Venerable Yongning, a monastic who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, currently resides at the centre. This interview was recorded on July 28, 2019, to share insights on the significance of Buddhist practice and the profound nature of the Buddha’s teachings.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
"Practice is fundamentally about the cultivation of the heart. The degree to which you have cultivated your heart is revealed by how you react when the external environment suddenly changes. Do you feel deeply affected, are you only slightly moved, or do you remain completely indifferent? When you face the myriad discriminations before your eyes, do you feel anxious or fearful? When you settle your heart and cultivate its clarity, you will often begin to hear the voice within. This inner voice is frequently audible. What the eyes see makes us wonder why things are the way they are; what the nose smells makes us ponder the nature of the scent; what feels triggers memories of the past. These various direct physical reactions are simply the natural responses brought about by the external world of the human world.
The Interconnectedness of the Universe
These reactions are clearly visible in those walking along the path of life; the responses of seem so natural. Yet, who would realise that the electrical signals emitted by these reactions travel with incredible speed, overlapping with one another? Along these lines of intersection, one can reach out to the entire universe. Those with karmic affinity arrive, enter the body, and coexist within it. When this habit arises, the corresponding being emerges; when their personality manifests, their nature takes control. The body shuttles back and forth between every thought that is emitted. The body is like the universe itself—it can contain all things.
The Spiritual Nature of Every Cell
Every single cell has its own spiritual nature, experiencing sensations in tandem with the body. The lovers we once cherished, the dogs we adored, the enemies we despised, those who harmed or framed us, and even those whose personalities mirror our own—all of them exist within our cells. Those who do not know the truth follow their own inclinations day after day, whether they are good or evil, pleasant or unpleasant. It can be said that the body is left to be swayed by others. When extreme evil arises, major illnesses appear in the body. Many times, people complain about the heavens and the earth, or blame the arrangements of fate, not knowing that fate is simply the result of the laws of and cause and effect between our own thoughts.
Mastering
The Buddha’s teachings reveal the truth, unravel the mysteries of the human body, and explain the universe. The purpose is to help everyone wake up; it is the hope that everyone can learn to be the master of their own lives and not be controlled by their own personalities. We have all experienced the bodies of the six realms of rebirth: the body of an insect crushed in an instant, the body of an animal being slaughtered, the agony of falling into the hells, or the state of a wandering, homeless spirit in the ghost realm. In this moment, everyone would shake their heads and say they do not want such things. Yet, when their personality does not go their way, they insist on following it—they want to lose their temper, to scold, to glare in anger, to let their blood pressure rise—even if it means sacrificing their own spiritual nature. Personality is the fatal flaw that harms oneself; it is also the way of the world.
The Path of Endless Practice
Everyone desires a beautiful and virtuous outcome. Under the laws of karma and cause and effect, it is clear that all choices originate from oneself. Practice has no end, but it must be faced. Practitioner Su gives talks and accompanies them with , sparing no effort. It is my hope that the truth revealed can be spread throughout the human world, allowing more people to know the meaning of practising the Buddha’s teachings and to understand the profound and vast nature of the Buddha’s teachings. The transmission of the Dharma requires everyone to be of one heart and one mind, so that the compassionate vows of the Buddha may flow on, unborn and undying.
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This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Faxin.
