This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, a monastic who sought deliverance for beings across the cosmos. This testimony was recorded at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia on April 3, 2019, detailing a profound mission of salvation.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". I am Venerable Yongning. Today, our mission reached a planet inhabited by beings in animal forms. The origin of this world traces back to a great Elder, a being of profound simplicity and primordial wisdom. He possessed the rare ability of foresight. Originally, he and his people existed in a form similar to that of the human world. When the Earth underwent its previous cycle of destruction, they managed to escape and arrived at this distant planet. To ensure their survival in such a harsh environment, the Elder transformed himself and his followers into animal-like forms. He could perceive the thoughts and speech of the planet's native inhabitants, but this world was plagued by conflict. When the Elder first arrived, the planet was already a landscape of war and devastation. The native population had dwindled to almost nothing, yet those who remained were fiercely competitive and aggressive.
The Struggle for Survival in the Void
The Elder led his people to live in seclusion within mountain caves. They learned to transcend the limitations of physical sustenance, eventually reaching a state where they no longer required food. Instead, they survived by absorbing the natural energy that permeated the spaces between planets. Through cycles of plunder, panic, and desperate escape, the original inhabitants of the planet were eventually completely destroyed. The entire world fell into a profound, haunting silence, leaving only the Elder and his followers to safeguard the planet. They worked to rebuild it, and to their surprise, their lifespans were significantly longer than those of humans. Having grown accustomed to their animal-like forms, they witnessed the birth and death of the planet's previous inhabitants and understood deeply that a heart of competition and strife must never be allowed to take root. They guarded their world with the utmost care.
The Corruption of a Peaceful Legacy
As generations passed, they strictly upheld the principles of mutual respect. However, the arrival and interaction of beings from other planets eventually shattered their established rules. Even though they later withdrew entirely, the seeds of discord had already been sown in their hearts—a corruption that proved deep-rooted and impossible to reverse. When the planet once again faced a massive upheaval of human-like hearts and the elimination of species, they were filled with disappointment and fear. By this time, the great Elder was long gone, and there was no one left with the authority to guide them back to the right path. The planet fell into a state of bitter loneliness and sorrow. Several of the great Elders who had followed the original leader from the beginning prayed fervently for a way out. They lamented that human nature is the same throughout the universe: one is easily led toward goodness by good influences, but just as easily led toward evil by bad ones. In the end, the entire planet was left in a state of mutual destruction, with only these few followers of the original Elder remaining.
The Golden Light of Deliverance
They prayed deeply for a connection with the Buddha. Today, during the Chao Du ceremony, Practitioner Su unfurled his robes, and our deliverance team passed through this very space. The Buddha-name, Namo Amituofo, resonated throughout the planet. The remaining inhabitants saw an endless, brilliant light enveloping their world. Following the sound of the Buddha-name, they began to chant loudly. At that same moment, they saw countless past spaces within the planet being opened. Both the original inhabitants of this planet and the descendants of the Elder were led out as the Buddha-name arrived. It turned out that the spirit of the Elder had been hovering in the atmosphere of the planet all this time, desperately wanting to protect it. He was filled with immense sorrow as he watched the various developments and experiences that unfolded after his departure. Finally, the golden light of Chao Du arrived, and only then was everyone saved.
An Infinite Horizon of
Beyond this single planet, the spaces of countless other planets throughout the universe were also opened, all moving toward that golden light. The magnificence of Chao Du is such that the entire universe benefits. The spaces of the universe—both visible and invisible—exist in layer upon layer of different dimensions, and the power of Chao Du is truly immeasurable. For me, and for the other Bodhisattvas of the universe, this was a moment that truly broadened our horizons. I had previously thought that the spaces I had seen and traversed were endless, but what I witnessed today was an endlessness beyond all comprehension. The Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo rings throughout the universe, and the golden light of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss appears before our eyes. Countless beings are being reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—a chance so rare and difficult to encounter. I cherish every moment of Chao Du, following Practitioner Su as we break through barrier after barrier. I am deeply grateful to the Buddha for his compassion in leading us. Namo Amituofo."
