The Standard of Truth

This is a record of an interview with Chang Ren, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He speaks from his unique perspective as a being from the demon realm who has come to recognise the ultimate truth of the Dharma. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on September 5, 2017.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The Great Compassionate Bodhi is truly magnificent and beyond compare. I, Chang Ren, have not been mistaken—the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a genuine Pure Land. As the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have rightly said, it is a Pure Land for this world.

Every day, the Chao Du [Spiritual Deliverance] ceremonies are performed here. The compassion and depth of heart of Practitioner Su are immeasurable; the deliverance provided is boundless. The entire Dharma realm of emptiness holds this place in the highest respect. Yet, it is only the ignorance and limited thinking of humanity that fail to see this. Because they cannot see it, they dismiss everything. Humans are truly adept at deceiving themselves. Within the vast expanse of the Dharma realm where these spirits are being delivered, they are all referred to as 'sentient beings.' Do you not realise that you, too, are one of them? In the vast, turbulent ocean of karma, what do you have to rely on to escape? What kind of mental state should you be holding? To put it more plainly: do you even have the qualifications to be reborn in the Western Pure Land? If you cannot, then what are you still clinging to?"

The Reality of the Dharma Realm

"In the vastness of the Dharma realm, the most realistic aspect is that there is absolutely no room for sentimentality. The Truth is the only standard; right and wrong are clearly defined. Have you fallen onto the side of the 'right,' or have you strayed into the 'wrong' so far that you are beyond recognition? Have you seen this for yourself? Today, I, Chang Ren, wish to speak about my reflections on the Chao Du ceremonies. But what weighs even more heavily on my heart is this: in the future, you too will need to be delivered. It is not that I lack compassion; it is that I am baffled as to why you are not waking up right now. If you cannot go to the Western Pure Land, do you have any idea where you are actually heading?

The reality of samsara is absolutely terrifying. Only humans, who believe that if they simply refuse to face the truth, everything will be fine, would dare to oppose the laws of the Dharma. The laws of heaven are clear and vast; they are impartial and leave nothing out. Who dares to act against them? Only you, who are blind to the crisis at hand, would dare to do so."

The Perspective of a Demon King

"The majesty of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is not always something that can be spoken of so directly. Although I have practiced in the past, I am speaking to you now from the identity of a being from the demon realm. This gives me a great deal of freedom to speak. The Truth is always the same; it is only the way it is taught that differs. I understand your level of receptivity. If I speak too softly or too pleasantly, you might truly believe that you are still doing well, as you only enjoy hearing words of praise. People like that, in their practice, enter the space of the demon realm very quickly, and in the future, they will die even faster. And by 'die,' I do not mean what you imagine—the death of the physical body. Do you want to know when your soul will be kicked out of your body? People today have less and less merit, because they cannot even know what is happening to their own bodies. Even if they do know, they are not necessarily willing to believe it.

I, Shi Chang Ren, tell you all: you are not some great, important character. Why would I deviate from the Truth for your sake? Although I am a Demon King, I hold a noble position within the demon realm. I do not abandon the Truth. Although I have created karma, I also understand all the consequences of my actions. I am not telling you these things now to 'atone for my past sins' for my own sake. Regardless of whether my karmic affinity this time allows me to repay my sins, I never calculate these things. I am not doing this for such reasons. I am sincerely trying to tell you the truth. Seeing everyone living in such confusion is truly pitiful. How wonderful would it be if you could just wake up? I am not doing this for anyone in particular; I just hope that even one person with karmic affinity will take these words to heart. Every word I have said is true; I have never fabricated anything. Setting aside the chaos of the world for a moment, those of you who study the Buddha’s teachings, or those who consider yourselves capable practitioners—have you seen it? Do you understand what the Truth is?"

