This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changren, an eminent monk who lived approximately eight centuries ago. He now assists Practitioner Su in the work of saving beings at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 3, 2017.
Venerable Changren speaks:
". I am Changren. I was a monastic in the human world eight centuries ago. Today, the assembly of beings gathered here is vast and immeasurable—the fourfold assembly, heavenly beings, demon crowds, those in the three lower realms, and wandering spirits from every corner of space. They have all come, drawn by the power of the , to receive deliverance. Though the number of beings is immeasurable, we continue this work, for through this deliverance, even those who have fallen into the demon realms can be transformed back into monastics. It is a long journey, but eventually, all will realise the path to goodness."
The Gathering of the Demon Realms
"The sheer scale of this gathering is immeasurable and boundless, layer upon layer of beings responding to the invitation to participate in the Thrice Yearning Ceremony held here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I have transmitted the sound of the to every corner, and the response I receive from them is unanimous: they have long heard of the magnificence of this place. They have long desired to participate, yet most were held back by their identity as demonic beings. They feared that their presence would cause discriminations, that they would disturb the purity of this place, or that they would not be welcomed. But now, through the sincere and compassionate invitation, the Demon Kings and their followers have witnessed a heart of true sincerity—a heart that holds no discriminations.
They have heard of Practitioner Su, the 'Grandmother Su' as they call her, and her reputation is well-deserved. Upon arriving here, the first thing these beings seek is her. Through the assistance of the monastics who help them write their memorial tablets, these beings find a place to sit within the Dharma-Nature Land. Here, space is infinite, and they are filled with . Those who once appeared fierce and aggressive have gradually softened, their expressions becoming gentle as they reveal their original faces. They are all practitioners at heart. It is a tragedy of the Buddha’s gate that one wrong step, one moment of deviation, led them away from Buddhahood and into the realm of demons. Now, they trust this place because they see the true teaching and the genuine practice here. They know that we understand them—that we see the oneness of all beings."
The Truth Behind the Mask of the Demon
"In the defiled world, how many famous, high-ranking monastics have never even encountered a demonic being? They dare not. How many deliverance ceremonies have been performed without ever truly saving a demon, simply because the practitioners fear disturbing their own bodhimanda? This very act of discriminations—this fear—is itself a form of demonic influence. It is not that the demon crowds enjoy a chaotic world; it is that many practitioners lack true cultivation and virtue. They lack the moral weight to command respect, so when they ascend the Dharma seat, the demons do not respect them—they seek to pull them down. Too many bodhimandas today are occupied by demonic forces because the practitioners are in sync with them. You must examine yourselves. Where have you become like a demon?
What is the point of spending a lifetime chasing greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and the pursuit of fame and wealth? You do not look like a practitioner, you do not look like a demon, and you certainly do not look like a Buddha. Think back to your initial vow—the moment you shaved your head and entered the monastic life. The dignity you held then, the pure and cool appearance—it was truly worthy of respect. But as the years pass, you become entangled in habits and personality conflicts. You become a monk or a nun, but those original intentions fade like smoke. How few still retain that dignity on their faces? Most have been occupied by the consequences of their own actions. Who occupies you? Your life’s work is reflected in your appearance. Whether it is good or bad, you may not realise it, but the universe knows it clearly. You will receive the most authentic , and when the coffin lid is closed, the verdict is final."
The True Meaning of Learning from the Buddha
"The of the Buddha is to lead all beings back to the Western Pure Land. Whether they are beings from the demon realms who have committed countless evils, or suffering spirits wandering in the void, no matter how many cycles of karmic retribution they have endured, in the eyes of the Buddha, they are all disciples of the Buddha’s gate. As long as you are willing to give rise to the heart to return home, the Buddha will generously accept you. This is the greatness of his compassionate power. Yet, we fail to learn this. What does it mean to 'learn from the Buddha'? I see the people of the world becoming more and more confused, losing the original intent of practising the Buddha’s teachings. They are merely busy with charitable activities or human-focused Buddhist rituals. In the end, they still cannot return to the Western Pure Land. The human world is just a place we pass through; it has no meaning to stay here. If you only promote these worldly Buddhist activities, you are an outsider to the true path. The demon realms laugh at the stupidity of humans. I, Changren, hope you will change, which is why I am telling you the truth. Whether you listen or not, I follow the conditions.
