This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who sought at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his transformation from a demon to a monastic practitioner. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on October 15, 2023.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". I am Yongning. Many people likely share the same experience as I did—not encountering the Buddha’s teachings at the very beginning of their lives, but rather having the opportunity to hear the sound of the Buddha later on, which eventually leads to a fundamental change within themselves.
I was once a demon, a being who knew nothing but the creation of chaos. Before I encountered the Buddha’s teachings, I understood nothing of the world. I knew only how to create , and in doing so, I accumulated immeasurable and boundless sins. At the time, I was completely unaware that I was doing anything wrong; in fact, I was quite proud of my actions. I was arrogant, blinded by my own power, and entirely lost in the darkness of my own making."
The Moment of Subjugation
"The Buddha’s teachings appeared in my life quite suddenly, because Practitioner Su subdued me. I had never been subdued by anyone before. My power as a demon was immense, far beyond what any ordinary human could hope to contain or control. I believed myself to be untouchable. However, the moment Practitioner Su took action, I found myself completely unable to resist. It was not a struggle of strength; it was a surrender to a force far greater than my own. I was quickly and thoroughly subdued by the power of the Buddha.
Following that encounter, I transitioned from the demon path into the Buddha’s path. My appearance changed, but more importantly, my concepts, my thoughts, and my entire perspective were transformed. I am no longer that demon of the past; I am Yongning. Every day, I now follow Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du for countless sentient beings, entering various spaces within the Earth, the Milky Way, and throughout the vast universe to offer them deliverance."
The Magnificent Opportunity of the
"Many people in this world do not encounter the Buddha’s teachings at birth. For the majority, it is only in the middle of their life’s journey that they begin to encounter the Dharma. Everyone meets the Buddha’s teachings through different Causal Conditions. Regardless of the circumstances, I believe that every such encounter is magnificent. To meet the Buddha is truly not an easy thing; one must possess sufficient , and one must have the complete Causal Conditions to be able to believe and to be willing to accept the teachings.
Before one encounters the Buddha’s teachings, one may not understand what the laws of karma and cause and effect truly are, nor may one comprehend the cycle of rebirth. Some individuals with higher sensitivity might be able to perceive information from spaces beyond the physical body, but do they truly know that they should seek liberation? Perhaps they know, or perhaps they do not."
The Shift in Heart and Mind
"After one begins to come into contact with the Buddha’s teachings, does life change? If a person truly commits their heart to the Dharma, their life will undoubtedly change. The change I speak of is a change in one’s state of mind. Under the influence of the Buddha’s teachings, the state of one’s heart is elevated. One is no longer the worldly person of the past. One learns to sublimate their life, to create a better existence, and to help oneself change one’s destiny in preparation for the spiritual life that is to come.
Many people may not yet understand what kind of transformation this is. When the heart truly begins to learn the Buddha’s path, to listen to the sutras, and to hear the Dharma, one will come to understand that this world is entirely illusory. Since it is illusory, would one still pursue things with the same frantic energy as before? Surely not. Because we know that once we obtain these things, we will soon lose them again. Why then waste time, money, and energy blindly pursuing something that will vanish in an instant? That 'something' might be emotional attachment, wealth, or the various things we pursue out of our own desires."
The of Letting Go
"After learning the Buddha’s path, one begins to understand how to let go. One learns to keep the heart empty and pure, to stop living a life that is complicated and exhausting. One begins to understand what it means to be at ease, what it means to be without wandering thoughts, and what it means to have nothing in the heart but the single phrase 'Namo Amituofo'.
Learning the Buddha’s path and beginning to understand how to change and how to let go—this elevation of the state of mind is the greatest enjoyment one can have in life. Encountering the Buddha’s teachings is a truly magnificent event. It means no longer wasting one’s life in this illusory world, but instead learning to let go of the attachment to the physical body and building a more beautiful spiritual future.
