The Wind God's Path to Deliverance

This is a record of an interview with Luo Qianjiu, 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 as a human approximately fourteen centuries ago, his subsequent existence as a Wind God, and his time serving in the hell realms. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on April 19, 2024.

Luo Qianjiu speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, being able to depart from the cycle of suffering within the magnificent Buddha-light, my heart is filled with profound gratitude. Beyond our group of sixty prison guards, there are countless other spirits who have also been delivered while chanting the sacred Buddha-name. The power of Practitioner Su’s visualisation is truly immeasurable and boundless. Right before us, the compassionate Buddha is here to lead us home.

Time passed so quickly, and suddenly, we arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The seven-jewelled ponds are overflowing with lotus flowers, and the sky is forever bathed in golden radiance. There are immeasurable and boundless numbers of pure, great-ocean-like Bodhisattvas, all existing in such a state of purity and ease. Looking upon this, my heart feels so calm, so deeply moved.

The Memory of a Name

Through the endless, turning cycles of reincarnation, I still remember my name: I am Luo Qianjiu. Before I became a prison guard in the hells, I was a Wind God, and I had my own specific jurisdiction. The territory I governed spanned across vast deserts, lush oases, small towns, and even entire nations. Within these regions, I was tasked with stirring the winds according to the preordained laws of karma and cause and effect.

Sometimes, I would whip up hurricanes across the desert that reached several storeys high. At other times, I would gently stir a cool breeze over an oasis, allowing the people there to feel a moment of respite from the heat. To decide what kind of wind to blow and where to blow it, the celestial deities of the heavenly realms would issue me instructions. Following these commands was considered acting in accordance with the laws of heaven. If I had my own opinions or personal ideas, not only would it fail to align with the Truth, but I risked creating negative karma and losing my status as a Wind God. Because of this, I was always extremely cautious, terrified that a single transgression would cost me my position and prevent me from serving the people.

The Cooperation of the Elements

Many times, we—the gods of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning—needed to coordinate our efforts. When we encountered beings with whom we had past karmic affinities, we would often stop to chat for a while. We are all independent individuals, yet we cooperate under the guidance of Causal Conditions. Sometimes, after a task was completed, we would never meet again, but at other times, we would cross paths once more; that, I suppose, is what it means to have a deep karmic connection.

Once, all of us—the gods of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning—gathered in a barren land, preparing to bring about a great disaster. The reason this land had become so barren was due to human greed. As the greed in their hearts piled up, layer upon layer, the land that once possessed such abundant resources was stripped bare, completely exhausted by human exploitation. When their blessings were fully consumed, the time arrived. Under the weight of their Collective Karma, we descended to stir up great winds, pour down heavy rain, and strike with lightning and thunder, allowing this region to receive the karmic retribution they were destined to face.

The Weight of Truth

Seeing the people fleeing in every direction, their faces twisted in such intense pain and torment, there were many times when I could not bear it. In my heart, I hoped the disaster would not be as severe as predicted. However, the Truth would not allow me to act that way. There is a cause, and there is a result; it was certain that they had created the cause first, which is why they had to endure such bitter fruit. After seeing this clearly, I knew I could not be soft-hearted, nor could I indulge in misplaced compassion.

Whenever I felt the urge to help the humans, another voice would always remind me that this was what they were meant to endure. Initially, I could not accept it, but after witnessing one particular scene, I understood that both cause and effect have their reasons. A village elder once came to warn the people that a great flood was coming and urged everyone to cooperate and move to the mountains. There were only five houses on the mountain, yet there were fifty people. In the chaos of not having enough space, everyone scrambled to claim their own spot, even claiming spots for their family members. In the end, the flood did not come that day, but I saw the selfishness in everyone’s hearts. They returned to the village as if nothing had happened, but a few days later, the flood truly arrived and swept away those who were so deeply selfish.

A Life as a Particle of Wind

It was only then that I saw the true face of the human heart. By following the Truth in executing my duties, I would always look for opportunities to help where I could, hoping to do what I was capable of within my station. I served as a Wind God for over a hundred years, fulfilling my duties faithfully, and only after my term ended was I able to go to the hells to serve as a prison guard. To become a Wind God, there are actually conditions that must be met. Before that, I was merely a tiny particle in the wind, blending into the breeze without any real power of autonomy.

