The True Essence of Practising the Buddha’s Teachings

Venerable Yongning, a monastic at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, shares a profound account of a soul encountered during a recent deliverance session. This interview, recorded by Chief Writer Shi Fajing on May 22, 2023, details the spiritual journey of a young man who sought truth in intellectualism before finding salvation through the Buddha’s light.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Many profound Buddhist philosophical theories, when heard for the first time, seem to contain deep wisdom. Yet, they often fail to save a lost and helpless child. Today, within the spiritual space, I encountered a nineteen-year-old boy. He appeared before me by the seaside, brought forth by the wondrous Causal Conditions during the Chao Du performed by the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su."

A Brilliant Mind, A Hollow Heart

"This nineteen-year-old boy was exceptionally intelligent. During his life, he possessed what one might call a 'golden brain'—the kind that inspires envy in others. The knowledge of this world is vast, yet for him, it was effortless; whatever he saw or heard, he understood immediately and etched deeply into his memory. His mind functioned like a high-performance computer, with an IQ far surpassing that of the average person.

However, his heart did not find satisfaction through this abundance of knowledge. He did not feel at peace simply because he understood so much. He remained just as restless, just as tormented, and just as deeply unhappy as anyone else. He told me that he had sought help from school counsellors and spent money on doctors and psychological consultations, but no one could truly help him. After a few sessions, he would dismantle the words of the psychologists, realising they were merely repeating the same tired theories. As for the doctors, they could not diagnose the illness of his heart. No matter how much money he spent on medical fees, it was like throwing stones into the vast ocean—there was simply no response."

The Futility of Intellectual Buddhism

"The lost boy eventually began to seek the power of religion, hoping that by tapping into something beyond this world—something he had yet to encounter—he could find an exit from his suffering. He began to come into contact with Buddhism. However, the fellow practitioners he met led him to study an immense number of sutras and even encouraged him to attend a Buddhist academy. At first, the boy believed that if he listened to these practitioners and followed their methods, he would surely obtain the peace he desired in his heart.

For two full years, the boy memorised a vast amount of scripture. He knew more than those who had been practising Buddhism for ten or twenty years. He could recite profound passages from the sutras with ease. Yet, in the end, he asked these practitioners: 'And then what?' The boy had not found what his heart lacked or what he truly desired. He remained just as miserable as before; his brain was simply filled with more Buddhist knowledge, but it provided no help whatsoever in alleviating his inner pain."

The Final Despair and the Light of Deliverance

"The boy felt disappointed with both the world and the Buddha’s teachings. He looked at the Buddha’s eyes in despair, using his vast knowledge of Buddhist theory to ask the Buddha many questions, but the Buddha remained silent. In the end, the lost boy chose the path of suicide. He felt hopeless about life, unable to find an exit, and wanted to abandon this existence to start over. He no longer wanted to know so much; he only wanted to live a simple life.

After the boy passed away, he remained in the space of the ocean where he had ended his life. Today, when the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su arrived at this ocean to perform the Chao Du, the boy had the opportunity to be guided by the Buddha-light and depart from that space. When he saw the Buddha-light and followed it by chanting the holy name 'Namo Amituofo,' he was astonished. He was amazed that a single 'Namo Amituofo' could save the version of himself that had been suffering for so many years. He shook his head, lamenting that he had never understood the true essence of practising the Buddha’s teachings."

The Path Back to the Heart

"After leaving that space, the boy wished for me, Yongning, to tell everyone that after taking such a long, winding path, he finally understands what the Buddha’s teachings truly are. Practising the Buddha’s teachings does not require seeking externally, nor does it require knowing profound Buddhist philosophy. Instead, one must learn from the 'heart.' You must feel your own suffering from within, feel the suffering of all beings, and then you will understand the great compassion of the Buddha.

Only by thoroughly changing oneself can one learn the compassion of the Buddha. Every change brings a new realisation, and every realisation elevates one's spirit, helping one to walk the path that the Buddha walked. In this way, there will no longer be inner restlessness or helplessness, because as the spirit is elevated, the heart finds its true home and peace. Namo Amituofo."