The True Purpose of Religion and the Path to Liberation
An Interview with Venerable Yongning
Recorded on August 9, 2018
Venerable Yongning, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, currently resides in the Western Pure Land. This interview was recorded on August 9, 2018, to share insights on the true nature of religion and the path to liberation.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
"The extermination of living beings is a process that has spanned countless eons of calamity. In many ways, these cycles are predetermined, primarily because almost no one possesses the means to confront the fundamental beginning of this connection—the arising and ceasing of life. To put it plainly, only an extremely small number of individuals are capable of breaking free from the predestined fate of the cycle of reincarnation.
The vast, boundless void contains an infinite number of lives, scattered across various realms in myriad forms. The question of where the spirit ultimately goes is the very origin of why many people choose to embark on the path of spiritual practice. From the initial stages of self-reflection and the exploration of life’s meaning, people have searched in countless directions. This search led to the emergence of thousands of different sects and schools of thought, each providing a theory regarding the destination of the soul, offering a harbour for hearts filled with panic and unease. Everyone chooses to believe and follow, gathering together in the hope of finding a collective direction to escape the cycle of life and death. This is how religion first began."
The Distortion of Spiritual Purpose
"However, as time passed, these various sects began to clash, eventually leading to conflicts and even religious wars. Such behaviour, which forgets the original intent, completely obliterates the sincere aspirations of the founders of these religions. The responsibility of those who transmit religious teachings should be to guide people to a true understanding of life and death. Any actions that go beyond this scope have lost their original meaning and have drifted into the realm of the deviant and the misguided.
Religion should serve as the anchor for the human heart, but it must be directed toward the correct path. The connection between physical bodies is incredibly fragile; once that connection is lost, the soul finds itself in a state of suffering with no exit. What we perceive as reality before our eyes is, in truth, a grand illusion. We reach out to grasp it, yet we find we cannot touch anything at all. Most people believe this illusion to be true, clinging tightly to their attachments, and in the end, they sacrifice their own souls, falling into the various dimensions of existence."
The Infinite Layers of Space and Thought
"These dimensions are infinitely layered and overlapping; even after a , there are always more spaces to be addressed. So many of these dimensions are created by the power of thought. Within these thoughts, there remain both sentient and non-sentient beings with whom one had karmic connections at the time. These are the streets of time and space, where every scene and every object is preserved. The magnificence of Chao Du—spiritual deliverance—brings them together to depart from these realms.
Naturally, the space where I, Yongning, lived during my time in the human world has also benefited from this. Seeing that all these scenes and spaces still exist, I have become even more resolute in the importance of seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Every spirit is unable to be the master of its own fate, drifting helplessly along the torrent of the void, changing form at the whim of karmic forces. Only when the Buddha-name flows through these various dimensions do the spirits who are finally 'unlocked' wake up. They realise that they have been locked within a dream all along."
The Precious Heart of Deliverance
"The Buddha-work performed within this dream is the vow to lead all beings to liberation. This precious, noble heart requires a great aspiration that can only arise after one has truly understood the Buddha’s teachings. At present, Practitioner Su is the only one who embodies this fully. I am waiting for the fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to see the truth of these facts clearly, to put down all attachments. That will be the moment of their becoming an awakened being, and it will be a time of even greater blessing for the entire void."
This message was recorded by the chief writer, disciple Shi Faxin.
Namo Amituofo.
More from Eminent Monks
The Ultimate Compassion: An Interview with Venerable Master Guang Qin
Venerable Master Guang Qin shares his profound insights on the nature of true practice, the pitfalls of the Dharma-ending age, and the extraordinary spiritual deliverance work performed by Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
True Practice to Save the World
A reflective account from the late Nun Fu Hui on her life of healing, the heavy burden of karmic creditors, and her ultimate deliverance to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss through the compassion of Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Inconceivable Truths of Spiritual Deliverance
The Venerable Chan-yun shares his profound insights into the nature of reality, the necessity of inner practice, and the inconceivable work of spiritual deliverance being conducted at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
Witnessing the Boundless Chao Du of Practitioner Su
Master Xu Yun, a revered patriarch of modern times, shares his profound observations from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss regarding the extraordinary Dharma Body Chao Du performed by Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
More by Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The Final Curtain Call of Chu Ke-liang
A candid reflection from the late Taiwanese entertainer Chu Ke-liang on his life, his career, the karmic weight of his influence, and his ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Soul's True Equality: A Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi
This is a record of an interview with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his journey to the Pure Land.
A Reflection from the Western Pure Land
This is a record of an interview with Zhao Puchu, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life in the 20th century. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on April 18, 2026.
The Truth Behind My Rebirth: A Message from Liu Suqing
Liu Suqing, the elder sister of the renowned practitioner Liu Suyun, shares her harrowing journey through the spirit realms and her ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Burden of a Historical Name
This is a record of an interview with Lin Biao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 54 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on May 18, 2026.
The Poet’s Journey to the Western Pure Land
A reflection on the life, tragedy, and ultimate spiritual liberation of the ancient statesman Qu Yuan, who found peace through the teachings of Practitioner Su.
About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library