The Truth Behind the Gates of Hell

This is a record of an interview with Tong Minghan, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He served as a spirit official in the underworld for over four centuries, witnessing the endless cycle of karmic retribution. This account reflects upon his life and his profound observations from the afterlife. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on December 13, 2020.

Tong Minghan speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Before I passed away, the final thing I witnessed was the sheer, crushing weight of suffering in this human world. People are so deeply lost, so hopelessly addicted to the illusions of this realm; it is incredibly difficult for them to let go. When I looked at the suffering of those in the human world, I realised that it all stems from emotion and attachment. This dusty, chaotic world of samsara is nothing but a breeding ground for sin and karma.

I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity I have been given today to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I have finally been able to escape the dust of karmic retribution. For this magnificent opportunity, I represent the sixty prison guards who served alongside me in bowing in gratitude to the Buddha's grace, and to Practitioner Su for his compassionate deliverance."

The Reality of the Underworld

"After I died, I entered the underworld and remained there for over four hundred years. However, I did not go there to suffer retribution; I went there to serve. Life in the underworld is not as complex as it is in the human world. Although it is dark, devoid of sunlight, and often damp and cold, there is no falsity there. There is no greed. The underworld is not like the human world, where people hide their true intentions behind a mask. In the underworld, there is no deception—only honesty and the raw, painful process of repenting for one's deeds.

During my long tenure in the underworld, I observed countless prisoners. These souls who arrived to suffer retribution were, in truth, just like any other beings caught in the cycle of rebirth. It was only because of the laws of karma and cause and effect that they were compelled to come to the underworld to face their sentences. My duty was to guide the newly deceased, directing them to the appropriate halls of the Yama Kings. I held a clear understanding of the exact moment each being's lifespan was meant to end. If their time had not yet come, or if they had met with an untimely, accidental death, I had specific methods for guiding them through the transition.

Many people in the human world believe that death is the end of life. In reality, life does not cease; it merely continues in a different form. As long as one has not achieved liberation from the cycle of rebirth, life will continue to transform in various ways, all governed by the ultimate Truth."

The Endless Cycle of Impermanence

"I am a messenger of the underworld, and I was accompanied by approximately fifty million other prison guards. In truth, this number is merely an estimate; the actual count is beyond calculation. I provide this figure only so that you might grasp the sheer scale of the situation. Among the countless lives in existence, there are infinite changes occurring at every single moment—some are being born, while others are meeting their end. These constant shifts, which occur in accordance with time, are what people in the human world call 'impermanence.'

This so-called impermanence is an unpredictable force, and far too many spirits are bound by its constraints. At every moment, countless spirits arrive to report for duty, or they move directly into another space to continue their existence in a different form. Life is truly infinite. The most precious state is to be born as a human, yet if one does not know how to find the value of life, one will simply grow old as time passes, and life will lose all its meaning.

Serving as a messenger in the underworld, I have experienced much and witnessed the entirety of life and death. Any event that arrives there is treated as a routine matter, simply because the number of souls entering and exiting the underworld every day is immeasurable. Countless spirits present their grievances, each case detailing different events and varying degrees of severity. This is a common occurrence in the underworld. Every detail of a being's life experience is recorded, and they are judged accordingly. This is why Bodhisattvas fear the causes, while ordinary beings fear the results. All beings should be deeply vigilant."

A Life of Service and Integrity

"When I was alive in the human world, I was born into a kind family. However, shortly after my birth, my parents passed away due to illness, and it was my elderly grandparents who raised me. From a young age, I was obedient and attentive. I never forgot the words my grandparents spoke to me; I kept them close to my heart. They taught me that to be a human, one must do good, be helpful to others, and always keep a kind heart. They did their absolute best to raise me, but shortly after I turned fifteen, they passed away as well. From that moment on, I was alone in the world. I had no other family, and no relatives were willing to take me in, so I had to learn to be independent.

A year after my grandparents passed, I chose to leave my hometown to seek a future elsewhere. Facing an uncertain path, I was initially at a loss, as I lacked the skills to survive on my own. I relied solely on my willpower, surviving through sheer strength until I encountered a wealthy family that was hiring young labourers. I thought to myself that I had no home and nowhere to go, and seeing that this family treated people with kindness, I accepted the position that very day.

