The Purity of Life's Origin

Venerable Changren is a monastic practitioner who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where they currently reside. This interview was recorded on March 6, 2020, and transcribed by the Buddhist disciple Shi Faxi.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Every life, at its very inception, is inherently pure. It is just like the initial state of Causal Conditions—it remains untainted and pristine. But one must ask: why does this purity change over time? Why does it become obscured? The root cause lies in our interactions with one another. It is in the way we relate to the world and to other beings that changes begin to occur. Initially, two lives may be complete strangers, having no connection or karmic bond. Yet, once they cross paths, once they interact and touch one another's lives, a myriad of reactions and feelings arise. We often see these interactions manifest as either positive or negative changes, and these are all distinct from that original, simple state of being.

The Loss of Original Simplicity

Think about it—the origin of every life is so incredibly pure, yet later on, everything becomes so different. Each of us falls into a maze of confusion because our hearts are no longer clear. We look at everything around us, and we no longer see things as they truly are. The proliferation of Causal Conditions and the constant shifts in our interactive relationships leave ordinary people in this world with no way to escape. We have all lost that original simplicity. The connections and emotions between people in this human world are complex and intertwined, tightly binding us to one another. Our hearts rise and fall, shaken by every passing breeze. Once the purity of life is lost, people can no longer find themselves. They are completely confused and shaken by everything in this world, forgetting who they were before they arrived here, forgetting their original, authentic selves.

The Trap of Emotional Entanglement

Before we enter this future world, we are capable of seeing everything clearly. But once we encounter the realities of the human world, our hearts lose their coolness and clarity. Look at how people meet one another today; there is always a distinction between who we like and who we dislike. When facing the myriad things in this world, there is always a preference or an aversion. The human heart is no longer pure; it has lost its consistent meditative concentration. We are turned and tossed by every change in our environment. How can a heart that is constantly influenced by external circumstances remain pure? People trap themselves in the conditions of this world simply for the sake of these fleeting feelings. They influence themselves, and they allow themselves to be imprisoned by the worldly environment.

Returning to the Original State

It is entirely possible to interact with others without becoming entangled in these complex webs. We can engage in interactions without letting our emotions dictate our state of mind. It is all a matter of our own perception. In truth, we can choose not to have these attachments; we can choose not to form these complicated relationships. By maintaining a heart that is pure and clear, we can return to the state we were in when we first arrived. This is the only way to remain consistent with our original nature. I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of the grandmother. Namo Amituofo."