The Current Situation and the Other: Reflections from the Dharma-Nature Land

This is a record of an interview with the late Venerable Master Chin Kung, who now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This interview, titled "The Current Situation and the Other," was conducted by Venerable HaiZe on September 12, 2022, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.

Venerable Master Chin Kung speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Today, Namo Amituofo has bestowed upon me the topic: 'The Current Situation and the Other.' We must first seek a profound understanding of this theme. 'The Other' refers to the external, the distant, or the counterpart; 'situation' denotes the state of affairs. Thus, 'the other's situation' refers to the state of affairs elsewhere, while 'the current situation' refers to my own present state. Together, these terms represent a comparative reflection between the two states of being.

Defining the Scope of the Other

What exactly does 'the other's situation' refer to? I shall elaborate as I see fit. In my mind, this naturally connects to the Pure Land school, as well as the practitioners, societies, and academies associated with it. These hold a significant, deeply rooted place in my heart. The scope of this inquiry is not merely limited to individuals—you, me, or him—but extends to the relationships between organisations, nations, and, most fundamentally, to the individual soul.

In the past, when it was necessary to establish a grand direction or a long-term goal, I would sit in stillness to determine the path. I would then invite the responsible leaders to review it, and subsequently, it would be released for everyone to follow. This approach was absolutely necessary; after all, this is a vast organisation. Without such clear direction and goals, the collective would become scattered, aimless, and lose its way. Naturally, the core direction and the ultimate goals remain immutable—they are the very essence of the Pure Land school's existence. This core value cannot be shaken, nor can it be altered, unless a major, unprecedented situation requires adaptation, which is a different matter entirely.

The Core Values of the Pure Land School

Regardless of the circumstances, the entire spirit of the Pure Land school never departs from Namo Amituofo, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the chanting of 'Namo Amituofo,' and the faith, vows, and practice required for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. This is the grand direction. Any decision or policy must not deviate from this path. I mentioned this to key leaders many times during my lifetime. To establish the Pure Land school firmly in this world, the most important thing is to allow everyone to hold genuine hope for the Western Pure Land and to truly receive the Buddha's vows and grace. Only then will they be willing to purify themselves amidst their busy, chaotic lives, receive the benefits of the Dharma, and prepare for their future destination. Only then can the Pure Land school be passed down through generations, remaining vibrant in the hearts of the people.

Although they are all Pure Land societies, each has its own schedule and mode of operation. Staffing and arrangements are independent, and followers often have a fixed place they frequent. For instance, if a follower feels inspired by a particular bodhimanda and finds harmony with the others there, they will naturally draw close to the Venerable at that location. If they are sincere, and the bodhimanda requires the assistance of lay practitioners or volunteers, roles will be arranged for them to contribute. If the internal leadership needs to change, there is a process that must be approved by everyone, ensuring that the arrangement is accepted with genuine conviction and heart. Of course, it is best if internal operations can be transparent. If they cannot be made public due to certain factors, it is understandable to maintain some level of confidentiality for the sake of the greater good."

Now, I, Chin Kung, wish to strengthen everyone's understanding of the spiritual realms. In the past, there was never such an opportunity to delve deeply into this aspect, as I was always occupied with handling numerous surrounding matters—especially my own responsibilities and roles. I had to face the public or respond to questions from others, and these 'others' included not only individuals but also groups and even leaders. At that time, my time, physical strength, and energy all had to be dedicated to those areas. Now, however, it is different. I no longer have a physical body, nor do I need to face those people, matters, and objects, so I can gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual realms.

Today, I am myself a spirit. In fact, when I had a physical body in the past, this spirit was always there; the question was simply whether this spirit could be the master. There were many karmic creditors and attached spirits within my body, all of whom could take control, just to varying degrees. Even regarding what we now call 'demons'—the beings of the Demon Realm—I would always avoid the topic in the past. Because I did not have a profound understanding of demon crowds, I could only introduce the subject based on literal or documentary knowledge when discussing it. But now, it is different. I see the role of the spirit in the Demon Realm so clearly. It turns out that before one realises their true nature, the demon nature is a part of one's own habits and personality—it is a part of one's inner self. Of course, the external Demon Realm also exists simultaneously. Therefore, we are living in a world of demon realms and demon natures, and one must be extremely cautious and careful. Yet, this part has been ignored by people. Because humanity has been advancing rapidly toward technology, they have neglected the influence of the spiritual world on people, as well as its impact on rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This part was overlooked, but now I know how critical it is!

