The Truth Behind Spiritual Attachments

This is a record of an interview with the spirit of Venerable Master Chin Kung, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his spiritual journey, the reality of spiritual attachments, and the urgent need for practitioners to seek the true path to the Western Pure Land. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on August 11, 2022.

Venerable Master Chin Kung speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am the spirit of Venerable Master Chin Kung. To speak of 'spiritual attachments' is to speak of one's own thoughts. Whatever thoughts you harbour, you will attract corresponding spirits. At the same time, those beings already within your body—who were perhaps resting quietly—are suddenly jolted awake, as if by a thunderclap. In that moment of awakening, they lose all memory of the present, retaining only the vivid recollection of how you once treated them. These spirits, having lost their physical forms, hold onto the memory of your past actions—specifically, the ways in which you harmed them—as their most profound impression. When you awaken them with your current thoughts, their hearts are filled with resentment, anger, and a desperate need to seek revenge. They want you to suffer the very pain they once endured. This is the law of karma, and in truth, it is perfectly fair."

The Hidden Roots of Suffering

"If the spirits within your body, including your karmic creditors, share these same negative thoughts, they accumulate over time, leading to the ageing of your physical form and the onset of illness. People instinctively turn to doctors for treatment. While medicine can identify physical symptoms, it is utterly helpless when it comes to the spiritual dimension. Doctors treat the head when it hurts and the foot when it aches, but they fail to address the root cause: the laws of karma and cause and effect. Modern people often dismiss this as superstition. If you are among those who believe this is mere superstition, I invite you to visit the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Observe how the Buddha treats illness, and you will realise that there are countless things happening that you are entirely unaware of.

Do not be too quick to trust your own limited perspective on these matters. We often create negative karma and plant evil causes without even realising it. When you think in such a way, you are inadvertently awakening the spirits within you. If you are young, you may not yet feel the physical manifestations of this, but by the time you reach your thirties or forties, various ailments will likely begin to surface. These are all inextricably linked to your thoughts."

The Vastness of the Unseen World

"I have encountered many such people. I urge you all to approach the events occurring at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre with a heart of reverence. Many things happen here that the human world cannot comprehend, yet they are undeniably real. Most importantly, this place exists to save sentient beings—to help them leave suffering behind, to resolve the great affliction of life and death, and to guide them to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The beings saved here are not limited to humans; they include spiritual beings, for attached spirits are also sentient beings. The scope of this work is vast beyond measure.

Spiritual beings are not limited to what your physical eyes can see; they exist in every corner of the universe. The visible beings on the earth and beneath it are easy enough to understand, but the invisible spiritual world—including the galaxy, the void, the Four Holy Realms, the six realms of existence, and the countless layers of space that your physical eyes cannot perceive—is filled with infinite beings. No one else is saving them, and they are left to suffer in these spaces for an incredibly long time, unable to find a way out."

A Personal Debt of Gratitude

"Fortunately, Practitioner Su has realised her true nature and possesses a Dharma Body. She can open up space to save these beings, guiding them with Buddha-light and the Buddha-name. Only then do they have the opportunity to leave these spaces, to be free from such suffering, and to be reborn in the Western Pure Land or delivered to the heavenly or human realms. You will not find this written in books. It was only after I arrived at the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and witnessed Practitioner Su's deliverance work with my own eyes that I was astonished to find such methods of deliverance existing in the human world! Those with karmic affinity must trust this place. Coming here to seek the Dharma is like seeking a precious jewel; only then can you return to help the many beings connected to you, rather than just paying lip service to the teachings through empty words and superficial actions.

Meeting a true practitioner is no easy task. Now that you have found one, I appeal to you all to cherish this Pure Land! In the past, I was ignorant and caused harm to Practitioner Su. Now, I hope you will all protect this sanctuary. Do not slander Practitioner Su or cause harm to this place; the number of beings that can be saved here is immense! The words I speak now are but a small gesture of my sincerity, a slight attempt to make amends for the harm I caused to Practitioner Su—to Practitioner Su—in the past."

