The Burden of Saving the World

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changgao, who reflects upon the profound work of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account captures his deep gratitude and insight into the mission of saving the world. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Haize, on April 10, 2019.

Venerable Changgao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Master, teaching and transforming sentient beings is truly a task of immense difficulty! Every individual carries their own unique 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness. Each person is a world unto themselves. Master not only has to discipline the fourfold assembly to help them change their personality traits and habits, but also needs to assist the fourfold assembly in inviting spirits and resolving the conflicts between them and the beings they have harmed. If these sentient beings are unwilling to resolve the conflict, they often seek out Master directly. Master must then take on the suffering of these beings on their behalf, all while continuing to conduct two daily classes to teach and study the Buddha’s teachings with us."

The Cosmic Scale of Deliverance

"While conducting these classes, Master is simultaneously inviting spirits. Even the Yama Kings of the ten courts of the hells must remain on standby, ready to follow the instructions of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su to come to the temple to resolve karmic grievances. Master possesses this magnificent ability, yet still, Master must personally attend to every single matter, contributing both wealth and effort. Looking back from the beginning until now, one would be hard-pressed to find another person in the entire universe who is dedicated to saving the world and delivering sentient beings like Master is."

"Master, you are truly a person of both literary and martial excellence, yet you are so incredibly busy that it breaks our hearts. Why must you do this? It is to help the fourfold assembly find their true nature and follow the Buddha to save the world. This is what Master often tells us. It is precisely for this purpose that Master gives of himself completely—with a heart that is entirely selfless, in a state of no-self, and with an awakened being's Dharma Body—plunging into the Five Turbidities and Evil World. The life-span is turbid, the era is a calamity, the views are turbid, the sentient beings are turbid, and the karma is turbid. Master enters this environment so that all of these may be purified and clarified."

The Clarity of an Awakened Being

"Master’s eyes see the spirits of all beings with absolute clarity. There is nowhere for them to hide, so they have no choice but to leave the bodies they possess, thus finding salvation and rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Master’s skills are such that even the most subtle, fleeting thoughts are brought to light. Before the disciples of the fourfold assembly are even aware of their own stray thoughts, Master has already perceived them. This compels the disciples to subdue their minds, not daring to let their thoughts wander aimlessly, lest they attract sentient beings and suffer the consequences of karmic retribution."

"What Master does goes far beyond this; I, Changgao, have only mentioned a fraction of it. The fourfold assembly has the rare opportunity to receive Master’s teachings through both personal example and verbal instruction—we must cherish this immensely! The work performed by Master’s Dharma Body is, fortunately, being preserved through these interviews for future generations. It is a great blessing for all sentient beings and humanity; otherwise, future generations would find it difficult to even imagine the face of an awakened being who has realised their true nature."

From the Four Sacred Realms to True Compassion

"Master’s great compassionate vow is now manifest in the world, and I, Changgao, am filled with infinite gratitude! Without this, I would still be idling away my time within the Four Sacred Realms. Even if I knew that sentient beings were suffering, I would still be stuck in a deep meditative state, merely saving beings according to conditions. The 'burnt seeds' of the Four Sacred Realms often discussed in the study of the Buddha’s teachings—that is exactly what I was like before. Fortunately, Master appeared in this world to stop me from continuing down that path. By the same token, if not for Master’s efforts to save the world, how many countless sentient beings would still be sinking in darkness, unable to see the light of day!"

"Master, no matter how I describe it, it is not enough to express even a fraction of what you have done to save the world. I am filled with gratitude! Namo Amituofo."