The Profound Essence of Chao Du

12 February 2019

In a broad sense, the act of Chao Du exists throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm. Wherever sentient beings possess spiritual faith and emotional connection, the practice of Chao Du can be performed.

Sentient beings are not limited to those in our immediate vicinity; they include spiritual beings across the Milky Way, the bonds between humans, the connections between humans and animals, pets, or plants, and even the interactions among animals themselves. Because of the daily interactions in life, we form deep emotional and spiritual dependencies. When a life ends, those left behind often experience profound feelings of reluctance, loss, confusion, and sorrow. It is a testament to the inherent kindness and instinct of humanity that we wish for the departed to find a better place. This sincere intention generates an invisible force—a vibration, a natural phenomenon. Indeed, the destination of the deceased is largely shaped by the power of the mind.

The Universal Resonance of Compassion

Wherever there is the cycle of rebirth and the interaction of emotional thoughts, there is the possibility for Chao Du. In the human realm, when the four elements of the body separate at the time of death, the fluctuation of the mind acts as a message. In an incredibly rapid span of time, this message is received by others, and the consciousness of the deceased is drawn toward that destination. If one is destined for the hells, the karmic retribution will dictate the path. The deceased will be reborn into one of the following realms based on their karma: the hells, the hungry ghost realm, the animal realm, the human realm, or the celestial realm. If one enters the celestial realm, the spirit ascends directly. Before the next rebirth is finalised, if those still living perform acts of Chao Du or accumulate merit, they can assist the deceased in being reborn into a virtuous path or, ideally, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the true purpose of Chao Du.

Chao Du is not exclusive to the human world. Even highly spiritual animals in the animal realm exhibit sorrow and reluctance. Some have been observed covering the bodies of their departed companions with leaves or other materials to protect them from the elements. This, too, is a form of Chao Du.

The Karmic Currents of the Soul

Every religious faith has its own methods of Chao Du. However, the fundamental conditions for success always involve three elements: the deceased, the deliverer, and the destination. The most critical factor is the interaction of mental vibrations between the living and the departed. For the deceased, all worldly possessions—wealth, status, and even the people they were attached to—cannot be taken with them. Upon leaving the body, the spirit is guided by the karma and the final thoughts held at the moment of death.

The point from which the consciousness exits the body can provide a glimpse into the destination of the spirit: the crown of the head indicates rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss or a Buddha Land; the brow indicates the celestial realm; the heart indicates the human realm; the navel indicates the hungry ghost realm; the knees indicate the animal realm; and the soles of the feet indicate the hells.

The Art of Guiding the Departed

For true practitioners who have transformed their karma, or those who have come to this world based on a great vow, the situation is different. Due to their meditative concentration, some are fully aware of the process of death. If they encounter past karmic creditors, they understand the need to settle these debts. Even if they face a violent end, they accept it with a calm mind, without resistance or resentment. Their worldly ties are exhausted, and they return to their original nature or ascend to a higher realm.

Whether the deliverer is a religious figure, a priest, a monk, or a family member, the effectiveness of the Chao Du depends entirely on their mental state, their virtue, and their meditative concentration. In the context of the Buddha’s teachings, the goal is to help the deceased reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. If one merely pays for a ceremony without the substance of true practice, the deceased will still follow their own karmic path. The ceremony may bring peace of mind to the living, but it provides little benefit to the departed. A true practitioner—one who has realised their true nature and possesses the Precepts, Concentration, and Wisdom—can perceive the state of the deceased. They can counsel the spirit to let go of attachments, allowing them to receive the Chao Du and be reborn in a virtuous realm or the Western Pure Land.

The Compassionate Vow of the Practitioner

A practitioner knows that everything in nature—animals, plants, the mountains, and the rivers—possesses spiritual life. Even the food we eat or the items we purchase may have spirits attached to them. Recognising that these beings have entered these states due to negative karma or thoughts, the practitioner offers refuge and Chao Du. By helping them leave their current state and enter the memorial tablets at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, these beings are given the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. This is the practice of Practitioner Su. Such compassion is the practical manifestation of the one-body perspective, the very heart of Mahayana Buddhism. We should all strive to learn from this example.

The destination of our next life is heavily influenced by our mental state at the moment of death. Whether one passes away suddenly, in pain, in peace, or with resentment, these states dictate the future. Many who die in accidents are not even aware that they have passed, which is why the ritual of summoning the spirit is performed. Generally, those who were greedy in life fall into the hungry ghost realm; those who were ignorant fall into the animal realm; and those who were filled with anger fall into the hells.

The Power of Namo Amituofo

While religious rituals can assist the deceased, the spirit must be willing to follow the power of the Chao Du toward a virtuous destination. This requires an environment free from negative emotions or attachments. If family members are too attached to the deceased, their grief acts as a tether, creating an obstacle to the spirit’s smooth transition to the Western Pure Land. The power of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony is inconceivable because the presiding master is Namo Amituofo, the teaching master of the Western Pure Land. This is truly for the benefit of both the living and the deceased. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia operates precisely in this manner.

Many physical illnesses stem from karmic retribution. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, one can resolve the negative causes and grievances between karmic creditors and the individual. By delivering these attached spirits through the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, one can achieve miraculous improvements in physical, mental, and spiritual health.

A Precious Opportunity for Liberation

Do not wait until after death to rely on others for Chao Du; it is too risky and provides no guarantee. Life is fleeting. If you fall back into the cycle of rebirth, it is a great tragedy. Those at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre must understand this. You are in a precious land where Namo Amituofo truly abides, guided by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju and Practitioner Su. Practitioner Su’s ability to deliver beings is so profound that even celestial beings from the twenty-eight heavens and those from the Four Sacred Realms come to seek Chao Du to the Western Pure Land.

You must cherish this rare opportunity. Learn the skills of Chao Du and the ability to be reborn in the Western Pure Land at will. Most importantly, you must realise your true nature. This is the purpose of your practice. Use your life to save others, and when the time comes, you will be able to depart with ease, repaying the four great debts of gratitude: to the Buddha, to your parents, to your country, and to all sentient beings.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo