This interview with Venerable Yongning was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on March 14, 2023. Venerable Yongning, a dedicated monastic residing at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, provides a poignant reflection on the nature of the soul and the critical importance of seeking liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". Where is the final destination of the soul? Where does this eternal, indestructible spirit come from, and where does it go? The soul seems to originate from a distant, invisible space. If it does not reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, it has no final home. It remains forever on the path of reincarnation, unable to find its way back.
The Sorrow Hidden in Your Eyes
Look into the mirror. Look closely into your own eyes and observe the deepest part of yourself. That soul, which has been reincarnated throughout countless lifetimes, is revealed in the depths of your gaze. Most of the time, that gaze is filled with sorrow. Even if your face wears a smile, the soul deep within never smiles even once. Why? Because it cannot escape. It is trapped within this physical body—and in truth, it is not just trapped in this body, but imprisoned within the cycle of reincarnation that has spanned countless lifetimes.
We crave worldly pleasures, seek to satisfy the desires of the flesh, pursue emotional intimacy, and chase after the achievements of fame and status. All of these things revolve entirely around this body. They are absolutely inseparable from the sensations and of , rather than being realisations of the spirit. Yet, this is what most people in this world want and love. They do not realise that time is fleeting. Everything you love will be lost in a very short time. There is absolutely nothing eternal here, because life is limited, and the physical body will inevitably decay one day.
The Golden Opportunity of Human Life
The best time to rescue your own soul is during this golden period when you possess a human body. This time is not long—it lasts only a few short decades. When viewed against the timeline of reincarnation that spans billions or trillions of years, or even longer, these few decades of possessing a human body are as insignificant as a speck of dust in the air; they are almost too small to be seen. Yet, on this long road of reincarnation, it is precisely these few short decades that can end the journey. It is only within these few decades that you can truly rescue your own soul.
Do you see the preciousness of your human life now? Everything you care about is illusory. If you take a matter that weighs on your heart and view it against the backdrop of billions of years of reincarnation, it is so small that it essentially does not exist. Yet, you keep such trivial matters in your heart, trapping your own soul and obstructing it from achieving liberation. It is truly not worth it.
The Shackles of Attachment
When you hold a person deep within your heart, can you see what kind of relationship they have with you? Even if there are Causal Conditions from the past, any person you hold in your heart will inevitably become the very person who obstructs you from liberating yourself from reincarnation. Even if that person is your most beloved relative, they will bind your feet and hinder your departure from the cycle of rebirth. No one can help you achieve liberation but yourself. Therefore, no matter who you are attached to in your life, it is a form of bondage, a form of obstruction that causes you to be reincarnated again and again.
Look at your soul again. Speak to it. If you truly want to save it, you must see this false world clearly. You must thoroughly see through it, and then let it go. Let go of all the Causal Conditions from all your past lives. Do not keep them in your heart or worry about them anymore. Now, there is only the Buddhist affinity that you should grasp. When your heart is empty, with nothing else inside, only then can you rescue your own soul, leaving suffering behind and gaining happiness.
