The Price of Emotional Attachment: A Warning from Prince Star

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Likananda, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his observations of the Prince Star, which he first encountered approximately two thousand years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on July 15, 2018.

Venerable Likananda speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Likananda. I have spent much time travelling through the vastness of the universe, observing the rise and fall of countless worlds. Recently, I found myself leaving the bustling, noisy cities of the human realm and venturing into a quiet, secluded settlement. There, I encountered many tribal chiefs who were gathered together, deeply engrossed in studying the stars. They were sharing the legendary stories of various planets with the local residents, and I felt a profound curiosity, so I joined their fascinating discussion.

The Legend of the Prince Star

One elder, his hair as white as snow, spoke to the crowd with a grave expression: 'Look to the southwest. Do you see that dim, greyish planet? That is known as the Prince Star. It is a world filled with imperial palaces and nobility, where the inhabitants once lived lives of immense luxury and comfort. However, countless tragic love stories have unfolded within that world. In their desperate pursuit of what they deemed beautiful romance, the citizens became completely immersed in emotional entanglements. What they failed to realise was that the very energy of their planet was being drained away. Once they became obsessed with these emotions, their vital energy began to deplete rapidly.'

As I listened to his words, I felt a sudden, intense pull. Through the power of my intent, I projected my spirit into the cosmos, travelling instantly to the very planet the elder had described. I had to see this for myself.

A Planet Consumed by Desire

The inhabitants of the Prince Star were exactly as the chief had described—drowning in their own emotional attachments. The population was dwindling day by day. Because their energy was being consumed by their relentless pursuit of romance, they no longer had the vitality to sustain their species. The planet was on the brink of total destruction. It was a heartbreaking sight, and yet, there was nothing anyone could do to save them. Even I, with all my experience, could only stand by and watch as this world slowly faded into oblivion.

More than two thousand years have passed since I first visited the Prince Star, and yet, it still exists today. When Practitioner Su began the work of performing Chao Du for the universe, the light of the Buddha shone upon that distant world. When I looked upon it again, the scene was absolutely tragic. The inhabitants, who once possessed bodies that radiated brilliant colours, had fallen into a state of utter decay. They were dim, lifeless, and their faces were gaunt and withered. They had been ravaged by the pursuit of love, and by this generation, they had become truly grotesque. Yet, despite their wretched state, they remained oblivious to the severity of their situation, still intoxicated by the illusions of romance.

The Power of the Buddha-Name

What I saw was a group of dark, shrivelled beings, still deeply immersed in their intense, dramatic love affairs. They did not perceive their own ugliness; they only knew the perceived beauty of their attachments. But today, the Buddha-light shone upon the Prince Star, and the holy name of Namo Amituofo was brought into their world. The immense, boundless energy of this name helped them instantly recover their original forms. It is a testament to the fact that the power of Namo Amituofo is truly infinite.

Under the influence of the Buddha’s power, these beings, who had been so blinded by their emotions, were finally awakened. They were able to see clearly the hideous state they had fallen into through their obsession with love. The royal nobles, who were once the envy of all, saw how they had rotted away because of their attachments. They were filled with shame and deep repentance. They knelt upon the ground, offering their gratitude for the Buddha’s help and thanking Practitioner Su for bringing the holy name of Namo Amituofo to them, allowing them to finally wake up from the dream of emotional entanglements.

A Warning for the People of Earth

The Prince Star is not the only planet in the universe suffering in this way. There are many others just like it, all immersed in the same cycle of emotional attachment, though the degree of their obsession varies. On some planets, the inhabitants are so deeply lost that it is nearly impossible to wake them. Their physical forms have deteriorated severely; the most extreme cases have shrunk to the size of mere dust, drifting aimlessly through the cosmos. Those who are less severely affected are like the residents of the Prince Star—they can still be awakened when the Buddha-name is introduced to them.

The citizens of the Prince Star have now made a vow to save all other planets that are as foolish as they once were. They are carrying the holy name of Namo Amituofo, flying to every world where emotional entanglements run deep. They want to warn others of the dangers of being addicted to romance, and Earth is one of those worlds. Unfortunately, because their space is different from ours, they cannot be seen by the people of Earth.

Today, through my description, I am conveying the message that the Prince Star wishes to share with the people of Earth. I hope you can understand that being addicted to emotional entanglements comes at a terrible price. It is common on Earth to see people who were once tall and vibrant shrink in stature over the course of their reincarnations—sometimes dropping from one hundred and eighty centimetres to barely over a metre. Few people on Earth know this truth, but the seeds of emotional attachment are spreading wider and wider. Once a planet becomes truly addicted to these emotions, the moment of its destruction draws ever closer.

Fortunately, the people of Earth possess great blessings. The vow of Practitioner Su has drawn Namo Amituofo and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to reside right here on Earth, spreading the holy name of Namo Amituofo. The people of Earth must seize this opportunity. Hold fast to this Buddha-name and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Do not continue to drown in emotional entanglements. Marriage and raising children may seem sweet, but the price you pay for this cycle of reproduction is not just the suffering of one lifetime—you may find yourself trapped in the cycle of samsara for three lifetimes or more, unable to escape.

The reason I share this story today is that I have returned to Earth and observed that the people here are no longer the same as they were thousands of years ago. Their faces have become increasingly ugly, and the number of spirits lingering in this space has grown exponentially. The painful price of emotional attachment is clearly visible on everyone. If you do not hasten to wake up, even if the Buddha comes, it will be difficult to help you, because the human heart’s attachment has become too rigid. Take this moment to remind everyone: chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss! Namo Amituofo."