This is a record of an interview with Wu Libin, a twenty-year-old student who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the . This account reflects upon the tragic massive fire at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong. It was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Ru, on December 3, 2025.
Wu Libin speaks:
". I am Libin. I was a university student. On the day of the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court, both my grandmother and I perished in the flames. I truly hope that this message can reach my father and mother, so they know that my grandmother and I are now safe at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, residing in the Western -Nature Land.
A Desperate Race Against Time
Thinking back on it now, it still brings me such sorrow. I was at university when my phone suddenly rang. A friend was on the other end, sounding incredibly anxious. 'Libin,' she asked, 'has your home caught fire? Are you hurt?' I laughed and replied, 'I am at school, I haven't even gone home yet. How would you know my house is on fire?' She urged me, 'Look at the news! Your building is on the news!' My heart sank. It was that serious? I checked my phone immediately, and sure enough, the news of the massive fire at Wang Fuk Court was the top headline. It was my home—or rather, the residential complex where I lived. I did not know which block was burning, but I was terrified. I called home repeatedly, but only my grandmother was there, and no one answered. Could something have happened to her? I frantically hailed a taxi and told the driver, 'Please, drive as fast as you can! My home is on fire, I need to save my family. I will pay extra, just please, help me!' The driver understood the urgency and sped toward my home.
The Calm Before the End
From a distance, I could see the building engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. I was trembling with fear as I rushed inside. When I finally reached our unit, I shouted for my grandmother. She walked out slowly, looking completely unbothered, and asked why I was home so early. I explained that the building was on fire and that we had to escape immediately. But she just said, 'Don't be so nervous, there is no fire.' I told her the adjacent block was already burning and that if the fire spread to ours, it would be too late to run. Even with my desperate pleading, she remained remarkably calm, asking if I had eaten and if I wanted to take a lunchbox with me! I was so frustrated I did not know whether to laugh or cry. How could she think about lunchboxes when our lives were at stake? I grabbed her hand and insisted we leave right now. I dragged her toward the elevator, but she walked so slowly. I felt like I was going to lose my mind with anxiety.
Trapped in the Stairwell
When we finally reached the elevator, it would not come. We lived on the nineteenth floor; the elevator was our only hope, but it never arrived. I told my grandmother, 'Forget it, we have to take the stairs.' I led her into the stairwell, but halfway down, the power cut out. I was terrified. I used my phone to light the way, but my grandmother remained eerily calm, moving at a snail's pace. The stairwell was growing hot. I prayed the fire had not reached our floor yet. I pulled her along, but she kept saying, 'The smoke is just drifting over from next door, it hasn't burned here yet. Don't scare yourself.' I did not want to argue; I just wanted her to move faster. I had no time for her reassurances.
The Weight of Collective
Seconds felt like hours. We were moving far too slowly. By the time we reached the fifteenth floor, the path ahead was obscured by thick, choking smoke. I looked at my grandmother; she seemed to have no strength left. I asked her if she was alright, and she just whispered that she was fine, that we should just walk slower. The smoke grew thicker and more acrid. I started coughing violently, and so did she. Suddenly, she sat down. I pulled her hand, begging her to get up, but she could not. I panicked. 'Grandmother, are you okay?' She could not answer. I burst into tears, pleading with her to keep moving, but she did not budge. I sat down beside her, gasping for air, sobbing and coughing. I did not know what to do. I tried to carry her on my back, but I was too weak. I collapsed on the floor. The temperature around us soared, and my vision blurred. I held her hand, wanting to keep going, but I was frozen. Then, I lost .
to the Truth
It felt like I had fallen into a deep, dark dream. When I finally 'woke up,' I saw the fire consuming us. I cried out in agony. I did not understand why this was happening. I tried to wake my grandmother, but she was already charred; I could not even touch her. Was I dead? I must have been. I saw my grandmother standing next to me, but she did not look like herself—she had no physical body. I asked if she was alright, but she seemed dazed, likely still in shock. I did not know what to do or where to go, so I stayed by her side.
Suddenly, a brilliant light shone down, and we were brought here to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, to the Western Dharma-Nature Land. We were each placed on a lotus flower. There was no fire here, and seeing that my grandmother was safe, my heart finally settled. I let her rest, as she was still recovering from the trauma.
A Lesson from the Buddha
I have been listening to the Dharma talks here for a few days now. I asked the Buddha why we had to encounter such a fire and why we had to die. I was shown visions of my past lives—I saw myself setting fires. Although I looked different, I knew it was me. My grandmother was with me then, too. We had harmed so many people; this was our Collective Karma. When I realised this, I wept. I understood that everything was fated. I regret so deeply what I did; in the end, I only harmed myself. This fire was the result of our shared karma. Only after listening to Practitioner Su’s teachings did I understand that whether one survives or not depends entirely on what one did in past lives. 'Debts must be repaid, and a life must be paid for with a life.' No one wants to die in a fire, but without Buddhist education, no one knows how to avoid creating such karma. Daily life seems ordinary, but our are always waiting for the right moment to seek revenge. Looking back, from the moment my friend called to the taxi ride and our final moments in the stairwell, every step was influenced by the beings we had harmed. It was fated that I would return home, and it was fated that I would be unable to escape.
Gratitude and Peace
I am so grateful to Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for saving my grandmother and me from that fire. Otherwise, we would have been wandering in the void for a very long time. Whether one is young or old, when the fire of impermanence arrives, everyone is equal. Although our physical bodies are gone, our spirits are alive here in the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is where Namo Amituofo abides. He saved us. I hope my father and mother can come here to find us. We are doing very well here, so please do not worry. My grandmother and I both know to chant Namo Amituofo. My heart is much calmer now, and I no longer feel such resentment.
Thank you, Namo Amituofo. Thank you, Practitioner Su.
