The Path of Diligent Practice

This interview was recorded on November 1, 2019, featuring Venerable Changren, who reflects on the profound significance of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. The record was transcribed by the disciple Shi Faxi.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Changren. Throughout my existence, I have witnessed countless changes across generations and realms, yet the opportunity to practise here is truly rare and precious. Many people have seen much of the world, but few have encountered a place of practice as pure and focused as this. You must all cherish this rare Causal Condition. Unlike the complex and turbulent world outside, this place is a true Pure Land—remarkably clean, simple, and serene."

A Sanctuary of Infinite Light

"I have seen countless bodhimandas and Pure Lands throughout my long journey, but I have rarely encountered one like the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Its establishment is truly magnificent. This Pure Land is the result of the Buddha’s immeasurable blessings and wisdom accumulated over infinite kalpas. It is a sanctuary specifically created to save the world, a place where the Buddha’s light shines with an intensity that is difficult to measure. When your heart is pure and clear, you can perceive this brilliance. A cool, refreshing breeze permeates this space, purifying the body and mind of all who enter."

The Power of Purification

"Why has this become a Pure Land for the people of this world? It is because this ground has the unique power to purify life itself. Every life caught in the cycle of rebirth, suffering from the stains of karma, can be transformed and cleansed here. This is the magnificent power of the Pure Land. However, this also requires the Centre to bear the weight of the collective karma of many beings. With the Buddha’s majestic power and the Buddha’s presence as the Abbot, this place is endowed with an extraordinary dignity that is truly rare for beings to encounter."

A Call to Diligent Practice

"All beings who have the fortune to come here must ask themselves: Can my heart align with the Buddha’s intent and the Buddha’s causes? Are you practising diligently? You must engage in honest, quiet practice to rediscover your original nature. The purpose of this is to benefit all beings—to bring their hearts here to be purified, and to transform the karma of the world and the cycle of rebirth into clarity. This is the Buddha’s compassionate vow: to contain and embrace the suffering of all beings and lead them toward the light."

"The Buddha’s compassion is a call for all beings in the cycle of rebirth to awaken. The Buddha wishes to help all beings reach the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. May this Causal Condition at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre—this place of purity—provide every being with the hope of rebirth. The Buddha asks you all to practise diligently. I am deeply grateful to the Buddha for his compassion, and to 'Grandma' for her compassion. Namo Amituofo."