No One Is Truly Bad

This article records an interview with Venerable Chang Ren, a dedicated monastic residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. In this session, recorded on September 23, 2017, the Venerable offers profound insights into the nature of spiritual practice, the necessity of compassion, and the importance of seeing the Buddha-nature in all beings, even those we might perceive as adversaries.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. As we journey through life, why do we allow the 'Meng Po’s soup' to create such a divide between our past and present? Why do we dwell on matters that have no real substance? It is true that karmic creditors may follow us, and it is natural to feel the need to vent one's grievances—it is not entirely forbidden—but one must know when to stop. The play has already ended; to keep pulling back the curtain to replay the same old scenes is meaningless. In truth, every event, every arrangement of Causal Conditions, carries within it the most beautiful and profound significance. We need not view these encounters as mundane or as the worst of misfortunes. Any unnecessary contemplation or emotional turbulence is simply redundant.

The Illusion of the Stage

Think about it—if you were to add seasoning to a stale, worn-out play, it would not make it worth performing again on the screen. You would only be left with a dim, fading curtain call. Life is fleeting; there is no need to ruin the performance. We should perform our roles with pure goodness and beauty. Learning the moral lessons within the play is what truly matters; everything else outside of this education is merely delusion.

I wonder if you have ever felt the same: why is it that in this world, we always seem to encounter people we simply cannot stand? And once we meet them, the memory clings to us like glue. It does not just stick; it causes our emotions to rise and fall like a turbulent sea. Every time we see that person, our hearts become restless, wanting to think the worst. Their virtues are completely hidden from our view, while every single action, every word, and every movement they make that we deem 'wrong' is observed by us in meticulous detail, without the slightest bit of refinement. This is the power of karma.

The Trap of Subjectivity

Some people speak bluntly, convinced that they have collided with their karmic creditors. But is that really such a bad thing? In today's society, subjective views are far too intense. Often, this strong first impression or initial intuition—regardless of whether it is true or false—leads us to believe deeply in this 'first-hand' information. If you are a practitioner, it will be very difficult for you to achieve success with such a mindset. And if you are not yet a practitioner, I find it hard to believe that your interpersonal relationships could be very healthy.

The wisdom of the ancients gave us a common saying: 'Harmony is the most precious thing.' There is also the saying, 'When the family is in harmony, all things will flourish.' We are all disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha. Even lay practitioners are part of the sevenfold community of the Buddha’s gate, are they not? We are all one family. If we are not one family, then you are not of the same body as the Buddha. If you hold onto 'I am high and you are low,' lacking the equality of mind that sees all as one, or if you harbour various grievances of your own making, then the family is no longer whole. How, then, can the Buddha’s teachings be propagated?

The Need for a Righteous Path

For a bodhimanda to follow the righteous path, if we are going to argue over trivial, petty matters, the Dharma realm of emptiness will only be left waiting in suffering. When will we ever have the chance to be saved? So many temples are filled with intense internal strife. If practitioners are like this, what can we expect from ordinary people in the world? If you still wish to achieve success, listen to my counsel: there is no need to let your thoughts and intentions be stirred by the circumstances of the world. In this Five Turbidities and Evil World, there are all sorts of tests we might encounter. Do your best to simplify your life; having less is far better than having more.

The suffering and illnesses of the world are real, but so many of them are truly self-inflicted. Originally, there was nothing, and in the future, there will be nothing. So why suffer through these feelings now? Each set of 'human skin'—this physical body—allows us to express so much. Practice, in particular, relies on this body because it allows us to enter the play. It allows us to drift with the current, perhaps to be manipulated, unable to be the master of our own fate. But if you remain completely unshaken, you are a person of great wisdom—one who knows that the body is empty and false. Why make the false play seem real and lose the coolness and clarity that you ought to possess?

The Guidance of a Wise Teacher

In truth, the way Practitioner Su leads us is rare to find. Guiding the heart is not an easy task. Fortunately, Practitioner Su is an awakened being who does not give rise to afflictions because of this. Otherwise, given how stubborn and headstrong everyone’s personalities are, with thousands of different patterns in their hearts, how could one possibly subdue them? Only by using a 'no-mind' approach to lead those who still have minds can we subdue this human play.

When watching a movie in a theatre, emotional audience members might wipe away tears, while rational ones remain unmoved, though their hearts still quietly fluctuate with the highs and lows of the plot. But if an awakened practitioner were to watch this same movie, their insight would absolutely transcend the effects presented on screen. Although the subject matter is the same, it would be superior to the movie itself, imbued with unique wisdom. This is what it means to have 'no-mind.' When you view things with no-mind, wisdom is everywhere. The cleverness of the world, in front of the true Buddha, is nothing more than childish play; it does not move the heart at all.

