Venerable Chang Gao, a monastic who sought deliverance through the profound teachings of the Buddha and Practitioner Su, shares his insights on the long journey of practice. This interview was recorded on June 25, 2019, in Yilan, where he reflects on the nature of the physical body and the liberation of spirits.
Venerable Chang Gao speaks:
". The life of the Realm is fundamentally unrelated to this worldly realm. There is no dust, no toil, and no obstacles within the heart. In that beautiful state of existence, there is no contamination. Within Meditation (Concentration), one elevates the stages of practice.
I have experienced it all—the lives of high officials and noble people, the life of a monastic, the life of one working in the kitchen, and even the lives of animals, insects, and crawling creatures. The path of practice is a journey that spans throughout your many lives; it is not something that can be perfected in a single lifetime.
The Weight of the Physical Body
One must temper and mind, honing one's personality. The suffering caused by emotions and the various tests we face must be overcome through the physical body. The movements of the physical body, the images that enter your eyes, the —these emotions and remnants of consciousness remain within the space of the mind.
When the magnificent Causal Conditions of Namo Amituofo manifest, and the sound of the Dharma fills the sky, those beings whose Causal Conditions are ripe can be saved. The space influenced by a single Buddha-name is vast, and the layers of space that are unlocked are beyond calculation.
The Magnificent Light of Yilan
When I arrived in Yilan, the local spirits had been without guidance for a long time. They were still lingering in that space. This place was not a gathering place for the Demon Realm; rather, it was a place of simple, honest hearts. Who knew of the spirit within a single grain of rice? Who was there to save them? The fields were densely packed with spirits—small insects, birds, and various other beings. The farmers in that space were from different eras.
The divine beings performed their duties well, generation after generation, yet they did not understand the method of liberation. Now, in Yilan, a different kind of light is radiating. Many spirits gathered here out of curiosity, only to see a scene of dazzling brilliance—a magnificent and solemn Dharma Assembly.
Gratitude and the Path to Rebirth
Many leaves that had fallen to the ground were illuminated by the golden light and rose up. They had never seen such a radiant sight. They took on human bodies and smiled as they moved toward the light. Many spirits expressed their gratitude to the Zhang couple who supported the Dharma Assembly. Even without mentioning the deliverance that occurred during the Dharma talks by the Master, the mere act of coming to this place and the continuous daily has already saved boundless spirits.
We are grateful to the Buddha and Practitioner Su for bestowing upon us the place of Goodness that is neither born nor destroyed—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Many beings who did not understand have gradually come to understand the importance of seeking rebirth there. They also understand the cause of their falling into the six realms of existence.
Cherishing the Rare Human Life
The past Good deeds and Good conduct in Yilan have resulted in this Good fruit. The transmission of the Dharma requires the gathering of Causal Conditions. To attain Buddhahood and to uphold the Buddha’s teachings requires everyone to walk the path together.
The physical body is false. If you know that this life is meant to help beings, you will let go of your own attachments. What you cannot take with you and what you cannot let go of are all causes for being reincarnated. A human body is hard to obtain; cherish it and use it to its greatest potential. It is not death, but life—a life that is neither born nor destroyed, a life of freedom and . Cherish this magnificent Causal Condition. Namo Amituofo."
