Society as a Great Dyeing Vat

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Chang Ren, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his observations of the modern world compared to the past. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa-xi, on October 14, 2017.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. True purity and dignity reside in a heart that is clear and calm. Why do I say this? Why does it seem that modern people do not possess the same grace and composure as those in ancient times? It is because the modern mind is burdened by far more thoughts, and these thoughts are infinitely more complex. What are they thinking about? They are consumed by the Five Desires and the Six Dusts, by greed, anger, ignorance, and arrogance. Were these things not present in the past? Of course they were, but in the modern era, these tendencies have intensified beyond all measure. People allow the desires of their hearts to spread without limit, and in doing so, they have long since lost that original, simple purity.

Society is a great dyeing vat, and every single person is destined to encounter this vat. It is an unavoidable experience. One by one, people lose their hearts within it, becoming utterly lost in the desires they crave—whether it be romantic love, social status, wealth, or material possessions. These factors are so incredibly seductive. How many people can truly avoid the traps hidden within this 'warm sunshine' of worldly comfort? Most people end up lost, and because they are lost, they sink deeper into the cycle of rebirth.

The Endless Cycle of Greed

Once someone tastes a little sweetness or gets a hint of success, it triggers an insatiable craving: 'I want more!' They clutch these things tightly in their hands, unwilling to let go, obsessively guarding wealth or status that may not even truly belong to them. In modern society, how many people are like this? Some will even go to the extent of robbing, occupying, or plotting and framing others. Their minds are filled with conspiracies and evil thoughts, all for the sake of that fleeting sweetness before them. They create immeasurable and boundless karma, yet they never feel a shred of fear. Such things have existed since ancient times, but with the advancement of civilisation, these modern thoughts have become even more subtle and meticulous. To put it plainly, people have become more insidious and cunning. Even beneath a facade of purity and goodness, one can still hide the heart of a wolf. Humans have worked hard to research and develop the technology and civilisation of the twenty-first century, but is this evolution truly progress? In many respects, it seems to be a regression, because it has been accompanied by an increase in ignorance and confusion.

It is truly terrifying to witness the state of the human heart. When people commit errors, they do not necessarily understand them, and even if they do realise their mistakes, they are often unwilling to change their ways. Beneath a strong personality, there is often a clean, white heart, but why does it appear so dim and devoid of light? After studying the Dharma, we understand this is called 'karma'. Even those who do not study the Dharma know this as 'fate'. When one walks into a period of low fortune, certain situations will naturally arise. Most people can accept this explanation. Many who are actively managing their lives will seek out fortune-telling to resolve their confusion—calculating their annual luck, their romantic prospects, their financial fortune, using systems like Zi Wei Dou Shu, or even the I Ching. These things existed in the past as well, but the tricks were not as numerous as they are today.

The Loss of True Skills

In my era, in ancient times, fortune-telling was mostly done with a tortoise shell, a few copper coins, or perhaps a few divination sticks—and that was it! There were no endless, emerging tricks. It relied solely on great cultivation and true spiritual resonance. The art of reading bones and faces—these skills can be said to have been lost today. Why? Because of greed. People charge exorbitant fees, and because of this, the skill is no longer genuine. Before I appeared in the world, my mother used to help people with these calculations. She told me that such skills require a pure state of mind. These skills should never leave you hungry, but they must never be used to make money. This is because these skills are meant to save people, to help them, to turn around existing fates, to teach the laws of karma and cause and effect, and to encourage people to stop evil and practise Goodness. One must never accept large sums of money, and one must never assist in evil. Only a truly kind person can help others move past certain difficulties and benefit the public. That is great cultivation. What modern people have are not skills; they are merely practised techniques. Those who tell fortunes today usually cannot even break through their own fate. Furthermore, because all sacred spiritual power becomes worldly the moment it is tainted by money, there is no real skill left at all.

This is just an example. Let us return to the subject of practice. The environment of practice is like a small, closed society. If you compare it to the past, it really has a different appearance! Why should we compare ourselves to the people of the past? There is only one reason: to learn from the wise. Nowadays, we can hardly compare to the virtue of the people of the past, and the distinction between the monastic and the lay is becoming increasingly blurred. This is a truly shameful fact.

A Call to Awakening

The changes in society and the state of the world reflect that karma seems to be growing heavier and heavier. Why is it not fading, but rather increasing? How many modern bodhimanda are actually creating karma instead of engaging in true practice? They are filled with sentient beings, yet they feel absolutely nothing. Their bodies and pores have become numb. When they are eventually completely replaced, I suspect these people will have no awareness of it at all. This is the terrifying truth of practice. Whether they know it or not, there are still too few people willing to change. Everyone lacks faith in the changes occurring in the invisible realm; they would rather only believe in the situations that manifest before their eyes. They refuse to acknowledge anything else. With the world changing in such a way, everyone should wake up sooner rather than later.

Looking to others is not as reliable as looking to yourself, and you must be able to be self-reliant. The conditions are becoming increasingly special, and the colourful clouds of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss frequently manifest. Everyone should know that it has already begun. At this moment, when awareness is compared to awareness, everyone should work harder on themselves. It will absolutely be beneficial to all changes! Namo Amituofo."