Dharma Words of Venerable Master Chin Kung from the Western Dharma-Nature Land

This interview was recorded on August 24, 2022, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. It features the spirit of the late Venerable Master Chin Kung, who, having departed the human world, shares his profound insights from the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Through the medium of Practitioner Su, the Venerable Master offers guidance on the reality of the spiritual realms, the importance of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and the urgent need for practitioners to resolve their karmic obstacles to ensure rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Venerable Master Chin Kung speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, the topic given to me by Namo Amituofo is 'The Dharma Words of Chin Kung.'

During my lifetime, there were already far too many Dharma words from me—these are the Dharma Jewels. Many people have bookshelves filled with these teachings. Therefore, if we are talking about Dharma words from after my passing—that is, the words of a spirit without a body—they might be a bit more unique."

A Voice from Beyond the Veil

"Let me think. Throughout history, have we ever seen a Buddha or Bodhisattva who, after manifesting in the world and then departing, left behind Dharma words from beyond the veil? It seems we have not, right? Let us look at the ancestral masters. Has anyone ever seen an ancestral master leave behind Dharma words after their passing, after they entered Nirvana? That, too, seems unheard of. Now, let us look at the originator of the Buddha’s teachings, Shakyamuni Buddha. After he manifested Nirvana, have we ever seen Dharma words left behind by him from after his Nirvana? We have not. In this sense, my post-passing words are truly quite different! Just as everyone now knows about the things Practitioner Su has done and encountered—things that no one had ever heard of before, yet are now happening in reality. If one can accept or believe that these are indeed my words from beyond, should one not also accept and believe in the things that Practitioner Su has said and done? Namo Amituofo is truly profound!

I have been away from the human world for about a month now, have I not? If we count a month as thirty-one days, I suppose I am two days short. As far as I know, today is August 24th. If we calculate a month as twenty-eight days, then it is exactly one month. It is good to leave behind some Dharma words based on my experiences during this month."

The Pain of Regret

"I urge all beings not to be careless, for carelessness brings pain after life ends.

That is a spiritual agony that lasts for aeons; sorrow and regret come too late.

Those who did not heed the advice before, still clinging to their own thoughts,

Though I lectured on the sutras for sixty years, I feel ashamed at this moment.

The Buddha-name I chanted spread across every continent in the world,

Yet in that final, fleeting moment, the Buddha-name vanished into a void.

At that time, the Western Pure Land seemed so far away, and this spirit fell into the hells.

It turns out that although I lectured for sixty years, and my efforts were not in vain,

Few of those who heard the Dharma achieved rebirth in the West, because they did not understand the heart of Namo Amituofo,

And failed to resolve the conflicts with their karmic creditors, creating obstacles to rebirth at the end.

As old age set in, the body became difficult to control, and the signs of decay appeared too quickly.

I now know that Namo Amituofo is currently residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre,

Yet I was slow to speak, cutting off the path to the West for the masses.

The masses wish for rebirth in the West, and though they chant the Buddha-name with their mouths,

At the moment of death, they fail to see Namo Amituofo.

It is not that Namo Amituofo did not come to welcome them, but that their karmic creditors appeared before them,

Making it difficult to chant the Buddha-name properly, failing to chant with a single heart.

With a single thought difficult to maintain, rebirth is lost, and the cycle of rebirth is truly tragic."

The Path to the Western Pure Land

"At this time, I urge the masses: although you may be full of knowledge about the West,

If you do not reach the West in this lifetime, it is a pity to lose this karmic affinity with the Pure Land.

When will you ever encounter it again in future lives?

I urge everyone to visit Hsiang Kuang; the hope for rebirth in the West is right before your eyes.

Visit this place once and you will know where the true Namo Amituofo resides.

The precious interviews are all there; read them to discover the truth.

These post-passing words of mine are spoken spontaneously, so please do not laugh.

I am currently in the Dharma-Nature Land, bathed daily in the Buddha’s compassionate light,

Washing away the dust that covered my entire being in the past.

I am waiting for those connected to the Pure Land Learning College and the Pure Land societies

To come to Hsiang Kuang to meet me.

The great Dharma protectors beside me, who never left or abandoned me, I am filled with gratitude.

I hope you can come to the temple to heal the sufferings of your body, mind, and spirit,

And to help everyone achieve rebirth in the West.

I only hope that my post-passing words can be heard by all without obstruction.

If they can be spread, that would be even better, as a form of repentance for past karma.

If Practitioner Su had not come to save me, how could these words exist today?

The pain of hell is truly unbearable; even a single Buddha-name is hard to complete.

If not for the Buddha-light coming to save me, this spirit would still be suffering in hell.

Compassionate Namo Amituofo protects me; how can I ever repay such gratitude?

I wish to repay the Buddha’s kindness, which is inconceivable, but I no longer have a body.

This sinful spirit is now at Hsiang Kuang, fortunate that Hsiang Kuang can receive my message,

And that the Venerable can write down my words to be spread far and wide,

Slightly reducing my karma.

