Dialogue with Namo Amituofo on the True Meaning of Chao Du

The Essence of True Deliverance

On the fourth of August, 2017, the disciple Shi Faxi respectfully prostrated before Namo Amituofo, inviting the Buddha to provide teachings on the profound subject of Chao Du. We are deeply grateful for the Buddha’s boundless compassion in offering this guidance.

Namo Amituofo teaches that the true meaning of Chao Du requires one to be completely selfless. It is a state of mind that is vast, boundless, and as expansive as the void itself. When we perform rituals, we often see spirits and ghost deities drawn to the offerings of food and drink. However, we must ask ourselves: once they have consumed these offerings, where do they go? What is their ultimate destination? If they remain trapped in their cycle of suffering, the ritual has not achieved its true purpose.

The Burden of the Dharma Body

True Dharma work requires a heart filled with immense compassion. One must be willing to sacrifice the ego and allow the Dharma Body to bear the suffering of others. The spirits throughout the void are infinite and boundless; whether they are sentient beings with emotions or those we perceive as insentient, all require the power of the Dharma Body to be truly saved.

In the human world, many rituals are performed, yet they often fail to guide spirits to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We see spirits clinging to human bodies, lingering within the temple grounds, or even attaching themselves to those who lead the ceremonies. This is the stark reality of the unseen world. Many of these spirits are drawn by karmic debts or past connections; they arrive seeking resolution, yet they remain bound by their own attachments and the limitations of the rituals performed for them.

The Path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss

For a long time, the truth of the Dharma Realm has remained obscured. Without the Buddha’s guidance, these matters were poorly understood. Now, we finally see the reality clearly. What is the true ocean of Dharma? Who are these spirits, and can they truly be saved from the underworld? The answers lie in the purity of our practice. There are many paths and many styles of ritual, each led by different practitioners with varying traditions. While the methods may differ, the ultimate goal must be the same: all spirits must be shown the way to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They must not be allowed to linger in the cycle of rebirth.

There are three essential aspects that must be addressed in any true deliverance:

• Deliverance of the void:
• Reaching out to all spirits across the infinite realms.Deliverance of karmic creditors:
• Resolving the debts and grievances that bind spirits to us.Deliverance of one's own body and mind: Purifying our own state to become a vessel for the Buddha’s light.

The Responsibility of the Practitioner

Unfortunately, in this world, few rituals achieve this standard. Many are tainted by greed, driven by private desires, or performed without true sincerity. When a ritual is performed with an impure heart, it often meets with resistance from the spirits themselves. We see many ceremonies that are ineffective; the spirits arrive in great numbers, and they leave in the same state, still trapped in their layers of suffering. How can one practise under such conditions? The drama of good and evil continues to play out within the state of each individual.

You must be extremely cautious in your practice. Do not let small, selfish desires sever your great wisdom-life or bury your spirit in darkness. The Dharma assembly is of vital importance. You must learn the true meaning of Chao Du. When you hold a great offering ceremony, you must act as a true master of merit, ensuring that the focus remains on the liberation of all beings.

Simple repentance rituals are often insufficient; they are merely a pause in the cycle of suffering. The Thrice Yearning Ceremony is the supreme method to lead all beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The power of the Buddha’s teachings is immense. By combining human effort with the Buddha’s power, we can achieve a state that is for the benefit of both the living and the deceased. This is only possible through the cultivation of deep, abiding compassion. The number of beings you can save depends entirely on the mind-capacity of your heart. If you practise with true sincerity, deliverance is not just a possibility—it is an absolute certainty.

Namo Amituofo