Follow the Right Person, Walk the Right Path

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Chang Gao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now reflects upon his long journey through the cycles of rebirth and his eventual path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on April 12, 2019, and transcribed by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Venerable Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chang Gao. Where should I even begin to describe the thousands of words I have in my heart? I have been able to see my past lives—not just for a thousand lifetimes, but for countless eons. Since time immemorial, I have experienced so much and encountered so many people. I have resided in this world and in many others; there are even planets within the Milky Way where I once had karmic affinities and family members. Reflecting on this fills me with such immense emotion."

A Glimpse into Beginningless Time

"When I peel back the layers of my own past, I realise that I am just one of many beings. Like everyone else, I have traversed all of the six realms of existence. I have been many different types of beings. There were times when I was on the brink of falling into dangerous, crooked paths, and only by being saved was I able to escape that peril, find a new lease on life, and turn toward the path of Goodness. If I had not been saved, I would have wandered further and further down those wrong paths, eventually falling into the hells to suffer the consequences of my actions.

Even amidst the cycle of rebirth, I eventually attained a level of liberation. I left the six realms of existence and entered the Four Sacred Realms. Although I was counted among the sages, I still carried many deep-seated habits. To change my ways and purify these habits, I entered the human realm again, enduring numerous trials. Step by step, I ascended until I reached the highest level of the Four Sacred Realms: the Buddha Dharma Realm. Walking this path, I have suffered greatly. I have come to a profound realisation: all beings and I are one. I am just one of these beings, and we all share the same Buddha-nature. I am filled with gratitude! It was only through the assistance of those who practise the true Dharma that I was able to break free from the shackles of illusion and enter the Buddha Dharma Realm."

The Trap of Self-Liberation

"In our daily study of the teachings, Practitioner Su constantly reminds us that we must realise one's true nature, or our life will have been lived in vain. I have taken these words to heart. In the Four Sacred Realms, I had never encountered a teacher like Practitioner Su, who repeatedly sets 'realising one's true nature' as the ultimate goal and teaches us that only by sacrificing oneself for others can one truly realise one's true nature. I had originally misunderstood the meaning of 'sacrificing oneself,' thinking it meant 'sacrificing for my own sake'—striving diligently for my own liberation. I was incredibly diligent, setting Buddhahood as my goal, exhausting every method, and focusing all my energy on escaping my own suffering. I was willing to endure any hardship as long as I would not have to enter the cycle of rebirth again.

I learned how to stop thinking, how to cease every thought and intention, and how to use meditative concentration to suppress my thoughts so that no reflections would arise. My meditative concentration was so deep that during my time in the Four Sacred Realms, my inner light shone brightly. For long eons, I did not have a single thought; there were no fluctuations, no stirrings of the heart. This allowed me to ascend higher and higher. However, all these benefits and the natural supernatural powers I possessed were used only for myself. They were not used for the sake of other beings. I was not practising for the sake of beings; I was practising solely for my own liberation, to avoid suffering."

The Difference Between 'Name' and 'Truth'

"From Practitioner Su, I have seen and learned that all achievements and skills are meant to be used to save sentient beings, not for one's own fame, profit, or personal liberation. I realised then that I had taken the wrong path. I had wandered into a side road. I was not practising to save the world or deliver sentient beings; I was selfishly striving for my own liberation. No matter how much I practised, the highest I could reach was the Buddha Dharma Realm of the Four Sacred Realms. I was a 'Name Buddha'—very much like a Buddha, but not a true Buddha. I had not realised my true nature. I could not reach the state of realising one's true nature and attaining Buddhahood like Practitioner Su, who is a true Buddha—one who has attained the state of no-self, no-selfishness, no-thought, and no-mind, and who has realised the emptiness and stillness of the true nature. That is the true Buddha, the true state of permanence, joy, self, and purity.

However, I believe it is not too late to change now. I am full of confidence. As long as Practitioner Su is here, and as long as I follow Practitioner Su closely, I can enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. To be able to do this, I am eternally grateful! Although I do not have a physical body, my spirit is very clear and bright. Following Practitioner Su in the morning deliverance is a rare and precious spiritual practice. It allows my spirit to be elevated, something I could never achieve in the Buddha Dharma Realm. I will simply 'do without doing' and 'act without acting,' following Practitioner Su forward."

A Final Counsel

"I sincerely counsel the fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre: under the guidance of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, listen to their teachings, change your ways, and dedicate your body and heart to the service of all beings. Strive diligently to deliver sentient beings so that they may be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the true path of practice and the path to realising one's true nature. If you follow this, you will surely reach the moment of Awakening."

"Namo Amituofo."