I ask everyone not to grieve; my body is broken, but my spirit does not die.

I am now at peace, my spirit clear and bright; the world after life is inconceivable.

I remain here on a lotus seat, the fragrance of the lotus filling my nose, my heart at ease.

This fragrance is not of this world; it is faint, elegant, and brings peace to the heart and spirit.

I see the awakened body of Practitioner Su, who bears the sufferings of all beings without complaint.

Her spiritual Dharma Body delivers beings, seizing every second to save the world.

Countless beings are now delivered through the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su,

Entering the Western Pure Land and the heavenly realms. I am ashamed that I can see and hear this.

During my life, my eyes could not see it, but after passing, my spirit can perceive it.

It is truly not something one can see ordinarily; every session delivers countless beings,

Reaching as far as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia,

Malaysia, Australia, across land, sea, and air,

Entering the heavenly realms and the Four Saints; all beings in the Milky Way are being saved.

The space is opened, allowing me to see and hear. In the midst of space, beings suffer.

Compassion arises once more; opening space to save ten thousand spirits,

Like a timely rain, purifying, chanting the Buddha-name, and going to the West.

Namo Amituofo!"

The Difference Between Human and Buddha Hearts

"Actually, I am waiting now. I am waiting for the Pure Land Learning College and the Pure Land societies to take the initiative to come here. Although this journey is not short, for everyone, it is extremely important.

I just spoke some of the feelings in my heart; those are matters from after my passing. In truth, the world I see now in the Western Dharma-Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is vastly different from the world I experienced before! The world built by the human heart and the world built by the Buddha-heart are indeed vastly different; everything is governed by this heart!

Under the influence of the human heart, everyone in this world seeks progress, innovation, technology, and speed to satisfy people's needs and desires. Therefore, there is a constant stream of new research, new products, and new functions. The more convenient and easier to operate, the better; the smaller and more portable, the better. Things that make this body more comfortable are welcomed by everyone.

How should I put it? When it comes down to it, isn't it all to satisfy the desires of the body? Where do these bodily desires come from? Don't they all come from this heart? What this heart wants to do, what it wants to have, requires the body to carry it out and search for it. If you find it, you are happy; if you don't, you feel regret and continue searching! If you cannot find what the heart wants, that is one thing, but if you cannot find the reliance the heart needs, then there is a problem: anxiety, afflictions, and depression follow one after another. After all, human hearts are different, and their needs are different. Seeking externally is endless; it is not as good as the Buddha’s teachings, which allow one to find peace by looking inward."

The Power of Gratitude

"That is why I have always urged everyone to have a heart of gratitude. People with a heart of gratitude are more easily satisfied, have smiles, and do not give up easily. People without a heart of gratitude always feel unsatisfied, have no smiles, are unhappy, are prone to anger, and always feel that others owe them something. Such people, even if they possess great wealth, high status, and immense power, will never be satisfied, because desire is like a bottomless pit—they want more, they want better, they want an abundance.

To satisfy these desires, they create a body full of karma. After death, they cannot take any of it with them; they only take the heavy karma, and then they have to suffer greatly! Therefore, no matter what, even when in any predicament, do not let yourself create karma. The more things do not go your way, the more you need to raise a heart of gratitude; slowly, it can soothe the wounds in your heart. However, this also relates to one's original family and education. If parents teach their children, and schools teach their students, and they never forget to remind them at all times to raise a heart of gratitude, then the children raised this way will naturally know how to be grateful.

A child is like a young seedling; if you irrigate it well, it can grow very well. If you only give them negative concepts, then they may not be able to grow well, let alone grow tall and strong. This is the truth of reality; parents must be careful!

Gratitude truly allows a sweet and delicious taste to emerge in the heart, just like the fragrance of vegetable roots; it is the most direct and natural flavor. Those who understand the fragrance of vegetable roots are those who eat the natural, original flavor. Their hearts are close to nature, and their bodies will be much more refreshed because they keep their bodies in a state of harmony with nature. Naturally, the heart will also be as quiet and peaceful as nature; this is a state of being. Therefore, why have practitioners from ancient times to the present always wanted to stay away from the hustle and bustle and the disturbances of the secular world? They want to find a natural, quiet place, or by the water, in the mountains, with the sound of flowing water, birds chirping, and the wind blowing. They want to be close to these natural environments and live there because they need to regulate their hearts, bodies, and breathing, allowing this precious body, mind, and spirit to merge into nature. In many high mountains and caves, one can find footprints left by past practitioners, or stone carvings, or stories passed down; that is real!"

Purification and the Role of Hsiang Kuang

"Nature has nutrients that nourish the body, so one can eat and drink less and still maintain the body's functions and life. The purification of body, mind, and spirit is very important for any person, for every practitioner, because through purification, one can unleash the body's natural potential and allow the body's instincts to function naturally. The more purified one is, the less interference there is, and the more the body can function. The world seen at that time, and what the six roots come into contact with and perceive, is completely different—it is entirely different from the secular human world.

