The Art of Mastering the Self

This record documents an interview with Venerable Yongning, who sought Chao Du 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 insights into the nature of the human body and spiritual practice. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on May 12, 2019.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. What kind of Chao Du truly reflects the vastness of one's mind-capacity? Chao Du occurs in the invisible realms, and its purity and power vary according to the energy involved. More importantly, it depends on the directness and the depth of one's heart. Think about the vast, boundless grasslands—herds of cattle and horses roaming freely, birds and beasts taking flight, ants climbing trees, and weary birds returning to their nests. It seems as though every creature on this earth follows a natural law of survival. These laws of survival are no different in the human world, yet humans possess the unique ability to think, to form perspectives, and to adjust their course at any given moment."

The Illusion of Control in the Human Realm

"In the human world, one can be the master of oneself, yet at the same time, one often cannot. This concept of mastering the self is something that has rarely been explored in depth. In the past, we mostly judged our current state by observing the external manifestations of the physical body—the fluctuations of our emotions and our outward behaviour. We have all heard of the phenomenon of spiritual attachment, where an external spirit takes hold of a person. But why do these spirits find us? It is not merely a matter of bad luck or a decline in one's vitality. The deeper, more profound reason lies in the fact that our own thoughts act as a magnet, drawing them in. These external spirits may be wandering entities, or they may be our own karmic creditors.

When this happens, the highest-level body—our own—is rapidly being replaced or overridden, and the body itself begins to change constantly. If you haven't seen someone for a while, you might notice that they seem different. This difference indicates that the body is constantly being acted upon by various forces. If you observe your own life in minute detail, you might ask yourself: 'Why do I crave this particular food during this period, and then suddenly prefer something entirely different later?' This is because different spirits with different preferences are exerting their influence upon you. Sometimes, a desire arises within the body. It might start as a tiny flicker, but then one thought follows another—ten thoughts, twenty thoughts—and suddenly, the object of that desire becomes incredibly prominent. This is the result of a spiritual attachment that is in sync with those specific preferences."

The Fifty Trillion Cells: A Universe Within

"In this universe, as soon as you project a single line of thought, countless threads will follow that path to reach you. At that moment, your body becomes an open, vast space. Within this space, any spirit that resonates with your frequency can enter. This is the essence of spiritual attachment. Naturally, our karmic creditors will seize upon our existing habits to make this body suffer. The true practice of this human life is to see whether we can break free from this cycle. This requires change—not just in our external appearance, but in our thoughts as well. We must bring our internal and external states into a balance; only then can this body truly be mastered.

Recently, Practitioner Su has been performing Chao Du on the cells of the body, which is a way of regulating this very process. This regulation is driven by the body itself. The body carries so many habits and fixed ideas that it requires constant education. Furthermore, the sentient beings that the body has attracted need to be guided by us, through our own efforts. You could say that the fifty trillion cells that make up your body are, in a sense, you. If you make a vow to save them, the number of beings who benefit immediately exceeds fifty trillion. When you look outward at the places you have walked and the things you have seen, remember that the spirits of all those things are still waiting—waiting for an opportunity to be liberated. They are simply submerged under the weight of the cycle of rebirth, life after life."

Becoming a Beacon of Light

"The sentient beings are like this, and naturally, we are the same. We must resolve to save ourselves first; once we have saved ourselves, we can go on to save others. The human body possesses infinite potential, and every person has the same capacity. This potential should not be buried by the dust of the mundane world. Instead, we should strive to be a brilliant beacon of light, illuminating not only ourselves but others as well. This is the light of the unborn and the undying. Namo Amituofo. It is an endless source of energy, a boundless source of light, fulfilled according to one's vows. Namo Amituofo."