The Occupied Body: A Spiritual Reality

This article presents an interview with Venerable Chang Ren, who reflects upon the spiritual reality of the human body and the phenomenon of spiritual occupation. This session was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 3, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Chang Ren. I would like to pose a profound question to everyone: How much of this physical body truly belongs to you? Think about it carefully—if you have not thoroughly transformed your personality and your desires, every single loophole you leave behind becomes an opening for other beings to seize. Day by day, the space within your own body is being occupied, bit by bit, stolen away by sentient beings. The space where you can truly be the master of your own life is shrinking. If you continue to live in this manner, you will find that you are living less and less as yourself.

The Visual Evidence of Spiritual Occupation

Take out your photographs and compare them. Look at how you appeared last year versus how you look today. When you look in the mirror every day, you might not notice the change, but when you place the photos side by side, the decline is undeniable. That bridge of the nose that was once high and firm—it seems to have collapsed slightly. That face that was once full and vibrant—it seems to have withered. And those eye sockets that should not have been sunken—why have they hollowed out within a single year? The dark circles under your eyes have grown even deeper, a shadow that refuses to fade. These are the differences that the physical eyes can perceive, but if you look even closer, you will see more.

Look at the eyes. The very light and spirit within them have changed. The radiance and brightness of the face have dimmed significantly. But even this is not the full picture. If you look deeper, peering into the very space of the face, you will realise that the entire visage has been occupied by spirits. If we use the term 'ghost' to describe these beings, then that face is filled with them. These spirits can inhale; they can invade the space of your features. Their very existence alters the shape of your face and drains the vital energy and spirit from your body. Ultimately, this is what makes a face look aged, lifeless, and dull. This state cannot be remedied by drinking tonics or applying expensive skincare products, because the root cause remains—they are still there, residing within your face and throughout your entire body.

The Escalation of Karmic Debt

It is not only the external spirits that attach themselves to us; the karmic creditors within our own bodies are also constantly encroaching. As we grow older, our internal energy naturally wanes. As our vitality declines, the degree to which these karmic creditors can interfere with us intensifies. Their power to seek revenge increases, and naturally, the impact on our physical body becomes more severe. When you were young, a single evil thought might not have caused an immediate reaction. But as you age and your energy weakens, that same evil thought triggers an immediate physical response. The reason you feel it so acutely now is that you have been occupied bit by bit since your youth. By the time you reach old age, your body is already filled to the brim. Naturally, it is easy for everything to 'explode' at once. You develop illnesses that you have never experienced before; they all erupt because the body has reached its limit.

The Illusion of Ownership

Once the body falls ill, the speed at which your physical strength declines is terrifying. As bodily functions are compromised, the entire person takes on an aged, weary appearance that is far removed from one's actual age. We must realise that our possession of this body is only temporary, and all the pleasures we derive from it are equally fleeting. What is truly astonishing is that, due to the severity of this spiritual occupation, even the pleasures we enjoy while alive are not truly being enjoyed by ourselves. It is only at the moment when the spirit leaves the body that one finally experiences a total awakening to this truth.

The Path to Liberation

Today, I wish to share this: the existence of this body can serve a tremendous purpose. By changing even a small part of yourself, you allow your body to suffer less. Not a single shred of your stubborn personality is worth holding onto at the expense of this body. Only through transformation can you help yourself achieve liberation. Only then can you use this body—now under your own control—to chant Namo Amituofo. By chanting into the depths of your own spirit, you can elevate yourself and, at the same time, save the spirits both within and outside of your body. Namo Amituofo."