The Illusion of Life and the Path to Liberation

Venerable Yongning is a monastic who has dedicated their life to the pursuit of enlightenment and the salvation of sentient beings. Having sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Venerable Yongning now resides within the monastic community, focusing on the practice of Chao Du to assist those lost in the cycle of rebirth. This interview was recorded on July 27, 2019.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Life may sound like a very ordinary, mundane concept, but in truth, it encompasses both conscious and unconscious existence. Every space has its own unique orientation and direction for life. The forms differ, and the ways in which life manifests are diverse. These countless variations are scattered throughout the universe, manifesting as groups visible to the physical eyes, or as invisible entities like the air around us. Everyone lives in a way they are familiar with; one could say that we all live within our own specific spaces. In this lifetime, we inhabit one space, and in the next, we transition to another. With every transition of space, various memories are pressed deep into the foundation of our Alaya consciousness.

The Echoes of Past Lives

This is precisely why, at times, when you arrive at a certain place, you feel an overwhelming sense of familiarity. That is nothing more than the surfacing of memories from the past. These memories still exist, and those spaces still exist. Every day, I follow Practitioner Su in performing Chao Du. What I see are the densely packed spaces scattered throughout the universe. Everyone is still caught up in their own respective lives, spanning from thousands of years ago, hundreds of years ago, to the very second that just passed. If one remains trapped in attachment, they are essentially locking themselves into trillions of tiny, isolated holes. This continues until the physical body is gone, at which point they enter yet another cycle of spatial transition.

Breaking the Cycle of Attachment

Life is a cycle that repeats itself endlessly. If you only live within your own small circle, you remain unaware of how many beings exist around you or within the void. Beyond the karmic creditors residing within our own bodies, the beings in the void are also closely related to us. This connection is not merely of the present moment; it is an overlapping of memories accumulated over countless lifetimes. If we refuse to dwell on the past and focus only on the present, we can use the vow of compassion to save beings and break through these spatial barriers. We must realise that our current life is merely a manifestation within the realm of illusion.

The Choice to Transcend

These false, illusory appearances make everything seem so incredibly real. Those who do not understand this truth cannot escape. Every scene and every object in daily life has become a familiar part of one's identity. When suddenly asked to let go, many find it impossible to stop their clinging. Many people express a desire for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, but in the end, they fail to let go of worldly affairs and remain just another spirit wandering in the void. There are far too many such examples in the vast expanse of space. You must ask yourself: do you wish to become one of them, or do you wish to break free? If you truly desire to transcend, you must act with a sincere heart and become one who understands the truth. Do not linger on life, do not be greedy for the world, and do not cling to the past. This body is false; it passes and never returns. Seize the opportunity to head toward the West, and do not remain in the dust. Know how to leave the dust, and help all beings leave the dust as well.

Namo Amituofo."

This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Buddhist disciple Shi Faxin.