This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who now resides in the of Ultimate Bliss. The interview was conducted by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 17, 2022, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". I am Venerable Yongning. When humans look up at the sky, they see clouds in so many different forms. To the human eye, they appear as individual patches, thin wisps, or thick, billowing masses. Sometimes they look like delicate umbrellas, and at other times, they stretch across the horizon in a fine, intricate tapestry. They shift in colour from white to grey, and even to deep, ominous black. When the sun rises or sets, they are transformed into brilliant shades of gold, crimson, and dark red. Humans have seen all these variations, but have they ever stopped to consider what truly lies within them? Let me tell you: these clouds are absolutely teeming with sentient beings.
A Multitude of Hidden Dimensions
Within the layers of the clouds, there exist countless different spaces. These are dimensions that the human mind simply cannot fathom. It is not just one type of space; there are infinite possibilities hidden within those formations. Think about it—a single cloud layer might contain beings from many different eras of history. Another layer might be a space dedicated to a specific time period, a single tragic event, or a particular group of spirits. Every conceivable configuration exists, all tucked away within the clouds, completely invisible to the naked eye of a human being.
I must also mention something that might surprise you: even extraterrestrial beings can be found within these cloud spaces. There are so many phenomena that simply cannot be explained by human logic or conventional reasoning. This is the profound mystery of space itself.
Suffering and Solitude in the Clouds
The spirits dwelling within these cloud spaces are in various states of existence. Some are undergoing intense , some are enjoying a form of peace, and others have entered these realms for entirely different reasons. Consider those who are suffering: these spirits have entered the clouds due to the they created in their past lives. They are often trapped in dark, heavy clouds, unable to control their own destiny. They are at the mercy of the wind, blown wherever it chooses to take them, forced to endure their retribution in silence. Yet, there are others who see things differently. They find a strange, quiet solace in the stillness of the clouds and choose to remain there to practise, believing that this isolation is a form of enjoyment.
The Compassionate Light of Practitioner Su
The variety of these spaces is truly boundless; any kind of realm can exist. It is only through the immense of Practitioner Su that these beings can be saved. Practitioner Su uses his to perform for these cloud-dwelling beings. Whether it is during the or at any other moment, Practitioner Su is constantly working to deliver these spirits, helping them to finally escape from these confined spaces.
When the Buddha-light brought forth by Practitioner Su shines upon them, the entire expanse of the cloud sea is illuminated, and every spirit within it receives deliverance. Those who have the karmic affinity to be saved are able to follow the chanting of Namo Amituofo and depart from their cloud-bound existence. They fly forward with incredible speed, following the golden light as they leave those realms behind forever.
An Endless Cycle of Deliverance
Once the spirits in one cloud space have been liberated, other beings from different realms arrive to take their place. The work of deliverance is truly endless. As soon as one group is saved, another group appears, ready to be guided to the Western Pure Land. The compassion of Practitioner Su is truly beyond measure. It is a constant, tireless effort to ensure that no being is left behind in the darkness of the clouds.