The Trap of Arrogance and Fame

"Let me speak of my own journey. After joining UNESCO and delivering several reports, I returned home and continued to make lecturing the primary focus of my life. In truth, I could already see that the number of attached spirits was growing! However, I still possessed some blessings, and I had Dharma protectors, so the spirits, karmic creditors, and even the beings from the Demon Realm within me did not dare to act rashly. Thus, the teachings I delivered at that time were still considered legitimate and reasonable. As I grew older, no matter where I travelled, I made sure to bring my recording team and materials, or I would simply prepare a set of recording materials locally.

Later, I joined the Pure Land societies and the Pure Land Learning College. I saw more and more people coming to study, and eventually, I was favoured by the Australian government, which bestowed several titles upon me. Regardless of the intent, these titles inadvertently fostered a sense of arrogance within me. I knew I should not have such thoughts, but even as I spoke, I could feel that I had already developed an arrogant heart. This was wrong! Absolutely wrong! This allowed the number of attached spirits and beings within my body to multiply.

Many famous practitioners who lecture today must be careful! If you are young and strong, you may be able to resist, but as you age, your strength wanes, and you begin to suffer from illness and old age. When death approaches, you will not be able to reach the Western Pure Land. When your karmic creditors manifest and pull you down, few can withstand it! Therefore, the best method is to send the beings within you to the Western Pure Land while you are still alive, to deliver them. This is something I neglected. In truth, for many Pure Land Dharma assemblies—the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies—my name would be placed on the memorial tablets. One must have true virtue and attainment to successfully deliver beings to the Western Pure Land. Otherwise, while deliverance to the heavenly or human realms is possible, entering the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is easy to say but difficult to do; it is by no means simple."

The Chilling Truth of the Three Souls

"Let me speak of the so-called 'three souls.' As the number of attached spirits grew, my karmic creditors and karma manifested. It is shameful to admit, but the main soul that was supposed to be in control was locked away in my heart by the demon crowds. I saw it happen. As for my other two souls—the body soul and the consciousness soul—how could the karmic creditors allow them to remain within me? They drove them out! Once expelled, they wandered like lonely spirits, drifting everywhere. Even when they tried to stay near me, the demon crowds drove them away. During this time, to everyone else, I appeared no different than usual. I went about my daily routine and continued to lecture as scheduled, but in reality, such a profound change had occurred within my body, and no one knew!

I can see it now. Fortunately, Practitioner Su—Practitioner Su—called my body soul and consciousness soul back and sent them to the Western Dharma-Nature Land, the very place where I am now, so that my two souls would no longer wander and be bullied. But what of the main soul locked in my heart? It was heavily guarded by the demon crowds. Who could save it? This, too, relied on the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, which had the power to rescue my imprisoned main soul. Listeners, do not be frightened by this; it is indeed the truth. So, who was lecturing at that time? It was the demon crowds and karmic creditors using my body to speak and lecture to everyone! Although the Dharma they spoke was what I had originally intended to say, they could never lead anyone to the Western Pure Land. This is the cunning nature of the demon crowds. A demon once said, 'Under the control of the demon crowds, within a ninety-nine point nine percent perfect facade, there will always be a zero point one percent fatal flaw—a flaw that makes it impossible for beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In other words, ninety-nine point nine percent of what is spoken is the True Teachings, but the zero point one percent is magic, which ensures that everyone fails to reach the Western Pure Land.'

I am taking this opportunity to tell you the truth, one hundred percent, to serve as a warning! Especially for monastics and practitioners who may be in a similar situation to mine. Alas! Unless you come here to seek the Buddha's help—to ask Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su to help rescue your three souls—you may spend your entire life living this way, kept in the dark until you die, failing to reach the Western Pure Land and ending up elsewhere. There is a reason for the saying, 'The gates of hell are crowded with monks and Taoists.'

Do not be arrogant. Do not have hidden agendas, do not be greedy, and do not be angry. If the demon crowds find your weaknesses, it will be very difficult for you to turn things around. Unless you are upright, fair, and free from even a trace of greed, hatred, arrogance, or doubt, the demon crowds will have no handle on you. Only then can they do nothing to you, and only then can you live a life of coolness and ease. Even the slightest bit of selfishness—craving emotion, wealth, offerings, fame, or power, or keeping a 'backup plan' for yourself—is unacceptable. The demon crowds see these tiny weaknesses with perfect clarity.

