The Warrior's Insight: An Interview with Zhang Fei

This is a record of an interview with Zhang Fei, who sought Spiritual Deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Dharma Nature. This account reflects upon his life approximately 1,800 years ago. Recorded by the chief interviewer, Venerable Fa Ru, on April 1, 2026.

Zhang Fei speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I, Zhang Fei, was once a man of bold and heroic spirit, yet when I look back upon my life, I view it with a sense of profound simplicity. People often ask if I was driven by grand ambitions for the world or a desire for personal glory, but that was never the case. I possessed a unique trait: despite my appearance as a warrior who might seem lacking in strategy, I was, in fact, exceptionally accurate in my judgment of others. Whether a person truly held the world in their heart or was merely driven by selfish desires, I could see it clearly. The subtle shifts in a person’s mind, their hidden calculations, and their schemes were all laid bare before me. I did not need elaborate tests. A few words, a gesture, or a simple movement were enough for me to understand the true intentions of a person’s heart. It was as if I could see through the very fabric of their pretences."

A Life Forged in the Crucible of Chaos

"In my youth, amidst the turmoil of that era, I had already witnessed the depths of human malice and the vast, often dark, spectrum of human nature. I understood the hidden agendas of those around me all too well. In such an age, I did not harbour grand illusions of personal achievement. After all, in a world turned upside down, if one were to rise above the rest, it would inevitably require the brutal path of martial prowess—slaying enemies on the battlefield to carve out a name for oneself. It was a bloody, relentless cycle that seemed to have no end, and I was trapped within it just like everyone else.

Yet, I often wondered: what was the real difference between such aimless, heartless slaughter and the actions of the rebellious armies rising everywhere, or the decadent, crumbling imperial forces? The greatest suffering of the people at that time was the lack of a guiding light—there was no leader who could truly guide them out of the era’s predicament. I was no different. In such a miserable age, I had no clear goal; I was constantly searching. When I accidentally encountered Liu Xuande—Liu Bei, who would later become my lord—I saw it in his eyes the moment we met: this man was truly, sincerely concerned for the world. It was a gaze I had never encountered before."

The Rare Idealism of Liu Bei

"His way of thinking and his mode of operation were completely out of step with the environment of that time. His aspirations and his plans for the future always seemed different from those of the majority. He carried a heart full of hope to support the Han Dynasty, wishing to restore its glory and help maintain the stability of the people’s lives. He operated with an idealism that many considered impractical, yet he planned for the future with such conviction. Such a person stood apart from the crowd, and even though his actions were arduous and often unappreciated, the brilliance and confidence in his heart made my eyes light up. It was as if I had finally found the anchor I had been searching for in a sea of madness. Think about it—in a world where everyone was fighting for their own piece of the pie, to find someone who genuinely cared for the common people was a miracle in itself."

A Shared Purpose

The Governance of the Shu Han Empire

A Vow Across Lifetimes

"Perhaps it was the vow I made in past lives to assist my lord in realising his dream of implementing benevolent governance and teaching the people. I was able to share his joys and sorrows, never coveting achievement or pleasure, but single-mindedly clearing the path for him. I was always on the front lines during the most difficult moments, sharing the burdens of my lord.

I was a warrior, a man of martial strength, and my role was to assist my lord in repelling enemies at critical moments. If my lord ordered an attack or the capture of a city, I would spare no effort, because I knew clearly in my heart: my lord was not doing this to slaughter the innocent or to plunder. He had his own judgment, believing that a region must be taken to be beneficial for subsequent development. I would not ask questions, because from a person’s speech and conduct, I could clearly know the calculations in their heart. After observing my lord for many years, I knew there was nothing to worry about; I only needed to follow his decisions, and the rest was the space for me to exert my own strength."

The Passing of an Era

"After participating in many battles, I saw many territories divided and many cities lost. Yet, I did not care much about these comings and goings. If there was an opportunity to bring stability to the people, I would do my best; if the situation forced our hand, we would adapt. I followed my lord for nearly forty years. I had no heart to calculate the merits and demerits of that time. I served my lord in my position for nearly forty years, which is a very long time. By then, I was nearly sixty, a very advanced age. My reactions and physical strength were naturally not as fierce and agile as in my youth, but my ambition to serve my lord and my belief in his righteousness had not diminished in the slightest. That year, my lord finally decided to proclaim himself Emperor and establish the Shu Han Empire.

