The True Meaning of Achievement

This is a record of an interview with Hu Zhifang, 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 transition from the underworld to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on October 14, 2022.

Hu Zhifang speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I, Zhifang, represent sixty prison guards in bowing my head to Practitioner Su. Among these sixty, each of us encountered different cycles of reincarnation, but now, finally, we are able to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am absolutely overjoyed for everyone.

Seeing the golden ground, the lapis lazuli beads, and the incredibly dignified dwellings of the Western Pure Land, I see that everyone here wears a smile. That sincere, radiant smile moved me deeply. In my heart, I sighed—people in the human world pursue wealth, fame, and status, paying a heavy price with their bodies, yet they remain trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. In the Western Pure Land, everything is a manifestation of naturalness within naturalness. There are no unwholesome thoughts here; it is a place where all the superior beings gather. This realisation gave me a profound understanding, and I finally realised that all the pursuits of my human life were illusory."

The Burden of Expectations

"Although I grew up in the countryside, I heard many relatives talking about what constituted achievement in life from a very young age. My uncle, who would return home driving a fancy car, told me that one must rely on one's own efforts to improve one's life. My aunt told me that I needed to earn more money to truly possess the things I desired. My father told me he did not want to raise me in vain and that I should think carefully about what kind of person I wanted to become.

At only thirteen, I felt as if I were being forced to contemplate things that one should only worry about at twenty. Since so many people were telling me to plan my life, I decided to think seriously about what kind of life I truly wanted to lead.

I watched my grandmother planting seeds, burying them in the soil, and day by day, I saw them sprout and grow. I thought to myself, 'I must be growing every day just like these seeds!' When I shared this thought, my grandmother saw me observing the sprouts and said, 'Zhifang, you think these seeds are cute? You were just as cute when you were little.' I asked, 'Grandmother, do you mean I am no longer cute now?' She replied, 'Zhifang, you have grown up. Of course, you can no longer be the cute Zhifang; you must become a Zhifang who takes responsibility for himself.' I asked her, 'What does it mean to take responsibility for oneself?'

She said, 'Taking responsibility means you must love your choices and persist in them until the end. Just like the knitting in my hands—I have had to unravel and re-knit it several times. Even though I failed many times, I did not give up, because since I chose to start this task, I must see it through.' When she said this, I finally understood a little. It meant that once a decision is made, one must persist to the end. Out of all the life advice my relatives had given me, this was the only thing I could truly comprehend."

The Search for Meaning

"My young mind began to race: 'What is something I can persist in?' Because I was so eager to find the answer, every time I left the house, I would observe and search. I would look at what everyone on the street was doing and ask myself, 'Is this what I am meant to do?'

From thirteen to twenty, I still had not found the answer I was looking for. It was not until one day when my voice—a neutral, magnetic tone—was discovered, that I had the chance to audition for a radio station. Performing naturally, I was given the opportunity to host a program. Many people around me cheered for my success. I gradually built up a following and read many books to expand my knowledge. In my conversations, beyond mere idle chatter, I would share the insights I gained from my reading. Many listeners particularly enjoyed my sharing of the heart. Gradually, I became somewhat famous, and other stations would invite me to appear on their shows or host for a few days to boost their ratings.

By my forties, I had achieved success in my career, but this professional achievement could not satisfy me. I brought joy and insight to others, but a part of my own heart remained empty. I tried various methods to fill that void, even joining spiritual cultivation classes, yet I still could not find the true answer I sought.

At a turning point in my life, I made a decision. I resolutely let go of my career and moved to a less crowded, smaller town. The town was not particularly developed, but it was full of human warmth. I used my savings to open a noodle shop. I cooked every bowl of noodles with great care, hoping every customer would enjoy it. As it turns out, when you do things with heart, you will succeed; my noodle shop became very popular and well-known in the town."

