Venerable Changgao, a dedicated monastic residing at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, offers profound wisdom on the nature of destiny and the path to liberation. In this interview, recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on August 20, 2023, Venerable Changgao explains how one can transcend the constraints of and impermanence through sincere practice.
Venerable Changgao speaks:
". In the lives of most people, the word 'helplessness' is deeply etched. One might ask: if we are meant to have the freedom to choose our own paths, why does life so often end up feeling like a series of unavoidable frustrations?"
The Web of Karma and Fate
"Within this sense of helplessness, 'destiny' is at work, and within destiny, there exists the force of 'karma'. Everything is interconnected. People in this world are quite clever; from the moment of birth, once a person has their birth date and time, one can calculate the trajectory of their entire life. Many can calculate these fates with startling precision. But must a human life truly follow the path laid out by destiny?
The answer is no. Life does not have to follow the dictates of fate; in fact, one can break free from the shackles of destiny entirely."
The Blueprint of Suffering
"The number of calamities a person encounters in this lifetime is a direct result of their karma. Until that karma is overturned, these events are absolutely unchangeable. They are all pre-arranged, simply waiting for the appointed time to manifest.
Consider a person who suffers a severe car accident at thirty-three, goes through a divorce at thirty-seven, and loses their job at forty-two. These three events in life are not coincidences; they are manifestations of one's own destiny. If you look closely, at the core of it all, you will find the workings of karma.
Everyone desires a smooth life; no one wants to encounter misfortune. Yet, life is filled with helplessness, and within that helplessness, it is saturated with 'impermanence'. Because people cannot grasp the reins of their own lives, they allow impermanence to occur at will. But can these things truly be avoided?"
Taking Control of One's Life
"What I, Changgao, have come to see is that life can truly be held in one's own hands. One need not be subject to the unpredictable occurrences of 'impermanence', nor must one be manipulated by the whims of 'destiny'.
Practitioner Su is a perfect testament to this. Before Practitioner Su began her Buddhist practice, she was just as susceptible to the events of impermanence as anyone else. But after dedicating herself to the , Practitioner Su took control of her own destiny. She even secured her destination after death, with a guaranteed rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
How did Practitioner Su achieve this? There is no other secret than these two words: 'True Practice'. 'True Practice' is by no means merely the academic study of grand sutras and treatises. That kind of practice cannot penetrate the heart or reach one's true nature. Practitioner Su did not have a high level of formal education; in fact, she could not even read most characters. Yet, by listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, she internalized those precious jewels and applied them authentically to her daily life. Practitioner Su once said, 'The first person I knelt to after I began practising Buddhism was my husband.' Why was she able to do that? It was because she truly knew her faults, acknowledged them, and was willing to take action to genuinely change."
The Power of Transformation
"True change always benefits oneself. In an invisible way, it transforms one's destiny and returns the power of autonomy to one's own hands.
The reason life is often controlled by others is that one's own body is not truly being used by oneself. It may be controlled by within , or it may be utilised by external spirits. When the right to use this body falls into the hands of other sentient beings, one naturally cannot master their own life; they are controlled at every turn.
Through practice, by adjusting one's inner nature and authentically learning the conduct of the Buddhas, one will naturally develop a meditative concentration. This allows one to subdue the spirits within the body and prevent the body from being exploited. Most importantly, while changing oneself, one also resolves one's own impermanence and masters one's own life.
Since you have already begun to learn Buddhism, do not let your life continue to slip away. You should allow your life to undergo a transformation. Remove the 'helplessness' from your life and replace it with 'purity' and 'ease'. In the end, like Practitioner Su, you will be able to grasp your own future and step forward to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
