The Essence of Sincerity: An Interview with Master Shaokang

The Infinite Reach of Buddha-Light

The golden light that permeates the universe is the true appearance of the void as it exists today. The concept of the void is vast, even infinite, encompassing all things. The number of sentient beings stacked within this void is beyond calculation. Consider just one planet, the Earth: it contains mountains, including forests and mountain ranges; rivers, which include all the tributaries connecting various countries and provinces; and even the vast oceans. Furthermore, there are countless living creatures—animals, flowers, trees, rocks of all sizes, birds, ants, insects, and other beings—all existing within the same space. Beyond this, there are many other spaces that remain invisible to the human eye.

It is only through the pervasive spread of the Buddha-light and the Buddha-name that these beings can be liberated from their respective spaces. A single Buddha-name can reach across the entire Earth, allowing those beings who are willing to let go of their attachments to return to Amitabha Buddha. The scale of this scene is magnificent; everywhere, the earth is illuminated and moved by the Buddha-light. This is the scene of Chao Du for the Earth, and relative to the world beyond, this scene extends to every corner of the void. The Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su is vast, immeasurable, and wide-reaching.

Restoring Peace in the Battlefield of Space

For this reason, Master Shaokang works within the spaces of ancient battlefields to help sentient beings cease their fighting, chant the Buddha-name, and liberate themselves from those confined spaces. The spirits within these battlefield spaces are not merely engaged in combat; they carry with them intense emotions of unease, tension, rigidity, and oppression. Although the time and space differ, the principle that like attracts like means these energies still influence the human world. For instance, a sandstorm is an example of how different spaces can impact human life.

Therefore, when Practitioner Su opens these spaces through contemplation, Master Shaokang infuses them with the Buddha-name and Buddha-light. This causes the fighting to stop, restores the damaged and broken physical bodies of the spirits, and heals the scenes of bloodshed, returning them to their original state. Many of these beings seem to experience a sudden loss of memory; the fierce, cruel expressions on their faces transform into confusion, and through the guidance of the Buddha-name, this confusion turns into a state of gentleness. This entire sequence of events occurs within the time it takes to chant just a few lines of the Buddha-name.

The Interconnectedness of Causal Conditions

These layers of space are opened one after another, solely because Practitioner Su has no selfish desires and is purely focused on helping sentient beings. Master Shaokang joins in this grand undertaking alongside the ancestral masters of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, and the boundless, pure ocean-wide assembly of Bodhisattvas. With a wave of Practitioner Su’s hand, we also use the Buddha-name to save beings according to our respective karmic affinities.

From the connections formed during Master Shaokang’s past practice to the beings who were once animals in the animal realm, all are saved when these spaces are opened. Some were brothers from eight lifetimes ago who are now ants; some were students from thirteen lifetimes ago who entered the demon path because their habits remained unchanged; others were children from past lives who are now shellfish in the ocean. For those with whom we have formed karmic connections, Master Shaokang can save them by chanting the Buddha-name; however, for those with whom the conditions have not yet matured, even Master Shaokang is unable to intervene. Each being has their own laws of karma and cause and effect. If not for the compassion of Practitioner Su in opening these spaces, the beings throughout the entire void would remain trapped within their own self-created spaces, unable to escape. It is truly lamentable.

The Great Dharma of Saving Beings

Today, Practitioner Su has realised the Dharma Body and shares the same vows as the Buddha, performing Chao Du with great power. The state of these spaces is something that neither Buddhist practitioners nor people of the world have been able to understand for thousands of years. What is the Great Dharma? It is the path that resolves the suffering of lifetimes and saves beings on a grand scale, embodying the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Having walked the path of practice for thirty years, Practitioner Su has truly seen through this world and spends every moment in true practice on the Buddha’s path. Awakening is not achieved in a single day; it is a steady, grounded process, and it requires one to truly take on the suffering of sentient beings. The tests given to Practitioner Su within the void have been overcome one by one, a feat that even Master Shaokang finds remarkable.

A Call to Keep the True Teachings Alive

Now that there is someone in the human world who has realised the Dharma Body, working in unison with Namo Amituofo and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the work of saving beings is endless. The Western lotus flowers fill the void to lead all beings, and the power of the holy name of Namo Amituofo is infinite. In this present age, this power is saving ten thousand spirits, correcting the decline of the Dharma-ending age, and resolving various disasters.

Practitioner Su is currently performing vast, boundless Chao Du for the sake of the pandemic and the changing seasons, using the method of leading sentient beings to chant the Buddha-name to reverse the deteriorating state of these spaces. One part of sincerity brings one part of benefit; when boundless sentient beings share the same sincerity, they receive a boundless response. Places that were once dead, heavy, and grey are now illuminated by the Buddha-light, transformed into a state of clarity where the four elements are in harmony.

The human world is in need of Buddhist education, and the True Teachings must be brought to the forefront. We hope that there will be more dedicated individuals in the human world who will allow the Buddha to abide in the world forever, upholding the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. This is the aspiration that all Buddhist practitioners and those who inherit the Buddha’s teachings should have. Master Shaokang encourages everyone in this shared endeavour. Namo Amituofo.

This message was recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Faxin.