The Art of Seeing Through and Letting Go

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changren, who attained profound clarity regarding the nature of existence and the path to liberation. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, having transcended the cycle of rebirth. This account reflects upon the essential practice of letting go, recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Xi, on September 20, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. 'Extinguish greed, anger, and delusion, and you can extinguish all the sufferings of existence.' This is such a simple statement, yet it encompasses everything within the human world. Of course, there are countless other profound teachings, but how many of them have you truly been able to put into practice? If you have not yet found the key to your own liberation, why not try 'see through and let go'? This is a teaching passed down by a great master to his disciples. Whether you can achieve it depends entirely on your own practice and effort. But if you truly cannot see through the illusions of this world and cannot let go of your attachments, what kind of spiritual achievement do you expect to attain?

Think about the immense emotional entanglements and the relationships you carry that you simply cannot leave behind. Although this phrase—'see through and let go'—consists of only six characters, it represents a barrier that is incredibly difficult to overcome. If you view it this way, these six characters will not only be the key to your success but also the potential cause of your failure and descent. Whether you head toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss or fall into the hells depends entirely on how you complete this lesson. Do you truly intend to achieve this level of liberation? It depends on how much boldness you possess to abandon all your perfect, yet illusory, imaginations.

The Illusion of the Burning Sea

Why is this practice so difficult? Is it not simply a matter of clearly seeing the true reality of the Universal Principles, understanding the cycle of karmic retribution, and knowing that the body is empty and false? Once you see through all these false appearances, what could possibly be difficult about letting go? The truth is that these endless, tangled relationships and karmic connections are rooted in the fruits of your past actions. They are a form of karmic retribution, and what brews within them are countless illusory memories from your past and present lives. You are still foolishly clinging to these memories, not realising that you have already stepped into a sea of fire. If you do not let go now, you will only be consumed by this sea of fire, for this fire has been waiting to seek revenge upon you all along.

Throughout our many lives, we have created so much karma that it is truly difficult to sort it all out, let alone repay everything from the immeasurable and boundless past. However, do not be afraid. All reality lies in the state of emptiness. If you wish to compensate for the past, do so with immeasurable compassion. If you wish to repay all your karmic debts, then empty yourself. When there is nothing left, you naturally have nothing to lose.

The Tragedy of the Dreamer

Many people may find this hard to grasp. They might say, 'But it is clearly there...' What is there? Tell me, what is there? Is it more important that something is 'truly there,' or is it better that it is 'not there'? Too many people, dissatisfied with their current lives, try to grasp onto the past, trying to extract something more—perhaps a price, or a feeling of warmth. But in many cases, you are only in a position to be a creditor, and you will never get the result you desire. If you do not let go, you will only face repeated disappointment, or even despair. You will never satisfy your dreams because your craving is merely a ridiculous dream, and you, the delusional dreamer, are unwilling to wake up. You wait until the alarm rings, until everyone else has arrived, and you are forced to leave. Such an ending is truly tragic, for you have given your heart and soul, yet you receive nothing in return. You become a desolate spirit in the universe, unable to find your home. Even when someone asks you to come home, you refuse because you say you are still searching. Searching for what? You have been searching for many lives, and you do not know what you are looking for. Who would know? If you are not clear-headed, who will be? No one can wake you up; you must rely on your own strength to awaken to all of this.

Unable to wake up from your memories, you are like a dreamer chasing an impossible reality. You are forever an empty soul, pitifully foolish, wandering in illusion. There is no truth that can wake you up. You weep day and night, filled with too many emotions. Everyone hopes you can wake up, but you only sink deeper because you feel the reality of the world is too cruel. Why can you not understand that your small, selfish requests are cruelly stripping you of everything? I can tell you clearly: the world is just that realistic. If you are always alone, without others, you will only reincarnate again because there is too much you have not learned. You cannot reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss because you still have attachments. Your lips may chant about wanting to go to the West, but your eyes are still seeking everything you crave. There is no such thing as perfection in this world; there is only constant separation. The most cruel thing is your own heart. Why treat yourself so cruelly? How long will you remain so blind and unclear? When will you finally be willing to wake up and help those who are still waiting for you? And help that innocent, yet polluted, true self?

The Call of the Self-Nature

How many days do you have left? How many things can you do? How many days are left for you to walk slowly, to slowly let go, and from letting go, move toward purity and clarity? How much longer will it take before you can truly do something meaningful? And once you start, how much time will you have left to help other beings? In such limited time, how can you afford to be so slow? The universe says you are selfish—is that not reasonable? Often, we seem much more rational than you; at least we do not act based on emotions. That alone puts us far ahead of you. The trouble with humanity lies in the deep roots of emotion. Why do you discard such precious talent one by one? If you see this clearly, are you not also being bound by your own emotions? Is your true self dying, or is there still a chance for it to be reborn from the ashes?

