The Illusion of Space and the Path to Liberation

Venerable Chang Gao is a monastic who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Having attained clarity through the guidance of his Master, he now resides within the protective embrace of the Centre. This interview, which explores the nature of existence and the infinite dimensions of space, was recorded on August 14, 2019, and transcribed by the chief writer, Shi Faxin.

Venerable Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. What do our physical eyes truly perceive as reality? We often mistake the fleeting shadows of this world for truth, yet in reality, both the false and the true are fundamentally empty. We come into this world empty-handed, and we depart empty-handed. If this is the case, why do sentient beings still linger within the vastness of the universe? Why do you, yourself, still remain trapped in this cycle?

The reason is that within all things, there is a form. We care deeply about our own form, and we cling to it with such intensity that we imprint these attachments into our Alaya consciousness. Through life after life of turning in the cycle of rebirth, we create immeasurable spaces that are connected to our own karmic affinities. Because every thought we have intersects and coexists with others, we build these complex realities. Think about it—we are all living within this physical shell, acting out a play. Whether we are in the play, behind the scenes, or watching from the outside, we are always the lead actor. We have played countless roles, and we always find ourselves clinging to specific characters and specific plotlines. Every single person in the void is doing the same, and it is this collective attachment that creates the various realms of existence and the infinite dimensions of space."

The Many Dimensions of Existence

"In terms of physical form, the body of an animal is a space; the body of a bird is a space; the clouds in the sky are a space. Anything that the physical eyes can see has a space associated with it. Even the very words you are reading right now exist within such a space. Depending on one's own consciousness, these spaces can be vast or they can be incredibly small. From our consciousness, we categorize and scatter ourselves into every corner of the universe. Our spiritual nature was originally identical, but because of that one subtle, lingering thought, we have scattered into different corners of the void.

My Master’s wisdom eye can perceive these various spaces clearly. He sees the spiritual nature of these spaces with absolute clarity, and what he reveals is exactly what he sees. There are immeasurable spaces and immeasurable sentient beings—some have a soul but no body, while others have a body but no soul. What we call 'having a soul but no body' refers to the ghost realm and various high-level or low-level spirits. And what do we mean by 'having a body but no soul'? It refers to a human body that has been occupied or taken over by numerous sentient beings. The reasons for this displacement are infinite, but it is always triggered by the person's own preferences, habits, or by the resonance and attraction of negative emotions like anger, hatred, and resentment."

The Self-Imposed Prison of Attachment

"These spaces can be described as being closed, locked, or controlled. But this control is, in truth, a form of self-imprisonment. We have bound ourselves. The chicken is a spirit, the vegetable leaf is a spirit, and the very space within a space is also a spirit. All of these could potentially be you, in a state of attachment. When you look into the void and see the Master unraveling these immeasurable and boundless spaces, you will understand that in this very moment, there is only one thing you can rely on: the name of Namo Amituofo. If you do not hold onto this, the only thing that will fall into these spaces is your own spirit.

I truly hope that all sentient beings can wake up, understand the truth, and break free from these chains. Namo Amituofo."