The Burden of Knowledge and the Path to Liberation

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who discusses the relationship between worldly knowledge and spiritual liberation at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on December 14, 2022.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Yongning. When I observe the minds of the fourfold assembly—monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen—I see a great variety in their intellectual backgrounds. Some have studied extensively, while others have had little formal education. Some possess vast knowledge, while others know very little. It is fascinating to observe that these two types of people have very different spaces within The Head.

The Weight of Worldly Knowledge

For people living in the world, the more you know and the more you have studied, the more competitive you become. It is often believed that this knowledge is the key to becoming a leader or a prominent figure in society. However, in the context of spiritual practice, this is not necessarily the case. Why is there such a discrepancy? The primary reason is that worldly life is focused entirely on the needs of the physical body, whereas here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, under the guidance of Practitioner Su, our practice is focused on the needs of the spirit. The physical body requires knowledge to navigate the complexities of worldly life. The spirit, however, has absolutely no need for such knowledge. What the spirit truly craves is liberation. The liberation of the spirit must be supported by the purification of the physical body. When we look at the space within the brain, we can see that the less it is contaminated by the dust of the world, the more space is released for the spirit to breathe and ascend.

Purifying the Space Within

It is quite clear that worldly knowledge forms a dense, heavy space within the head. The more knowledgeable a person is, the larger this knowledge space becomes, and consequently, the smaller the space for purity. Conversely, those who have not read as much or who possess less worldly knowledge often have a much larger space for purity within their minds. We must learn to utilise this pure space to help elevate our spirits. Furthermore, we must work to purify the knowledge space itself. By applying the principles of not cling and letting go, we can naturally reach a state where we can use knowledge without being used by it—a state of using without attachment, and being unattached while using.

The Trap of the Intellectual

In the process of performing Chao Du, I have often encountered many highly educated individuals. They enter the spiritual space, yet they find themselves trapped there precisely because of their excessive attachment to their own knowledge. They are unable to depart because their minds are so cluttered. Once attachment takes hold, the space within the brain expands with these heavy, worldly concepts, making it impossible for the spirit to remain pure and causing the physical body to become even more polluted.

True Wisdom

Therefore, we must learn to let go and not cling. To know what you know, and to acknowledge what you do not know—this is true Wisdom (Prajna). By doing so, we allow the brain and the entire body to undergo a profound purification, which in turn provides the necessary support for our spirits to ascend. Namo Amituofo."