Spaces Within Spaces: A Revelation of Hidden Realms

Venerable Changgao, a monastic practitioner at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, sought deliverance through the guidance of Practitioner Su. This interview, recorded on February 13, 2023, captures his reflections on the multidimensional nature of existence and the liberation of spirits.

Venerable Changgao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Changgao. Today, I wish to share a reflection on the nature of the universe—a truth that is often hidden from the eyes of those who dwell only in the physical realm. Within the vast expanse of the great space, there exist countless smaller spaces. Think of the Earth as one large space; within it, there are infinite smaller spaces, and within those, even smaller ones. The entire world, the galaxy, and the vast universe are all composed of these layers of space.

The Infinite Layers of Reality

Today, I followed Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du. Practitioner Su frequently conducts these deliverances on high mountains. You might look at a mountain and see only trees, rocks, and dirt, but in reality, a single mountain contains countless spaces. There are spaces for the flora and fauna, spaces for the insects and crawling creatures, and even spaces for the dust and sand. Every single one of these spaces is inhabited by sentient beings, all coexisting within the same mountain, yet separated by the boundaries of their own perceptions.

While observing this, I saw a waterfall within the mountain. The force of the water was immense, and the current was incredibly powerful, cascading down from a staggering height. It was a place that an ordinary person would never dare to approach, preferring to watch from a safe distance.

The Waterfall of Trapped Time

I looked closely at this waterfall and was astonished to find that it contained a multitude of overlapping spaces. Each layer of the waterfall existed in a different time and space. Let me describe one of these spaces to you.

In this particular space, beneath the crashing water, sat a figure. He was not a human in the physical sense, but a spirit. He was deeply attached to this specific space beneath the waterfall, sitting there in a state of meditative concentration. He believed he was still practising his path.

A Spirit Lost in a Sunny Day

This practitioner lived entirely within his own constructed reality. In his space, there was himself, the waterfall, and the surrounding scenery filled with the sounds of insects and birds. Regardless of how the weather changed in the outside world—whether it was cloudy, rainy, or windy—in his space, it was always a bright, sunny day. Why? Because he had passed away during a beautiful, sunny day, and after his death, he remained fixated on that specific moment. He had never left that sunny day; he was trapped in the memory of it.

I asked this practitioner, 'How long have you been here?' He did not even acknowledge me; he maintained an air of arrogance, as if he were above such questions. I did not press him further. Instead, I began to chant the Buddha-name, following the Buddha-light brought by Practitioner Su, to deliver the beings within this space.

The Awakening to Truth

The sound of the Buddha-name was incredibly resonant and powerful. Suddenly, the practitioner opened his eyes. He exclaimed, 'I am using this waterfall to test my meditative concentration! Ordinary people do not believe I can survive here, but I am determined to do so. As long as I can cultivate my meditative concentration here, no matter how the external environment changes, my heart will not be moved. At the same time, my spirit has left my body; I have flown beyond the Earth, and I can see the entire planet and the spaces beyond it!'

I asked him with curiosity, 'But what about now? Are you in this space, or are you in the space outside the Earth?' Upon hearing this, he seemed stunned. He hesitated, then asked me in return, 'And what space are you in?' I explained to him that I was currently assisting Practitioner Su with the Chao Du, and that we were standing in one of the many spaces within the waterfall.

Seeing his reaction, it became clear: he had no idea that he had already entered a state of delusion, sitting in a space he had clung to during his lifetime. He believed his spirit had left his body, but that was merely a projection of his own attachment. He no longer had a physical body, and his spirit had never truly left the Earth.

Deliverance into the Light

I gently pointed out the truth to him. He remained dazed for a long time before he could finally accept the reality of his situation. As the sound of the Buddha-name entered his ears, he was moved to tears. He began to chant along with us, finally generating the heart to leave his attachment behind. Only then was he able to transcend that space and follow the Buddha-light into the infinite brilliance of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Spaces within spaces—they are everywhere, countless and hidden. I am still working hard, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Practitioner Su, to open more of these spaces and save the many spirits trapped within them.

Namo Amituofo."