Once your body is completely occupied, it is very difficult to turn back. It is the classic case of 'It is easy to invite a god, but hard to send one away.' I lived through such days for many, many years. One of the most significant events was excluding Practitioner Su from the Pure Land system. To be honest, this was not the intention of my true self; it was exactly what the demon crowds wanted. They knew perfectly well that only Practitioner Su could deal with them. The more they feared her, the more they had to ensure she did not enter the Pure Land system. How could they watch the Pure Land school flourish? So, that decision was made, and after it was made, even more demon crowds and attached spirits entered my body. This was truly my sin. The demon crowds used my body to do things that harmed everyone, and you were all kept in the dark. They were very thorough! From that time on, I truly could not control my own body. This went on for many, many years."

The Path to Deliverance

"During this time, Practitioner Su—Practitioner Su—saved me several times. She understood the severity of the situation and even invited many ancestral masters to protect me, but alas, I could not control myself. Under the control of the demon crowds, I could occasionally accept the advice of these ancestral masters, but I often insisted on my own way. This led to nearly ten years—perhaps ten years?—where Practitioner Su supported the Hsiang Kuang room all by herself. Later, she began to deliver sentient beings during Dharma assemblies, and her own body suffered on behalf of these beings. She received the recognition of Namo Amituofo, who descended to protect and assist, transforming the Hsiang Kuang room into the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Practitioner Su, alongside Namo Amituofo, began delivering sentient beings together. Everything proceeded in an inconceivable manner; this is truly something the average person will never encounter. The life led here is a spiritual life, which is truly beyond the understanding of outsiders. The temple doors are always open, waiting for you to enter.

I mentioned that Practitioner Su saved my three souls more than once. After she sent my body soul and consciousness soul back to my body, alas! I was not strong enough, and my souls were driven out again. My body held on for as long as it could, but eventually, it could no longer sustain itself. My speech became too slow, and I lacked the strength. These physical conditions were all signs that there were too many attached spirits, and the demon crowds were within me. I had to stop lecturing; otherwise, if I could have lectured until I was one hundred, I would have continued. But apart from one person, no one knew my condition. My main soul was locked away more than once—not just once—and Practitioner Su rescued it more than once, only for it to be locked away again. She was very kind-hearted and wanted to tell me about these things, but at that time, I was not in control of myself, so how could I have accepted it? After several attempts were rejected, Practitioner Su finally gave up.

One must rely on oneself! Practitioner Su—Practitioner Su—is truly a genuine practitioner, independent and self-reliant, with firm faith in Namo Amituofo. Of course, she was also interfered with by the demon crowds and suffered on behalf of sentient beings; the pain her body endured is beyond words. I see it now; I see it now! I did not know before that Practitioner Su was saving the world and suffering on behalf of sentient beings. Even after I stopped lecturing, Practitioner Su invited eleven of our Pure Land ancestral masters from the Western Pure Land to enter my body, along with my two teachers—Master Zhangjia and Teacher Li Bingnan—to protect me. It was only with great difficulty that my three souls were gathered together so I could regain control. Under the protection of the ancestral masters and the Buddha-light they emitted, I was finally, finally able to be in control.

However, my body was no longer functional, and my three souls still harboured selfishness. Practitioner Su and Namo Amituofo constantly exhorted and taught me, 'Come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to find Namo Amituofo; you will know the truth of many things, and you can be cured.' But my three souls were truly senile; I did not listen to the advice. I procrastinated, and in the end, it was too late to do anything. I left everyone without even speaking of it. This happened recently. It is equivalent to saying that for about a quarter of my time after that, I was not in control of myself. If my main soul had been in control, how could I have failed to see the attainment of Practitioner Su? How could I have heartlessly set aside so many real things she sent to me?"

