The Warm Sun of the Hell Realms

This is a record of an interview with Li Guangwei, 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 time serving as a prison guard in the hell realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on May 10, 2025.

Li Guangwei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Having finally bid farewell to the cycle of rebirth and stepped onto the soil of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the joy in my heart is beyond words. I cannot stop chanting Namo Amituofo; every single Buddha-name is filled with gratitude—endless, boundless gratitude.

Practitioner Su is so compassionate. By making such a great vow to save us poor, wandering spirits, she has given us the chance to be rescued. Especially for us fortunate prison guards—if it were not for Practitioner Su bringing us to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, it would have been utterly impossible for us to ever arrive here. Therefore, our hearts are filled with infinite gratitude toward Practitioner Su. We kneel before the Buddha, offering our deepest thanks to Namo Amituofo and to Practitioner Su.

A Childhood of Light

In this lifetime, my name was Li Guangwei. From a very young age, I was a warm-hearted child. I loved bringing joy to others, carrying with me a sense of innocence and purity. Many people used to say that I was like a bright star shining in the darkness; others called me a 'warm sun' in the midst of ice and snow. Wherever I went, I seemed to bring hope and happiness to those around me.

However, behind this persona, I hid a past that few knew. I was not a child born with a silver spoon in my mouth; I was an abandoned baby, left by a rubbish bin. That winter was exceptionally cold. A kind-hearted old woman discovered me and took me home, saving my tiny life. She became the person closest to me in the world, and I always called her 'Grandmother'.

The Wisdom of the Heart

Grandmother had lost her husband when she was young and had no children of her own. She survived by doing odd jobs and working as a domestic helper for others. She never complained about her fate. She would always tell me, 'Child, no matter how bitter life is, your heart must not be bitter. If there is light in your heart, you will never fear the darkness.' I grew up listening to these words. Even though our home was poor and we often went hungry or cold, my heart was always filled with warmth.

I remember one winter that was particularly harsh. We had only a tiny bit of firewood left, yet Grandmother insisted on giving me the larger portion of our last bowl of hot soup. She smiled and said, 'You are my sunshine. I must take good care of you. No matter how cold the house is, as long as you are here, it will be warm.' I was only a child then, but I felt so secure. I knew that as long as Grandmother was with me, I had nothing to fear, no matter how difficult things became.

Grandmother was incredibly wise. She taught me, 'When you look at things, do not just look at the surface; you must see the principles hidden within. Just as the winter may be cold, there is always a spring waiting for us.' These words deeply influenced me, helping me cultivate a heart that looked for the positive in everything.

The Test of War

I loved to laugh when I was young. Whenever the adults in the village returned from a long day of exhausting work, their faces etched with fatigue, I would run up to them and say with a smile, 'The sun was beautiful today, wasn't it?' In that moment, a faint smile would always appear on their weary faces. Many people praised me for being optimistic, but I knew in my heart that this smile was a gift from Grandmother—it was a lesson she had taught me throughout her life.

My life remained simple and ordinary. I had no grand ambitions; I only wanted to take care of Grandmother and accompany her in her twilight years. However, fate loves to play tricks. When I was seventeen, war broke out, and our village was invaded by foreign enemies. That day, they rounded up all the men and women in the village. I knelt before the enemy, begging them to spare everyone. The enemy looked at me coldly and finally said, 'If you want to save them, stay and become one of us.'

I agreed without a moment's hesitation. I knew that this was the only way the villagers and Grandmother would have a chance to survive. The days as a prisoner were incredibly bitter. I was forced to do hard labour and was frequently beaten and humiliated. Sometimes, in the freezing nights, while I was carrying water, I would silently think of Grandmother's smile and tell myself, 'You must hold on. Grandmother is still waiting for you to return.'