The master and mistress of the house treated me very well. They provided me with support during my times of hardship, and I have always been deeply grateful for their kindness. From the moment I entered that household, everyone treated me with respect. The master and mistress even gave me opportunities to learn. I was so thankful for their cultivation of my character that, even after they passed away, I never forgot their grace. I did my utmost to manage the affairs they had entrusted to me and to take good care of their home.

Before I knew it, thirty years had passed. I had risen from a labourer to the household manager. After the master and mistress passed, they left the management of the estate to me. Their son was still young, and they had entrusted him to my care. I did not fail their expectations; I actively did everything in my power to look after the young master. I taught him all the principles I knew, hoping that he would grow up to be a person of substance who could benefit the public."

The Path to Liberation

"In this world, events range from simple to complex, taking on many forms. Yet, one's heart can remain focused on only one thing: 'Truth.' If one's heart is not sincere, then life becomes just like the myriad of worldly affairs—a mixture of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, where one no longer knows what is real. I taught the young master that to be a person, one must be sincere and kind. As long as one understands the principles of human character, one need not fear making mistakes. If one knows how to correct a mistake, it becomes an opportunity for learning.

The young master grew up well and eventually became a well-known philanthropist in the region, which gave me great comfort. I stayed in that house for over eighty years, finally passing away at the age of one hundred and one. By the time I left, the young master had established his own family and career. I had not failed the expectations of his parents; I had taken excellent care of their home.

After I passed away, I remained by the young master's side for a time. I was so accustomed to watching over his growth and managing his life that I had not yet realised I had died. I do not know how much time passed before I finally became aware of my own death. At that moment, I felt lost. I wondered what kind of place I would go to, and if anyone would come to lead me. Just as these questions flooded my mind, a light appeared—so blinding that I could not see what lay ahead. When the light finally faded, I discovered I had arrived in an unknown world, which I later learned was the gate of the underworld.

When I arrived at the gate, I did not know where to turn. Eventually, a prison guard came to lead me. I was taken to an office that appeared spacious, yet it felt as though it were only the size of a single room. I later realised that the space within that room was infinite.

I was assigned the work of an underworld messenger. Every day, I had to handle an immense volume of tasks. With the endless stream of beings coming and going, I had to organise their files one by one. It was incredibly busy. Seeing so many beings suffering in the cycle of rebirth made me think, 'If only these beings could wake up!' But beings in samsara are often deluded and stubborn. I frequently saw spirits filled with hatred; even though they were suffering greatly, they still harboured a strong desire for revenge, unable to let go of the resentment in their hearts. Such beings find it extremely difficult to be saved.

In the underworld, I witnessed the laws of karma and cause and effect in action. Karmic retribution is never wrong; this is something everyone in the human world should be vigilant about. The fact that countless beings arrive in the underworld every day should serve as a wake-up call for everyone to stop creating evil and to seek liberation."

Gratitude for the Buddha's Compassion

"I am fortunate that the Buddha is compassionate, allowing me the opportunity to hear Practitioner Su give Dharma talks, and to have this chance for rebirth today. I cherish this opportunity deeply. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for explaining the principles every day, which allowed us to understand how to seek liberation and leave suffering behind. In the past, I had never learned this great Dharma; I only knew how to be a good person and keep a sincere heart. When I first arrived in the underworld and saw so many beings entering to suffer retribution, I was shocked. I wondered how they could have ended up in such a state.

Now, having listened to Practitioner Su's teachings, I understand that this suffering exists because beings in the cycle of rebirth cannot master their own fate, and there is no one to teach them how to stop creating karma. This chaotic state of the world is something people should be very wary of. I am grateful to Practitioner Su for explaining these principles so clearly, allowing beings to understand. During my years in the underworld, I saw much karma through my work, but I did not know how to achieve liberation. It was Practitioner Su's teachings that made me realise the importance of liberation and introduced me to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I am so grateful for Practitioner Su's compassion. For years, I have listened to his Dharma talks daily, and I have always had a profound realisation: the cycle of rebirth is truly too painful! I have always hoped for the day I could seek rebirth in the Pure Land. Now that this day has arrived, my heart is filled with emotion.

Practitioner Su's sutras are widely circulated in the underworld, and everyone is deeply grateful to him. We are so thankful to be able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today! I am grateful to the Buddha for his compassion, and I am grateful to Practitioner Su. Upon arriving in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, I will certainly practise diligently so that, in the future, I may have the opportunity to join Practitioner Su in saving sentient beings.

Namo Amituofo."