The Hierarchy of the Spiritual Realms

In the spiritual world, the differences in spatial levels are vast. We know that the highest spiritual world is the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Universal Buddha-land of Amitabha Buddha, where Bodhisattvas and ancestral masters reside. Then, there are the subsequent spaces, including the Four Sacred Realms within the ten directions, down to the celestial beings in the three Good Realms and the three Evil Realms. Except for the human world and the animal realm, which possess physical bodies, all others belong to the spiritual space. As for the animal realm, they enter it due to delusion. If they wish to realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood, the chances are extremely slim. We rarely hear of beings in the animal realm realising their true nature and attaining Buddhahood, right? This is because they are deluded; their Wisdom and keen awareness are obscured, even more severely than in the human world, making it even harder to realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood. It is already very difficult in the human world, but among the ten directions, only the human world allows for the realisation of one's true nature and the attainment of Buddhahood. This is the reason why ancestral masters have all manifested in the human world to attain Buddhahood. As for ancestral masters or those who have realised their true nature, or even Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, if they wish to save beings in the animal realm, they do so by manifesting in the role of an animal, which is a different matter entirely.

The Hidden Obstacles to Rebirth

Returning to the point, I mentioned earlier that in the past, I ignored the interference of spiritual beings in the human world or their influence on rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. What do these spiritual beings include? Naturally, beings from the Demon Realm are included. The beings of the Demon Realm consist of the demon nature within your heart and the Demon Realm outside your heart. The demon nature within your heart is actually a part of yourself, which can be seen from your personality, or it could be external demon beings coming to attach themselves to you. These are all factors that hinder your rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Furthermore, the karma brought over from accumulated lifetimes and the interference of karmic creditors manifesting before you will also obstruct your rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In the past, when I was giving lectures, I did not place much emphasis on these aspects. I must admit here that my own knowledge was limited. Now, after hearing and seeing things in this Western Land of Dharma Nature, I have discovered that this is a major problem! We all have to face it.

Because everyone cannot see or hear the beings in the spiritual realms, most people do not believe they exist, or they hold a skeptical attitude—'maybe they exist, maybe they don't.' There is still hope for such people. However, some are more stubborn and do not believe in the existence of the spiritual realms; their personalities are like that, and in fact, many of the beings within their bodies also share this stubborn personality. This is a digression; I will mention it briefly, and we can discuss it in detail when we have time later. Because they cannot see or hear them, they assume that no spiritual beings exist. Of course, these spiritual beings include those in the heavenly realms, the immortal realms, the divine realms, as well as the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and ancestral masters of the Four Sacred Realms, and the Demon Realm. These all belong to the spiritual aspect.

The Cost of Ignorance

Are such people suffering a great loss? But we must also respect that the other person is also a Buddha, because their awareness has been obscured. In other words, among the ten directions that are closely related to us, only the human world has a physical body; the animal realm is also considered to have a physical body, but all other realms are spiritual beings without physical bodies. This space is infinitely vast; there are spaces within spaces, and spaces within spaces, and these spaces are filled with beings. Therefore, the spiritual realms indeed exert interference or provide help to people, depending on one's karmic conditions. When karma manifests, it may cause obstacles in life, work, emotions, or interpersonal relationships. The source of these obstacles, aside from tangible things that can be seen and heard, actually lies in the spiritual space that you cannot see or hear. They will also cause obstacles for practitioners, causing their practice to stagnate or even regress.

Here, I will point out directly and clearly why, despite my long years of lecturing, I heard of so few people achieving rebirth. It is because at the very moment of passing away, they were interfered with by karmic creditors, beings from the Demon Realm, or attached spirits. This also resolves the doubts in my heart. Why did I often hear of people achieving rebirth in the past? There were more people achieving rebirth, even if not a great number, it was not as rare as it is now. This is because people's hearts were simple and honest in the past, and combined with sincere practice of the Buddha's teachings and purification, their own karma would gradually decrease, and it was easier to resolve conflicts with karmic creditors, thereby reducing obstacles and interference.

