This interview was recorded on April 24, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. Venerable Yongning, who sought deliverance at the centre and now resides there, shares profound insights regarding the nature of the physical body and the path of practice.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". Have you ever truly pondered the meaning of practice? Why is it that Practitioner Su can achieve such profound states of practice, while you cannot? Why is it that Practitioner Su makes progress every single day, yet you remain stagnant? How much have you truly refined your character and engaged in diligent practice? In the stories we encounter in the various spaces of the universe, I was once one of those beings myself. Caught in the cycle of reincarnation, I forgot my true nature.
The Trap of Samsara and the Physical Body
When your temper flares, it feels uncontrollable. Have you considered the consequences when find you? You are only harming yourself. Is it because you demand too much from this physical body, or because you hold onto too many attachments, that your old habits manifest so rapidly before you can even realise it? You are completely unable to control them. These beings understand you perfectly; they cooperate with your physical body to put on a performance. They perform confusion, they perform anger, they perform depression. You are completely deceived by what is inside you, spun around in circles. The fluctuations within your body are perfectly synchronised with these beings. A body that cannot be mastered is simply being borrowed by them.
The Truth Revealed at Hsiang Kuang
In the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, with its tremendous blessing, many Buddhas and patriarchs and venerable masters have provided constant teachings. You should be very clear that when your head feels heavy or your heart feels tight as soon as your habits manifest, you have already been controlled by these beings. This is the truth of the human body that has only been revealed here at this Buddha-land. Otherwise, in the outside world, people would simply think it is a temporary emotional reaction to a situation. They do not know the truth—that they have been replaced by these beings. The more you remain mired in your habits and preferences, the more your soul is replaced.
The Path of True Practice
When will you be able to let go of your ego? If someone says you are wrong, you are wrong. If someone says you are wrong, and you are not, yet your expression remains unchanged and you do not retort—that is what it means to be practising. It can also be considered a form of Patience. The path of practice is deep and vast; it is worth everyone's earnest exploration. Start by adjusting yourself; only then will you know how to help others in the future. This path is not easy. Everyone needs to identify their own problems and face them. Every process is a learning experience that can help others in the future. You must all learn with patience.
Deliverance in the Universe
As we tumble through the universe, following beside Practitioner Su, we traverse the sea routes, the water routes, the underground routes, and the paths of the underworld with great speed. When these beings see us, they see hope. Practitioner Su’s across the six realms of existence can be described as layer upon layer of salvation. All beings in the universe who are ready to be saved will be saved. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a place that many beings long for. As long as one is focused on the Buddha-name, one can be saved. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a place of equality, and everyone possesses an equal Buddha-nature. I hope everyone will find their own Buddha-nature again. Namo Amituofo."
