The Unpredictable Life of a Prison Guard

This is a record of an interview with Xu Shizong, 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 approximately 150 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 11, 2021.

Xu Shizong speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Xu Shizong. Shizong and fifty-nine other prison guards have now arrived in the Western Pure Land. Our hearts are filled with gratitude—gratitude for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su. You can see the joy on everyone’s faces. The Western Pure Land is truly completely different from the human world. In the human world, there is no such magnificent scenery; you cannot find it—you really cannot find it anywhere else. Only in the Western Pure Land does such beauty exist. It is truly exquisite.

A Life Written in Elements

Let me cast my memory back to the past, to when I still possessed a human body. It was approximately one hundred and fifty years ago. Everyone has surely watched a play. Without a villain, you cannot perform a compelling drama; without romance, the play lacks flavour; without encountering adversity, the story cannot reach its climax. It seems that before a good play is even scripted, the necessary elements are already selected. These elements constitute a play, and these same elements piece together a person's life.

One hundred and fifty years ago, my name was Xu Shizong. There are people named Xu Shizong everywhere, but the life experienced by each Xu Shizong is different. My mother gave birth to five children, and I was the eldest, the young master of the Xu family. We five brothers were all only a year or two apart in age. With my father’s handsomeness and my mother’s beauty, all five of us were born looking refined and attractive. From a young age, many little girls were infatuated with us, and as we grew older, our appearance attracted the gaze of every maiden.

The Illusion of Control

Having read many books since childhood, I considered myself quite knowledgeable about the world. When my father asked me about my plans for life, I replied, 'I have read so many life stories, and they are all much the same. I will not script my own life’s drama; I will let it generate naturally and unfold freely. After all, life is just like that. Too much striving will not bring about great changes, so I will not waste my energy. I will just let things take their natural course. Father, do you agree?' My father smiled, stroked his beard, and said to me, 'Your life shall be decided by you.'

I was very clever from a young age. From the age of four, I followed my father everywhere he went for business. Everything in the world was like watching flowers from horseback—I saw a little here and a little there. But after watching for a long time, I could understand most things, especially the playfulness of the world and the fickleness of the human heart. I saw these things clearly and thoroughly.

The Unpredictable Turn

What will happen in life is always unpredictable. When I was fifteen, my father’s business was exceptionally good. He was beaming with joy every day and often invited guests to our home; the atmosphere was particularly happy. That year for my birthday, my father bought me three horses as a gift. These three horses were all of the finest quality, and I loved them very much. In particular, the white horse among them—its noble, pure appearance had a special charm. I often rode it out, attracting the gaze of every passerby.

However, this gentle white horse suddenly changed its temperament during one of my rides. It became like a wild horse that had broken its bridle, crashing into everything. I fell from its back, and it continued to charge forward. That day, I broke a leg, and in its frenzy, the white horse trampled an old woman to death. With a broken leg and the death of an old woman on my conscience, this was a script for my life that I had never imagined.

A Debt of Responsibility

The old woman’s family was heartbroken. I knelt at their doorstep, begging for their forgiveness, and I paid them a large sum of silver, hoping to help them live better lives. I originally thought this would resolve the matter, but things were not so simple. The old woman’s younger brother insisted that I marry the three daughters the old woman had been most concerned about during her life. He said this was the responsibility I had to bear. If I did not resolve the matter that weighed most heavily on the old woman’s heart, her spirit would never be at peace, even after death.

I looked at these three young women. The eldest had some mental impairment; the second was mute and could not speak; the third appeared normal but was always giggling foolishly. Looking at these three women, I found it hard to imagine them as my wives and concubines. My heart could not help but recall what I had once told my father: 'I want to let my life take its natural course.' But this kind of 'natural' was too difficult to accept.

Facing the Script

The young women’s uncle was very insistent that I must do this. With my own conscience feeling heavy, I silently agreed. Even though my parents did not approve at the time, I could not make any other decision, so I had to face this arrangement of life’s theatre. The marriage was settled, and I was to marry the three women on different days. Our home was already decorated with three bridal chambers, waiting for the three brides to move in.

Before the wedding, my parents asked me once more, very seriously, 'Shizong, this is not a child’s game. Have you truly decided to do this?' I sighed and replied, 'Since I have encountered this, I will face it. If I do not marry these three women, I will never be able to forgive myself for causing the death of that old woman.' Seeing that my mind was made up, my parents said no more. My father said to me, 'Since you have decided, then welcome these three brides with joy. The three women are good people; it is good for you to take care of them so that the old woman can die without regrets.'

The Beauty of a Pure Heart

The once carefree Xu Shizong suddenly became lost and melancholy. After the marriage was settled, I was listless all day long. I asked myself, 'Why is it like this?' Everyone who heard about this marriage was gossiping. Some even brought their own daughters to our home and said to my parents, 'My daughter is better than those three women. If the young master is not picky, it would be better to marry our daughter.' Many people thought this marriage was truly absurd—the dignified young master of the Xu family was actually going to marry three 'abnormal' women! Many maidens who had feelings for me were heartbroken; they found my choice unbelievable.

Facing so much public opinion, I did not give any response. Since I had made this decision, I chose to look for the good and stopped thinking about it. When the three brides were married into our home on the chosen days, and I truly spent time with them, I discovered that the three wives were actually no different from normal people. That was all just the discriminations of the human heart. Moreover, they had been well-taught by their mother since childhood; their hearts were very kind, and they could always think of others. I suddenly felt that my own heart was quite ugly. Because they were different from 'normal' people, I had lost hope for my future life. My heart was fundamentally uglier than theirs.

A Life Transformed

Some people advised me not to have children, worrying that my offspring would be abnormal. I ignored such talk and had eight children with my three wives. As it turned out, six of these eight children were completely normal, and although the other two had slightly lower intelligence, they performed excellently in other aspects. Since marrying my three wives, my personality changed a great deal. From my state of mind before they were married into the house to our life together afterward, I heard so much criticism of my wives, so much disapproval of this marriage, and so many people who felt we were not a match. Too many negative comments allowed me to see human nature clearly.

When I truly spent time with my wives, I finally understood how beautiful a simple heart is. In my heart, they were the most beautiful wives; no one else could understand that. This shift in my state of mind inspired me to help many disadvantaged groups. I wanted to change the discriminatory eyes of the world and the unequal, discriminating heart. I also wanted to help these disadvantaged groups live with confidence, see their own strengths, and in their short lives, make the most of them to live a completely different life. My three wives and children joined me in doing good deeds. Such a family is very happy; we know how to cherish each other and how to help others. Our lives were filled with joy.

The Truth of Samsara

I lived this life very well, and my children were all very outstanding when they grew up. I am very grateful to Heaven for giving me these three good wives, which allowed me to have this beautiful life. After my life ended at the age of sixty-three, I went to the hells to serve as a prison guard. My wife and children did not accompany me, and only then did I understand that everything in life is false. No matter how good the life, it is false; no matter how beautiful the emotions, they are also false. After listening to Practitioner Su’s Dharma talks, I became even more clear-headed. It is a pity that I did not have the opportunity to learn Buddhism while I was alive. If I had encountered the Buddha’s teachings, I would have let my three wives learn Buddhism with me, and I would not have let them fall back into the cycle of rebirth after their short lives.

Xu Shizong, representing the sixty prison guards, kneels to express gratitude for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo."