzhong.

The Magnificent Splendour of the Pure Land

Here in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I am completely free from the evil habits and lustful thoughts that once defined my life. This is a kingdom of kindness, brilliance, and joy. The environment and atmosphere here are so pure and elegant that it is beyond human imagination. Consider this: in the human world, gold is considered a precious commodity. Yet here, gold is simply the ground beneath our feet. It is not something to be clutched in one’s hands or locked away in a safe. While the roads of the human world are paved with dark, rough asphalt, the ground of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is made of pure gold. Here, pearls, agates, amber, lapis lazuli, and crystals are used simply to decorate our homes, palaces, lecture halls, and the sides of the pathways. The trees are incredibly tall and majestic, grown entirely from these precious jewels. You can imagine this as a world that is shimmering, dignified, and profoundly comfortable—a world created by the infinite compassion of Namo Amituofo.

A Call to the Western Pure Land

To reach this beautiful and magnificent place, you must chant Namo Amituofo and make a sincere vow to be reborn here. Those who have cultivated deep skills can even know the time of their departure before they pass away. They can leave this world freely and at will, choosing exactly when to go. This is what we call leaving while still alive—it is, in essence, immigrating to the West. However, this requires the guidance of a true spiritual friend. Such teachers are rare in this world today, but Practitioner Su is one of them. You should come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia to seek the guidance of Practitioner Su. This centre is preparing to build an Amituofo Village, where those who reside can cultivate the path to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I hope that everyone will join in this great undertaking, so that we may all be born from the lotus flowers in the Seven-Jewelled Pond and find our home in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I look forward to seeing you all in the West.

This interview was recorded and written by the Buddhist disciple Venerable HaiZe.