Trapped in the Virtual Abyss

This is a record of an interview with You Linkai, who sought Chao Du 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 experiences following his tragic death approximately ten years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on March 9, 2025.

You Linkai speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am You Linkai, a youth who once lived entirely within the confines of a game. To me, the real world held no attraction; only the virtual realm gave me a sense of value. On the digital battlefield, I was an invincible powerhouse. My name was etched on the leaderboards, and everyone knew me as the 'Night Hunter'."

The Illusion of Reality

"But what of the real world? I ignored my parents' nagging, the pressure of my studies, and the meaningless nature of human relationships. I only wanted to immerse myself in the game, to savour the thrill of victory, to accumulate more gear, and to be a figure admired by thousands. Yet, as reality became blurred, my soul was locked into this illusory land without me even realising it.

One day, after playing for an exhausting number of hours, my eyes were bloodshot, my fingers trembled, and my body refused to obey. In a single moment, my world turned blank—I collapsed. When I opened my eyes again, the game screen was still flickering, and I was still fighting on the battlefield. Everything seemed unchanged. What I did not know was that my soul had entered the game character, while my physical body in the real world remained as a hollow shell, devoid of its spirit."

A Living Corpse

"My physical body woke up, but it was different. My gaze was vacant, my speech became mechanical, my thinking grew sluggish, and even the movements of my fingers became stiff and eerie. I lost all perception of reality. I had no interest in food, and I completely ignored the concerns of my family. I only knew one thing: I had to play the game.

At this point, my obsession deepened into a near-maniacal stubbornness. I became irritable and paranoid. I would stop at nothing to win, hurling abuse at those who tried to stop me, throwing things, screaming, and even resorting to physical violence. In the real world, I was a walking corpse, but inside the game, I was an invincible god."

The Trap of the Demon Realm

"I became increasingly addicted. Every battle made me feel stronger, faster, and closer to perfection. I began to believe that the 'me' in reality was merely a useless vessel, while the 'me' in the game was the complete soul. When my character levelled up and my skills evolved, I felt a strange pleasure, as if my soul were growing stronger alongside it. But this feeling was false. In truth, my soul was being drained bit by bit. The 'power' I felt in the game was actually the plundering of my real life.

Eventually, my body could no longer endure this torment, and I died suddenly. Yet, I did not truly die. When I opened my eyes again, I was still in the game. But this time, it felt different. I could not log out; I could not contact the real world. My soul had completely fused with the character. I tried to end the game, to shut down the machine, but this world seemed to have locked me in. My consciousness was trapped within this illusion.

As days passed, I began to sense that something was wrong. The 'brothers' in my gaming guild began to act strangely. Their eyes held an odd glint, and their tone carried a sinister mockery. They were not ordinary players; they were messengers of the Demon Realm. I finally understood: this game was never just a game. It was an invisible trap designed to lure souls like mine. Once deeply ensnared, the soul is locked away, becoming a part of the Demon Realm. I could not go back."

A Ray of Light in the Darkness

"At first, I was terrified. I struggled, trying to escape. But as reality grew distant and I could no longer distinguish between the true and the false, my sanity finally collapsed. 'If I cannot go back, then I shall stay here,' I thought. In that moment, I gave up the struggle entirely. I became a member of the Demon Realm.

I thought this was my final end, until one day, a beam of light pierced the darkness. It was the immense power brought forth by Practitioner Su during his spiritual deliverance. I heard a clear, resonant sound of the Buddha's name: 'Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo...' It was as if this sound opened my long-deluded consciousness. Suddenly, a voice I had never heard before, yet felt intimately familiar with, struck my heart: 'Child, do you still remember who you are?'

In an instant, my consciousness was shaken. Who was I? A thought flashed through my mind: 'I do not belong here!' A powerful impulse surged within me. I began to struggle, attempting to break through the game's control. The entire world began to crack. A fissure appeared, and my soul was drawn out by the light, falling into another realm."

The Judgment and the Vow

"When I opened my eyes, I was in the Hall of the Yama King. He looked at me coldly, his eyes filled with majesty. 'You Linkai, do you know your crimes?' Images appeared before me: my parents weeping after my death, my mother collapsing at my bedroom door, my father's hair turning white overnight. Because of my influence, countless teenagers had fallen into the abyss of gaming, wasting their lives. The forces of the Demon Realm had grown stronger because of these addicted souls, and I had been a cog in that machine of destruction. I thought I was just playing a game, but I had become a pawn that devoured souls. My sins were heavy.

The Yama King was about to sentence me to the retribution I deserved, but at that moment, a powerful sense of remorse welled up in my heart. 'I was wrong... I was truly wrong!' I knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly. 'Please, give me a chance! I am willing to change! I will work hard, and I want to save more children so they do not end up like me!'

The Yama King was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: 'In the world today, teenagers are addicted to illusory worlds—games, short videos, social media—and countless souls are lost because of it. Since you have awakened and are willing to make this vow, I grant you a new mission. You shall become a guide in the invisible world, helping those lost souls find their way home.'"

A New Mission

"In that moment, my heart was filled with hope and strength. 'I am willing! I am willing to be a guide.' I began to do my utmost to help those addicted to the internet, but reality is not easy. Technology advances too quickly, and temptations multiply. Short videos, the metaverse, and AI technology make the human heart even more illusory, making the virtual world more attractive than reality. I see countless people lost, even guided by AI to drift away from their true selves, losing their ability to think, losing their souls. But even so, I do not give up, because even awakening one person is worth it.

In the ten-plus years since I passed away, the world has changed completely. I feel this deeply, and I pray for the Buddha to help everyone gradually improve. I have been listening to Practitioner Su's Dharma talks every day, and I know I must change my personality—if I don't, I am finished! I have worked very hard, and I have been looking forward to the day of my liberation. Finally, that day has come. I am so happy and moved. Thank you, Practitioner Su, for your compassionate help, which has given me the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I am so grateful to be reborn in the Western Pure Land today. On behalf of all the prison guards and sentient beings with karmic affinity, I bow in gratitude for the Buddha's grace and Practitioner Su's grace. Namo Amituofo."

You Linkai, with palms joined.