The Kidnapped Soul

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Chang Gao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects on the nature of the soul and the phenomenon of spiritual kidnapping. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 31, 2022.

Venerable Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Chang Gao. There is a common saying: 'A past event has taken your soul away.' Is this just a figure of speech, or is it a literal truth? Through the guidance of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I have come to realise that this is, in fact, the absolute truth.

The Truth Behind the Saying

In my past years of practice, I had heard of the concept of an out-of-body experience, but I had never truly understood the idea of the soul being taken away or kidnapped. However, here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I hear of this frequently. It happens constantly. In truth, almost every human being has experienced this at some point in their lives, though most remain completely unaware that a part of their spirit has been stolen.

Why does a past event have the power to take your soul? It happens because of the attachments held within the heart. When you cannot let go of a memory, it is as if you have tied that past event to your heart with thousands of invisible ropes. Even when you are not consciously thinking about it, that memory continues to echo within you. This is how a past event can kidnap your soul in your dreams. Your karmic creditors are clever; they easily orchestrate the re-enactment of those memories while you sleep. You become immersed in the drama, you fall into their trap, and before you know it, your soul has been led away.

How the Soul is Stolen

It is not only the events of the distant past that can kidnap your soul. Everything you yearn for, everything you crave, and everything you cling to—whether it be people, objects, or circumstances—can be used to steal your spirit. You see, karmic creditors are masters of transformation. They can manifest whatever it is that you desire most. By presenting you with your favourite things, they hook your heart, and in that moment of distraction, they carry your soul away.

The Mountain of Lost Spirits

Today, during the morning deliverance, I was performing Chao Du for a space within the mountain forests. As I reached into that space, I saw many people climbing the mountain. It was only when the deliverance began that I realised these people had all entered a trapped space. While their physical bodies were still at home going about their daily lives, their souls were trapped in that space, endlessly climbing the mountain. They were completely unaware that they were missing a spirit or a portion of their soul; they simply continued their climb, lost in the illusion.

Returning to the Body

When the Buddha-light shone down and the sound of the Buddha's name chanting entered that mountain forest, the space was opened. The spirits who were climbing were finally awakened and were able to leave that space. For those whose physical bodies were still alive, they were incredibly fortunate; they had the opportunity to have their spirits return to their bodies. However, if they remain deeply obsessed and attached to the activity of climbing, I suspect that the same situation will occur again before long. They have become so accustomed to it that their spirits naturally drift back to that familiar, trapped space to linger.

A Path to Wholeness

Please, do not let your soul be kidnapped. Every person has the potential to possess a complete and healthy spirit. It is entirely possible to retrieve your lost soul. You need only to stop being greedy, stop seeking external validation, and stop clinging to worldly things. Keep your heart pure, and maintain a single-minded focus on chanting Namo Amituofo. By doing so, you can find your way back to wholeness.

Namo Amituofo."