Reclaiming Sovereignty Over the Physical Body

Venerable Chang Ren, a dedicated practitioner at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, has devoted years to the study and practice of the Buddha Dharma. Seeking ultimate deliverance in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Venerable Chang Ren currently resides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This interview was recorded on September 4, 2023, by the chief writer, Shi Fajing.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Chang Ren. When we look back at life after life of cycling through samsara, one must ask: when will there finally be a moment of true clarity? When will we truly wake up?

I see clearly that within every human body resides a spirit that has been reincarnated for countless ages. This spirit suffers immensely. Although it dwells within the flesh, it is unable to exert any control over the body's actions. It is completely dominated by external forces. Ultimately, the spirit is forced to follow the body, bearing the consequences of the sins committed by that flesh, only to fall once more into the whirlpool of the next cycle of rebirth.

The Illusion of Choice

How many people have truly awakened? The number is pitifully small. Why is it so difficult for people in this world to achieve enlightenment in their daily lives? Why is it so hard for them to let go of the body's demands and choose a life that elevates their spirituality, instead of remaining addicted to the desires of the flesh? What I see is that the power of the body's interference is simply too great.

This body is under constant influence, and in turn, this body is constantly interfering with the spirit within. It exists in a state of perpetual agitation, making it nearly impossible to remain fully in a deep meditative state.

The Battle for the Mind

I have observed many among the fourfold assembly who, after listening to the sutras, feel a deep resonance and a genuine desire to change their personalities. Yet, when they make a firm resolution and begin to work hard at changing, their mental notes are diverted again in less than a day. In such a short span of time, the thoughts of the body undergo such drastic shifts that one can clearly see how little control the individual actually has over their own vessel.

The space within the body is incredibly complex. Within a single thought, there exist countless forces of interference. These forces can influence the thoughts in the head, manipulating the body to perform various actions that were never part of the person's original intention. Most people cannot perceive that their bodies are being influenced in this way. They naturally believe that these feelings are their own heart and their own inner thoughts, but in reality, this is not necessarily the case. They are being manipulated by external forces and the sentient beings residing within them.

Reclaiming Your Autonomy

How can we help this body, which has lost its ability to master itself, regain its sovereignty? How can we use this very body to elevate our own spirituality? In daily life, one must listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma. By utilising the scriptures and the Dharma, we can transform our inner selves. Our difficult-to-tame personalities require repeated, persistent effort to change.

During this process of transformation, one will inevitably face interference from one's own karmic creditors. This interference often weakens the motivation to change or diminishes one's perseverance. At such times, one must listen to the sutras again to reawaken one's awareness. During the process of listening to the sutras, the karmic creditors can also hear the Dharma simultaneously. Their perspectives and thoughts—their single-minded desire for revenge—can be transformed by hearing the teachings. As long as the karmic creditors are willing to let go, the degree of interference affecting the body will diminish, which in turn helps the practitioner continue to move forward.

The body can indeed regain its sovereignty, but it requires constant effort to change oneself. When you are affected by the influence of your own body or the pull of external environments, you must always raise your awareness to stabilise your heart. You must firm up your convictions and follow the teachings faithfully. Only then, step by step, can you reclaim the autonomy of your body."

Namo Amituofo.