Cleansing the Heart’s Filth with the Buddha-Name

This interview was recorded on May 13, 2020. Venerable Hang Zhou, also known as Lucas, describes his role in protecting a high-ranking lay practitioner who sought deliverance during the pandemic. At the time of this recording, Venerable Hang Zhou was positioned outside the physical body of the practitioner, observing his work in an office setting while maintaining a state of continuous mindfulness.

Venerable Hang Zhou speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Hang Zhou, also known as Lucas. At this moment, I am sitting in the lotus position, not within the physical body of the Bodhisattva Practitioner, but hovering just outside his chest. The Practitioner is currently seated in his office, deeply engrossed in reviewing official documents. His focus is absolute—a very positive sign. It provides the perfect stillness for me to sit and chant Namo Amituofo.

The Sanctuary of the Buddha-Name

Whenever I chant the Buddha-name, I feel a surge of positive energy manifesting within me. I let go of all wandering thoughts. My eyes are cast downward, and my heart is filled with nothing but the Buddha. The Buddha-name flows continuously, like an unbroken stream. Everything in the surrounding environment—I hear it, yet I do not truly listen; I see it, yet I do not truly perceive it. I have carved out a segment of time that belongs entirely to tranquility. Even though I am surrounded by the Five Desires and the Six Dusts, the chaos of the external world cannot stir my heart. At this moment, my heart contains only the continuous recitation of the Buddha-name. The Buddha-name acts like pure, crystalline water, washing away the accumulated filth of my heart. I often tell my disciples: 'Grant me a moment of stillness, even if it is only for half an hour.' I then recite a chapter of the Infinite Life Sutra; this is my essential morning practice.

I instruct my disciples to divide themselves into two groups: one group remains to guard the Practitioner, while the other recites the Sutras. Once the recitation is complete, they switch roles. This is the daily practice that must be completed before the Practitioner even wakes, just as we would perform in the temple. These are the spiritual nutrients required to begin the day; they are indispensable.

The Power of Good Roots

Some disciples possess a stronger sense of self-defence, which, in turn, manifests as a stronger sense of aggression. For them to 'give rise to all roots of goodness,' they must learn to let go of the past. When they truly believe in the Buddha, they naturally become receptive to the Buddha's teachings. I also transmit 'Goodness' to my disciples, allowing them to feel the Buddha’s impartial care and compassion for all beings. I visualise the Buddha-light illuminating their entire bodies. Suddenly, one of them smiles. It is a relief to see that smile. I had never seen him smile before; once he did, it indicated that he had accepted and experienced the power of 'giving rise to all roots of goodness.' Instantly, his chest emitted a brilliant light.

The Radiance of the Heart

Human beings cannot see the light emitted from their own bodies, though Practitioner Su is an exception. Those with 'opened eyes' can perceive it, and we can see it too. It is the natural manifestation of the good and evil within the heart; no external force can alter it. The radiance within the Practitioner’s body fluctuates—sometimes bright, sometimes dim. When he wears his habitual smile, lips pursed, corners of his mouth upturned, if that smile is born of genuine sincerity, his body emits a brilliant light. However, if the smile is merely for social convenience or to handle a situation, the inner light dims. Therefore, when we observe people, we do not look at their outward appearance; we look at their hearts and the light they emit.

The Barriers of High Office

Because of the pandemic, the Practitioner is often deeply troubled, his brow furrowed. My disciples guard him without a moment’s pause, even while he sleeps. Whenever I feel my own energy is full—especially after chanting or reciting the Sutras—I transmit that positive energy to the Practitioner. At such times, I observe his body emitting a soft glow. Yet, after a day of busy meetings and social obligations, that light dims once more. We provide him with more positive energy, and his heart and body glow again, only for it to fade by the end of the day. When his body and mind are radiant, I and my disciples whisper: 'Go online and search for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and Practitioner Su.' He seems to hear us, but there is no immediate reaction. After repeating this several times, I realised: why is it that when we send him positive energy, his heart and body react, yet when we send the instruction to 'search for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and Practitioner Su,' there is no response? It is because every individual possesses a self-defence mechanism. The higher one’s position, and the more complex one’s life, the stronger that self-defence becomes, making it increasingly difficult to accept external instructions.

The Complexity of Cellular Cooperation

Visualising the Buddha-light and sending 'Goodness' is an act of proactive giving on our part; they are the passive recipients, requiring no effort on their side. However, the instruction to 'search for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and Practitioner Su' requires them to receive information and then perform an action. This process involves many stages: the auditory cells that receive the message, the cells in the head that process commands, the neural cells that transmit the signals, the visual processing area of the brain that selects the computer screen, the cells that interpret the computer data and issue the command, and finally, the muscle cells in the hands that execute the movement. This entire sequence, from nothing to something, from inaction to execution, requires the seamless cooperation of countless cellular beings within the body. If even one group of cells is blocked, refuses, or disrupts the process—or worse, sends out conflicting signals—the command cannot be executed correctly. In other words, for our instructions to be successfully received and acted upon by the Practitioner, there must be a fluid, harmonious cooperation among all these cellular beings. Furthermore, we must follow the method of 'giving rise to all roots of goodness and achieving the fruit of Bodhi' without causing side effects. We must protect these cellular beings; we cannot use forceful means. We must allow them to accept the 'Goodness' while simultaneously accepting the instruction to 'search for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and Practitioner Su' so that we can complete our mission in the shortest possible time.

Resolving Karmic Debt

The Practitioner occupies a high position and must possess a set of self-defence mechanisms to make decisions and direct subordinates. This implies that the cellular beings within his body share these same personality traits and habits. This explains why, even after we sent him positive energy and saw his heart glow, the subsequent instruction to search for the Centre yielded no results. Somewhere in that complex chain of command, a group of cellular beings blocked the message. If all fifty trillion cells in his body are his karmic creditors, then this blockage is simply his karmic creditors refusing to allow the task to be executed.

Therefore, we must return to the initial solution: we must make the karmic creditors willing to allow this message to pass through. We must resolve the karmic grievances, provide them with benefits, and even communicate and coordinate with them. I have, without warning, sent 'Goodness' to the cellular beings involved in this process. They must have accepted this 'Goodness,' which is why the light in his heart and body appeared. But even so, getting them to execute the command is an entirely different matter. To his cellular beings, these are two separate issues. It seems that saving people requires not only wisdom and a sharp mind, but also the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. I, Hang Zhou (Lucas), shall continue to carry out my mission."

This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo.