The Truth of Samsara and the Path to Deliverance

Venerable Changren was a practitioner of the Chan school eight hundred years ago. After spending three years in deep meditative concentration, he fell into the Demon Realm due to a single thought of hatred and served as a Demon King. Now, having been transformed by Practitioner Su, he has returned to the fold of Namo Amituofo to assist in saving the world. This interview was recorded at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia between May 1st and May 10th, 2018.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Changren. Departing from the Ten Kings of Hell, one begins a journey of rebirth—a life already destined by fate—or perhaps one is born as any of the myriad beings within the six realms. After life ends, one returns to the starting point for judgment, is sentenced according to one's merits and sins, and then enters the cycle of rebirth once more. It is a repetitive game. Souls move in and out of these realms incessantly, never finding a moment of rest. They cry out in suffering, yet they cling to their desires. They wish to escape, yet they cannot bear to leave. It is a state of extreme contradiction. Who truly has the courage to leave this cycle of rebirth? Is a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand years not long enough?

The Illusion of the Cycle

I, too, am still within this game, though I currently reside in the Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. It is a vast space. I have no intention of reincarnating again, for here, I see everything with absolute clarity. The truth of rebirth is so foolish. Every day, I follow Practitioner Su into the void to perform deliverance, and I have seen the truth of it all. The ten Dharma realms are exactly as they are. Rebirth is something we bring upon ourselves; no one forces us to remain in this cycle. It is our own unwillingness to let go that keeps us here. In this game, I learned many bad habits and developed a stubborn personality. The souls within the cycle of rebirth are truly pitiful, but there is a reason for their suffering.

Now that I have made this clear, everyone should understand: what is so good about rebirth? This time, I am determined to escape. After all these long days, this must come to an end. Whether I will return to this world in the future, I do not know, but I know that I must leave now. I will follow Practitioner Su until the very end and then seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. During this time, I will use all my ability to assist in deliverance, accumulate merits and virtues, and take good care of the temple. I know that my final destination is home—the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Path to Freedom

Is this not a wonderful decision? The attachments of those in the human world, the ghost realm, the hells, and the demon realm—is there any among these six realms that I do not understand? I have experienced them all. In the past, I could not listen to these great truths, nor was I willing to let go. I insisted on my hatred and my attachments. But now, I have walked a different path. I hope everyone can listen and see the meaning of their own lives and know where their true home lies. I hope you can make this choice early. Namo Amituofo."

The Complexity of Human Habits

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Today, what is special is seeing the myriad variations of personality and the myriad variations of space. Every person carries their own habits and personality traits. It can be said to be very complex, yet also very simple. If you let go naturally and do not let these thoughts arise, then nothing exists. But if you grasp tightly to your temper and personality, the space that follows will be unimaginable. The human world is so complex, but within the truth, one must see whether they are willing to face the problems of their own nature.

When you are unwilling to change or face yourself, you are the only one who suffers. I see too many people in these spaces who cling to their habits, unwilling to let go of the one thing they are most attached to or most angry about. Usually, when I see those who enter these spaces, they are stuck in the moment they were most angry, most excited, or most emotionally charged. They remain in that time and space, constantly re-enacting that moment. If their nature does not change, they continue to stir up their personality within that space. It breaks my heart to see such tragic scenes. People in the world do not understand that having such a personality is a hindrance. I understand this now; these spaces have taught me much. Every day, besides deliverance, there is high-level education. I share this with you today so that you may see that every move, every thought, and every temper you have has a space waiting for you. Entering those spaces involves suffering that is hard to imagine. You should gradually come to know the reality of the three hun souls and seven po souls. Once you know, you must change. My advice ends here; practice depends on the individual. While you have a human body, you should live truthfully. Namo Amituofo."

The Cruelty of Reality

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Every day there are teachings and practice, but how many are truly awake? Teachings and Dharma talks are meant for the public and the beings of the underworld to listen and understand the true meaning. Furthermore, what is spoken now is the interpretation of the Buddha; the power of the Buddha’s blessings is multiplied, and the truth revealed is immeasurable. When we talk about the cycle of rebirth, as Practitioner Su praises, it is more essential than the Great Sutras. Indeed, for all these years, I and the vast beings of the universe have never heard such clear truths. This place can be called a remarkably magical and magnificent treasure. Everyone cherishes it deeply. I hope that beings in the human world can see the benefits here. This is a method for immortality, capable of liberating one from the cycle of birth and death. If you calm your heart and feel it, you will understand.

Humans have only one life, limited by age and interfered with by countless instances of impermanence. If you try to cherish and grasp all your dreams, you are left with infinite emptiness in the end. It is impossible to hold onto anything. Your soul may even be obstructed or replaced by external forces early on. These cruel realities of life are also truths of the universe. Everyone thinks that because they see stability before them, it can be preserved forever. This is a wrong concept. Not wanting to see or accept it does not mean you are safe. The human world is a good place because one can practice, but few have thought that it is also a useless place because one can be controlled and replaced at any time. This physical body can become a Buddha, or it can be wasted. To waste it means to follow the red dust of the world—birth, aging, sickness, death, marriage, having children, or seeking the life you want. By the time you are old and sick, and your body cannot move, everything you pursued in life becomes an illusion, like a dream. Even more terrifying is the pull of thoughts that lead your consciousness into these spaces, while other souls take over your body. Many are still obsessed with this, not yet awake.

If you understood the truth earlier and were willing to compassionately let go of your worldly self to follow the great path of helping beings, you would be the first to be saved. Your individual self is very small, allowing karmic creditors to invade and bully you at will. But if you vow to become a Buddha to help beings, this karma transforms into the power of vows. You can reclaim your original nature and achieve true success across time and space. When the time for rebirth in the Western Pure Land arrives, it will not be a void of darkness. Modern people do not understand this benefit; it is a pity to be obsessed with illusions. Sharing this today is my hope that those with affinity can hear it. How many people will participate in the Amituofo assembly depends on everyone's blessings. Those with great blessings and sensitive awareness should understand what will not waste this opportunity. I hope this great Dharma can help more people. I will actively protect this place and take care of it. Helping more people become Buddhas is my greatest mission. Namo Amituofo."

The Compassion of Practitioner Su

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Practitioner Su mentioned yesterday that she hoped I would share something. In the daily morning deliverance, Practitioner Su performs deliverance on a vast scale, pervading the entire Dharma-realm and empty space. She uses countless manifestations to help beings, entering spaces, opening them, and guiding immeasurable beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Such skill is the mark of a truly awakened being; one must be awakened to do this. Practitioner Su’s scale of deliverance is very broad, but in the subtle details, she traverses history and every minute space. This ability to visualize requires very deep meditative concentration and sensitive awareness. Every day, immeasurable beings benefit and gain the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

To help so many beings, Practitioner Su is always cautious and diligent; her spirit is a perseverance that people in the world do not possess. She also helped a venerable master in his practice by performing deliverance for the karmic debts he owed in the past. It was a repentance text he once wrote, which is still widely circulated in the world today—the Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance. However, this repentance text cannot lead people to the Western Pure Land. It was written by National Master Venerable Wuda, and so many souls are now seeking retribution from the reincarnation of that master. But in truth, if the master practices well, he can still repay and change. Unless one becomes a wandering spirit again, there is truly no way to save oneself in the spiritual realm. Practitioner Su’s compassion involves using hundreds of millions of manifestations every day to perform deliverance in every layer of space and every time period. Of course, mentioning this is only a small part; she performs so much deliverance. There are also the Liang Huang Bao Repentance and others. For those Buddhist practitioners who cannot be reborn in the Western Pure Land, her compassionate heart still tries its best to lead them one by one, letting them see the true Buddha from their hearts, chant the Buddha's name, repent, and be willing to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. These daily scenes of deliverance are magnificent and beyond what anyone can imagine.

Whether you are a lay practitioner or a venerable master, the name 'Fa De' sounds pleasant, and it was taken based on past virtues. Although you may be unfamiliar with the Buddha's teachings in this life, once you truly understand and learn, and become truly compassionate, you will understand how to choose your practice. In fact, your current reaction is a normal process. I smiled when I saw this today; you do not need to view this as pressure or coercion. This is a joyous matter of karmic affinity, an opportunity that many seek but cannot find. Standing as a man to discuss this, be bold. If you can, you can; if you cannot, you cannot. Tell yourself clearly that one must live uprightly. If you think that supporting a family is the most correct thing, or if you should perform deliverance for the vast Dharma-realm to save countless families, these are principles you must weigh yourself. You decide what kind of person you wish to become. A human body is hard to obtain. I only advise you not to give up your life easily. This life is not easily come by, but its disappearance is a matter of one breath. If you trust my character and have any questions about practicing Buddhism or decisions about changing, you can ask the Buddha, ask Practitioner Su, or listen to my suggestions. There is nothing in life that is a big deal, but without life, everything is fake.

From now on, what goal you want to focus your efforts on depends on how your heart decides. The true meaning of life is managed by yourself. Will the end be the cycle of rebirth, or the light of rebirth in the Western Pure Land? Being human is suffering; you must know that the cycle of rebirth is also very painful. Namo Amituofo. May the Buddha bless you."

