This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changren, who shares his observations on the spiritual state of villagers in Yilan, Taiwan. He reflects upon the nature of , the cycle of rebirth, and the necessity of education. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, on June 25, 2019.
Venerable Changren speaks:
". The people in the villages of Yilan are simple and honest by nature, yet they are inevitably bound by their own personal habits. They do not realise that the laws of karma and cause and effect are woven into the very fabric of their daily lives. Their destinies shift and change in accordance with their actions, and the reality of impermanence is a constant visitor in every household. It is a process of ceaseless transformation, occurring at every moment. Many villagers choose to seek out fortune-telling or consult spirits, yet they do not understand that destiny cannot be accurately calculated. Each person carries their own unique karmic burden. When the weight of that destiny descends, it is nearly impossible to escape; most are simply swept away by it, often in the silence of their own dreams, with no one else the wiser.
The Tragedy of a Wasted Life
It is a profound tragedy to witness such a life. These people are simple and hardworking, often toiling away for their entire existence, yet they never learn how to break free from the cycle of their fate. In the end, they are still forced to endure suffering. Once a lifetime passes, their spirits remain lost, unable to find the light. They are left to be pulled along by the currents of time and darkness. A person's existence effectively ceases to be, simply because they never learned to take control of their own destiny. Everyone knows that death is a reality of this world, but when we tell them that one can transcend illness and death, many find it impossible to believe. They dismiss it as a fairy tale. In truth, the state of being free from illness and death is a genuine reality; the ultimate Truth is often the very thing that people find hardest to believe. If only the people of this world could hear this Truth, it would be of immense help to everyone. The first benefit, of course, is the ability to transcend illness and death—all one needs to do is maintain a pure heart and perform good deeds.
The Necessity of Education
Within the mindset of these villagers, the only thing that needs to change is the constant, persistent application of Dharma education. We must attract the public to listen to the teachings, to correct their erroneous views and behaviours, and to realign themselves with the true principles of the universe. They must stop letting their old habits dictate their actions, as this path easily leads to deviation—a deviation that they are often unable to perceive for themselves.
Among these simple, rustic folk, everyone is a mixture of good and evil. Within their hearts, there is a side that is kind, but there is also a side that is not. For instance, they may be overly calculating about certain matters, or they may exhibit selfishness or stubborn personality traits. These are things they are unaware of, and it is a great pity that their lives pass by in this way. Once they lose this precious human body, they must continue to wander through the cycle of rebirth. In the villages, every household is walking the path of samsara, rushing toward death, suffering step by step. Many villagers know what suffering is, but they do not know how to leave it behind. Their desire for liberation lacks a clear goal because they place their faith in the help of ghost deities, not realising that only the education of the Pure Land can truly help them escape the cycle of rebirth.
Rituals vs. The Truth
They offer sacrifices of meat and wine, showing piety to celestial deities, and they perform rituals for the heavenly soldiers, generals, and wandering spirits. They do not realise that while this may be a form of showing respect to other beings, it cannot help them personally. The path one truly needs to walk is the education of the Truth—the of one's original nature. That is the only path that provides genuine benefit. Most families also pay respects to their ancestors, but they do not know that offering lavish sacrifices cannot help their ancestors leave suffering behind. Only the Truth can truly facilitate that liberation.
The Truth of the Buddha’s teachings is to lead beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. These worldly people do not understand this; they think it is merely a matter of life and death. In reality, it is a matter intimately related to everyone. It is a problem that each individual must solve for themselves. Do you still want to be trapped in the cycle of life and death? Do you still want to suffer? Come and listen to the education of the Truth. It is truly possible to be free from illness and death, and to find peace and within your heart.
A Call to Awaken
Destiny is something you must walk out for yourself; it is not something that can be changed by begging for help from others. That is nothing more than superstition. The Truth is not superstitious; it requires everyone to truly wake up and see clearly: what is the purpose of your life? Why have you come here? This is a point worth everyone’s careful consideration. The Buddha’s teachings are magnificent, and when the Causal Conditions are in sync, one should seize this opportunity. You must engage with this education of the Truth, live out a new life, and make this existence truly worthwhile.
My Buddha, with great , is here to lead all beings. Everyone should cherish and seize this opportunity. I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha, grateful for the compassion of the grandmother, and I offer my thanks to Namo Amituofo."