A Final Warning to the Fourfold Assembly

"The great mistake I made—not bringing Namo Amituofo to the forefront—was truly a grave error! The Pure Land school is all about Namo Amituofo. Now, Namo Amituofo has come to the human world, to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. My three souls knew this but did not tell everyone, nor did I come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to find the Buddha. This is a sin of monumental proportions. Therefore, it is only right that I receive retribution; it is only right that I should fall into the hells.

I know that you all respect me very much, and many of my disciples are very filial. But the greatest filial piety is to have true attainment and the ability to save sentient beings; this is what a true Pure Land practitioner is. Now, Practitioner Su has rescued my sinful soul after my death. Today, I have the opportunity to tell you the truth here, so you need not have any more doubts.

My experience can serve as a mirror for you all; this is a painful, personal experience! Expressing it in this way is unprecedented. What will happen in the future, I do not know, but I have never seen such a method used to reveal the truth to everyone before. In truth, the Dharma Jewels here are extremely abundant. The teachings of Namo Amituofo, the teachings of Teacher Xia Lianju, and the teachings of the many ancestral masters in the Western Pure Land—have they all been compiled? (Note: At this point, the Venerable Master asked the practitioner, 'Have they been compiled?' The practitioner replied, 'Yes.') They are extremely, extremely precious! There is no second set like them.

The thirteen generations of Pure Land ancestral masters and the Huayan ancestral masters have all been here. This is inconceivable, but once you come here, you will know. These memorial tablets—the tablets of the ancestral masters and venerable masters—are placed in the Buddha hall of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre every day. This includes the First Patriarch, Great Master Huiyuan; the Second Patriarch, Great Master Shandao; the Third Patriarch, Great Master Chengyuan; the Fourth Patriarch, Great Master Fazhao; the Fifth Patriarch, Great Master Shaokang; the Sixth Patriarch, Great Master Yongming Yanshou; the Seventh Patriarch, Great Master Shengchang; the Eighth Patriarch, Great Master Lianchi; the Ninth Patriarch, Great Master Ouyi; the Tenth Patriarch, Great Master Jieliu; the Eleventh Patriarch, Great Master Sheng'an; the Twelfth Patriarch, Great Master Chewu; and the Thirteenth Patriarch, Great Master Yinguang. These masters all went to Shiding to help invite spirits. In the latter part of my life, Practitioner Su—Practitioner Su—invited them, and with the permission of Namo Amituofo, they entered my body to protect me.

Furthermore, Teacher Xia Lianju is here twenty-four hours a day, watching over the fourfold assembly of disciples. There is also the First Patriarch of Huayan, Venerable Dushun; the Third Patriarch, National Master Xianshou; the Fourth Patriarch, Great Master Qingliang; Great Master Xuanzang; and too many other ancestral masters to name. They are all here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, protecting you all. Their memorial tablets are placed in the Buddha hall of the temple, and they have all participated in the invitation of spirits when suffering on behalf of sentient beings. This invitation of spirits is absolutely not about performing 'supernatural powers.' I repent for this; I spoke of it, but I was wrong! I was wrong! This is a natural ability possessed by those who have realised their true nature; it is absolutely not something that can be done by a spirit possessing a body. What a sacred place the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is! If it were not for Buddhas and Bodhisattvas descending to the world, having realised their true nature and possessing a Dharma Body, how could they connect with Namo Amituofo?

Including the interviews with space beings conducted by the monastics, and this interview with me, none of this is about 'supernatural powers.' Can supernatural powers achieve this? Have you ever seen such supernatural powers? You have never seen an interview like this anywhere else. If you do not believe it, come and see for yourself. This is an innate ability that manifests after a person has undergone practice, purification, and even the blessing of the Buddha's power. As for Practitioner Su opening up space to deliver space beings, I never reported this on the big screen because I did not understand it, and I had never encountered it. Even if I had, I would only have known a fraction of it. How could I report such vague things to everyone? So, I did not mention it, or at most, I mentioned one or two points. But here, the teachings of Namo Amituofo and Teacher Xia Lianju have taught many things, which are the absolute truth, allowing the fourfold assembly and Practitioner Su to learn. All of this is done through Practitioner Su's natural ability to realise her true nature; it is not something that can be achieved through supernatural powers. Yes! But I do not blame everyone; it is indeed difficult for the average person to believe when they hear these things.

