The Essence of Oneness and the Path to Buddhahood

This interview with Venerable Yongning was recorded on October 2, 2018. In this discussion, the Venerable explores the profound nature of the human form, the laws of karma and cause and effect, and the expansive, transformative work of Chao Du conducted by Practitioner Su. This record was transcribed by the chief writer, Shi Faxin.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Yongning. When we reflect upon the human body, we must recognise that its most distinct characteristic is the presence of the internal organs. These organs are not merely biological structures; they are centres of vibration that pull and tug at our emotions, and in doing so, they pull at the beings around us. Every single cell within our physical form contains both Goodness and evil. When the weight of evil outweighs the Goodness, one finds themselves reporting to the hells. Conversely, when the weight of Goodness surpasses the evil, a good person is able to complete their path. To reach the state of becoming a Buddha, one must treat both Goodness and evil with an equal, unattached heart. This state of uniformity and equality acts as the essential lubricant between the forces of Goodness and evil."

The Vibration of the Human Form

"Think about the character for 'human' in Chinese—it is composed of two strokes. While one stroke may appear longer or shorter than the other, through the process of practice, both eventually attain the compassion of a heart filled with great love. You, I, and he—these are merely pronouns. In the ultimate truth, 'One' signifies that there is neither high nor low. The level of growth one achieves as a human is entirely determined by the laws of karma and cause and effect from our past and present lives. Regardless of what has transpired in the past, if one commits to the Buddha’s teachings and engages in practice, one can certainly grow their spirits."

The Path to Buddhahood: Equality and Balance

"I aspire to the future; I aspire to become a Tathagata. To let go of all discriminations and attachments is by no means an easy task. It requires a mind-capacity that is far-reaching and vast. We grow through the constant cleansing of our hearts. I do not belong to myself; I belong to the void, because the 'me' of the future is a Tathagata. Everything must be kept simple, and everything must be kept clear. In the midst of practice, there is no turning back. From the hells and hungry ghosts below, to the heavenly realms and the four holy states above, the entire universe contains me, for we are all one entity. Even amidst the ups and downs of growth, one must eventually return to the One, return to the level, and return to the void."

The Meaning of 'One'

"Everyone's Buddha-nature is revealed within their true self. All that is vivid and distinct will eventually return to the future. When one expands their mind-capacity, it is much like the Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su—it is a process that undergoes thousands of changes within the cycle of repetition. Thousands of billions of manifestations increase within the same space. The speed of this Chao Du is beyond calculation, and the number of beings who have attained rebirth in the Western Land is impossible to measure."

The Boundless Compassion of Practitioner Su

"This traversal through time and space is something that no one has been able to accomplish for thousands of years. Many planets outside our known universe only learned of the existence of the Western Land after Practitioner Su performed Chao Du for them. It is only through this that practitioners who have been searching for a higher realm have finally found the true home for their spirits. This golden light radiates throughout the universe, ultimately returning to the headquarters of the Pure Land. The propagation of the Buddha’s teachings is demonstrated here, and the vast inclusion of Chao Du begins from this very place every single day. All that contains the void and all that exists comes from the mind-capacity. In the end, the One returns to the One, and the One eventually returns to the Western Land. Namo Amituofo, with His infinite, majestic light. Namo Amituofo."