A Sanctuary for the Forgotten

"One day, several teachers brought a group of children to my shop to eat. I saw that every child was eating with such relish, cherishing every bite, so I asked the teachers why these children were so content. To my surprise, the teacher told me these were children from an orphanage who had never been out before. A kind-hearted person had donated money, so they decided to take the children out for a walk and treat them to the most famous noodles in town. Seeing the faces of these children, my heart ached. I told the teacher, 'There is no need to pay for the noodles today.'

Seeing the happy faces of the children, I told the teacher, 'From now on, every Wednesday, the shop will be open only for these children. I will not serve outside guests; I will just prepare food for them and let them be happy.' The teacher's eyes welled up with tears, and she kept saying, 'Thank you, thank you.'

Every week when the children arrived, it was like seeing a group of little angels. As they ate, I would tell them stories. I always told them, 'Do not be sad because of your background. Every child will have their own bright future. If this future is positive and proactive, it will be as bright as the sun shining from the sky; if you remain drowned in sorrow and inferiority, life will be like dark clouds, full of gloom.' I hoped all these children could grow up just like any other child. Whenever they talked to me about their dreams, as long as I could help—whether with money or effort—I was willing to do so.

Many children grew up, but many more entered the orphanage. These children were abandoned due to the ignorance of adults, which caused me particular pain. To reduce such occurrences, I asked friends I knew from my radio days to help me start a program to correct people's misconceptions. Although the influence was limited, it was the only method I knew."

The True Measure of Success

"I poured all my energy into the children, accompanying them as they grew, and stopped thinking about myself. When the children were happy, I was happy. My life was simply running a noodle shop and caring for the children in the orphanage. In the eyes of many relatives, I was the least successful person. My aunt's son became a professor, and my uncle's daughter married into a good life in the United States.

During the Lunar New Year, my relatives would always have that look of comparison. Because I had no achievement, I made my parents lose face. But only I knew that this was merely a comparison between people. My daily life was very grounded, and my heart was happier than those who claimed to be so successful. Seeing my relatives only looking at what was right in front of them, I warned the children in the orphanage even more: 'Do not just covet achievement. Only by doing your best to help others does life have meaning. Otherwise, achievements are only useful to yourself; once you are old and dead, they are gone.'

The children were very close to me, and they truly excelled in the fields they chose. I was so happy for them. As time passed, I grew old and gradually lost my strength. I never married, but the children I had cared for treated me like a father, and I was deeply grateful to them.

In the last year of my life, I became incontinent and could not get out of bed, causing much trouble for the students who cared for me. I wanted to go to a nursing home, but the students could not bear to let me go and decided to take turns caring for me. Looking at the ceiling, I prayed in my heart to leave quickly so I would not be a burden to others anymore.

At sixty-one, my wish was finally granted. I stopped breathing, and my life came to an end."

From the Underworld to the Pure Land

"While I was still in a state of confusion, I arrived in the underworld. I felt as if the road through the underworld was incredibly long. Kneeling before the King of Hell, he told me, 'Do you know that what you did in this life has allowed you to pay off heavy karmic debts with a light retribution?' In the past, I had heavy killing karma; in this life, I should have faced amputation, but instead, I passed away simply feeling weak throughout my body. This was all because of my sincere and selfless dedication to the children.

When I heard this, my heart was very calm and grateful. The King of Hell gave me the opportunity to serve as a prison guard. Seeing the endless suffering of the sentient beings in hell, I was deeply moved, and I wanted to know if there was truly a final destination for humans.

It was only after listening to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks that I learned of the existence of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I longed to reach the West one day. I never expected that the King of Hell would nominate me. After waiting for several years, today, I have finally been reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Sitting on the lotus pedestal, surrounded by light and fragrance, the Western Pure Land is boundlessly beautiful. I, Zhifang, hope that more people can seek liberation and understand the suffering of the cycle of reincarnation.

I am grateful to the Buddha for his compassion, and to Practitioner Su for his compassion.

Hu Zhifang, with palms joined."