The Lingering Souls in the Clouds

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his observations of spiritual realms and the process of deliverance. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on April 10, 2023.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Within the various spiritual spaces, there exist spirits of high and low levels; there are spirits of high-dimensional spaces and those of lower ones. Each spirit possesses a unique appearance, and their levels of clarity and purification differ significantly.

The Unseen Realms of Practice

I have been following the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du. As I observe the spaces where Practitioner Su conducts these deliverances, I have also travelled to many realms connected to my own past. Beyond the established spaces we visit regularly, there are many newly emerging realms—spaces I had never encountered before. They manifest only when the Causal Conditions are ripe, allowing us to enter and deliver the beings trapped within.

Today, as I watched the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su perform Chao Du, countless manifestations entered the cloud-based spaces. Suddenly, a new space emerged amidst the thin clouds. The spirits inside were remarkably luminous, quite distinct from the grey, hazy spirits one usually encounters in lower realms.

The Practitioners Who Remained

I looked closely at these spirits and was astonished to find that they were all chanting the Buddha's name. It turned out to be a group of practitioners who had not attained rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, but instead remained suspended in this space, continuing their practice of chanting.

Judging from the space they occupied, these individuals had not merely chanted with their mouths; during their human lives, they had truly engaged in practice, yet they had not achieved thoroughness. This lack of thoroughness meant that a trace of their individual personality still remained, which acted as an obstacle to their rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Clarity and the Weight of Attachment

As I observed these spirits alongside those from other realms, I noted that while they were all spirits, their spiritual appearances were vastly different. Because of their chanting, their bodies emitted a faint light, and their level of spiritual purity was significantly higher than that of other spirits. They could speak with great clarity, whereas the spirits in lower-level spaces often struggle to communicate with such coherence.

I asked one of the spirits, a man, 'How long have you been in this cloud space?' He replied, 'We chant the Buddha's name at every moment. We have no connection to the outside world. Regardless of how the world changes or where this cloud drifts, we continue to chant. From the time we entered this cloud space until now, it has been approximately five hundred and sixty years.'

The Hidden Obstacles to Rebirth

I asked him further, 'Do you understand why you did not attain rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss?' The man answered, 'Over five hundred years ago, when I first passed away, I had immense confidence that I would reach the Western Land. I had begun learning the Buddha's teachings at fourteen, chanting and reciting the Sutras daily without fail. I could chant the Buddha-name in a way that stirred people's hearts; many were moved to tears upon hearing it. Everyone believed I would surely attain rebirth through chanting. To my surprise, when my spirit left my body, I did not arrive in the West. I did not understand what had gone wrong, and for a long time, I did not know to look back at my past. It was only recently, as the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su came repeatedly to this cloud space to deliver beings, that we were purified by the Buddha-light time and again. It was as if we finally knew to look back at our past lives.

Upon reflection, I saw that although my practice had been disciplined and I had followed the teachings, there remained too many attachments within my heart. If I were to use the word 'round' to describe perfection, my 'roundness' was far from complete; it was full of sharp edges and corners. These edges were things I had never noticed during my practice. Because I ignored them, they remained as they were, obstructing my rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Looking back now, it is a great pity. If only I had been guided by an enlightened teacher, or if I had attained a moment of awakening in my practice earlier, I would have known to adjust myself bit by bit. Any trace of personality, including the most subtle 'attachment,' can become an obstacle to rebirth. However, I am fortunate. I have awakened now. Under the deliverance of Practitioner Su's Dharma Body, many of us are finally willing to seek salvation, no longer clinging to our own space of chanting.'

A Magnificent Deliverance

I watched as this group of practitioners, now willing to depart, chanted the Buddha's name aloud. Each sound was deeply stirring, reaching into the soul, profoundly moving, and filled with a sincere, single-minded determination to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Unexpectedly, through the merits accumulated from their past practice, the Causal Conditions of Practitioner Su's deliverance, and their own firm conviction, they truly attained rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was magnificent and deeply touching.

Today, I share this account of high-level spiritual beings attaining rebirth through chanting. Every person and every spirit can learn from this: chanting the Buddha's name is essential, and one must be diligent in their practice.'

Yongning"