Venerable Chang Gao is a dedicated monastic who sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su. He currently resides at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia, where he actively participates in the sacred work of . This interview was recorded on August 13, 2019, by the chief writer, Shi Faxin.
Venerable Chang Gao speaks:
". I am Chang Gao. In the work of Chao Du, there is a saying: sentient beings are superior to non-sentient beings, and non-sentient beings are superior to sentient beings. The only difference between the two lies in whether or not they possess a physical form. Having participated in Chao Du alongside Practitioner Su for such a long time, I have always sought to see the true appearance of the Realm clearly. Yet, despite following this path for so long, I have never seen an end to it. Instead, what I have witnessed is a process of constant breakthrough—from one Dharma Realm to another, from one space to the next. It is no exaggeration to say that every single day brings new discoveries, or that the number of sentient beings awaiting deliverance grows exponentially."
The Boundless Frontiers of the Dharma Realm
"Whether it is the boundaries of floating clouds, the spirits of the grass, the vastness of the ocean, or the depths of the seabed, I have yet to find the true edge of where these sentient beings reside. It is evident that the number of sentient beings in need of Chao Du is truly immeasurable and boundless. They wait in various spaces, hoping for the right Causal Conditions to arise. Those who receive Chao Du from Practitioner Su may have a karmic affinity with her, or perhaps they have a connection with the various Bodhisattvas of the universe.
Today, Practitioner Su is quite renowned throughout the universe. Beyond the countless sentient beings waiting for deliverance, there are many practitioners from different Dharma Realms, celestial beings, those from the Four Sacred Realms, and even Bodhisattvas from the Demon Realm who have joined this effort. As more beings participate, the levels of the Dharma Realm we break through become increasingly distinct, and more spaces are opened. Practitioner Su, in her great , allows us to save those with whom we have karmic affinity within these spaces, and thus, infinite connections are forged."
The Vision of the Awakened Eye
"The magnificent scenes of our daily Chao Du cannot be perceived by the physical eyes alone. Only through the Dharma Eye, the Wisdom Eye, and the Buddha Eye—attained through diligent practice—can one see every detail with absolute clarity. With Prajna wisdom, one sees everything with perfect ease. I am particularly moved by the story of a celestial being I encountered recently. Although he had attained the celestial realm, where one should ideally be free from worldly emotions, he could not let go of his attachment to his mother.
He watched in agony as his mother suffered through the cycle of rebirth in the six realms of existence. He saw her reborn as a chicken, as a stone, as a beetle, and then falling into the human world, only to be cast into the hells. The process of her reincarnation was a cycle of suffering that was almost impossible to bear. He felt helpless, and because of this private emotion, he was on the verge of falling back into the cycle of rebirth himself. Practitioner Su’s Chao Du was like timely rain for him. With a final, desperate effort, he decided to join the work of Namo Amituofo."
The Opening of Past Lives
"During the process of Chao Du, Practitioner Su waves her Haiqing, and various spaces are instantly opened. Everyone returns to their different realms, seeing their pasts—the streets, the small cottages, the livestock, and of course, the people they once loved most, such as the stubborn old man who was the father of a beloved girl. All these scenes from the past fly before our eyes, including the old tree where one might have sat to enjoy the cool shade from youth until old age. Everyone treasures these moments, saving as many beings as they possibly can.
In the end, the celestial being saw his mother, who had been reborn as a beautiful koi fish. Finally, through the convergence of Causal Conditions on this day, Practitioner Su saved his mother. The celestial being was filled with immense gratitude. He did not ask to be reborn in the Western Pure Land immediately; instead, he expressed his desire to follow Practitioner Su in the work of Chao Du, so that more sentient beings might be saved, just as his mother had been. All sentient beings in the void feel this coming achievement. Namo Amituofo."
