Venerable Changren, a monastic who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, shares his profound journey through various spiritual practices and his eventual realisation of the Pure Land path. This interview was recorded on July 8, 2019.
Venerable Changren speaks:
"Having observed so many different methods of practice, I have come to realise that the Pure Land path is truly the only ultimate way. In the past, I dedicated myself to Chan meditation, yet even today, I must rely on the Pure Land to guide me back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Throughout my long journey, I remained trapped on the path of samsara. It was only after arriving here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre that these cycles finally ceased, and I was finally able to stop creating ."
The Truth Beyond Many Paths
"Not all teachings are the True Teachings, yet not all are false either. There are countless gates in this world, but only the Pure Land is ultimate. Why? Because the Pure Land allows one to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It provides sentient beings with a destination, sparing them from the suffering of the cycle of rebirth. This is the ultimate Truth. Before I encountered this place, I did not understand this either.
My own practice spanned several centuries. I have seen so much; I have explored every kind of Dharma gate and sect. At one point, I even fell into the Demon Realm. This proves that reincarnation is not the ultimate goal. No matter how good one's practice is, it is easy to go astray due to a single misguided thought. Once, because of a single moment of hatred, I spent eight hundred years on the demon path. People in the world lacked the attainment to perceive my existence, yet I was constantly in contact with them. I even participated in the invention of modern mobile phone technology. Within the space of mobile networks, there is a constant flow of information, and I often watched everyone there. Nowadays, people can hardly live without their phones."
The Emptiness of Modern Life
"Modern people are deeply empty. Even if they study the Buddha’s teachings or follow a faith they have encountered, their hearts remain unsatisfied and hollow. They are constantly searching and seeking. Some seekers of faith travel everywhere to visit holy sites or pay respects to famous masters and Dharma Kings. Their hearts are simply longing for a sense of belonging. Others in the world continue to chase desires, fame, profit, and status. The sense of insecurity within their hearts constantly arises. How could such a path be the ultimate Dharma gate? There is no Truth in their hearts, and they do not understand the Truth at all.
I, Changren, see that the hearts of so many people are still filled with blindness. If you ask them what practice is, or what the Truth is, most cannot give a clear answer. They remain trapped in the cycle of rebirth, still needing to endure endless hardships because they are still subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death. If one still clings to their personality and ego, it is even easier for karma to find them, leading to suffering that is beyond words."
Taking Control of Your Own Destiny
"People in the world do not understand the Truth; there is too much they fail to grasp. If you can calm your mind, look into your own heart, and examine your own problems, you should be able to better understand your own situation. Only then can you know whether your choices are truly ultimate. Blind pursuit is not real, and it cannot help you. Having seen so much, I hope everyone will wake up and turn toward the right path.
Practicing Taoism is also a faith for many, but one must ask if that realm is still limited to the world. People in the world believe that as long as one has a good heart and does good deeds, that is enough. This thought is indeed correct, but beyond doing good in the world, escaping this cycle of fate is an equally important matter. The Truth must be able to liberate one from the suffering of the dust-filled world, to wake up and no longer be infatuated with the world, to jump out of the cycle of rebirth, and to not let the world dominate you. You must be able to decide your own life.
The great of the Buddha is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. I hope everyone can grasp it and cherish this period of . I am grateful to Practitioner Su. ."