Those leaders—lay practitioners or monastics—who promote these worldly Buddhist activities are already falling into the hells to receive their retribution. They are cultivating the wrong hearts in the human world. As for the promotion of , while they were established by Shakyamuni Buddha out of compassion as the clear regulations for the fourfold assembly, the Buddha also said in his final words that the 'minor precepts can be discarded.' What are these minor precepts? No one truly knows. Later generations have interpreted this instruction in many ways. In the truth of the Dharma, if you cannot achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land, no matter how well you maintain the precepts, it is all in vain. Attachment to anything is not the way of a practitioner. While this does not mean you should be lax, a sense of ease and coolness is absolutely essential."
A Call to Authentic Practice
"Promoting Buddhist studies and scriptures without returning to one’s true nature—what is the use of reading all the sutras? It only creates more obstacles. What if you understand the words? If you understand but do not practise, it is merely wrong knowledge. You should learn to practise the Buddha’s teachings, not just study the words on the page. The wisdom within your true nature is truly immeasurable, and that true nature can only be realised by following the Buddha’s path. All Buddhist studies should be secondary to the heart, the vow, and the capacity to learn from the Buddha. People today do not do this. With such biased hearts, how can they achieve anything? Whether in mainland China, Taiwan, or any other place in the world, I, Changren, am an eminent monk from eight hundred years ago. My meditative concentration was such that I could remain in deep stillness for three years. I have long understood everything in the universe. I only left my meditation and gave up my body to save my brother. I do not say this to boast; I have no heart for that, and I no longer have a body. I do not need flattery. I only wish to fulfil my vow to save all beings in the dusty world.
I want you to understand that the cultivation that has been lost is what I, Changren, am demonstrating for you again. I am not the best; there is always someone better; there is always a higher authority. I only want you to know that you must at least fulfil your basic duties. Do not waste your time day after day. Take the monastic life, for example—this is a sacred calling, not a title you can use to do whatever you want. A 'Venerable' is not a title that any ordinary person can simply adopt. To falsely claim this title will surely lead to the hells. The gates of hell are indeed crowded with monks and practitioners. Who among you is truly practising according to the Dharma today?
To be honest, although I, Changren, am now following Grandmother Su to save the world, I do not favour the fourfold assembly. Among the fourfold assembly—monastics or lay practitioners—not one is truly practising. The only reason they are better off than those outside is the protection of this place and the care of Grandmother Su. Grandmother Su has a compassionate heart; she often uses the 'Lion’s Roar,' and she often gives everyone a chance to step down. But you must understand that in the end, if you do not change, the karmic retribution is not easy to bear. Retribution follows the truth: right is right, and wrong is wrong. In this Dharma-ending age, the Buddha’s teachings are looked down upon because you do not respect your own identity as practitioners, and you do not fulfil the duties of a practitioner. If this is the case, how can the Buddha’s teachings flourish?
Many beings from the demon realms have come today. Their enthusiasm is because this place truly propagates the True Teachings. They are all hoping for the revival of the True Teachings. Since the era of the Image Dharma and the Dharma-ending age, monastics and lay practitioners have become less and less in accordance with the Dharma. The era of the Buddha, which you all respect, has faded away. Although we have entered the demon realms, most of us are still disciples of the Buddha. Encountering such a great event in the Buddha’s gate, everyone here understands the magnificence of this place. I, Changren, asked them, and they are all willing to stay and help until the temple is built, and then the Dharma protectors will continue to support the bodhimanda. Let us all work hard for this temple together. Namo Amituofo."
