The Entanglement of Emotions

This interview with Venerable Chang Ren was recorded on October 18, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Venerable Chang Ren, who sought deliverance through the teachings of Practitioner Su, currently resides at the Centre, where he dedicates his life to the practice of the True Dharma.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Emotional entanglement has always been the greatest failure in the life of a practitioner. This subtle form of emotion stems from a deep-seated sense of inner emptiness or insecurity. The turbulent currents of emotion have always been a taboo within the bodhimanda. If one is still caught up in these, what kind of practice is one truly engaging in?

This world of ours, this saha world, is a place where emotions are inextricably intertwined. The deeper the emotion, the more difficult it is to sever the bonds of karma. Ordinary people in this world do not understand the Truth; they allow their feelings—whether familial affection, romantic love, or friendship—to run wild. They make grand vows of eternal devotion, promising never to part for lifetimes to come. How laughable! All of this is merely illusory and hollow. Once a lifetime passes, these promises become nothing more than phantoms, leaving behind only the deep, tangled imprints within the Alaya consciousness. Are these emotional ties? Or are they karmic debts? It is truly terrifying that people do not realise they are living in a dream. They remain attached to the drama, deeply infatuated, and lost in delusion. When will they finally wake up? Only then can they truly see the Western Pure Land.

The Illusion of the Five Turbidities

It is all too easy to be stirred by these emotions in this Five Turbidities and Evil World. Everyone understands that the deep emotional attachments of this saha world are a heavy form of karma. Since you have chosen to be a practitioner, you ought to let go of these meaningless illusions. You should strive to transcend the mundane affairs of the world. If you know that these things are false and deceptive, why would you insist on clinging to them? The compassion of the Buddha has preserved this wisdom-life and wisdom-body for you, allowing you to practise and to seek your original nature. You must not easily allow this precious human body to be muddied by such things. Everyone must develop a sense of awareness!

Modern bodhimandas are often tainted by worldly dust, making it difficult to see even a trace of purity. Most of the time, the atmosphere is filled with a chaotic mix of energies. Many monastics and lay practitioners within these spaces are unable to engage in genuine practice. Their hearts are often filled with improper thoughts, stirred by the churning of desire. They blur the lines between the secular world and the path of practice, leaving no clear boundary. Consequently, their path becomes unclear and confused. Where is the destination? Can you still see it clearly?

The Necessity of a Pure Heart

If the practitioners of today merely hold onto the initial inspiration or the 'beginner's mind' they had when they first started, without receiving proper cultivation and development, they will likely fall back into the secular world. This happens because their original worldly heart was never properly addressed or transformed. There is no power to transcend the mundane. These new practitioners do not know what to do, and this situation is highly detrimental to the Buddha’s teachings. Because they are still accompanied by worldly dust, they cannot progress.

I have seen many monastics who also harbour worldly hearts; how can one guarantee that those under their guidance will not be the same? In such a state of affairs, I ask everyone to be aware and to wake up. Carrying emotions is never correct, for the role of a practitioner should not include these things. If you cannot even achieve the most basic act of letting go, and if you do not treat all beings with a pure, singular heart, how can you truly make the Great Vow? How can you manifest the Great Compassionate Vow or the Great Compassionate Heart? These may only be superficial words on your part. If you have not let go of worldly dust and emotions in your heart, what you say is impossible to achieve. Only through true, pure purification can you have the strength and clarity to accomplish great things. If you are still stained by turbidity, your confusion is simply too great. This is why so many bodhimandas today are so reliant on sleep and afternoon naps—it is because the heart has not truly been purified.

The Mirror of Truth

Genuine practice is never just about speaking empty words; true practice is found in actual implementation. Only then can one be considered a sincere practitioner. If you still have any greed for the things of this world, how can you be truly pure? How can you purify and wash away the dust and grime? Looking at the various bodhimandas today, I see the word 'emotion' written in large letters everywhere. Do you realise how serious this is? When you have the karmic affinity to read this article, place your hand over your heart and ask yourself: is there still emotional stain left? For most, the answer is yes! Whether it is towards your teacher, fellow lay practitioners, Dharma protectors, parents, worldly affairs, romantic partners, children, or feelings of gratitude—no matter the reason for your emotional attachment, answer yourself honestly: have you not failed to let go completely? Are you not still holding too tightly to the emotional entanglements of past lives? If you do not let go now, what will you take with you to the Western Pure Land? At the very least, you will be unable to help other beings with your current problems, because you cannot even manage yourself.

Look in the mirror. Do you still possess a cool, refreshing appearance? Do you still have a perfect, full, and dignified countenance? Or have defects already appeared—darkening, spots, asymmetry, sunken areas, or blemishes? If it is clearly no longer perfect, does this not indicate that your practice has a corresponding defect? Quickly identify it. There is still time. Talk to a teacher, or come here and let the power of the True Dharma guide you to truly let go. Only by genuinely letting go of this false physical body will you not have wasted this life in which you encountered the Buddha’s teachings. The true essence of the Buddha’s teachings is to regulate the heart. Is your bodhimanda truly regulating the heart? I think it is time for you to look at everything with a clear mind. If you cannot achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land, then where are you heading? Could it be the retribution of the hells? I see that this is generally the case. It may be hard for you to believe the bitter fruits of the hells, but many practitioners are truly trapped within them. This is because the heart of a practitioner is not necessarily purer than that of an ordinary person; sometimes, they carry an even heavier burden of sin due to 'understanding but not practising.'

The Path of Letting Go

Are you also committing this offence? You understand the principles of the sutras and treatises, but how much have you actually achieved? Why have you not done what you should? Does this not show that there is still a distance between you and the Buddha’s gate? It is because you are hypocritical and harbour rejection; you are not practising truthfully. Most of the time, you are still engaged in the affairs of the cycle of rebirth. When will you wake up? It depends on your skill in awakening. Understanding the principles is an easy matter, but putting them into practice may take a lifetime, and even then, it is not easy to do thoroughly. What is this difficult principle that everyone hears but cannot do? It is one word: 'let go.' Two words: 'put it down.' Emotions are hard to let go of, but if you do not, you will continue to walk the path of the cycle of rebirth. Do you really want to let go? Letting go is, in fact, the only way to be cool, refreshing, and at ease.

Everything is false, yet you cannot see through it. It turns out that reading so many great sutras and treatises is not as effective as understanding this one small principle. Yet, although this principle is small, it is deeper and more vast than any other. Have you ever seen the speed of drifting clouds? If you cannot let go, the cycle of rebirth replaces you at that very speed, or perhaps even faster. You can imagine yourself in the midst of it, flying forward without any control. There is no place to rest, and there is no goal. This is the cycle of rebirth—a drifting soul, truly desolate. You still have a choice now, and you should seize it. You must truly cherish this human body. Without this place to rest, your next stop will be continued drifting, unless you reach the Western Pure Land. That is the opportunity you should be actively striving for right now—the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Do not let day after day pass by. There is not enough time for you to consider slowly and let go slowly. The drifting clouds will soon start moving again, and at that time, it will truly not be a choice you can make. Everyone, seize the opportunity to practise well. Practise truthfully. You should all investigate this carefully: is it real? Is it fake? You cannot deceive anyone; everything is presented as it truly is. Everyone, be cautious in your actions! Namo Amituofo."