The Hidden Multitudes Within the Clouds

This interview was conducted with Venerable Yongning regarding the nature of the skies and the spiritual work performed at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The discussion, recorded by Chief Writer Shi Fajing on December 25, 2022, explores the unseen dimensions existing within the clouds that gather above the temple.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Yongning. It is a profound honour to share these observations regarding the nature of the skies and the work of deliverance performed here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. When you look up, you see clouds gathering densely, but I tell you, every single cloud is filled with sentient beings. They have gathered in vast numbers, drawn here by the hope of receiving Chao Du from Practitioner Su."

The Truth Behind the Sky

"To the average person in the world, the sky is just the sky, and clouds are just clouds. They never perceive anything unusual. Humans have even given names to various cloud formations, categorising them based on their shapes. However, here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, things are fundamentally different. Clouds are not merely clouds; they contain sentient beings and entire dimensions of space. Therefore, a single cloud is never just a cloud. These beings dwelling within the clouds often have much to say, carrying suffering that is difficult to put into words. They gather in the space above our temple, waiting patiently for Practitioner Su to save them."

The Darkness of the Demon Crowds

"Within these cloud layers, there exist all manner of spaces. Recently, large numbers of demon crowds have sought out Practitioner Su. These demons are also capable of residing within the cloud spaces. The clouds they occupy are pitch black—vast, expansive stretches of darkness. This indicates that their demonic power is exceptionally strong. They have densely packed themselves above the temple, completely covered up the temple. Some of these demon crowds have come specifically to demonstrate their power; they are dissatisfied with the deliverance work Practitioner Su performs and have intentionally used this method to intimidate the fourfold assembly and Practitioner Su himself. Yet, Practitioner Su is not afraid. In fact, he uses spiritual deliverance to transform these pitch-black storm clouds, helping these beings to find liberation and leave their suffering behind."

Celestial Beings and the Light of Deliverance

"Beyond the dark clouds, there are, of course, white clouds, grey clouds, and clouds of every conceivable shape. Celestial beings frequently arrive above the temple, appearing within colourful, radiant clouds. They perform beautiful, graceful dances—it is a truly magnificent sight. They kneel and beg Practitioner Su for deliverance, and through his spiritual deliverance, they are all guided into the light."

A Deliverance Beyond Time

"The clouds that Practitioner Su delivers are not limited to the space directly above the temple; his work encompasses the entire sea of clouds. As the cloud sea moves rapidly forward, layer upon layer of beings within these spaces are reached. Some are aware that they are being saved, while others remain oblivious to the process. The entire duration of this deliverance is as brief as the recitation of a single Buddha-name, yet it saves an uncountable number of beings dwelling within the clouds, helping them to finally depart from those cloud-bound spaces and find true liberation. Namo Amituofo."