Currently, this piece of pure land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is indeed a good place for practice. A so-called pure land means that since Namo Amituofo is here, the Buddha-light is naturally shining upon everyone without ceasing, purifying everyone, as if building a protective shield for everyone. The Buddha-light is Namo Amituofo’s compassionate blessing for everyone, equally brought to every sentient being, whether it is beings in the spiritual realms, humans, flowers, plants, trees, the wind, the birds, or countless creatures. It can equally accept and protect them without discrimination of high or low, quantity, or good or bad. This is the equality of the Buddha’s teachings.

In the heart of Namo Amituofo, everyone is a Buddha; this is what the Buddha teaches everyone. However, at the same time, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre exists in reality in the human world, and it inevitably has to come into contact with things that the human world encounters, or with external beings from the spiritual realms. Under the strong protection of Practitioner Su, the fourfold assembly of disciples in the temple can practice with peace of mind, having a quiet environment free from interference. But there is also the interference of beings from the demon realms, because the demon realms are also among the beings that enter the human world.

I touched upon this in the past when I was teaching the Dharma, but what I said was limited because what I knew was also limited. Now, in the Dharma-Nature Land, I have seen the demon realms, a side that was previously unknown. The world of demons is not the world of humans, just as the beings in the ghost realm, the hell realm, and the animal realm have different spaces from humans. Therefore, one can only know about these spaces from scriptures or from people’s hearsay; without personal experience, talking about these things is always like being separated by a veil. If it were about human affairs, there would be much to say. Therefore, people do not mention much about beings in different spaces, especially the demon realms; some are even afraid to mention them. Firstly, it is unknown; secondly, even if they knew, people might not believe it because they do not know whether it is true or false."

The Reality of the Demon Realms

"Now that I have no body, it is equivalent to entering another space. The difference between having a body and not having one is too great! Especially in this space of the Dharma-Nature Land, it is a very magnificent and purified environment, and I can see the temple and its surroundings, and even some of the things happening in the human world. I have seen beings from the demon realms come to the temple to interfere with the fourfold assembly and interfere with Practitioner Su. There are also beings from the demon realms who, after hearing Practitioner Su lecture on the Dharma, seeing how Practitioner Su delivers beings, seeing her compassion and tolerance for all beings, and reading the content of the interviews with demon beings who were subdued and brought to the Dharma-Nature Land, have been moved. After Practitioner Su subdues the demon beings, she does not punish them but, according to the instructions of Namo Amituofo, sends them to the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Many demon beings have been transformed by this and have come to seek deliverance, and so on. If one had not witnessed these things personally and only heard about them, it would be very difficult to believe.

A very, very different aspect of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is that the space here is opened. Being opened means there is an opportunity to come into contact with other spaces, but whether one can come into contact with them depends on one’s own purification and practice.

The demon realms are in another spatial dimension. They have no bodies, so naturally, in many cases, they can know people’s thoughts, ideas, personalities, and habits. Their eyes can see things that people cannot see; they can know what you are thinking, when they can interfere with you, make you unable to find peace, or make you easily angry, easily look at others with displeasure, easily have emotions, and even make you unable to be the master of yourself, entering your body to interfere with your daily life.

There are too many things they can do. People’s eyes cannot see these things unless your eyes are opened. Having one’s eyes opened means that one’s eyes can see other spaces. The more purified one is, the deeper and wider the spaces one can see. Therefore, many truths of reality will be revealed.

For example, if the other person is angry, and you get angry with them, the two of you start arguing, sentence by sentence. At this time, someone with opened eyes looks on and shakes their head, because they see that the other person is being controlled by the demon beings beside them. The angry words spoken are the demon beings using their mouths to speak, and the look in their eyes is the look the demon beings put into their eyes. Even some of the things they do that make you dizzy with anger are not done by themselves; they are actions done by the demon beings using their hands. As a result, you do not see it yourself and get angry to the point of exhaustion. Oh! Isn't this being fooled? It is not worth it, because you have also created body karma, speech karma, and mind karma, as you were also provoked into anger by them. Your heart is also unconvinced, and the two of you go back and forth with your mouths, and the things you do are not good things either. Oh! You have suffered a great loss. This is why, regarding demon beings, everyone is sometimes at a loss, but if one is practicing, one must have methods to face this matter in order to practice well."

The Path to Success

"What methods? You must be able to tolerate others, have a heart of compassion, have wisdom, have a broad mind, and even more so, be selfless and without a self to have the skill to subdue demonic enemies. The saying, 'Give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi,' is indeed not easy. But if one wants to achieve success in practice, this skill must be learned; otherwise, you cannot extricate yourself. Because everyone’s karma is too heavy—I have seen this clearly and understood it. This is also what Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su often remind everyone. The things that are often reminded are important things. For important matters, everyone must honestly do them; otherwise, the one who suffers a loss is yourself, not others. Practice must rely on yourself.

Alright, I will stop here for today.

Namo Amituofo.

Shi Chin Kung, with palms joined.

At the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia.

August 24, 2022, 9:55 AM."