The Clear-Minded Practitioner

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who serves at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects upon the profound, rapid, and boundless nature of the Chao Du process and the necessity of selfless practice for the benefit of all sentient beings. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on May 13, 2019.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. In the vastness of the void, light moves with such incredible velocity, constantly shifting and rotating. Once it disperses, it travels even faster, piercing through dimensions. My sleeves are constantly in motion as I work. Minerals, biological entities within river systems, and countless unseen spaces—all of these are transformed from their original states. They surge forward from every direction, from every corner of the universe, without any visible boundary. Sometimes, before I can even clearly discern their faces or features, they have already vanished into the light. The transformations that occur during the process of Chao Du are truly magnificent and unprecedented in their scale.

The speed of this deliverance is so intense that those of us working alongside Practitioner Su dare not show even the slightest hint of slackness. If we were to lose focus for even a fraction of a second, we would fail to keep up with the deliverance. The scenes from various large and small spaces flash before our eyes in rapid succession, like a series of plays unfolding one after another, until finally, each being finds a peaceful end. During the process of Chao Du, one cannot afford a single moment of hesitation. We must simply press forward, reaching out to pull sentient beings from every corner of existence. The Buddha stands before us, leading them with such compassion and dignity, radiating an endless, dazzling light. The Buddha does not speak; He simply leads them home."

The Boundless Theatre of Deliverance

"Under the guidance of Practitioner Su, these spirits are continuously propelled forward, falling into different rays of light, and journeying toward the path of Goodness or the Western Pure Land. The Thrice Yearning Ceremonies are particularly vital, as they provide a precious opportunity for these spirits to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Whenever a Dharma assembly is held, the entire grounds of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are packed to capacity, with spirits layered one upon another, stretching as far as the eye can see. The universe is truly vast, boundless, and infinite. The number of spirits is equally without limit, and within these spaces, new layers are being added every single day. Given this reality, we are in desperate need of more powerful practitioners—those who have truly awakened their hearts—to join us in this work of deliverance.

There are many high-level spirits within the Milky Way who have cultivated deep levels of Meditation (Concentration), yet they remain unable to escape the cycle of rebirth. Why? Because their initial intention for practice was not truly focused on saving other beings. If one practises only for the sake of one's own liberation, then one is still a very long way from achieving true escape from samsara. Practice and the act of saving others are one and the same; they are inextricably linked. To cultivate the mind is to practise, and to save others is to save both one's karmic creditors and all sentient beings."

The Illusion of Personal Practice

"If one does not encounter the right opportunity for practice, one is like a single grain of sand in the middle of the vast ocean. No one will ever notice you. You will simply sink deeper and deeper, or drift aimlessly with the currents of the ocean. When, then, will you ever wake up? When will you ever find the shore? Having encountered the Buddha’s teachings in this lifetime, and having witnessed the myriad forms of life, we should feel a profound responsibility to polish ourselves into diamonds that shine across the starry sky. We must strive to become people who can help others, rather than remaining spirits who are always in need of help ourselves. The truths of the void are laid bare before our eyes; it is time for everyone to understand this and to truly wake up.

Namo Amituofo."