The Founder’s Final Voyage: From the Ocean to the Pure Land

This is a record of an interview with Chang Yung-fa, the founder of the Evergreen Group, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his spiritual transition. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on September 26, 2018.

Chang Yung-fa speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chang Yung-fa. Throughout my life, my guiding principle was to be hardworking and resilient. In my younger years, I would gaze out at the horizon where the sky meets the sea, feeling a deep sense of awe at the vastness of both. I understood then that without the sky and the sea, the Earth itself could not exist. However, since arriving in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, I have realised that the scenery here is entirely different from anything on Earth. The landscape is gentle and serene; it can remain perfectly still, or it can transform into a myriad of wondrous forms. There is no danger here, only a profound, unshakable peace.

A Life Defined by the Ocean

In my past life, I staked my existence on the ocean. I weathered countless storms where the ship would heave and toss violently, and more than once, I truly believed my time had come. In those moments of terror, I would silently bid farewell to my mother and my family, bracing for the end. Yet, time and again, I was spared from the brink of disaster. Looking back, I realise that life is a gamble, and I had very few chips to play with—only this one life.

There was a time when I had a dream that haunted me. I saw a vast, desolate wilderness filled with cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Many of them were missing limbs or were partially butchered, their bodies incomplete and suffering. I felt such an unbearable pang of sorrow that from that day forward, I became a vegetarian. At the time, I had already begun my practice in I-Kuan Tao, but it was only after arriving here that I understood the truth: those animals in my dream were the very beings I had consumed throughout my life. The karmic residue of that meat had followed me from the moment I took on a human body, and everything I ate in this lifetime only added to the blockages within my physical form.

The Illusion of Worldly Success

Now, when I look at those still living who consume meat, I see the same blockages within them. They do not see the truth, which is why they do not feel the fear. I once took great pride in the achievements of my life, but after following Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du in the void, I realised how truly insignificant those accomplishments were. All the good deeds I did to help others in my life provided only temporary relief; ultimately, those I helped were still suffering. I witness every day in the void the countless spirits being saved by Practitioner Su—in the world of Earth alone, the number is beyond calculation.

The Deliverance of Ancestors

Let me speak to you about something that concerns everyone deeply: your ancestors. I have seen the ancestors of ten thousand surnames being brought forth from their memorial tablets. Some arrive dressed in simple garments, others in fine silks and satins; some have traditional hairstyles, while others are adorned with hairpins. Whether they passed away ten, twenty, or sixty years ago, they are all still trapped, often lingering near their own graves, waiting for their descendants to visit them once a year during the Qingming Festival. When these ancestors in the ghost realm see their descendants filling the cemetery to visit them, they are so overjoyed that they cannot bear to leave.

Then, the six-character great name—Namo Amituofo—begins to resonate, transcending time and space. As the Buddha-light radiates, Practitioner Su, in his countless manifestations, reaches out to lift these spirits up. I have seen elderly ancestors, some missing teeth and clutching their prayer beads, finally chanting this name, 'Namo Amituofo,' with familiarity. They finally realise their own lotus, and countless lotuses descend to lead these sentient beings back to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Watching these scenes, I am left completely stunned. I am in total awe of the Chao Du performed by Practitioner Su. You will not find this kind of deliverance anywhere else in the world.

These are the heartfelt words I wish to share with the public. If you seek the Buddha, if you seek the truth, and if you seek true Chao Du, you must come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. There, you will witness the power of true practice. Namo Amituofo."