The Great Matter of Rebirth: A Message from Master Chan Yun
An Interview with the Venerable Master Chan Yun
Recorded on August 17, 2017
On August 17, 2017, Venerable HaiZe sought an audience with the late Venerable Master Chan Yun to discuss the critical importance of achieving rebirth in the . This interview, conducted through the spiritual connection facilitated by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, provides a rare and urgent teaching from the Master, who now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Venerable HaiZe speaks: "(Performs ten bows) I respectfully invite Master Chan Yun to accept this interview."
Venerable Master Chan Yun speaks: "I have been waiting for a long time!"
Venerable HaiZe speaks: "My apologies for keeping you waiting, Venerable Master Chan Yun!"
The Waves of Samsara and the Light of the Buddha
Venerable Master Chan Yun speaks: "Like a tiny boat upon the vast, boundless ocean, drifting without a place to anchor, I sought the shore. Then, the Buddha’s manifested as golden light, pointing the way toward the Western Land. As I sailed, waves rose one after another, but the Buddha-name calmed the waters and extinguished the turbulence.
As the ship continues its journey, I call out with every breath: do not let confusion stir the waves again. A peaceful heart is the most difficult thing to attain. Wisdom and one's true nature can break through this confusion, yet how many in this world truly cherish it? Most are caught in the busyness of life, using their six roots, body, speech, and mind, thinking they are full of vitality. But if the heart is calm and no waves arise, following conditions with ease and without obstruction—that is truly having the great cultivation.
The Necessity of a Pure Land
If the heart turns with external circumstances, the resulting chaos only attracts dust. It is better to first reside in a place of purity, to master these skills before entering the world. The activities at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre invite the masses to enter the vast, boundless ocean of the Buddha’s teachings. Even if one only tastes a single drop, I hope the followers at Lian Yin Temple can understand the and resolve the great matter of life and death.
The cycle of rebirth has lasted for ten thousand kalpas, and the is endless. How can one possibly withstand the manifestation of such karma in this lifetime? Although may seem quiet for a moment, they are actually following you, waiting for the right conditions. The most terrifying moment is at the time of death; if karmic creditors take control of your state of mind, you will lose the chance to go to the Western Pure Land. You will fall back into the six realms of existence, drifting endlessly—who knows when you will have another chance?
The Reality of Karmic Creditors
Raise the Buddha-name and vow to go to the Western Land. Chanting the Buddha-name should subdue wandering thoughts; the pure is a state of non-action. You must truly attain this in this lifetime. Looking across the Dharma Realm today, who has the power to manifest this? The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and Practitioner Su have truly attained it. I, Chan Yun, am now in the West, and it is only through this connection that this message can appear. I ask everyone to believe in one truth: do not take karmic creditors lightly. After inviting them out, they must be sent to the West. Do not let them remain in the human world with nowhere to go, coming and going, attaching themselves to your body. This is inconceivable, yet it is the truth. I speak plainly, without holding anything back.
A Direct Message to Practitioners
Namo Amituofo. I am Master Chan Yun. I have been gone from this world for a long time; I wonder if you all still remember me? The reason you are able to see this text today is that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has launched its mission to save the world. The Centre and Practitioner Su are true practitioners of the Pure Land path, connected to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, which is why they have the ability to interview me.
I will speak plainly: in the Pure Land Dharma Gate, many chant the Buddha-name, but very few truly achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. This is because they have not let go of their emotional entanglements in this world—including parents, children, fellow practitioners, and Dharma brothers. Furthermore, when karmic creditors manifest, they transform into the various people and things you love. Once your thoughts are attracted to them, even if Namo Amituofo has already appeared before you, the vision will vanish in an instant. In this lifetime, you will have lost your connection to the West, and who knows when you will again hear the Buddha’s teachings, learn the Pure Land path, chant the Buddha-name, and make the vow to be reborn in the land of Namo Amituofo.
The Path to True Deliverance
Karmic creditors are names you are all familiar with on the memorial tablets at Dharma assemblies, but in reality, you lack a true understanding of them. This is the reason why so few people who chant the Buddha-name succeed in being reborn in the Western Pure Land. In fact, your daily illnesses and suffering are closely related to your karmic creditors. Almost all physical ailments, large or small, are connected to them. Because of this, if a sick person can invite these karmic creditors out and resolve the conflict, they may not even need to take medicine, and their illness can be healed. This is truly hard to believe. It requires the person chanting the Buddha-name to listen to the sutras often, so that the karmic creditors can listen along, understand the true laws of the world, and become willing to resolve the conflict. I heard of these things while I was alive, but now that I see the full picture, I finally understand why even those with great cultivation in chanting the Buddha-name are not guaranteed rebirth in the Western Pure Land.
To the fourfold assembly of disciples at Lian Yin Temple: I now see some of the problems within the temple from the Western Pure Land. You can come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to speak with me. I hope everyone believes this. The great matter of rebirth in the West must be taken with the utmost seriousness! Namo Amituofo."
Written by Chan Yun himself.
The content of this message was recorded by the disciple of the Buddha, Venerable HaiZe.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library