The Difficulty of Finding a True Spiritual Friend

In this age of the Dharma’s decline, it is truly not easy to encounter a 'clear' teacher—and by 'clear,' I mean possessing clear Wisdom—or a true spiritual friend, an ancestral master, or a Buddha or Bodhisattva to provide guidance. They have the ability to discover these problems because they are righteous, Good, and pure; they are even beings who are purely pure and purely Good, walking the righteous path. They can see your problems, point them out, and provide you with substantial help. However, if you seek divination or rely on spirit mediums, they are not purely pure and Good; they have selfishness and ego. At such times, although they may be able to see your problems, they can only see them to a certain extent and perhaps provide you with a certain level of help. But regarding the deeper aspects, they cannot provide substantial help because they themselves cannot see to that level. When this deep-seated problem cannot be resolved, it becomes a case of treating the symptoms but not the root cause, and the problem will recur repeatedly. But your karmic conditions are just like that!

This is the reason why people keep reincarnating in the six realms of existence; because the root problem has not been resolved, it will continue to cause you trouble and obstacles. Perhaps the frequency of the trouble and obstacles has decreased, and perhaps your life is a bit easier, but be careful: when this root problem is not removed, for those who chant the Buddha's name for the Pure Land, if this problem manifests at the moment of your passing when you are about to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, then the problem is huge, and you will not be able to go to the West. This is why there are so many people chanting the Buddha's name, but so few who achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land; because true spiritual friends are hard to meet, and ancestral masters, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas are even harder to encounter. Therefore, your root problem is carried with you as you reincarnate, lifetime after lifetime, and it can never be resolved. You are troubled by this problem in this ocean of karmic reincarnation. Some may be the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death, emotions, or relationships between men and women; others may be problems with certain aspects of personality, habits, and so on, which occur repeatedly in every lifetime. How can one escape reincarnation like this? It is difficult!

The Magnificence of Hsiang Kuang

Therefore, this is the magnificent place that is the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This place is not an ordinary place; it is called a Buddha-land. Amitabha Buddha is here, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju is here, and Practitioner Su, Buddha Su, is here. Amitabha Buddha is the Universal Buddha, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju is a great true spiritual friend and is also a Buddha who has come, and furthermore, Practitioner Su, Buddha Su, has manifested in the human world to realise his true nature and attain Buddhahood; he is also a Buddha who has come. Everyone must know that it is not simple to manifest the realisation of one's true nature and the attainment of Buddhahood in the human world; it is extremely difficult. If one's own spirit is not of a very high quality, it is impossible to achieve. It even requires a quality that exceeds what is manifested in the human world to be able to do so, because the human world is the Five Turbidities and Evil World!

Only when the heart is clear, transparent, and clean, without a single trace of defilement or impurity, is it possible to realise one's true nature. Therefore, when one is reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, one will not have interference and can be reborn freely; this is the reason. Realising one's true nature and attaining Buddhahood is the direction and goal of practice for liberation from birth and death. In the biographies of ancestral masters, one can see the process of their practice in realising their true nature and attaining Buddhahood.

However, it is now more difficult to see records of rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Even if we see them, we might think they have been reborn in the Western Pure Land, but in the later stages that we cannot see or hear, they were interfered with and obstructed, and they did not achieve rebirth. We are unaware of this part and keep thinking they have been reborn in the Western Pure Land. In the recent years, under the undertaking of Practitioner Su, Buddha Su, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and with the help of Amitabha Buddha and the ancestral masters, many truths have been revealed one by one. This is such a shocking truth that it is hard for people to accept. Therefore, Practitioner Su spent those days very arduously, because he personally witnessed and heard these things and wanted everyone to know. He wanted to tell everyone, 'You must be careful, you must pay attention, you must quickly resolve conflicts with beings, and help them with Chao Du, so as not to hinder yourself from being unable to go to the West.' Namo Amituofo.