You have no time to think about other things, for you must start rescuing your true self. Have you asked how miserable it is right now? It is being covered by these terrible, sticky emotions—thick, heavy, and difficult to separate. It does not want any of this, but upon entering this world, life after life, you have unconsciously layered these things upon it. It has become separated from you because you do not even acknowledge that such a bright, true self exists within your heart. You only believe that what is before your eyes is real: your lover, your romance, your family, your kinship, all the emotions you desire, and your longing for a shred of warmth. Your true self has helplessly turned grey. You can no longer see your original self on the outside. You and your true self were originally one, but because of these worldly dusts, you have been forced to separate because the two are so unlike each other. This false exterior is so selfish and pitiful; no matter how much one tries to advise you, you refuse to discard it. You are willing to abandon all truth and your original light.

The Compassion of the Buddha

A confusing pleasure leads away all the talented beings, taking them away from the side of the Buddha one by one. The Buddha will not speak to keep anyone; He only waits for you to leave, and then waits for you to return. The Buddha knows this process will take quite some time, but even if the Buddha has to stand there, He will wait for you to return, and He is unwilling to abandon even one. When I returned this time, the Buddha did not say a word; He simply helped me recover all the light of my past, even making me better than I was originally. No one else can do this; only the Buddha can. He is our Great Compassionate Father, Namo Amituofo. I have been very unfilial, but I have returned. You have not returned yet—how much longer do you intend to wait?

If you want to investigate this carefully, it will never end. Do you want to go home or not? Be decisive. I do not need a verbal answer; you must show it through your actions. The universe is watching. These promises, made time and time again, have not been fulfilled throughout your many lives. To keep talking is only to make people laugh at you. How many people look down on your broken integrity? Why not show true boldness? Be decisive, show everyone, see if you can do it, and while you are at it, save your own true self.

The Choice of Rebirth

Do you want to return to a life of spirituality in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, or continue to sink in the six realms of rebirth? You know better than anyone else what to do. Your personality is stronger than anyone else's, and no one can move you. You must decide for yourself what to do. Truly, no one can save you, and the only one who suffers is you, no one else. If you do not let go, you will only have suffering. Suffering is self-inflicted, and misery is created by yourself. If you are willing to degenerate, who can you blame?

How many practitioners still have so many cravings? How many monastics still have love and desire they cannot let go of? They may not say it, but their actions show it. The price paid for this is a completely realistic manifestation. If there were no karmic retribution at all, how could that be possible? You have pushed the true self in your heart to the edge of a cliff. Your only light is about to be extinguished. How can there be any brightness in your life? Without light, how can you be radiant? It is difficult to live freely. You become grey-haired, your face full of wrinkles, your body crooked and bent, and your organs gradually fail year by year. All your bodily functions are running constantly because of what you want. You are exhausted, tired, yet you still want more and refuse to let go. In the end, you are left with the decay of old age. Your fate continues to change, and you have no control over what you think you possess. You foolishly want to occupy everything, but you get nothing. In the end, you have nothing, and you become a lonely wandering spirit in the universe early on. There are too many such pitiful, delusional dreamers. The universe is calling out to these kinds of spirits; there are so many you cannot count them. You are no different. Soon, you will also go. Do you really want to go? If you are not saved, you will be in great trouble, because the only true Chao Du is the Thrice Yearning Ceremony here. Yet, the number of spirits in the universe seeking deliverance is immeasurable and boundless. To get your turn, unless you are a person of tremendous blessing who stands out from the void, why not let go immediately? Why look for trouble when there is none?

A Final Exhortation

What exactly do you still want to grasp? You do not know yet; you may already be lost. I have said so much—how can you achieve these six characters: 'see through and let go'? What else do you want from this world? You cannot take anything with you. You still do not understand. Your attached mental notes are so hard to discard. Your reincarnation is just like a flowing stream. When will it flow back into the ocean? That depends on your determination. No matter what you want, it is not up to you. It is better to let go early, find peace early, wake up early, and be free early. Why not do it? If you still want everything in this world, you will never awaken to your true self.

I have seen everything in this world, and nothing is real. I hope that all of us, being of the same body, can purify ourselves once and for all. Abandon the mundane and return to the Truth. Love, desire, and greed are all endless, illusory spaces. If you can awaken, then I congratulate you. Leave the sea of confusion early. I believe there will be such a day, but if you can do it sooner, you will naturally suffer less pain. I am also waiting for the moment when everyone realises their true nature. For the sake of saving the world, let me personally protect and support you. I hope everyone understands the Buddha's sincere heart and stops acting on their own whims. You cannot win against the power of the universe. Even the most subtle parts have already been seen clearly. It is better to be honest. I advise everyone: Namo Amituofo."

Namo Amituofo.