The Illusion of Pride and the Truth of the Soul

Chang Yung-fa, the late founder of the Evergreen Group, sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre following his passing. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This interview was recorded on October 2, 2019, to convey his reflections on the nature of human perception, the dangers of ego, and the profound reality of spiritual attachment, urging humanity to look beyond the surface and embrace the wisdom of the Buddha.

Chang Yung-fa speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. To truly see a person for who they are, you must possess the 'Buddha Eye'—the kind of vision that Practitioner Su possesses. Without it, a person’s personality is like a multifaceted prism; depending on the angle from which you view them, they present a different face to you. How, then, can you ever claim to see them clearly? If you approach them while carrying your own biases, your vision becomes even more clouded. You end up generalising, distorting their character, and completely misinterpreting their true nature.

The Perils of Misunderstanding

I bring up this topic today because I have recently encountered this very issue in my work. I am constantly hearing about interpersonal conflicts. When people cannot find a way to tolerate one another, there will always be friction, and harmony will remain forever out of reach. In a company, it is a common phenomenon for employees to feel dissatisfied with their superiors and, as a result, engage in inappropriate behaviour regarding their duties. If we, as senior executives, fail to clarify the situation, we are very likely to misunderstand an employee and misjudge the truth of a matter. That would be a grave injustice indeed.

The Futility of 'Not Losing Face'

There is a Taiwanese saying: 'Do not lose the formation, even if you lose the battle.' People are so obsessed with fighting for that 'breath' of pride, desperate to preserve the dignity of their own face. After arguing until they are red in the face, fighting tooth and nail, the result is only mutual destruction. The more clearly I see the world, the more I realise how foolish we humans truly are.

Now that Practitioner Su has unveiled the mysteries of the universe, we understand that as long as a person has a physical body, they are easily susceptible to 'spiritual attachment.' They can even be occupied by other entities. In the heat of an argument, many of a person's actions are not even under their own control. If one does not have the 'clear eyes' of a Buddha to see that the person standing before them is not truly themselves, one might easily misunderstand them, wrongly assuming that this is their true character.

The True Meaning of Faith

If a person does not study the Buddha’s teachings, the heart of an ordinary person will find it difficult to ever reach a state of awakening. They cannot see the reality of the world, nor can they understand who the person standing before them truly is. But what does it mean to believe in the Buddha? What are we actually learning when we study the Buddha’s teachings? I see so many people in this world who believe that 'believing in the Buddha' simply means the Buddha will protect their entire family. They go to the temple, buy massive bundles of incense, and shove them into the burner, as if the larger the bundle, the more responsive the Buddha will be, and the more protection their family will receive. In that moment, their hearts find a temporary reliance, but once they leave the temple, they return to their state of panic and insecurity.

If these people could only come to listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma, they would understand that believing in the Buddha is not about superstitious faith. It is about truly having the Buddha in one's heart, using one's own vows and strength to be in sync with the Buddha, and learning to help others with the same compassion as the Buddha—benefiting others and, in doing so, benefiting oneself. This kind of faith empowers the individual; it is not merely blind following.

A Commitment to the Dharma

I am striving to spread the Buddha’s teachings far and wide, using every possible method so that everyone may feel a desire to draw close to the Buddha, understand the Buddha, and truly begin to practise. I hope that all people in this world have the blessings to recognise the Buddha. If I had not already left the human world, I would certainly have thrown my full support behind this path of spreading the Dharma. Even now, I am working toward this direction, waiting for the day I break through these obstacles!

Namo Amituofo."

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