This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who reflects on the spiritual journey of an ancient immortal who sought guidance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. This account details the immortal's transition from solitary practice to the path of . Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa-jing, on December 30, 2022.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". I am Venerable Yongning. It is a profound honour to share this account of a unique being who recently sought the light of the at our centre. For a thousand years, this immortal lived in a state of quiet isolation, sitting upon the clouds, observing the world below with a detached gaze. He watched Practitioner Su perform the sacred act of —the deliverance of spirits—day after day. He was deeply puzzled. He possessed great meditative concentration, yet he could not move between the various realms of existence with the effortless grace of Practitioner Su."
The Boundaries of an Immortal's Realm
"This immortal had spent a millennium refining his practice within a fixed space. No matter how the external environment shifted or decayed, his own space remained static. He could look out from his domain, observing the world beyond, but he lacked the freedom to traverse it at will. He could foresee the future of the entire worldly realm, and he knew exactly where every sentient being would be reincarnated. Yet, this knowledge was a heavy burden, for he could not change the trajectory of their suffering.
One day, the immortal approached me with a question that had been gnawing at his heart: 'Venerable, tell me, whose skills are greater? Mine, or those of Practitioner Su?' I looked at him with compassion and replied, 'I am a student of the Buddha. I understand the suffering of all beings, and I understand the heart of the Buddha—a heart defined by boundless compassion. If one can truly embody that compassion, and like the Buddha, dedicate one's life to saving beings, that is the highest attainment, the only one truly worthy of praise.'"
A Humbling Realisation
"The immortal stroked his long, white beard, his expression softening into one of profound reflection. 'I know the suffering of beings,' he admitted, 'but I have never known how to save them. If that is the measure of true attainment, then I am thousands of miles behind Practitioner Su. My practice has been insufficient. I feel a deep sense of shame.' I praised his meditative concentration, yet I had to be honest with him: if practice is done only for oneself, even with the ability to foresee the future or know the paths of samsara, one cannot truly help beings leave suffering behind. I encouraged him to step out of the space he had inhabited for a thousand years."
The of a Compassionate Heart
"I urged him to follow Practitioner Su, to witness the work of saving beings, and to shift his focus from his own cultivation to the welfare of others. He listened. He stepped out of his space and watched as Su Fo's countless billions of manifestations worked to deliver spirits across the realms. His heart was moved to awe. He realised that his own accomplishments were nothing compared to this.
From that day forward, the immortal made a vow: throughout his many lives, he would follow the Buddha. He would make the saving of beings his primary purpose. He chose to let go of the attachments he had built over a millennium, to start anew, and to dedicate his life to the cultivation of a heart of pure compassion. Namo Amituofo."
