The Agony of Regret: A Lesson from the Spirit Realm

Venerable Chang Ren, a monastic who has dedicated years to assisting Practitioner Su in the sacred work of Chao Du, shares his profound observations from the spirit realms. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on February 8, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chang Ren. Having spent these years following Practitioner Su in the work of Chao Du, I have witnessed countless spirits drifting through various spaces. My heart is heavy with what I have seen. If I could shout one message to all human beings, I would scream it at the top of my lungs: 'Cherish your time! While you still possess a human body, perform good deeds and elevate your spirit. If you wait until it is too late, the regret will be unbearable.'

The Universal Cry of Regret

Regardless of which space a spirit inhabits, there is not a single one that does not suffer. I often ask them: 'If you were given the chance to regain a human body, would you choose to live the same life again?' Every single spirit I have asked has replied: 'Absolutely not. I regret it deeply.' This regret is not the simple remorse one feels for a minor mistake in the world. It is a much deeper, more profound agony. Once a spirit loses its physical form, it is consumed by a sense of powerlessness and helplessness. They are trapped in immense suffering, unable to return, and no matter how hard they try, they cannot change their current state. They are forced to endure the interference of external forces, drifting wherever their karma dictates.

These spirits who enter these spaces have no control over their own fate. No one wishes to enter these realms, but due to their thoughts and actions during their lifetime, and the weight of their karma, their spirits are pulled into these dark spaces after death.

The Compassionate Work of Practitioner Su

There are countless such spaces, too many to count. Every day, Practitioner Su uses her Dharma Body to save these pitiful, suffering spirits. They are filled with immense gratitude toward her; every spirit wishes to kneel and kowtow to her. But our compassionate Practitioner Su does not require such gestures. She only asks that they chant Namo Amituofo sincerely, so that they may find liberation and leave their suffering behind.

Today, while the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su was performing a deliverance, I saw a group of angry spirits trapped within the crevices of a massive mountain. They were undergoing their karmic retribution. Before being cast into these rock crevices, they had already passed through the hells.

The Young Souls in the Crevice

As I looked at the suffering spirits in the rock, I was shocked to see that they were all young people. Their bodies were covered in tattoos—tattoos of every imaginable kind, covering them from head to toe. They had dyed their hair in various vibrant, unnatural colours, and their faces bore expressions of malice. However, after enduring their retribution, the intensity of their anger had faded slightly. One could only imagine how much more ferocious they must have been before.

Most of these young people had acted out of ignorance while they were alive. They had no one to guide them, and thus they committed grave sins. Almost all of them had been unfilial to their parents or elders; some had even killed their own parents. This heavy karma, combined with a heart that refused to repent, caused them to suffer beyond measure. After descending into the hells to endure cruel and brutal punishments, they were cast into these mountain crevices to continue their retribution.

The Softening of a Hardened Heart

I approached one of the young men and asked: 'Do you regret what you have done?' He still harboured a deep sense of rage, though he could not explain why he was so angry. But when I asked him that question, he suddenly burst into tears. Being a person of high pride, he quickly wiped them away and refused to speak. I thought he was still angry, but then he heard the sound of the Buddha-name chanting brought by Practitioner Su. It was the Buddha's name chanting that softened his heart, beginning to transform his hardened, angry spirit.

The young man knelt up, his body trembling uncontrollably as he wept. One could see how much pain he had been hiding, using a tough exterior as a shield. The compassionate sound of the Buddha-name penetrated the deepest parts of his heart, stripping away his hard shell and helping him rediscover his heart.

He told me: 'Only when the sound of the Buddha-name purified my heart did I realise how many wrongs I had committed. I used to hate this world. My parents never cared for me after I was born. When I grew up, I deliberately took drugs and sought out those who would lead me into evil. I followed them in committing all sorts of heinous acts, using these methods to provoke my parents, making them worry and suffer for me. I never knew what I had done wrong, so when I was captured to undergo retribution, I was furious. I thought my parents had failed me, so why should I be the one to suffer? This mindset only made me suffer more. I endured it all in silence, not letting out a single cry of pain. But just now, when I heard the Buddha-name, I saw my past. I also saw my parents, who are now suffering their own retribution. I was wrong—completely wrong. Everything is governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect. I did not understand, and I created sins that caused my parents to suffer for me. I am repenting. If I could live my life over again, I would never choose the same path.'

This young man is now sincerely repenting, loudly chanting the Buddha-name, and he will soon be received by the Buddha-light. Every young person in that space has their own story, and each story carries deep sorrow, bitterness, anger, and helplessness. If not for the golden light brought by Practitioner Su, even if they felt regret, they would have no way to return to the past.

This is just one space; Practitioner Su performs Chao Du for endless spaces every day. There are countless spirits crying out and full of regret. To those of you who still possess a human body, you must cherish this time: do not commit any evil, and practise all Goodness.'"

Namo Amituofo.

Chang Ren