If you come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and see for yourself, you will know. Especially the fourfold assembly within the Pure Land system, the Pure Land societies, and the Pure Land Learning College, and even the monastics. I could not tell you before, but I am telling you now, and I hope it is not too late. I knew you were ill, but what could I do? Apart from asking you to chant the Buddha's name honestly or participate in Dharma assemblies, I had no other good methods. Now, you can all come to this temple. Namo Amituofo is here and can help you. At the very least, the invitation of spirits can resolve conflicts with beings, and the deliverance work here is done extremely, extremely well!

Here, Namo Amituofo leads everyone forward, and with Practitioner Su honestly listening and following instructions, we have the situation we have today. Spiritual beings have known this for a long time! You cannot see the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, but I can see them now. Even the beings from the first to the twenty-eighth heavens, and even the Arhats, Pratyekabuddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Buddha-realm of the Four Holy Realms, all come here to seek deliverance and rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss! Having said this, what else can you possibly question?

Even the first batch of the Ten Kings of Hell has already been brought back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss by Practitioner Su. The second batch of Yama Kings currently in office will be brought back when Practitioner Su returns to the West. At every Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Practitioner Su can lead sixty jailers to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. These things are all recorded; you will not find a second set of records like this! Come here and see for yourself. I am not speaking falsely, for I have witnessed it with my own eyes!

Now, even for those who have already passed away, no matter how long ago they died, if you come here to request deliverance, Namo Amituofo knows which realm they are in. Practitioner Su will use her Dharma Body to lead the deceased to the Western Dharma-Nature Land to listen to the scriptures. After delivering the deceased's karmic creditors, she will send the deceased to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the deceased can even be interviewed. There are records of this here. Could this be fake? Could this be fabricated?

In truth, I knew about this in the final days of my life. My three souls were gathered together, and when I came to the temple, I saw it. I did not dare to speak of it; I truly lacked the courage. These things were too shocking. I understood in my heart, but with the waves of opposition and exclusion, how could I dare to speak? So, I became selfish and did not speak, which is why I am suffering this retribution today, ending up not reaching the West after death. I did this to myself; I have nothing to say, nothing to say.

Fortunately, Practitioner Su saved me, and fortunately, I now have the opportunity to clarify this matter. If it were not for the talent here, my words would have been lost in the ocean. Fortunately, the Buddha's compassion is boundless, and it is not too late to turn things around. Practitioner Su—Practitioner Su—is very compassionate and hopes that everyone will come to the temple to find the Buddha. She often thinks of the several 'Wu' generation monastics she knew before; I will not list them one by one here, but you all know who you are. She thinks of the 'Wu' generation monastics and the many lay practitioners who came to the Hsiang Kuang room. She truly hopes that you can come over to receive the Buddha's healing, so that your bodies may improve and you can also deliver your spirits to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Especially you, Practitioner Hu; Practitioner Su—Practitioner Su—has always wanted to save you. Please, just come once! I say these words now, not knowing if you can take them to heart, but I cannot not speak. If I do not speak, I am failing Namo Amituofo, and I am failing Practitioner Su. I have already passed away; I am no longer in the human world. As a spirit, I can only pray for the Buddha's blessing so that you may see this, so that the fourfold assembly of the Pure Land system—especially the monastics—may see this, and so that all who chant the Buddha's name and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss may see this. This is a major event, not a minor one. I also hope that Practitioner Hu will come once; do not follow in my footsteps and regret it when it is too late. There is still time! There is still time! The Buddha says to look well, speak well, and think well. As long as those who see this article written by me come here once, everything can be saved. The precious land for rebirth in the West is right here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. You must open your hearts and believe in this!

Very well, I will stop here for today. Blessings to you all! If you can take these words to heart, it is achievable, and Namo Amituofo will bless you all. Gratitude to the compassion of the Buddha!

Namo Amituofo.

Shi Chin Kung, with folded palms.

At the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia.

August 11, 2022, 10:01 AM.