His heart is filled with such great compassion. Yet, the words he spoke, and even the Dharma Jewels and interview materials that were sent out, were often returned or rejected. People simply did not believe them; they dismissed them as nonsense. They never expected that, later on, they would discover these accounts were true. Throughout this entire process, it is truly fortunate that Practitioner Su did not allow the adversity of that time to defeat her. This is primarily because she possesses a one-hundred-percent faith in Namo Amituofo—even more than one hundred percent. Because she followed the Buddha, she walked this path all the way to the present, where she has realised her true nature and possesses the Dharma Body. She saved me, Jing Kong, from the hells, and now I reside in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. It has not been easy! At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, there is a wealth of documentation recording this entire process. It has been an incredibly arduous journey indeed.

The Doubt of the Living

However, now that I, Jing Kong, no longer have a physical body, do you all believe that these are truly my words? You have all become accustomed to seeing my physical form, thinking, 'I will only believe these are the Venerable Master's words if I see him speaking them.' Now that the Venerable Master has passed away, you wonder, 'Is this text written in black and white truly from him? Should I believe it? If it really is from him, then I believe it. But what if it is not? If I believe it and it turns out to be false, wouldn't I be misled and suffer a great loss?' I understand that this is what you are thinking, so I can only appeal to you here: this is truly what I, Jing Kong, have seen and heard from my current state in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. I hope you can find it in your hearts to believe.

Completing the Missing Pieces

Those who believe are blessed, for they can understand the complete picture. After all, during my lifetime, I did not speak of these matters because I had not seen them, heard them, or understood them. But now that I have seen and heard them, I am filling in the gaps. By combining the spiritual world of the living with that of the afterlife, you will have much greater certainty in your rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

In the final days of my life, I had actually heard and known of these things, but because I was still clinging to my own ego and my own existence, I was unable to share them with you. Now that I no longer have a physical body—which is to say, I no longer have that 'self'—I am speaking from my true heart. I hope it is not too late. I believe that Practitioner Su will do her utmost to disseminate these words of mine so that everyone may know. Even if I can save just a few, it is worth it. Even if only one person believes what I have said and puts it into practice—perhaps even coming to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek the Dharma, accept the teachings here, resolve conflicts with karmic creditors, deliver sentient beings, and fulfill their wish to be reborn in the West—that would be a success. Most importantly, come to seek the Dharma and realise your true nature! Those who have realised their true nature can be reborn in the West with total freedom. They do not need to rely on others for chanting; they can walk through the human world, wave their sleeves, and return to the West with ease and grace.

A Plea from the Heart

This was once my own wish, but it is a great pity that in my final years, I became confused. It was a case of 'old age confusion.' I encountered the Buddha, yet I did not believe it was the Buddha. I was truly an old fool! Fortunately, the Buddha is of great compassion. Not only did he not blame me, but he also saved me. That is why I have this opportunity now to report these matters from the afterlife to all of you. This is no small feat! If it were not for Namo Amituofo, for Practitioner Su, for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and for these Venerables, my words would never have reached you; they would have sunk like a stone into the ocean. And who would be the one to suffer the loss? The ones who would suffer the greatest loss are all of you.

The Three Provisions for Rebirth

I have clarified this part and explained it clearly, which serves as a compensation for the areas I overlooked when I was lecturing on the sutras during my lifetime. I believe those who can believe are blessed, but belief alone is not enough. To be reborn in the Western Pure Land, one must possess the three provisions: faith, vow, and practice. Those who believe must also have the vow. The vow today is not just the vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; it must also include the vow to come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Only then will you have the opportunity to resolve conflicts with beings, perform Chao Du, and seek the Dharma so that you may fulfill your wish to realise your true nature! The matter of realising one's true nature is of paramount importance. I will need to spend more time discussing this with you all in detail.

A Rare Opportunity

Once you have realised your true nature, you can be reborn in the Western Pure Land with total freedom. Even if you have not yet realised your true nature, Practitioner Su can still help guide your spirit to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is truly magnificent! It is not something everyone can encounter. Even the patriarchs and venerable masters now in the Western Pure Land are amazed and full of praise when they see this, because even they were unable to deliver so many beings to the West when they were alive. Having said this, you should understand the situation you are in now—how magnificent and rare this opportunity is! Especially for the fourfold assembly at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the current situation is such that, beyond understanding clearly and believing, you must also engage in diligent practice to realise the fruit of true nature. Only then can you, like Practitioner Su, help others realise their true nature and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Very well, I shall stop here for today.

Namo Amituofo.

Shi Jing Kong, with palms joined.

From the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia.