The Children of the Buddha: An Interview with Venerable Yongning
An Interview with Venerable Yongning
Recorded by Shi Fajing on March 28, 2023
Venerable Yongning, a monastic who once resided in the demon realms, sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. This interview, recorded on March 28, 2023, by the chief writer Shi Fajing, captures the Venerable’s profound reflections on the Buddha’s boundless mercy and the transformative power of the holy name.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
"Namo Amituofo. I am Yongning. The turbulence of the world today leaves the human heart feeling adrift and unsettled. Disasters, both great and small, occur with such frequency that people are filled with trepidation, constantly worrying about their own futures and the uncertain evolution of our planet.
Yet, no matter how restless the human heart may become, the Buddha remains standing before us, offering a source of stability and peace. He tells us that the Buddha is always present within our hearts. We should focus our minds on chanting Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Vision of the Spiritual Realms
Through the deliverance performed by Practitioner Su, one can clearly perceive the state of the entire spiritual realm. When the human heart is agitated, the beings in the spiritual realms are equally restless. However, the moment the Buddha-light shines down, the spirits are purified and stabilised by the Buddha’s power. Their hearts become calm, and they realise that by following the Buddha-light, they can finally achieve liberation and leave suffering behind.
During every deliverance, Practitioner Su manifests countless . Each of these bodies is capable of entering different spaces to deliver sentient beings.
The Mountain of Transformed Demons
Today, I followed Practitioner Su’s Body during a deliverance. Within that space, I witnessed an entire mountain filled with demon crowds, all of whom were being compassionately saved by Practitioner Su. The appearance of these demons was absolutely ferocious. Their evil hearts and wicked natures had literally warped the mountain itself, causing it to take on a terrifying, distorted shape. If a human were to see this with their own eyes, they would undoubtedly be shocked. It was the nature of these great demon kings that caused the very landscape to twist into such a grotesque form.
I have just described the mountain from the perspective of a human being, but how does it appear in the eyes of the Buddha? The Buddha does not call these demons 'terrifying,' nor would He ever abandon a single one of them. In the eyes of the Buddha, they are merely lost children. As long as they are willing to turn back, the Buddha will never forsake them.
The Power of Compassionate Light
As soon as Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body arrived, the Buddha-light compassionately illuminated the entire mountain. Many of the demon crowds trapped within were bathed in this radiance. At that moment, all the spirits on the mountain—including every living creature and all sentient beings—were immersed in the Buddha-light.
Many demon kings were startled when they first encountered the light. They were filled with doubt, for they knew they had committed countless evils and were considered great demons that the heavens and the universe could not tolerate. Yet, here was the Buddha-light shining upon them. They could not help but wonder: 'Is this some kind of trick?'
Even though these demon kings were suspicious, Practitioner Su’s Buddha-light continued to shine upon them. From this light, they felt the Buddha’s boundless . The hearts of many demon kings were transformed by the Buddha’s power. They shed their hardened exteriors and stopped putting on airs. Under the illumination of the Buddha-light, they sincerely faced their own fears, hesitation, and anxiety. After truly repenting, they began to chant the holy name of 'Namo Amituofo.' Under the deliverance of Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body, they followed the Buddha-light and departed from that evil mountain space.
A Heart of Gratitude
Watching these demon kings achieve deliverance, my heart is filled with immense gratitude. As one who also came from the demon realm, I know how incredibly difficult it is to find the path of return. To have encountered Practitioner Su to help us is truly a blessing for which I am eternally grateful.
People of the world should know that the Buddha is always in everyone’s heart; He has never abandoned a single child. Now, Practitioner Su acts on behalf of the Buddha to save the world, delivering the immeasurable and boundless children who have been trapped in the cycle of rebirth. Human beings should also unite their hearts to chant Namo Amituofo. Naturally, your hearts will become stable, free from fear, and together we shall chant to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land.
Namo Amituofo."
More from Master Yongning
The Path to a Pure Heart
Venerable Yongning discusses the profound necessity of purifying the heart, explaining how the depth of one's practice is determined by the degree to which one can relinquish the self and worldly attachments.
The Transformation from Demon to Practitioner
Venerable Yongning shares his profound journey from a powerful demon to a dedicated practitioner, reflecting on the transformative power of the Dharma and the moment he was subdued by Practitioner Su.
The Prison of a Stubborn Heart
Venerable Yongning explores the destructive nature of stubbornness, revealing how a rigid heart traps spirits in cycles of suffering and how letting go is the only path to liberation.
Transcending the Cycle of Suffering
Venerable Yongning reflects on the root causes of human suffering, the profound regret of spirits trapped in the cycle of rebirth, and the path to liberation through repentance and chanting Namo Amituofo.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library