The Warrior's Burden: A Journey from Battlefield to Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Qilong Yashi, a former samurai who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life as a warrior and his eventual transition to the Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on November 20, 2022.

Qilong Yashi speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am deeply grateful for the Buddha's blessings and for the kindness of Practitioner Su, who possesses such great courage and power. It is through their grace that we are able to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss today. Such an opportunity is truly rare, and we cherish it beyond words. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su."

A Life Defined by Duty

"I was a Japanese samurai. In the past, I defeated many enemies on the battlefield, and people honoured me with the title of 'God of War.' I was granted a territory to govern, and within the city walls where I resided, all the people were able to live stable and peaceful lives. For decades, I stood as a guardian of their safety. Even amidst the frequent outbreaks of war, my primary concern was always the well-being of the civilians; I could not bear to see them lose their lives innocently due to the conflicts of men.

In the year I was born, Japan was still a very simple and rustic island nation. The people lived in contentment, without excessive desires, and thus there was no need for war or plunder. The social atmosphere of that time was one of pure harmony. As I grew older, I would often yearn for the society of my childhood—the freshness of the air, the warmth of the sunlight upon the earth, and a life free from such endless afflictions and the constant slaughter of enemies."

The Darkness of the Blade

"I loathed war. I detested the days filled with the stench of blood. Yet, my mission was to protect my home and country. Safeguarding the lives of the people was my responsibility, and striking down the enemy was a task I had to perform. I have killed countless people. Looking out across the field, every enemy that appeared within my sight had to die, and I would even hunt down those who hid in the shadows. I possessed great skill, but I did not enjoy having such abilities. Killing was always the greatest pain in my heart, and the majority of my life was spent in agony.

From the moment I gained consciousness as a child, I was trained to be a warrior; this was my life's mission. My family was mysterious, rooted in ancient ninjutsu, and we passed down unique skills through the generations. When applied on the battlefield, these became lethal arts. I did not understand why people initiated wars. Such hearts filled with desire, such actions intended to harm the lives of others—what immense karmic retribution this creates!

I spent my entire life in repentance. I could not choose my birth, yet I had to be responsible for the people I protected. The souls who died tragically under my blade, the endless rivers of blood—these were pains I could never forget. My heart was filled with contradiction. I longed for liberation, yet I had to remain at my post. I could not abandon my duty unless I died in battle."

Memories of Light and the Cost of War

"The time of my childhood remains the only bright part of my heart. I cherish those pure memories; I view them as the most important moments of my life. I began wielding a samurai sword to kill at the age of eight. I used hidden weapons to assassinate enemies and employed poison when they were off guard. This was the dark side of my life, yet it was the only way I could protect the civilians.

I suffered greatly, but I had no way to save myself. My life was dedicated to the people. I began leading troops at the age of eleven. By then, my ninjutsu skills were already formidable. I trained my soldiers strictly, cultivating each one to be a 'death warrior'—someone who viewed the mission as their primary duty, even if it meant sacrificing their own lives to achieve it.

Although these were cruel orders, everything in wartime is cruel—there is no exception! If a warrior did not follow orders and fight with all his might, and if the city were to be occupied, the number of helpless civilians who would die would be immeasurable. That was a fate I was even less willing to see. War is heartless, and no matter how much helplessness one feels, the battle must be won."

Humanity Amidst the Bloodshed

"I lived until I was over seventy years old. In my life, countless days were spent on the battlefield. We lived a life of licking blood from our blades. Women and desire were the outlets for the warriors' frustrations. In the society of that time, women had no right to choose. The women sent to the military camps suffered greatly; many warriors did not know how to cherish them, which caused them immense pain.

In my camp, I issued orders many times that no one was to disregard the status of women, and no one was to force themselves upon them. Most of the women in my camp were treated with kindness, and because of the culture I established, many of them eventually became the wives of my warriors. I, too, had a beloved wife, and we had three sons. Two of them later became samurai, while the third chose a life according to his own preferences.

The human world is indeed full of suffering, but when one stands on the front lines of the battlefield, all these worldly matters become insignificant. Only survival matters, for as long as a person is alive, there is hope."

A Path to Deliverance

"I cherish life because I know how precious it is. Throughout my life, aside from the time spent in war, I also resolved to perform many good deeds. I used the wealth I accumulated to help children grow. If there were children displaced by war, I took responsibility for raising them; if there were children who could not survive due to poverty, I provided funds to care for them. I value every life. I hope that all beings can be treated fairly and that all can live good lives.

I am very grateful to my wife; she helped me so much and took care of so many children. My wife was a woman I saved on the battlefield. She did not come from a high status, and because of the war, her family was destroyed. She was about to be sold as a geisha when I saw the look of determination in her eyes. It made me feel the courage of life, so I saved her. I brought her to a safe place and intended to let her go, but she decided to offer herself to me. I did not agree at first, as I did not want her to sacrifice her life so easily. Years later, we met again by chance, and only then did I believe it was destiny, so I took her as my wife.

My life had joy and sorrow, bitterness and tears. How much of life's progression is beyond our control? But the only thing one can do is to try one's best—to live each day well, to do every task well, and not to be attached to or obsessed with the rest. Many things happen in a person's life every day, but as long as one can let go in the heart, then nothing is truly a problem.

I am so grateful that I could hear Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks in the underworld. This allowed me to reshape my thoughts and finally discover the method for the liberation of life. After I died, I spent some time in the hells to pay for my karmic debts, as the sins of killing in war are truly heavy! But because I kept a heart of Goodness and loyalty, I was released quickly. The King of Hell gave me the opportunity to serve in the underworld until today, when I gained such great blessings to meet Practitioner Su and hear the True Dharma.

I am deeply thankful to have such a wonderful opportunity to practise. I will listen to the sutras with great diligence. Now that I know the Truth of life, I am so grateful to Practitioner Su. I will certainly repay this great kindness in the future. On behalf of all the prison guards and all sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude to the Buddha and to Practitioner Su.

I will strive to practise and hope that I, too, can help sentient beings. Namo Amituofo."

"Qilong Yashi, with palms pressed together."