The Power of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony

Venerable Changren speaks:

"The week has arrived for the Thrice Yearning Ceremony. Too many spirits have already arrived here waiting, including a large number of spirits brought by the wind deities. Everyone is excited to participate in such a grand event, including myself, Changgao, Yongning, Jobs, Faxian, the two great lay practitioners, and all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, ancestral masters, and all the great beings seeking rebirth, as well as the spirits on all the memorial tablets. Today, a large number of ghost deities from Hong Kong also arrived in a rush. Many have already sat down and waited. On the day of the ceremony, early in the morning, many participated in the morning service, prostrating, walking, and reciting the Sutras. The sincerity of the spiritual realm is sometimes truly greater than that of those in the human world. This is the truth.

The karmic creditors of every person also received the notification. Today, the Thrice Yearning Ceremony is being held, and many are following along to chant the Buddha's name. Those willing to let go follow the Buddha-light and depart. Those who are unwilling are mostly because they are bound by their own attachments. The Thrice Yearning Ceremony is a high-level spiritual deliverance assembly. The magnetic field of the whole day is different from usual, and it is strongly blessed by the Buddha's light and power. Such magnificence makes beings more willing to resolve their conflicts. Of course, if one has even a small evil thought in their heart, the beings' sensitivity is also sharper than usual. I advise everyone to chant the Buddha's name well during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony and help your beings be reborn in the Western Pure Land. This is an opportunity for deliverance that can only be had in the human world; everyone must cherish it.

The fourfold assembly who feel drowsy must open their eyes, because beings are about to depart at this moment, and you are obstructing yourself. If beings cannot receive the Buddha's light, you must be careful of their displeasure. I am always here, and I ask everyone to chant the Buddha's name well. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo. Gratitude to the Buddha for his compassionate deliverance."

Expanding the Mind-Capacity

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Mind-capacity can naturally be seen in the space of deliverance. How many people think only of themselves? How many people think only of their own space? The scale of deliverance also shows this. In the secular world, people often talk about whether one is selfish. In the end, selfishness leads to having nothing. In the past, I did not know that taking care of my own practice, even if I did not create karma, was also selfish. I only truly understand this principle now. Without mentioning the past grievances between me and Jobs, I hope everyone sees the truth of practicing Buddhism. That is taking care of things without a 'self.' What is seen before one's eyes and by one's side are all beings—their suffering, their difficulties, their needs, and their vastness. Only in this way can beings truly benefit from deliverance, and only then can it be immeasurable. This is the heart of deliverance, the heart of practice.

Not being compassionate enough, not being great enough—that is a very regrettable thing.

Every morning, besides saving immeasurable beings, Practitioner Su is also teaching us beings in the void to open our mind-capacity. Of course, the public in the human world also has the opportunity to learn. The places Practitioner Su goes every day are special; they are not necessarily on the same path. She can reach spaces within spaces, or the cracks between spaces—places that everyone has failed to see or notice. Her mind-capacity can take care of them all. The weaker the beings, as long as they have the heart to be reborn in the Western Pure Land, her sensitivity can quickly help them. Every morning, she fears missing even one person who could be reborn in the Western Pure Land. To be able to practice to such a degree is truly respected in the void. Every day, when she steps onto the stage of deliverance, everyone is respectful. Even the rebellious children will show respect. Practice should be like this, making all heavens, humans, ghosts, and gods willing to show sincere respect. There are many people in the world who have many followers, but when they truly stand in the void, how many are not cast aside? If practice is still for the self, truth is lacking. If the benefits are all for oneself, can it be the ultimate truth? This depends on how you all view it. Namo Amituofo."

The Necessity of True Practice

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Practice must have true meaning. What I want to share today is the matter of true practice. If you do not know how to act truthfully in the world, no amount of regret in the darkness of the underworld will bring it back. If you do not know in the world that you should not argue for the sake of a breath, you will regret in the underworld why you did not yield a step. If you are ignorant in the world and cannot hide your inner nature, you will only know in the underworld why you did not understand how to be open and honest. It is only when people from the world arrive in the underworld that they seem to have an 'aha!' moment and suddenly wake up. They created infinite karma in the world, yet they were clearly practitioners. Why were their actions and words still defending their own personality and habits? The body is seen as important in the world, but after death, in the underworld, what is important about the body? It is just a blank, cold body sent to the funeral home. The truth that everyone does not understand is that they must change their true selves. Do they think that following a famous monastic community or a large sect provides a guarantee? Or that donating large sums of money to a well-known religion will bring blessings? If you do not change your heart and nature, it is very difficult to see results in your practice. Change is within yourself, not by relying on others. True actions must be truly implemented. Whether the practice is true or false, you will have to bear the consequences yourself in the end. I advise everyone to walk the true path and not stay in place when the time comes to depart. How much have you truly grown after blind following or support? You must wake up while there is still time. Namo Amituofo."