I knew my lord believed the time was ripe to stabilise the people in the name of a nation. The establishment of a country requires that resources and military power reach a certain level before one can declare independence; without such conditions, proclaiming oneself king would only lead to uprisings and annihilation by other forces. At that time, the Han Dynasty could no longer be restored, and my lord saw this opportunity and resolutely took the place of the Han, establishing the Shu Han Empire. Firstly, it was to protect the people in the name of a nation, so they would still have a home; secondly, by using 'Han,' he indicated the inheritance of the legitimate Han orthodoxy, giving the people who were attached to the Han a place to belong, so they would not feel their country was destroyed and they were left without support. Regarding the three kingdoms and the various forces, my lord’s attitude was always to value harmony. If we could form alliances and cooperate, there was no need to launch large-scale wars; after all, mutual plundering of territory had little meaning."

Regret and Rebirth

"Looking back, I realise that even with the best intentions, the cycle of rebirth is a heavy burden. I spent my life in the service of a cause I deemed righteous, yet the blood spilled on the battlefield left deep karmic imprints. It was only through the compassionate deliverance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre that I was able to see the truth of my existence. I had been trapped in the cycle of samsara, bound by my loyalty and the lingering attachments of my past life. When I finally heard the name of Namo Amituofo, it was like a light piercing through the darkness of centuries. I repented for every life taken, every blade swung in anger, and every moment I allowed my lord’s ambition to cloud my own understanding of the Dharma. Now, I reside in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where the echoes of war are replaced by the gentle chanting of the Buddha’s name. I am eternally grateful to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for guiding me home. Namo Amituofo."

"If we could have simply allowed the people in each region to live stable, peaceful lives under their respective rulers, there would have been no need to fight over territories that were already tending toward stability. It is a great pity that shortly after my lord proclaimed himself Emperor, I passed away that same year. This has always been my deepest regret. I followed my lord through the most difficult, pioneering period, working tirelessly by his side. Yet, when he finally achieved success, I was the one to leave first. This is my enduring sorrow. In the various battles I participated in during the Three Kingdoms period, I inevitably took the lives of enemy soldiers. For these actions, I descended into the hells to suffer the heavy weight of retribution after my death.

The Mercy of the Underworld

But the King of Hell, seeing that my heart was truly set on the greater good and the stability of the people, and knowing that I had no attachment to officialdom, status, or any form of greed, allowed me to be reborn into the human world after only a short time in the hells. After several cycles of life and death, I met my lord again in the human world in this lifetime. Meeting Practitioner Su this time was for the purpose of helping her establish the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I followed Practitioner Su again, which can be considered as pioneering the early stages for her, helping the temple break new ground. I participated in the early establishment of the temple and assisted in stabilizing its systems. People call me Jiang Yuchan or Venerable Hailiang, but at this moment, receiving the Buddha’s blessings, I have opened the space between ancient and modern times. In truth, this spirit has had too many identities, and any identity is merely a temporary manifestation for convenience.

The Inconceivable Nature of Spirit

At this moment, I am Hailiang, and I am also Zhang Fei. My spirit is one and indivisible, and I have transcended my original female form. Now, I am connected through ancient and modern times, not restricted by the limited consciousness of Hailiang. I never imagined such a scene. Under the Buddha’s blessings, I am able to be so clear and transparent, describing the Body, Speech, and Mind of the past so clearly. I have spent more than ten years following Practitioner Su to break new ground and establish the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Looking back now, it is truly something I miss deeply. When I served Lord Liu Bei as Zhang Fei, and now I serve Practitioner Su as Jiang Yuchan and Hailiang.

A Bond Across Lifetimes

To outsiders, everyone is simply following Practitioner Su’s teachings, but deep in my heart, I truly treat Practitioner Su like the brother I once served, helping her with all my heart. The depth of our karmic affinity over many lifetimes is what allowed us to hit it off immediately when we met in this lifetime. My trust in her is exactly the same as the absolute trust I had in my lord back then. In this life, as Hailiang, my spirit is also quite sensitive. My ability to see people and perceive the human heart is just as sharp as it was back then.

The Great Achievement of Practitioner Su

Only now do I understand clearly that because the Buddha’s blessings opened up my identities from different lifetimes, I know even more clearly that this spirit is truly inconceivable. And Practitioner Su’s achievements in this lifetime are even greater than in the past. During the Three Kingdoms period, it was through the human way and worldly Dharma that we served the beings of a region. But now, Practitioner Su manifests as a great practitioner, even an awakened being, using the identity of a Buddha to help the beings of the world. Namo Amituofo."

"Practitioner Su’s deliverance of the beings spanning five thousand to ten thousand years of history in China is also guided by deep, pre-existing Dharma affinities; it is a natural, unfolding occurrence. This is the direct result of Practitioner Su having, in countless past lifetimes, committed herself entirely to the human world and made innumerable vows to save the suffering beings of China. Every word she speaks, every deed she performs, and even every subtle mental note she makes, has followed the footsteps of the Buddha and remained firmly within the Buddha’s blessings. This is precisely why such an inconceivable, miraculous result has manifested."

