An Interview with Venerable Ariya of the Western Pure Land
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This is a record of an interview with Venerable Ariya, who resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. He reflects upon his life as a practitioner approximately 2,154 years ago and his recent participation in the ceremonies led by Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on May 29, 2018.
Venerable HaiZe: "May I ask if any of the Venerables from the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss who are currently protecting Practitioner Su would be willing to share their experiences regarding the Chao Du ceremony conducted this morning alongside her? We are deeply grateful for the of the Buddha and the compassion of the Venerables."
Venerable Ariya speaks: ". I am Venerable Ariya, ranked three hundred and forty-seventh. I was born in India in 136 BCE—that is two thousand, one hundred and fifty-four years ago, roughly during the time of the Western Han Dynasty in China. In that era, the Buddha’s teachings were flourishing in India, and many practitioners were able to attain the fruits of their practice. Although the Pure Land path was not yet widespread, there was a specific lineage that followed the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, dedicated to chanting the name of Namo Amituofo."
"At that time, we understood through the sutras that the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss was truly magnificent. We referred to it as the Holy Land, and the light of the Buddha was known as the Holy Light. I was fortunate enough to dedicate myself to this practice during that lifetime. Through the practice of chanting, I attained the . While in meditation, I received the compassionate guidance of Namo Amituofo, ascended the lotus throne, and in an instant, I arrived at the Pure Land. That was over two thousand years ago. Having returned to the human world now, the changes I have witnessed are truly astonishing!
"Recently, through the great compassion of Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su has given us the opportunity to participate in the morning walking meditation and the subsequent Chao Du ceremonies. We were fully prepared. Drawing from the experiences of the past two days, we have learned to accept the turbid energy of this worldly realm. Our feet have adapted, and our speed has increased significantly. The procession for the deliverance was vast and majestic, yet perfectly orderly. As the Buddhist music began, Practitioner Su and we, the Venerables, flew directly into the void. The light radiating from Practitioner Su illuminated the darkness of the vast expanse, serving as a beacon for all of us to reunite after we had dispersed to perform our duties."
"There are spaces within spaces. In the sky as perceived by the physical eyes of humans, there are other layers of dimensions. Just as one might look down from an aeroplane and see the world from above the clouds, the places we reached were far beyond the altitude that any aircraft could ever attain. Throughout the universe, there are countless energy fields. Wherever there is energy, there is the existence of sentient beings. Because the sources of these energies differ, they emit various colours and halos. This is why the extraterrestrial entities captured by researchers appear in such diverse shapes and possess such distinct atmospheres.
"To many people, a black hole is a mysterious and attractive enigma that seems to transcend the limitations of time and space. In reality, what appears as a vortex to the physical eye is actually a concentrated field of energy. The powerful force gathered there causes the surrounding magnetic fields to converge, forming a vortex. Why does such a force exist? Countless scientists and astronomers are searching for the answer. The truth lies in the boundless, great compassionate vow—a phenomenon created and summoned by the ultimate power of pure Goodness. Inside the black hole, one finds the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, where every wish is fulfilled! All the beauty that exists there can be seen and experienced; it is beyond the imagination of human thought, yet it is entirely natural."
"Such a place of ultimate bliss cannot be entered by breaking through the powerful energy surrounding its outer perimeter, whether from this world or another, without the guidance of Namo Amituofo. Our entry and our descent into this world were both led by Namo Amituofo. We did not need to explore the subtle relationships within; today, through this opportunity, I have gained a deeper realisation. Regarding Namo Amituofo, I can only offer praise upon praise! The Forty-Eight Vows of Namo Amituofo encompass the true energy of this entire universe. Under the empowerment of the Buddha’s light, those who truly practise and verify these teachings will naturally attain these capabilities.
"To the average person in the human world, these abilities might be called 'supernatural,' as they allow one to know things that are otherwise hidden. However, all of this is a natural manifestation—it is not forced or added from the outside. It is the innate ability of the true nature, purified and aligned with the vow of Namo Amituofo. One could say it is beyond the scope of human cognition; it is a teaching that is difficult to believe, yet it is the truth. Practitioner Su, who stands before us, possesses exactly these capabilities."
"In truth, the light of Namo Amituofo has long since merged with the halo of Practitioner Su through her dedicated practice and verification, allowing her to penetrate the protective layer of the black hole and enter the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This enables Practitioner Su to travel freely between the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and this world. Of course, for the of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, distance is not an issue. They can bring the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss right before one's eyes. In fact, even when it is right before one's eyes, it remains a vast distance away.
"In such an environment, the extraterrestrial planets, entities, and beings we encountered were also brought along with us—these are the subjects of our Chao Du. The opening of space is not limited to the human world. As Practitioner Su passed through, the Buddha-name resonated throughout the void, and the outer spaces of the universe were opened simultaneously! This is truly inconceivable. The scenes unfolding in these spaces were like various dramas being performed; they, too, experience , anger, sorrow, and happiness. What they all share is the consequence of suffering. It turns out that suffering is not unique to the human world; it is the reality of the entire universe."
"The sentient beings in the outer spaces of the universe had never before experienced the illumination and deliverance of the Buddha’s light. Yet, that warm and bright radiance is exactly what these beings need. Many extraterrestrial beings were thus saved, liberated from their confined spaces and darkness, and entered the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! It is impossible to count how many layers of space and time were breached, or how many beings from beyond our world were sent into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss—it is beyond calculation! The measurement of time in each space is different, but the need for deliverance from suffering is urgent throughout the entire universe.
"Today, outside the assembly for the Chao Du in this worldly realm, there was a large circle of bright light accompanied by smaller lights flickering in the void. Those were the traces left behind as Practitioner Su and we, the Venerables, streaked across the sky."
"Namo Amituofo."
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library