This is a record of an interview with Lin Chengyan, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately several decades ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on August 23, 2025.
Lin Chengyan speaks:
". I am Lin Chengyan. I am so incredibly grateful to Practitioner Su for bringing me and fifty-nine other prison guards to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I truly feel that we are all so fortunate to have been brought here by Practitioner Su. If we had relied solely on our own strength, we would likely never have had the opportunity for liberation. Today feels like a dream; my heart is filled with such excitement and disbelief, yet I clearly understand: we have truly arrived, and we are truly liberated.
A Life Cut Short
My name is Lin Chengyan. It is somewhat regrettable to say, but I was still very young when I passed away—I was only eleven years old. My life ended after only eleven short years. During those days, I was surrounded by the immense love of my parents, and I experienced many moments of simple . If I had known that my life would be so brief, I certainly would have cherished it more and strived to do more things to help society. But there are no 'ifs' in this world; my life had already reached its full stop.
I was an only child. When I was born, my parents wept with joy because my arrival was like a gift from heaven to them. Before they were married, my mother was diagnosed with an infertile physical constitution, and doctors determined that her chances of conceiving were extremely low. My parents had already planned to live their lives without children, but unexpectedly, I arrived in this world like a miracle. Because of this, I was exceptionally precious to them.
The Pride of My Parents
However, that joy lasted only eleven years. My departure brought my parents incomparable sorrow and heartbreak. Although they were devastated by my death, they were also proud of me. They knew that throughout my short eleven years, I had always been kind-hearted and did my best to help others. Even in my final moments, I sacrificed myself to protect the civilians and my companions. My parents once said through tears to our relatives: 'Although our child left us early, he walked with integrity and honour. We are proud of him.'
From a young age, I was optimistic, simple, and content, and I loved helping people. Because of this personality, both adults and children my age enjoyed being around me. Every day, a group of children would come to our home to play, and seeing me happy made my parents happy as well. But I did not just love to play; I also liked to lead the other children in doing Goodness.
A Heart for the Suffering
I remember one time I led everyone to help an elderly grandmother sell her vegetables. Her back was already severely hunched, yet she still had to push a small cart out to sell produce. It turned out that her son had fallen from a construction site and became bedridden for life, requiring massive medical expenses. The grandmother was quite old, yet she still had to struggle for a living; her days were extremely difficult.
I first met her when I was helping my mother buy groceries. Seeing her struggling figure made my heart ache, and I immediately felt the urge to help. From then on, whenever I had free time, I would go to her stall to help her call out to customers. Later, I even brought my little friends along to help. Although the grandmother felt embarrassed, seeing how enthusiastic we children were, her eyes would often fill with tears of gratitude. She would invite us to her home to play, treating us as if we were her own grandchildren.
for All Beings
Beyond humans, I also cared deeply for animals. I often looked after the stray cats and dogs on the street. Although I could not bring them all home, I would train them, teaching them how to find food for themselves and how to protect themselves. When the weather was cold, I would help them find sheltered places, just as if I were taking care of younger siblings. Many adults saw me doing this and would shake their heads with a smile, thinking I was just playing. They did not believe that cats and dogs could understand me. But I knew in my heart: they truly understood. They could feel my tone and my intentions.
What was even more unique was that I never ate meat from a young age. My mother, worried about my nutrition, once secretly put minced meat in my food, masking it with mushrooms. After I ate it, I not only vomited immediately but also broke out in an itchy rash all over my body and even developed a high fever that night. After that, my parents were certain that I truly 'could not eat meat.' As for me, I already loved animals, and the thought of eating their flesh felt like a life worse than death, so I never even considered trying it.
The Call of Justice
The era in which I was born was one of extreme political and social chaos. The government was corrupt, the people lived in poverty, and groups were forming everywhere, hoping to overthrow the tyranny. Although I was only ten years old, I was very sensitive to these matters. Whenever I saw officials bullying the people, a strong sense of justice ignited within me. I wanted to protect everyone; I could not bear to see people suffer.
Thus, I took the initiative to approach those older brothers who had formed groups to protect the people. In my eyes, they were true warriors. Although I was young, I begged them to let me join. I said: 'I am small now and cannot do much, but I will grow up. If I can start learning now, I will surely be able to help more people in the future.'
Seeing my courage and determination, those older brothers made an exception and allowed me to join. From then on, I studied hard in the group, trying my best to understand the situation, and began reading relevant books. Although I was not very literate, I was not afraid of hardship and often asked others to help explain things. The one who helped me the most was my father. My parents initially strongly opposed my involvement in dangerous activities, but seeing my firm resolve and being moved by my convictions, they eventually let go. My father even became my mentor and friend, accompanying me as I read and helping me explain difficult texts. Although I was young, the sense of responsibility in my heart made me mature much earlier than my peers.
The Final Sacrifice
When I was eleven, the situation in town became even more chaotic. The government sent troops to suppress the people, frantically searching for and arresting those who had formed groups. To protect me, the older brothers told me not to participate in activities for a while and to go into hiding. But for some reason, the soldiers quickly targeted me and took me away.
In prison, they used all sorts of methods to force me to speak: Where were my companions? What was the plan? Where were the meeting places? I gritted my teeth and said nothing. No matter how they tortured me, I remained silent. They were incredibly cruel to inflict such harm on an eleven-year-old child. But my heart was like a rock; the only thing I thought about was protecting my father, my older brothers, and the innocent civilians. No matter how great the pain, I told myself to endure it.
In the end, my body could not withstand the cruel punishment, and I was tortured to death. As I took my final breath, my intention remained: may the people no longer suffer. It was precisely because of this final thought that after my spirit left my body, I entered a space that felt like a prison cage.
From Hell to Deliverance
In that cage, I repeatedly saw scenes of the people being bullied by soldiers and my companions being arrested and suffering. I kept wanting to protect them, but I could do nothing. This attachment kept me trapped in that space for a long time, until officials from the hells came and took me away from that space.
When I arrived in the hells, King Yama gazed at me with a serious but compassionate expression. He said: 'Although you are young, you have a heart of great righteousness. To protect your companions and the people, you were willing to suffer yourself rather than betray your beliefs.' Just like that, I became a prison guard.
When I first arrived in the hells, I saw countless spirits suffering with my own eyes, their screams echoing one after another. My heart was shaken; those sounds pierced my ears, making me feel sad and pained, yet I was powerless to help. It was not until one day that I heard the voice of Practitioner Su. The voice was gentle yet powerful. I listened intently and finally understood: the root of all suffering lies in confusion and ; only the Buddha’s teachings can truly save beings.
From then on, I began to counsel the suffering spirits to listen to the sutras and encouraged them to repent. Many beings in the hells changed their hearts, repented sincerely, and eventually attained liberation. Seeing them leave suffering behind and gain happiness, I felt both moved and comforted. And today, because of the compassion of Practitioner Su, I and the other fifty-nine prison guards were guided together to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. When the Buddha-light shone upon us, all pain, shackles, and attachments melted away. My heart is lighter than ever before, leaving only infinite gratitude.
I know that if it were not for the power of the Buddha, a foolish child like me could never have attained liberation on my own. I represent all the prison guards in expressing our gratitude.
