Releasing the Ego to Resolve Karma

Venerable Yongning, a monastic who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, shares profound insights on the nature of karma and the necessity of letting go of the ego. This interview was recorded on July 18, 2023.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Every individual carries powerful karma that exerts interference upon their life, though the majority remain unaware of this reality. If one were to view every encounter and experience in life as a manifestation of karma—as if karma were orchestrating every detail—one would realise the magnitude of its influence. In the invisible realms, it is karma that holds the reins of all things.

No one can easily escape their own karma. It is not something that can be evaded through the accumulation of vast wealth, nor can it be outmanoeuvred by worldly cleverness or ability. This is not a matter of worldly disputes or conflicts that can be settled through negotiation or mediation; it is a deep-seated, ancient grudge that has been entangling the individual throughout their many lives, persisting until this very day.

The Dead End of Suffering

Under the relentless pursuit of karmic creditors, this human body suffers the full weight of retribution. The body, the heart, and the spirit are all plunged into extreme suffering, finding it nearly impossible to break free. It is as if one has fallen into a dead-end alley with no way out. The pain within is tangled and torturous; no matter how many forms of entertainment or worldly methods one tries, they cannot rescue this suffering heart. It remains so painful, so profoundly unhappy.

Is there truly no way to resolve one's karma? Everyone wishes to resolve their karma and hopes that their karmic creditors will let go, but these creditors remain unable to find relief because they themselves do not understand how to let go. And the reason these karmic creditors do not know how to let go is that the owner of the body—the person themselves—does not know how to let go either. They live their lives clutching tightly to their own personality and ego. They allow their entire being—their muscles, their bones, their very blood—to be saturated with this ego. Naturally, this constantly awakens the arrival of karma and summons karmic creditors to seek revenge. How, then, could they possibly resolve their karma?

The Wisdom of Listening to the Dharma

Through listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, we can help ourselves and the beings within our bodies understand how to seek liberation. We must stop allowing past disturbances, grievances, and resentments to block our opportunity to leave suffering behind. Wise beings are those who can awaken during the process of hearing the Dharma and subsequently seek the path of departure.

I once encountered a being who was waiting to seek revenge. He had been consumed by hatred to the point of becoming a demon, and he was sitting right on top of the head of a member of the fourfold assembly whom he despised. I was able to meet him because I was observing while Practitioner Su was performing Chao Du.

A Millennial Grudge

I asked this demon, 'How long have you been following him?' The demon replied, 'Time cannot measure it.' His tone carried a fierce air of arrogance and anger, and he gave me a look that suggested he had no desire to answer. I continued, 'Do you intend to take your revenge now?' He answered, 'I am simply waiting for this very moment.' I asked again, 'And how do you plan to take your revenge?' He said, 'I do not need to let you know how I will seek retribution, but I can tell you this: the suffering in his heart is something no medicine in this world can cure.' I asked, 'What kind of suffering is it?' The demon replied, 'He cannot let go of this body, and he allows his emotions and his personality to manipulate him. That kind of suffering is something he will never be able to walk out of. I am slowly encroaching upon him bit by bit during this process, and eventually, the time will come for him to be tormented by illness.' I asked, 'Are you unwilling to resolve this?' The demon replied with fury, 'It is impossible to resolve. I do not know how to resolve it, because my heart is filled only with resentment and hatred.'

The Power of Buddha-Light

The anger of this demon was completely revealed through his expression and tone. One could tell he was truly filled with resentment and hatred, single-mindedly wanting to seek revenge against his karmic creditor. At that moment, the person was so drowsy and muddled that he was completely unaware that a demon who hated him was waiting to claim his debt. I had no position to take sides, but I could say to the demon: 'Letting go does not mean forgiving the other party; it means letting go of yourself, allowing yourself to stop suffering, and ending the cycle of rebirth.'

I guided this demon to watch Practitioner Su performing Chao Du. Many suffering spirits were still present in the space, including a great number of demons who were unable to leave. They, too, had once held hatred and resentment, but now they were in such a state. When this demon saw these spaces of deliverance and the suffering demons, he actually began to weep.

I asked him why he was crying, and he replied, 'It has been a thousand years. The sorrow and resentment in my heart have not diminished in all these centuries. It was his personality that trapped me in this whirlpool. Now, looking at it, it does not seem like I am seeking revenge; it seems more like he has trapped me. Because he constantly uses his personality to awaken my resentment, demanding that I remember the pain of the past, not allowing me to forget for even a moment. Today, it is the power of the Buddha that has transformed me. Seeing Namo Amituofo and seeing Practitioner Su, the Buddha-light has dissolved my hatred. It has helped me see the light once again and let me know that, besides seeking revenge, I have another choice: to let go.' After saying this, the demon leapt out of that space. He left the long-suffering space of hatred, departed from the head of the karmic creditor, and entered into the light.

A Call to Wisdom

I saw that the member of the fourfold assembly regained a moment of clarity, though he remained unaware of the process that had just occurred. Through the sharing of this demon, I hope to let everyone know that your personality is truly not worth it. The karma of your many lives is locked tightly within your personality. Do not be someone who clings to karma; instead, be a wise person who knows how to let go of their personality and liberate their karma. By doing so, you help all beings leave suffering behind, and you help yourself achieve liberation.

Namo Amituofo."