From Warrior to Wisdom: The Rebirth of Zhang Fei as Venerable Hai Liang
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.
A Life Forged in Chaos
In my youth, amidst the turmoil of that era, I had already witnessed the depths of human malice and the vast spectrum of human nature. I understood the hidden agendas of those around me. 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.
Yet, I often wondered: what was the 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.
The 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.
The Han Dynasty was already in decline. To restore its momentum and command the respect of the various feudal lords was an incredibly difficult task. Liu Bei himself did not possess sufficient military strength or resources to achieve this at the time. If one wanted to gain merit and rise to power quickly, the most direct path was to join one of the various local factions. However, although Liu Bei occasionally had to reside under other commanders, he chose to recruit talent independently and slowly promote his own vision. This unconventional approach—starting from the grassroots and working independently—was exhausting and unrewarding. In that era, such actions were easily crushed, as one’s strength was thin. Yet, in speaking with him, I discovered he was not acting without a plan. And strangely enough, my lord was always able to attract the most extraordinary people in the world.
A Shared Purpose
He was not acting out of selfish desire to become a regional hegemon. He truly saw that in the environment of that time, no faction was genuinely acting for the sake of the world’s peace and stability. He could see the situation clearly; no one was stepping forward, and no one was truly rising up or acting for the sake of the people. I found great joy in our conversations, and I could see that those who joined him in our common cause shared his same ideals. This convinced me that in such a chaotic era, if I could truly serve someone who cared for the people, it would be a worthy outlet for a warrior like me.
I had no desire to hold high office or become a warlord. However, if there was someone for whom I could dedicate my life—someone who could truly help the people of that time return to a life of peace and stability—then I was willing to spend my entire life serving him and his team. People in the world thought I was merely loyal, and while that was true in terms of results, the fundamental reason was that I was not acting for personal fame or success.
The Governance of Shu Han Empire
My ideals and principles were identical to those of my lord. To others, there was a clear hierarchy between us, but in truth, we were brothers in heart and mind. I sincerely wished to help my lord realize his ambition: to let the people return to peace and stability. From the subsequent history of the Shu Han Empire and the policies implemented, it is not difficult to see that Shu Han Empire was not a state focused on aggressive expansion.
The core policy of the nation was to consolidate and stabilize the various regions, to govern the local people well, and to ensure they could live stable lives within their territories. Shu Han Empire’s demands for territory were not like those of other ambitious nations. Territorial expansion was not the primary goal; rather, it was to recover the ancestral lands of the Han Dynasty in an orderly, step-by-step manner, gradually stabilizing local construction and providing a secure living space for the people in a chaotic world.
I followed my lord on many expeditions, weathering many storms together. Of course, living in a chaotic age, to protect the people and stabilize the situation, there were inevitably many wars. However, my inner ambition was very clear: it was not to gain merit by killing on the battlefield, nor to be an existence that eliminated dissidents, but to accompany my lord’s great righteousness and implement his benevolent governance.
A Vow Across Lifetimes
Perhaps it was the vow I made in past lives to assist my lord in realizing 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 stabilize 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
If we could let the people in each region live stable lives under their respective rulers, there was no need to fight over areas 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 regret. I followed my lord through the most difficult, pioneering period, working hard with him. Yet, when he achieved success, I was the one to leave first. This is my enduring regret. In the various battles I participated in during the Three Kingdoms period, I inevitably killed enemy soldiers. For these actions, I descended into the hells to suffer retribution after my death.
But the King of Hell, seeing that my heart was set on the greater good and the stability of the people, and knowing that I had no attachment to officialdom or status, nor any greed, allowed me to be reborn into the human world after 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 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.
To outsiders, everyone is 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 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 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.
Practitioner Su’s deliverance of the five thousand to ten thousand years of space in China is also led by past Dharma affinity; it is a natural occurrence. This is the result of Practitioner Su having countless times in the past committed herself to the human world and made countless vows to save the beings of China. Every word and deed, even every tiny mental note, has followed the footsteps of the Buddha and remained within the Buddha’s blessings, which is why there is such an inconceivable result.
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The Buddha’s power can help Practitioner Su realize her Ultimate Vow, and the establishment of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is exactly the result of this. From the early days of following Practitioner Su to establish the temple, I understood this principle: only with Practitioner Su’s great conduct and great vows, combined with the Buddha’s blessings, could we induce Namo Amituofo to reside at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Only then could Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su create the salvation team to save the world. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre’s current large-scale interviews, with their speed and output, are even better than in the past, which makes me feel very gratified.
Watching the development of the temple from the Dharma-Nature Land, one should not say there are ups and downs; this is just the natural state of operation. Spreading the Dharma in the world with such 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 forefront, perhaps the Dharma affinity is such, and the opportunity is just like this. It is similar to the situation 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 have the 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 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 in the past, but I still show the boldness of a man, helping Practitioner Su break through the difficulties of the temple’s early stages. Regarding the current situation, I am also quite gratified and impressed. Regarding the future development of the temple, I also believe it will not stop here. The temple is gradually getting on track, and personnel and talent are gradually stabilizing. The fourfold assembly who have come from all directions and have karmic affinity with Practitioner Su and the temple are all falling into place. 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 good news for the fourfold assembly of the temple. The temple is about to open its doors, 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.
Although I cannot do much as a spirit in the Dharma-Nature Land, I can still communicate with all of you. If you need me later or think of me, please do not hesitate to speak with me. I am very eager to contribute to everyone again, to do my small part as a spirit. Gratitude to Namo Amituofo, and thanks to Practitioner Su. You have allowed me to recognize myself through this magnificent opportunity today, allowing the present and the past to combine. And Practitioner Su’s act of delivering immeasurable and boundless demon crowds and beings of the ten directions is the only reason we have this magnificent causal condition to break through these limitations of time and space. I will share up to here today, thank you everyone.
Namo Amituofo.
Zhang Fei.”
Disciple Fa Ru asks the Buddha: Is Zhang Fei and Hailiang the same?
Words of Namo Amituofo:
“The child’s heart receives the signal thus, truly within the Buddha’s blessings.
What the child sees and hears in the Alaya consciousness is the time and space of that era.
Hailiang has now entered the Dharma-Nature Land, and this spirit can see its past lives.
Though different eras leave different imprints on the soul, Buddha’s power unites them into a single moment.
Past, future, and present are one and the same before the Buddha, with no distinction.
If you ask if Zhang Fei and Hailiang are the same, before the Buddha, they are the same spirit.
It is only because of the many stains on the consciousness over many lifetimes that the heart and space are different from the past.
If you wish to open this interview, it must be done by the Buddha’s power to assist the spirit.
Only by opening the two spaces of ancient and modern times can one know that they are one and not two.
Fa Ru, child, receive the signal directly; do not have doubts that obstruct clarity.
The signals received are all the Buddha’s words; present them directly to Practitioner Su, and you will understand.
There is no need for worry or anxiety; just hold the Buddha-name and belief in chanting the Buddha’s name.”