Every time I flew within the wind, I knew that I would not stay in one place for very long. Therefore, I cherished every place I visited, doing my best to appreciate the scenery and enjoy the present moment. When I saw humans lighting fires, I would blow the wind to help the flames grow; when I saw animals fleeing for their lives, I would help them run a little faster. Flying in the wind was, for me, a state of absolute freedom. In that time, I also discovered that when I saw humans harming animals, I would become incredibly angry. Whenever I had such emotional fluctuations, I would likely find myself flying into foul-smelling ponds that day. When I harboured evil thoughts, I even found myself flying into pits of filth. But when I helped people, I would feel a sense of total ease; that feeling of freedom was like my whole body becoming light and airy, without any burden at all.

The Flute-Playing Boy

After experiencing this several times, I understood how great the influence of good and evil thoughts truly is. Beyond my own personal experiences, I also saw the different outcomes for humans when they generated good or evil thoughts. Those with good thoughts gained wealth, prosperity, or health; those with evil thoughts lost everything, even their bodies and their lives. Moving upward or falling downward—the results were completely different. From that time on, I knew the importance of good thoughts, and I tasted the joy of helping others. After realising these truths, I always maintained a positive mindset to help all sentient beings, both large and small, with whom I had a connection. It was through this accumulation of merit and virtue that I eventually had the opportunity to become a Wind God.

The human life of Luo Qianjiu actually lasted only fourteen short years. I was a boy who played the flute. From a young age, my parents had to work far away to support me, so they left me in the care of my grandmother. I was often sick, which always kept my grandmother in a state of constant anxiety. There were several times when my life was hanging by a thread, walking on the very edge of death. Every time I woke up, my grandmother would hold my hand and tell me, "Child, do not be afraid. Life and death are merely a passage. You will die, and I will die too. When you die is not important; what matters is what you can do while you are alive." I asked my grandmother, "Then what can I do?" My grandmother gave me a flute and told me, "Although you are still young, you can use this flute to play music, so that the people around you may find happiness because of the melody." Hearing her say this, I immediately picked up the flute to play. Strangely enough, I seemed to have a natural talent for it.

Finding the True Home

When I played the flute, my heart was exceptionally calm. I infused that inner peace into the sound of the flute, which allowed everyone who heard it to feel a deep sense of serenity. At first, people did not know where the music was coming from, so they searched everywhere. When they finally discovered it was me, they were all amazed that I possessed such a gift. Many people who were feeling troubled or distressed would come specifically to listen to my flute. No matter who came, I would never turn them away. Seeing them reveal peaceful expressions after listening to my music made me feel especially happy. Sometimes, I would even forget my own pain; I simply saw those who needed help, and I helped them. I lived this way until the very moment my life ended. One cold winter day, I began to cough, and my whole body started to tremble. I knew my life was beginning to fade. There was no fear in my heart. I picked up my beloved flute and played, and played, until my consciousness blurred, the flute fell from my hands, and my life came to an end. My spirit drifted away, floating upward until I merged into the tiny particles of the wind.

These were extraordinary life experiences for me. Moving from being a Wind God to the Yama’s palace, and then becoming a prison guard serving in the hells, was another profound realisation. The suffering of sentient beings and the intensity of their personalities caused my own spirit to suffer greatly. In my heart, I longed for a true path of deliverance for both myself and the suffering beings. Finally, while on duty, I heard Practitioner Su giving Dharma talks. I came to know the Buddha and learned of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I prayed that I would never have to reincarnate again. The path of the six realms of existence and the cycle of samsara are far too painful. I hoped that one day, the Buddha would come to lead us. Finally, I waited until today, when Practitioner Su, with great compassion, led us sixty prison guards and endless numbers of sentient beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I chanted Namo Amituofo loudly, and very quickly, I saw the Buddha. Seeing the Buddha’s compassionate face, I knew I had found my true home. I am so grateful. Luo Qianjiu, with palms joined in reverence."