The Deliverance of Ancient Temple Spaces

This interview was recorded on March 19, 2023, with Venerable Yongning, who currently resides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. In this discussion, Venerable Yongning shares profound insights into the extensive spiritual deliverance work conducted by Practitioner Su, which encompasses numerous historical temple sites across China and India, illustrating the boundless reach of the Buddha’s compassion.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Yongning. It is a profound honour to share these observations regarding the recent, monumental work of Spiritual Deliverance conducted by Practitioner Su. This week, the scope of this work has been truly breathtaking. Beyond the original deliverance of the ancient Nalanda University in India, Practitioner Su has extended this profound salvation to nine other significant temple spaces simultaneously.

A Vast Undertaking: Nine Temples of History

These sacred sites include the Ashoka Temple in Ningbo, Zhejiang; the bodhimanda where Manjushri Bodhisattva teaches at Mount Wutai in Shanxi; the bodhimanda of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva at Mount Emei in Sichuan; the bodhimanda of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva at Mount Jiuhua in Anhui; and the bodhimanda of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva at Mount Putuo in Zhejiang. Furthermore, the deliverance encompasses the Ci'en Temple and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in Chang'an, the Hongfu Temple in Chang'an, and the historic Guoqing Temple in Zhejiang.

When Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body enters these temple spaces to perform Chao Du, the scene is absolutely magnificent. The sentient beings residing within these spaces are moved to their very core. In an incredibly short span of time, they are able to transcend their confined spaces and seek the salvation they have yearned for over countless lifetimes.

The Spiritual Realm: Where News Travels Instantly

In the days leading up to the Dharma assembly, once Practitioner Su confirmed that these specific temples would be included in the deliverance, the sentient beings within those spaces received the news immediately. There are no secrets in the spiritual realms. A piece of information in the human world can travel thousands of miles in an instant, and it can just as easily permeate different dimensions of time and space. It is truly wondrous. Therefore, as soon as Practitioner Su determined that these temples were to be saved, the spirits were already aware and began their patient, hopeful waiting.

As the Dharma assembly drew closer, the spirits became increasingly restless. They had waited for such a long time, and now, finally, the opportunity to depart had arrived. Consequently, the spirits in every one of these temples were stirred into action. Some even made their way to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre ahead of time, standing within the space of the temple, waiting for the assembly to begin so that they might receive Chao Du.

The Layers of Time Within Temple Walls

One might ask: just how vast are these temple spaces, and how many beings reside within them? Each of the temples included in this deliverance possesses a long and storied history—some spanning hundreds of years, others thousands. Regardless of whether it has been a century or a millennium, every single minute and every single second of that history is preserved within the space of the temple.

Even though these temples have undergone constant renovations and endured the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution—where many buildings were destroyed, and scriptures, Dharma Jewels, and Buddha statues were burned or lost—in the spiritual dimension, they remain entirely intact. They have not vanished. These spaces continue to exist, and countless spirits remain tethered to them, following the echoes of the past.

The Light of Deliverance and the Recognition of a Master

These temples have witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties and have been served by numerous abbots. Yet, the entire history of each temple remains clearly visible within its space, scene by scene, layer by layer. There are immeasurable and boundless sentient beings still dwelling in their respective spaces, waiting for the light of the Buddha.

When Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body performs this Chao Du, he brings with him the brilliant Buddha-light and the sacred name of 'Namo Amituofo.' This Buddha-light illuminates the entire temple. Every layer of space, no matter how deep, is bathed in this light. For those whose Causal Conditions have matured, the spirits are immediately able to emerge from their confinement and follow the Buddha-light into the brilliance of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I have witnessed this myself: all the spirits who depart from these spaces are deeply moved. Some are even overcome with intense emotion, for they have waited for this moment for an eternity. I have also seen many spirits kneeling before Practitioner Su, bowing and paying their respects. They have all seen Practitioner Su before; they know that in past lives, he was an abbot or a practitioner within these very temples. They share a deep, karmic affinity with him.

The space of the Dharma assembly is now packed with these spirits from the various temples. They have come with such urgency, standing densely packed, without the slightest gap between them. Especially because these temples have held their own Dharma assemblies in the past, those spirits who were not successfully saved at that time have now come to our temple to seek Spiritual Deliverance. The number of these beings is truly beyond counting.

It is only through the compassionate vow of Practitioner Su to perform this Chao Du that the spirits within these temples have finally found the chance to be saved. They are filled with the deepest gratitude. Namo Amituofo."