Finding the Path

The enemies would often ask me in confusion, 'You fellow, why are you always smiling?' I would reply, 'Because I am alive, and there is still hope.' In those moments, a flicker of bewilderment would appear in their eyes, as if some part of their inner selves had been stirred. As time passed, I slowly melted their coldness. They began to talk to me, and sometimes they even showed a rare, long-lost smile. I knew then that they were not born evil; they were simply driven to the edge by their circumstances.

Years later, they unexpectedly released me to go home. I returned to the village filled with gratitude, and the moment I saw Grandmother, my tears fell like rain. She held me and said, 'Child, suffering is a blessing, for only those who have tasted bitterness can have a heart that is truly soft.' After returning, I continued to live a simple life. Grandmother grew old, and I cared for her until her very last breath. Before she passed, she told me, 'Guangwei, remember to keep being a good person. Good people will always have good rewards.' I nodded through my tears, promising her I would.

After Grandmother passed away, my heart felt empty, but I never forgot her words. I began to help my neighbours whenever they were in need. I did not have much money or great ability, but I was willing to do whatever I could. The children in the village called me 'Uncle Li'. Once, a child asked me, 'Uncle Li, why are you always smiling?' I patted his head and said, 'Because smiling can warm a person's heart.' The child nodded earnestly and said, 'I want to be like you and smile often when I grow up.' At that moment, I felt as if Grandmother were right beside me, smiling gently.

From the Rocking Chair to the Hells

Later, an old monk came to the village to spread the Dharma, and it was then that I first encountered the Buddha's teachings. When he spoke of how 'the human body is hard to obtain, and the Buddha's teachings are hard to hear,' my heart was deeply shaken. I began to learn and chant Namo Amituofo, gradually understanding the true meaning of life. I often thought that if one day I were to leave this world, I must go to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to be reunited with Grandmother.

At the age of sixty, I passed away due to illness. After death, my spirit did not leave immediately; instead, I entered the rocking chair that Grandmother had often sat in during her life. She had spent countless days and nights in that chair. I stayed in that chair, guarding the village and everything I remembered. I watched the seasons change, watched the children grow into adults, and watched the generations of the village pass by. Although I was no longer a part of the human world, my heart remained attached to everything there.

Sometimes, in the dead of night, I would silently chant the Buddha-name, hoping that all these descendants would be safe and happy. Finally, one day, two prison guards dressed in black appeared before me. They said, 'Li Guangwei, your Causal Conditions have arrived. Come with us.' I asked them, 'Where am I going?' They did not speak, but led me through layers of thick fog until we arrived before the gates of the hells.

The Compassion of Practitioner Su

King Yama looked at me and said in a calm tone, 'In this lifetime, your heart was kind and generous. Although you did not have tremendous blessings, you always harboured compassion. I now command you to be a prison guard, to protect the suffering spirits within the hells.' And so, I became a prison guard.

The suffering in the hells is ten thousand times greater than in the human world. I saw countless spirits falling due to emotion, hatred, and greed. They cried out in regret countless times, but it was already too late. Some spirits had hollow eyes, while others were filled with sky-high resentment, wailing day and night in unspeakable agony. I often said to them, 'Do not give up. As long as you turn your heart back to the Buddha, He can save you all.' Although most spirits did not believe me at first, as time passed, some began to try chanting Namo Amituofo, and some were willing to repent. Gradually, for the first time, a look of peace appeared on their faces.

Then, one day, the Dharma voice of Practitioner Su reached into the hells. At that moment, the entire hell realm lit up. Countless spirits wept and prostrated. I was one of them, my tears flowing like a spring, as if the dust of a thousand years had been swept away in an instant. Many spirits, amidst their great suffering, finally chanted the Buddha-name and were led out by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su.

Today, Practitioner Su has brought us sixty prison guards to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss together. Looking at this Pure Land before me, I finally understand that all the suffering and waiting were for this very moment. I am grateful to Namo Amituofo, grateful to Practitioner Su, and grateful for every Causal Condition in my life. May all sentient beings leave suffering behind and gain happiness. Li Guangwei bows in reverence. Namo Amituofo."