The Illusion of the Physical Body

The Spirit of Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chang Gao. The universe undergoes constant transformation every single day. We sentient beings drift along with these changes, our fates flowing like rivers toward the vast ocean. Often, we must choose to be content; otherwise, the endless surge of desire leads us into a cycle of relentless pursuit. We chase after fame, status, and worldly pleasures. We cling tightly to these illusory things because we cannot see them clearly, nor can we grasp their true nature, leaving us in a state of perpetual insecurity.

The human body, in particular, is highly sensitive. A single word or a fleeting expression can immediately trigger a physical reaction—a 'reception' of sensation. Whether we hear something pleasant or something harsh, the body reacts. This 'reception' occurs almost every day, potentially every second. This is the very test of the physical body during our practice. It was only after listening to the Dharma talks by Practitioner Su that I truly understood the deeper aspects of spiritual cultivation. Without this understanding, one might use the temporary purity of meditation to suppress these reactions, but the underlying personality remains unrefined. If one wishes to attain rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, it is difficult to achieve success without this deeper work. The Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su are, in my view, the standard for the universe. Those who know how to listen and, more importantly, how to implement these teachings in their daily lives, will surely achieve spiritual success."

The Tragedy of the Forest

"While assisting Practitioner Su with the Chao Du [Spiritual Deliverance], I witnessed the life of a small deer. Its coat was beautiful, with distinct, vibrant spots, much like a newborn fawn. After bowing its head to graze, the fawn would immediately run back to its mother's side. The mother would look at the fawn with such gentle eyes, tenderly licking its head. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and the mother collapsed. The fawn was thrown into a state of panic, jumping about in confusion and circling its mother. At that moment, the hunter prepared to fire a second shot at the fawn, but a companion stopped him, saying, 'Let this fawn grow up; it will be worth more later.' With that, the rifle was lowered. Meanwhile, the mother deer lay bleeding profusely, gasping for her final breaths. The fawn, in its distress, kept licking its mother, but eventually, the mother was dragged away by two burly men.

From that day on, the fawn was forced to live alone, compelled to grow up without having learned any survival skills. A layer of grey sorrow settled over the fawn's heart, filled with a sense of injustice and terror. When it was eventually shot down in the forest itself, it had only one thought: that it could finally be reunited with its mother. And so, although the deer's physical body was carried away, its spirit remained in the forest. The mother deer's spirit had also been following the fawn all along. When the hunter's rifle was aimed at the fawn, the mother was powerless to protect it; she could only watch in agony as her grown child fell. Mother and child were finally reunited in death. Yet, such a reunion offered no true escape for either of them."

The Golden Light of Deliverance

"It was not until the golden light of Practitioner Su reached the forest that they were saved. There was no distinction made between species; all were delivered. In a very short time, both the fawn and the mother were transformed into human forms. In their previous lives, the mother had been a sentimental man, and the fawn had been a tall, thin man. They had no connection to each other in that past life; the karmic bond they shared in this life was rooted in the distant past. The hunters who captured and killed them were their respective karmic creditors. Whether there were connections in the distant past or not, it was all merely a performance of the physical body. As long as one possesses a physical body, one cannot escape the 'white-haired person sending off the black-haired person'—the cycle of birth, death, and separation. Therefore, there is no need to be obsessed with the six realms of existence, and certainly no reason to be deceived by these false, illusory appearances.

The more you cling, the harder it is to leave. Be a person who sees clearly. A true practitioner of the Buddha Dharma does not negotiate conditions; one simply focuses on diligent practice and how to conclude the cycle of rebirth in the six realms. All unnecessary attachments should be let go. Expand your mind-capacity. It is not just about 'you'; there is the void within the body, and the void within that void. Immeasurable and boundless sentient beings are waiting. At the moment of realising one's true nature and attaining Buddhahood, there is no mind and no thought. You can become the sentient beings of the void, or you can save the sentient beings of the void. The choice is yours. Maintain good thoughts, and practice diligently.

Namo Amituofo."

Chang Gao

Recorded by the disciple Shi Faxin.