The Root of Human Desire

The reason people in this world feel the need to cling to these worldly matters, and are even deeply influenced by them, is because of the emptiness in their hearts and a profound sense of dissatisfaction. Faced with all kinds of stimulation, profound emotional performances, and vivid audio-visual effects, these sensory designs completely capture groups of loyal audiences. The more popular the blockbuster, the more it reveals how powerful the desires of humanity are—locked deep within the heart, unable to be satisfied. With so many intense desires, it is hard to imagine what people might do. Do not think it is impossible. When the human heart is not regulated, once these ignorant desires erupt violently after being suppressed for so long, it is a force that no one can stop.

Why do some seemingly refined people suddenly erupt in violence? What everyone sees is a 'good person' suddenly committing grave sins of killing, stealing, or sexual misconduct, forcing society to punish them. You must understand that since the beginning of the cycle of rebirth, there has been both good and evil in the human heart. When you feel a strong sense of inequality, you must tell yourself: do not just sit by and watch the intense battle within your heart. You must find a wise teacher you can trust—ideally, someone who has realised their true nature—and ask them to help you regulate the karmic debts you have accumulated over many lives. The manifestation of these karmic debts is certainly not desirable, as you are the one who 'thought' them into existence, but it is not entirely a bad thing. Since you do not have the ability to overcome this hurdle on your own, its manifestation will inevitably help you break through certain levels. However, without the guidance of a true spiritual friend, this can be a very troublesome matter.

The Importance of Education

Most children do not know how to regulate these inexplicable emotions, including the many evil thoughts and ideas in their hearts. No one teaches children how to break through these evil thoughts. They are naturally influenced and polluted by the external environment and the rapid development of modern technology and media. In this era of information overload, it is not at all like the simplicity and purity of the past. Because everyone easily shares their ego-attachments and views on public platforms, and because information is exchanged so quickly, people easily adopt the patterns of others. Without realising it, they see things, internalise them, and turn them into their own patterns or emotions.

Even a small child, after watching a martial arts film, can learn to fight. At first, it is an unintentional imitation, without distinguishing between good and evil, right and wrong. Gradually, it stains and destroys their pure nature. They do not understand the true meaning that the adult world is trying to express, but because their learning ability is strong, they unconsciously become what they see. They shape themselves into many external forms, whether good or evil, without knowing how to regulate them. They achieve a version of themselves they have imagined, without understanding the distinction between good and evil, and without knowing how to adjust themselves.

Seeing the Buddha-Nature in All

In society, because there is no good model to learn from, people cannot even distinguish whether they are right or wrong; they just continue to grow according to their own habits. It is true that we are born with certain habits, but if we could be properly educated, many things—after the 'Meng Po’s soup' is consumed—would not need to manifest at all. They could even be changed and re-guided. 'At birth, human nature is good.' We create karma throughout our many lives simply because we have not encountered a good spiritual friend to teach us. Because we do not understand, we remain ignorant.

Although I am from the Demon Realm, I understand these things. In the past, I could ruin the world, but now I know that to save it, I must rely on education. This is the most perfect way. Even the 'worst' children must be educated with heart and transformed, because within their hearts, there is always a bright, true nature. A true practitioner should not see a single 'evil' person in their eyes, because in this world, there are only children who need to be guided. Seeing so many evil appearances, one should understand in their heart that they must practice diligently, because the world is waiting for you to help guide it. This is the concept a practitioner should have, rather than sinking to the level of worldly people, discussing right and wrong. If you do that, why bother with pure practice at all?

The Responsibility of the Sangha

Are you, who are currently discussing people here, still feeling cool and clear? You are a practitioner, perhaps even a monastic. You have only two things you can do: first, truly investigate the truth of these matters. If it is truly a false teaching, then as a disciple of the Buddha, you must take actions that benefit the public—that is, come forward and provide evidence. Practitioners are not allowed to engage in double-tongued speech or harsh words. Words that have not been verified cannot be discussed in private. For matters in doubt, one should only seek verification; for unknown matters, one should remain silent. Even the subtle thoughts in your heart should be let go. Otherwise, you are not a practitioner at all; you are coarser than the ordinary people in the marketplace. 'If you are a true practitioner of the Way, you do not see the faults of the world.' Where did this saying come from? All practitioners should take this issue seriously.

