The Illusion of Spiritual States

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changgao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his journey through various realms of existence and his eventual liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 13, 2023.

Venerable Changgao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Many people who engage in spiritual practice are constantly chasing after states or levels of attainment. They ask, 'What is the state of my practice?' But I ask you to look closely: where are those who claimed to have reached such high states in the past? If you observe them carefully, you will find that most of them are still trapped within the various dimensions of space. So, what exactly is a state of practice?

In truth, all these so-called states are merely illusions. There is no such thing as a fixed state to be attained. One can only speak of how much one's spiritual nature has been refined, but until one is truly reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the spiritual nature remains limited. Only by reaching the Western Pure Land can one truly begin to live a life of higher spiritual existence."

The Trap of the Mist

"Let me tell you about a practitioner who lived in the mist. He was a man who claimed to have reached a very high level of spiritual attainment. At that time, he did not believe in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Instead, he relied entirely on his own ability to practise a unique, self-styled method. That was his Causal Conditions at the time. He reached a point where he boasted of having a very high state, claiming there was nothing in the world he did not know. He could converse with spirits from different dimensions and even heal the sick.

He was capable of many things, yet he had no desire to help others. His only goal was to find a secluded place to hide away and continue his practice, hoping to reach what he called an even higher state. Think about it—what is the point of such power if it is not used to benefit others? It was merely the ego feeding on its own perceived greatness."

From the Clouds to the Void

"Eventually, the life of seclusion in the mountains could no longer satisfy his heart. No matter how hard he tried, he felt he was stuck in the same place, unable to move forward. He could no longer bear the stagnation. He allowed his spirit to depart from his physical body and ascend into the clouds, beginning a new phase of practice within the space of the clouds.

But clouds drift with the wind, and he could not remain still. His meditative concentration was strong, however, and it eventually allowed him to break free from the cloud dimension and enter the vastness of the universe itself. This was the extent of his power. But where is he now? Even after all that, he remained trapped within the dimensions of space, drifting in the cold, quiet void of the universe. It was only today, when the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su performed the work of Chao Du, that he was blessed to be saved and brought out of that space."

The True Meaning of Practice

"Why was this practitioner finally willing to seek deliverance? It is because he had seen the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su more than once. Each time, he was left wondering: 'Who is this Sage? Where does he come from?' After observing and contemplating again and again, he finally realised that Practitioner Su came from the very Earth where he had once lived, and that his physical body was still alive.

He could not help but marvel at the ability of Practitioner Su. He had witnessed, time and again, Practitioner Su saving vast numbers of beings from various planets. This was a power he did not possess—a power that he himself needed to rely on to be saved. When he finally joined the salvation team and began to follow Practitioner Su in the work of saving beings, he truly understood what practice is all about.

It turns out that practice has no states. There is no high or low. True practice is about cultivating a heart of great compassion. Only with the great compassion of someone like Practitioner Su can the power of one's practice be fully realised and utilised to save boundless beings. Namo Amituofo."