This interview features Venerable Chang Ren, who shares profound insights on the nature of human existence and the urgency of spiritual practice. Recorded on April 2, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, this discussion explores the transition from worldly attachment to the pursuit of liberation.
Venerable Chang Ren speaks:
". In this world, countless people are in a state of constant change and growth. Why? Because their hearts are filled with desires, and everything they seek is for the sake of worldly affairs. They spend their entire lives in a whirlwind of activity, striving, growing, and competing for things. Yet, even when they finally grasp what they have been chasing, they realise that they have lost far too much of themselves in the process. Often, the final outcome does not even satisfy them. Think about it—after all the trials and challenges, when can a person truly feel satisfied? When can they finally stop and cease this endless pursuit?
The Finite Nature of Life
Life is not an eternal, limitless expanse; it has a definitive expiration date. If you spend every moment of your existence in pursuit of external things, then when that pursuit finally comes to an end, will you truly possess anything of value? Or will you find that you are still empty-handed, still needing to chase more? Our time in this life is limited, and our strength is finite. No one can struggle and fight forever. When old age and illness finally arrive, what meaning will remain from the journey of your life? Or will you look back and find that you have walked through this world and left behind absolutely nothing?
The Blindness of Desire
There are thousands upon thousands of life stories, each with different circumstances. Every person's life is unique, and what each person seeks is different. Our personalities, our habits, and our destinies all vary. But one must ask: what are we truly living for? What is the ultimate meaning behind these pursuits? I look at people, and I see that almost everyone is chasing something—different ideals, different desires. Some people, in their pursuit of worldly fame, wealth, or base desires, have allowed themselves to become unrecognisable. They have drifted so far from their original simplicity that they are no longer who they were meant to be.
the True Self
Worldly pursuits should not be this blind. We must cherish our human life. Within these limited days, we have the potential to live out a life of meaning that transcends these limitations. That meaning is found in reclaiming the instincts of our true self, elevating our spirits, and nurturing our . Most people in this world do not understand the true preciousness of life. A human body is difficult to obtain; therefore, while we are caught in the cycle of being reincarnated, we must cherish the moments when we have the opportunity to attain Awakening.
The Only Path to Liberation
If you insist on continuing to chase the things of this world, you will miss the opportunity of this lifetime. The chances of returning to a human form are slim, and within the cycle of samsara, it is incredibly difficult to find another moment of departure. You must achieve liberation in this very life. To pursue anything in this world is, in effect, to bind yourself even tighter into the cycle of being reincarnated. Everyone must understand this serious truth: everything in this world is merely a form of delusion; none of it is real.
If you are fortunate enough to encounter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you must cherish it deeply. You must break through delusion and attain , find your way back to your Body, and truly depart from this world. Only then will your life have meaning. This is the correct path—the only path.
I am deeply grateful to my grandmother, and to the of the Buddha. Namo Amituofo."