The Path to True Change

"You search and search, hoping to find a Truth that will bring peace to your heart. So many people spend their energy on this, yet they do not necessarily find the right path. They might even spend a fortune in the process. This is also a matter of karmic affinity, as well as the laws of karma and cause and effect. If you can make use of the precious Dharma Jewels here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, it means you still possess a certain amount of merit. Contact this place immediately and come for a visit. Your life will be different from this moment on. Only by coming here can you truly change the karma of your past lives. This is a very worthwhile investment; the only one who benefits is you. Do not overthink it; just come. That is what will be of the greatest help to you."

"These are all profound truths. I find it quite difficult to explain them all in one go. Even the fourfold assembly at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has heard these truths countless times, yet they still do not truly understand, and they continue to act according to their own whims. Do you honestly believe that you can grasp these concepts so easily? If you can, then that is truly wonderful! We are in desperate need of talents like you—people with the capacity to save the world and spread the True Teachings. It is incredibly difficult for people to change their destined fate. The reason is not because it is inherently difficult, but because of the 'self'. Everyone finds it nearly impossible to see this 'self' and realise just how deeply attached they are to a stinking human skin, which is merely a vessel carrying a heavy load of karma.

Now, Chang Ren's task is to retrieve the wisdom-life that everyone has buried beneath their human skin. I truly hope you have the karmic affinity for me to assist you in realising your true nature. Although I have created karma in the past and come from the Demon Realm, I do possess the skills acquired from my past monastic practice. If you are willing to listen, I ask for absolutely nothing in return. I only ask that you help Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in spreading the True Teachings. The only one who benefits from this is you, and the one who will be reborn in the Western Pure Land is you. Everyone in this world is plagued by massive problems. Whether they can be saved or not, I leave to the Law of Causal Conditions. I have accumulated virtue and blessings from my past practice, and I do not need these things for myself. I dedicate them all to everyone. I sincerely hope you have the affinity to take these words to heart, even if it is just a little bit. You must change."

The Trap of Worldly Attachments

"Today, I want everyone to see these matters clearly: if you still have cars, houses, money, and status under your name, you are not a true practitioner. Your illnesses will not get better. No matter how long you practice, you will still fall into the trap of selfishness, because these worldly things will always be linked to your karma. If you have already become a monk or nun, or are a lay practitioner who has practiced for many years, you should have no name. Why do monks or practitioners need a Dharma name? It is to force you to let go of this worldly identity. Otherwise, you are still attached to 'you' or the things you possess. One day, you will die because of this. It is highly likely that a single small, stray thought could destroy a lifetime of practice. All your merits will remain, but you will have to go and suffer the retribution first. Only when you obtain a human body in your next life will you be able to start practicing again in the human world. Many people fail at this very point. It is best to clear these things away as soon as possible so you can truly escape these entanglements of life after life. If you keep these things, they will inevitably change, and you cannot take them with you. I hope you can make good use of this advice. With the authorisation of Grandmother Su, I will not name names, and I will not set limits. I only hope that everyone is well. Namo Amituofo."

A Final Call to Wake Up

"With Grandmother Su's compassion, this world will eventually have favourable weather and peace, because true Chao Du is currently underway. I hope everyone has the karmic affinity to participate in this Buddhist work together, without counting gains or losses. The absolute benefit is for yourself. There is not much time left. Once the Causal Conditions are met, hesitation and overthinking will cause you to miss this magnificent opportunity. How many kalpas have you already missed it like this? There will not be another chance. Everyone, wake up quickly! The Buddha has already arrived. Namo Amituofo. Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a place of true practice. I hope everyone can see this, learn together, and be diligent. There is no such thing as discrimination; we all receive the benefits of the Dharma together."

Australia Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

Contact: Venerable Hailiang / Practitioner Cao

Phone: +61-456-793-638

Blog: http://purelandstone07.pixnet.net/blog

E-mail: pureland.stone@outlook.com

Address: 120 Gordon Smiths Road, Goombungee, QLD 4354, Australia