Letting Go of Past Pain
An Interview with Venerable Changren
Recorded on October 23, 2023
This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changren, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon his past life as the brother of Steve Jobs and his subsequent transformation from a vengeful spirit into a dedicated practitioner. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 23, 2023.
Venerable Changren speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. From the time we are small children until we grow old, every one of us inevitably experiences moments of deep unhappiness. We never know when life will throw something at us that is truly heartbreaking, devastating, or soul-crushing; it is simply impossible to predict or control. When such events occur, our bodies feel the impact, and our hearts register the agony. These memories become deeply etched into the very depths of our hearts, and they often follow us as we grow, shaping who we become.
Some of these sufferings only manifest when we are adults—perhaps after we have married, entered the workforce, or navigated the complexities of our careers. Each person carries a unique life experience, and within these experiences, our bodies and hearts naturally judge what is good and what is bad, what is painful and what is joyful. It is a constant internal dialogue that we all engage in, whether we realise it or not."
A Past Life of Bitterness
"Today, I, Venerable Changren, wish to speak with all of you about this kind of suffering—the kind that remains buried deep within the heart. I have had such experiences myself. I believe those who know me are aware that in a past life, I was the brother of Steve Jobs. That was a specific set of Causal Conditions from the past, but it was also a memory filled with immense pain and unresolved conflict.
Before I was saved by Practitioner Su, I was completely trapped in that agonizing past. I had become a demon, wandering and committing many wrongs. I endured the most extreme , suffering in the volcanic fires. Yet, the resentment and hatred within my heart gave me a stubborn, unyielding character. Even when the scorching magma was burning my body, burying me completely in its heat, I refused to surrender. I remained defiant, simply because I was clinging so tightly to that hatred, desperate to seek revenge. It was a cycle of misery that seemed endless."
The Softening of a Hardened Heart
"Then, through a series of miraculous Causal Conditions, I was saved by Practitioner Su. Before I truly believed in her, I spent a long time observing and testing her, wanting to see if she was genuinely sincere in her intentions toward me. I feel deeply apologetic for the harm I caused her during that time. However, I truly felt the , warmth, and tolerance radiating from her heart. She was genuinely trying to help me, and that power was what finally softened my hardened heart. I was eventually subdued, and to this day, I remain by Practitioner Su’s side, following her every day to help deliver immeasurable and boundless beings.
I share these things because I want to discuss the suffering that everyone carries to some degree. It is a past experience that has kept you from moving forward. That memory may feel incredibly painful, but I want to tell you all that you have a choice. You can choose to keep gripping that memory tightly, or you can choose to let it go. In the end, it was merely a set of Causal Conditions from the past."
The Choice to Let Go
"Is the harm we suffered truly permanent, or is it our own attachment that ensures we remember it as a perpetual injury? If I had not experienced those events back then, I would never have had the Causal Conditions to meet Practitioner Su. I would not be here now, able to save so many beings and truly fulfill my wish to deliver sentient beings. So, how should we view the pain of the past? Is pain truly just pain? Or is it only painful in the moment? If you shift your perspective and change the way you think, everything becomes different.
If we look at this through the lens of our own karmic retribution, those painful encounters were never without cause; there is always a complex web of laws of and cause and effect at play. Since that is the case, why bother to dwell on it and refuse to let go? Why carry that heavy burden for another moment?
Let it go! Transform that suffering into emptiness. Take the Buddha-name, 'Namo Amituofo,' which can truly help you, and grasp it tightly in your heart. Keep it in your thoughts without ceasing, keep your thoughts pure, keep your heart at peace, keep your mind free from suffering, and keep your focus on the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Let go of everything else, and let this Buddha-name be your only companion.
Namo Amituofo.
Changren"
More from Master Chang Ren
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library