Why is the Buddha’s teaching declining? Why does the age of the Dharma’s decline allow the Demon Realm to take advantage? Long ago, the World-Honoured One knew that beings in the age of the Dharma’s decline would face difficulties and that the Buddha’s teachings would be on the verge of decay. But why did the World-Honoured One not make preparations in advance? I wonder if you can see how much the World-Honoured One’s heart is suffering now. What the World-Honoured One sees is not the rampant nature of the Demon Realm; what the World-Honoured One knows is that the nature of the Buddha’s disciples has undergone a mutation.

The Compassion of the Buddha

The World-Honoured One has never blamed any being for the decline of the Buddha’s teachings—not even the provocations of Mara Papiyan or the bloodletting of Devadatta. The World-Honoured One continued to manifest the expression of guiding beings. What is the World-Honoured One trying to say? It is that there is no one in this world who is truly bad; there are only children who lack guidance and need us to wait for them patiently. The moral lessons manifested by the World-Honoured One seem to be misunderstood by everyone. The World-Honoured One prepared for the age of the Dharma’s decline long ago. All monastics and lay practitioners who have achieved success in their practice—have you fulfilled the appearance you ought to have? Do you have the compassion to guide and the patience to treat others well?

The Buddha’s teachings need a righteous image, but not a single being can be abandoned. Why did the World-Honoured One not deal with the demon crowds to consolidate the righteous image of the Buddha’s teachings? Because if even the Demon Realm is abandoned, then the Buddha’s teachings are no longer the Buddha’s teachings. I think everyone should understand this by now.

A Call to Unity

When you detach from worldly thoughts, you can clearly see the principles behind many things; it is not difficult to understand, but it requires careful investigation. Although the Buddha’s teachings have gradually reached today’s situation of decline over thousands of years, it is also an excellent opportunity to teach and transform all beings. To achieve the goal of not abandoning anyone is the best thing to do now. Because the age of the Dharma’s decline is not about total destruction, but about total revival. The inequality between beings needs to be removed and replaced with a complete view of oneness. This requires education and correction.

In many situations, people are accustomed to putting themselves first, forgetting that we are all one family. They are used to dividing 'self' and 'other,' liking and disliking, good and bad, right and wrong. They are always clearly divided, lacking the appearance that a practitioner should have. If you have the karmic affinity to see this article today, I hope you will take this matter seriously. We should begin to change. It is not about who is good or bad, or who is right or wrong; it is about discussing together how to manage the righteous image of the Buddha’s teachings. After all, practitioners and monastics are still a minority in the world, but education is so insufficient. Should those who are capable of being teachers of celestial beings not unite to promote the Buddha’s teachings and lead everyone to transform this Five Turbidities and Evil World into a pure world without turbidity or pollution?

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

Regarding the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, many people believe but also harbour doubts. Should you not let go of these thoughts? The magnificence of this place is capable of gathering all virtuous people to study the Buddha’s work together. The purpose is nothing else but the hope that beings in the sea of karma can be regulated and no longer have any evil views or evil thoughts. If possible, you should fully support the righteous teachings, no longer dividing 'self' and 'other,' and there should be no distinction between 'their temple' and 'my temple.' There should be no stinginess regarding the Buddha’s teachings. I hope that all compassion is nurtured; the Buddha’s teachings should only contain total goodwill and compassion. Everyone should work together to promote the righteous teachings.

The reason the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has received teachings from the Buddha is because it possesses a vow power equal to the Buddha’s heart, an equal mind, and an infinite capacity of compassion. It adjusts and transforms all beings towards goodness. My only hope is that all of humanity will gather their strength to turn the world towards goodness, and together be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, without any further discrimination. Because all of these [discriminations] are creating karma. We should change our old ways of thinking and try to accept the coolness of these righteous images. Many in the underworld have already received the benefits of the Dharma and have been reborn in the three higher realms, because the underworld can truly see the compassionate power of the Buddha and see the true Buddha. The beings of the underworld and the demon realms have surrendered one after another. Everyone should learn 'no-mind' so that practice can be achieved. Only when everyone achieves success will it be a true success for each other. This is a true 'no-mind' that requires everyone to learn and practise more. I encourage you all, hoping only that the Buddha’s teachings can return to the righteous path. Namo Amituofo."

Australia Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

Contact: Venerable Hailiang / Practitioner Cao

Phone: +61-456-793-638

Blog: http://purelandstone07.pixnet.net/blog

E-mail: pureland.stone@outlook.com

Address: 120 Gordon Smiths Road, Goombungee, QLD 4354, Australia