The Mystery of Space and the Soul

Venerable Changgao, a monastic who sought deliverance through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, now resides in the Buddha-land. This interview, recorded on March 27, 2019, by the disciple Venerable HaiZe, captures his reflections on the nature of space, the human soul, and the profound work of Practitioner Su.

Venerable Changgao speaks:

"Now that I have returned to the Buddha-land and rejoined the ranks, I look back at that time in the human world with a clearer perspective. Having seen the complex, murky nature of karmic retribution and the way the three hun souls and seven po souls become scattered and lose their ability to master themselves, I feel even more deeply how precious and rare the purity and simplicity of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre truly is. This temple is like a sanctuary, a peach blossom spring hidden away from the world—a place where there is no contention, no grasping, and no strife. Practitioner Su is single-mindedly dedicated to helping everyone recover their true self and innate abilities. It is truly a rare opportunity, one that is hard to encounter in a thousand lifetimes. This is a place that Practitioner Su has built with every ounce of her heart and soul, and I must do my utmost to protect and support it."

The Purity of Hsiang Kuang

"Through the daily interviews, the Venerable of Hsiang Kuang learns and uncovers the truth behind so many things. If one can remain free from delusions and messy thoughts, and if one has no other distractions, combined with the guidance provided by Practitioner Su, it is of immense help in sharpening one's spiritual awareness and sensitivity.

I believe that understanding the nature of space—these hidden dimensions—has been my greatest harvest this time. In the past, my understanding of these spaces was vague and unclear, but now I understand. Everyone must be vigilant regarding these spaces. If, through a moment of carelessness, one enters these spaces, the soul can be captured. When the spirit is trapped, it becomes difficult for the consciousness to solidify, which creates a massive obstacle to one's practice and the recovery of one's true self. This is something Practitioner Su has always been extremely attentive to regarding all of us."

The Hidden Dangers of Space

"Every day, I see the temple and its surroundings glowing with golden light, illuminating the night sky in a way that the human world could never witness. This is the space where Namo Amituofo resides in the human world. Although it exists right there on the vast grounds of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, ordinary eyes cannot see it; only Practitioner Su and those of us who have attained this level of awareness can perceive it. This is the difference in space. The Dharma Body of Practitioner Su can traverse time and space, and she can open up these hidden dimensions to perform Chao Du. If you have not experienced this personally, it is truly hard to imagine! This is something that has never happened before; it is a tremendous blessing for all sentient beings.

Today, I witnessed sentient beings with karmic affinity from a thousand years ago. They were monastics who had practised at the temple in a past life. They were still sitting in meditation within that space. I saw that as they meditated, their souls were drifting in the air. It became clear that both the meditating figures and the drifting souls were the hun and po souls of those ancient disciples. They had been trapped in that space for a thousand years! It was only because Practitioner Su opened up this space that these souls finally had the chance to manifest. I shouted a loud 'Namo Amituofo' to them, and it woke them up. They began calling out, 'Practitioner Su! Practitioner Su!' For a moment, it felt as if I had been transported back to that ancient time. Fortunately, the surrounding Buddha-light and the chanting of the Buddha-name brought me back to the present. I hurriedly told the disciples to chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Some were still dazed, but those with more awareness immediately began to chant. At that moment, the great sleeves of Practitioner Su appeared, sweeping the disciples into them, and with a wave, she sent them into the Buddha-light. I knew then that they had been saved and delivered to the West. I am so grateful to Practitioner Su!"

The Complexity of the Soul

"Living in the twenty-first century and seeing disciples from a millennium ago, my heart is filled with a thousand emotions. If Practitioner Su had not opened that space, they would still be trapped within it, unaware that a thousand years had actually passed. In this way, perhaps the souls that enter the cycle of rebirth in the actual world are incomplete. Perhaps this is their final life, and they are destined to be trapped in these hidden spaces! This is a truly shocking realisation. It means that Chao Du might only be delivering some of the three hun souls and seven po souls to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, while others remain in unopened spaces or have already entered the other six realms of existence. The deeper one goes, the more inconceivable it feels!

This is why Practitioner Su often says that space is infinitely layered. We are only delivering a portion of the souls; it is an endless task. This is what she means. The students of Hsiang Kuang are truly fortunate to have Practitioner Su looking after us, monitoring whether our three hun souls and seven po souls have become scattered. If they are lost, she will find the right moment to call them back into the body. Only then can one have a complete soul and the opportunity to realise one's true nature. Because there are so few people in this world with the level of skill possessed by Practitioner Su, once a practitioner’s soul is scattered and cannot return, their consciousness cannot solidify, and they lose the chance to awaken."

A Call to Cherish the Path

"The students of Hsiang Kuang are truly blessed. Everyone should cherish the time spent with Practitioner Su, practise diligently to realise your true nature and find your true self, so as not to let the painstaking efforts of Practitioner Su go to waste."

Namo Amituofo."