The Inconceivable Power of Deliverance

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Practitioner Su's help has broadened the horizons of myself and the public. It turns out that space can be opened in this way, layer by layer, and the speed of opening is very fast. The spirits within also feel her energy and hope to seek the bright path to the West. The cycle of rebirth is too hard, and everyone sees the true warmth—the true light emitted from her body, which is true 'no-mind, no-thought' and great compassion. The spirits feel an unprecedented emotion, so every morning the deliverance is immeasurable. This also shows that from ancient times to the present, how many have become ghosts and reincarnated in space? It is truly immeasurable. The truth of the cycle of rebirth is too complex. Even more lamentable is how many of them are monastics and practitioners. Fortunately, now that Practitioner Su is here to perform deliverance, this Dharma-body deliverance is truly a great skill. I also hope that the young students who are learning can truly learn this. Gratitude to Practitioner Su, gratitude to the Buddha for his compassionate blessings and deliverance. Namo Amituofo."

The Reality of Space

Venerable Changren speaks:

"The sky today is grey and misty, and the space also emits immeasurable grey and dark spaces. That is also the space where many spirits reside. Whenever there is such a misty and rainy time, the magnetic field of space is often half-gloomy and half-cold. Those with sensitive awareness will know the changes in space, but they are the minority. Most people think that such weather is easy to sleep in, covering themselves with thick quilts and sleeping for several hours. If it is a day off, it is a great enjoyment. But, how much has changed in space during that time? It is not that it has nothing to do with you; it has a special relationship with you.

Space, when watched for a long time, is truly interesting. The space of the living, the space of the underworld, and spaces within spaces. Every morning, Practitioner Su performs deliverance on these spaces. No one in the world performs deliverance like this, and no one performs it on such a large scale. I assist in space. Every morning, in just one hour, Practitioner Su, myself, and our salvation team traverse infinite Dharma-realm spaces. Finally, we all return to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to aggregate and perform dedication, dedicating it to all beings in the Dharma-realm and empty space. In my past practice, I had never done this. Under her leadership, I finally understood that this is the true heart and action of practicing Buddhism. It is too magnificent. Every day, when I return to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I see the appearance of the temple covering the mountains and plains, a magnificent sight of connected temples. If people in the world had the opportunity to see it, they would understand how much the Buddha's vow to save beings is. To receive beings, one must build such a temple. This would be a magnificent event in the world. I welcome everyone to participate in large numbers, join the Amituofo assembly, and take the more magnificent direct flight to the West. Namo Amituofo."

The Importance of Affinity

Venerable Changren speaks:

"The space of daily morning deliverance is constantly changing and expanding. Practitioner Su's sensitivity and awareness constantly allow many to be saved. At such a fast speed, I follow cautiously, helping to coordinate all energy. The public who accompany us also cooperate and help very well. Spaces are opened layer by layer quickly. The spirits that walk out from within have been there for tens of thousands of years. It is truly an inconceivable ability of deliverance; everyone should cherish this opportunity.

The practice is like flowing water, traversing time and space quickly; only here can this be found. People outside in the world are still walking back and forth. Although it is impossible to make everyone believe in this place, this is where one can truly be liberated from birth and death. In a life of walking back and forth, being able to walk into this place truly requires the accumulation of merits, virtues, and karmic affinity.

Affinity—there is good affinity and bad affinity. If you can develop the Buddha-heart and Buddha-vow, you will naturally encounter Buddha-affinity. If you perform deliverance for beings, you will naturally develop the same compassionate heart. To learn Buddhism, one must also have sufficient conditions. Some people learn for a lifetime but may not necessarily encounter the true Buddha. The reason is not that the Dharma is wrong, nor that the method learned is not good, but mostly because the conditions for the method of practice are not good. There is no true spiritual friend to help verify it. This is very important. If it were not so, how many people have called themselves practitioners from ancient times to the present? But those who truly achieved success are very few. Most of those who lack the guidance of a true spiritual friend end up on the wrong path. It is a pity. If you had awareness earlier, you should change quickly so as not to fall into space and be blindly ignorant. I have seen many in the void, which is why I advise everyone so. I hope everyone can truly be at ease, open-minded, and then achieve 'no-mind.' Namo Amituofo."