This is a record of an interview with Venerable Chang Gao, who reflects upon the nature of spiritual dimensions and the boundless work of deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. This interview was recorded on August 6, 2019, and transcribed by the disciple Shi Faxin.
Venerable Chang Gao speaks:
". I am Chang Gao. Following in the footsteps of Practitioner Su, I have gained different insights in every place we have been travelling. The personalities within the human world and the deep-seated attachments within the six realms of existence are truly profound. Many suffering spirits are in such agony that they do not even know how to endure their pain, yet they still cling to their own stubbornness and persistence. The worldly realm is incredibly stubborn and difficult to transform. If one does not possess a truly great and compassionate heart, it would be impossible to persist or endure the repeated impacts—not just once, twice, or ten times, but hundreds of times. And this is even before considering the act of taking on the suffering of sentient beings on their behalf."
The Unwavering Faith of Practitioner Su
"Practitioner Su insists on seeing the best in everyone and insists on helping all sentient beings. Even during this recent journey, regardless of what the Buddha’s teachings might have indicated, Practitioner Su maintained absolute faith in the Buddha, trusting that the Buddha would provide the best possible arrangement. Despite the physical exhaustion and the constant travelling, the heart of Practitioner Su has always remained focused on sentient beings, patiently waiting for the most auspicious Causal Conditions to manifest. The way Practitioner Su follows the Buddha’s teachings to save beings is something we can all witness firsthand."
"What remains constant is the daily morning ritual of Practitioner Su stepping into the void to perform . During the assembly, Practitioner Su is always considerate of the fourfold assembly of disciples, yet Practitioner Su personally persists in performing these deliverances for the sake of all beings. To save them, Practitioner Su often transcends the limits of the physical body, yet Practitioner Su does not care about this at all. It is only through such great and courageous power that Practitioner Su can lead the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to continuously move forward, to break through obstacles, and to save sentient beings."
The Net of Dimensions
"As I contemplate this in my heart, I can see the vastness of the void. Countless spirits are passing through it, all searching for a glimmer of hope. However, between these spaces, there exists a net that is incredibly difficult to break through. It traps every different dimension within its own confines. Therefore, even though these spaces overlap, they remain entirely disconnected from one another. There are ten-degree spaces, hundred-degree, thousand-degree, ten-thousand-degree, and even billion-degree spaces. The scope within these dimensions is vast, and many spirits are deceived by the illusions within them, unaware that beyond their own space lies an even greater void. They are simply locked within their own limited reality."
The Infinite Universe of Beings
"Infinite spaces permeate the universe in this way. From the Four Sacred Realms where I reside, to the twenty-eight heavens, the realms of Arhats, Asuras, the Demon Realm, the sky, the earth, the animal realm, the human mind, the subterranean layers, and even outer star systems—every transition contains infinite possibilities. It is clear that the number of spirits in the universe waiting to be saved is immeasurable and boundless. These spaces can only be perceived through the purification of one's own practice, and one requires true virtue to break through them."
"Trillions of spirits are waiting. Trillions of spirits are drifting in the ocean of , all waiting for the salvation of the six-character name of Namo Amituofo. The boundless contemplation of Practitioner Su matches the boundless number of spirits; this shows us that in the work of deliverance within the void, there can never be a moment of rest or laziness. Practitioner Su provides us with the best example of Dharma, and the price paid for this work is never calculated."
A Call to the Fourfold Assembly
"The doors of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are open wide, and there are countless spirits waiting in many places, with many Dharma affinities waiting to be expanded. The fourfold assembly of disciples must be diligent, elevating their skills and practice to save all sentient beings. I, Chang Gao, will certainly provide my support. May more celestial beings, benevolent spirits, and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas arrive to make this deliverance even more magnificent. Let us proceed with a peaceful heart and the power of great courage."