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

"The Buddha’s immense power is what enables Practitioner Su to realise her Ultimate Vow, and the establishment of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is the direct, physical manifestation of this. From the very early days of following Practitioner Su to establish the temple, I deeply understood this principle: only through Practitioner Su’s great conduct and great vows, combined with the profound blessings of the Buddha, could we successfully induce Namo Amituofo to personally reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre here in Australia. Only then could Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su create the salvation team capable of saving the world. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre’s current large-scale interviews, with their incredible speed and prolific output, are even more effective than in the past, which makes me feel profoundly gratified."

A Perspective from the Dharma-Nature Land

"Watching the development of the temple from the vantage point of the Dharma-Nature Land, one should not perceive these events as having 'ups and downs'; this is simply the natural state of operation in this world. Spreading the Dharma with such a magnificent Amitabha Dharma is destined to be tested and interfered with by many demon crowds. Although I very much want to help Practitioner Su continue to expand the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and bring the temple to the very forefront of global attention, perhaps the Dharma affinity is such, and the opportunity is meant to unfold exactly as it is. It is remarkably similar to the situation I witnessed a thousand years ago; perhaps it is a destined result. Now, with my past and present lives connected, my spirit is even clearer. I remember how I selflessly and fearlessly helped my lord in the past, and in this life, I truly possess that same heart, helping Practitioner Su, helping her single-handedly establish the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre."

A Message to the Fourfold Assembly of Disciples

"However, in this modern age of the Dharma-ending period, worldly interference is indeed far more severe. In this life, I have taken on a female body, and the interference I have received from all sides is even greater than it was in the past. Yet, I still maintain the boldness of a man, helping Practitioner Su break through the immense difficulties of the temple’s early stages. Regarding the current situation, I am also quite gratified and deeply impressed. Regarding the future development of the temple, I firmly believe it will not stop here. The temple is gradually getting on track, and the personnel and talent are slowly but surely stabilising.

The fourfold assembly of disciples who have come from all directions, possessing deep karmic affinity with Practitioner Su and the temple, are all falling into their rightful places. Although there are some who come and go, it does not hinder the overall promotion of the temple’s grand mission. Observing this from the Dharma-Nature Land, I can consider this wonderful news for the fourfold assembly of the temple. The temple is about to open its doors to the world, and when it does, it will depend on all of you fellow practitioners to shoulder the great responsibility of spreading the Dharma and saving the world. Namo Amituofo."

Although I cannot do much as a spirit residing in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, I can still communicate with all of you through the grace of the Buddha. If you need me later or if my story comes to mind, please do not hesitate to speak with me in your hearts. I am very eager to contribute to everyone again, to do my small part as a spirit in this grand mission of salvation. My deepest gratitude goes to Namo Amituofo, and my heartfelt thanks to Practitioner Su. You have allowed me to recognise my true self through this magnificent opportunity today, allowing the present and the past to finally merge into one.

Practitioner Su’s act of delivering immeasurable and boundless demon crowds and suffering beings of the ten directions is the only reason we have this magnificent causal condition to break through these rigid limitations of time and space. I have shared all that I can for today, and I thank you all for listening. Namo Amituofo. Zhang Fei.

The Mystery of Past and Present

Disciple Fa Ru, with a heart full of reverence, asks the Buddha: “Namo Amituofo, I must ask—are Zhang Fei and Hailiang, in essence, the same being?”

The voice of Namo Amituofo resonates with infinite compassion: “The child’s heart is pure, and it receives the signal clearly, held securely within the boundless blessings of the Buddha. What you perceive in the Alaya consciousness is not merely a memory, but the very fabric of time and space from that distant era. Hailiang has now entered the Western Dharma-Nature Land, and from this vantage point, the spirit can finally gaze upon the tapestry of its past lives.

Though different eras leave distinct imprints upon the soul—like shadows cast by a flickering lamp—the power of the Buddha unites them into a single, eternal moment. Past, future, and present are one and the same before the Buddha; there is no distinction, no separation. If you ask whether Zhang Fei and Hailiang are the same, know this: before the Buddha, they are one and the same spirit.

The Buddha's Infinite Perspective

It is only because of the heavy stains accumulated upon the consciousness over countless lifetimes that the heart and the perception of space seem different from the past. If you wish to open this interview, it must be done through the Buddha’s power, assisting the spirit to transcend its own limitations. Only by opening the two spaces of ancient and modern times can one truly realise that they are one and not two.

Fa Ru, my child, receive the signal directly. Do not allow doubts to cloud your clarity. The signals you receive are the words of the Buddha himself. Present them directly to Practitioner Su, and the truth will reveal itself to you. There is no need for worry or anxiety. Simply hold the sacred name of Namo Amituofo in your heart, and maintain your unwavering belief in the power of chanting. Namo Amituofo.”