This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changgao, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the . This account reflects upon his experiences within the Realm. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on March 30, 2019.
Venerable Changgao speaks:
". I am Changgao. In the past, I could have spent eons in the state of deep meditative concentration, wandering freely through this world and others, carefree and unburdened. Yet, today, I find myself following closely by the side of Practitioner Su, trembling with reverence and daring not to slacken for even a moment. Why? Because I have witnessed the awakened of Practitioner Su as he works to save sentient beings. His dedication is entirely selfless, a state of absolute . If a life within the human world can achieve such a state, then I, Changgao, cannot be selfish or merely indulge in my own enjoyment. I must learn to follow in his footsteps. Only then does the existence of my spiritual life hold true meaning and value.
The Barrier to the Western Pure Land
In the vast Dharma Realm, no matter how I tried, I could never reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss on my own. It felt as though there were layers upon layers of space separating me from it, an impenetrable barrier that I could not break through. However, for the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, this is something easily attained—a task performed with effortless grace. I must rely entirely upon Practitioner Su to enter the Western Pure Land. And it is not just I who requires this; immeasurable and boundless sentient beings all need Practitioner Su to step forward so that they, too, may enter the Western Pure Land. Practitioner Su is the true messenger of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the savior of all spirits. He has transcended the life of ordinary people, and only by becoming a sage can one possess such extraordinary skills.
Ascending Beyond the Heavens
During this morning’s Dharma Body Chao Du, Practitioner Su, as always, led our team as we surged toward the heavens, breaking through the twenty-eight heavens and the Four Sacred Realms. Each layer of heaven and each Dharma Realm is a distinct space, yet Practitioner Su led the way, charging forward and piercing through these countless, uncountable spaces. As he moved, he waved his sleeves, gathering up the celestial beings and the sages of the Four Sacred Realms who had long been kneeling in prayer, seeking Chao Du and rebirth in the Western Pure Land. They chanted the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo, becoming part of the immeasurable and boundless assembly of spirits seeking rebirth in the West. In the context of the ten directions, these celestial beings and the holy assembly are considered higher spiritual beings, yet even they must rely on Practitioner Su to guide them to the Western Pure Land.
Saving a Dying World
I caught sight of a planet within the Milky Way that was emitting a dim, grey aura. It lacked all light—a clear sign that the planet’s energy was on the verge of extinction or imminent explosion. Practitioner Su appeared much like the Peter Pan of fairy tales, though with a profound difference: while Peter Pan flies through the air with wings and shoes, Practitioner Su moved barefoot, surrounded by vast, boundless circles of light. Everywhere he went, the six-syllable Buddha-name could be heard resonating through the void. He circled this planet several times with incredible speed, and we followed closely behind him. At the same time, Practitioner Su never ceased waving his great sleeves, ensuring that not a single sentient being capable of being saved by chanting the Buddha-name was left behind.
A New Light in the Cosmos
Afterward, from outside the planet, we could clearly see that it was gradually beginning to glow, with different colours emerging across its surface. Our hearts were filled with for the life on that planet; they had received the energy of the Buddha-name and were reborn. This was the 'Lucky Star' of the day! If one were to look up at the starry sky from Earth at this very moment, one might see a tiny, distant point of light suddenly appearing in the dark, vast expanse of space. That is the light of this very planet.
Practitioner Su surged forward once more. He continued on, barefoot and never pausing, charging ahead with relentless determination. We, his followers, hurried to catch up, fearing that we might lose sight of his footsteps. Namo Amituofo."
