The Universal Law of Gravitational Karma

This interview features Venerable Zhuang Heling, the 496th Venerable residing within the protective energy of Practitioner Su. A practitioner who lived during the Western Han Dynasty, he spent centuries as a wandering spirit before encountering the Buddha’s teachings and attaining rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account, recorded by Venerable HaiZe on June 2, 2018, details his participation in a recent Chao Du deliverance session led by Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Zhuang Heling speaks:

"I once wandered, lost and aimless, stumbling and falling in the vastness. I gritted my teeth and pressed forward, my path covered in thorns and stained with dust. Even when the journey was arduous, I exerted all my strength. A practitioner of the Way walks through the world, spending a lifetime helping others resolve their difficulties, hoping that at the end of life, one might finally depart from this dusty world.

The Sound of the Pure Land

I entered the void, losing track of the days, until I heard the sounds from the Lushan Lotus Society. The Buddha-name captured the heart of a practitioner of the Way. We chanted the holy name of Namo Amituofo together, wishing to enter the Western Land to seek Namo Amituofo, to follow Great Master Huiyuan. Finally, I saw the lotus and departed for the West.

Namo Amituofo. I am the 496th Venerable, Zhuang Heling. I was born during the Western Han Dynasty in China, approximately 2,200 years ago. Before I passed away, I was a practitioner of the Tao, though I had not yet encountered the Buddha’s teachings. After my passing, I existed in the space between realms as a Taoist spirit, drifting through the heavens for several hundred years. It was not until the Buddha’s teachings entered China that I encountered the Lushan Buddha-chanting Bodhimanda of Great Master Huiyuan, roughly 1,600 years ago. At that time, the sound of the Buddha-name was constant, and many of us in the surrounding space began to chant along.

The Discipline of the Mind

Because a Taoist practitioner considers sitting in meditation and observing the nature of things to be an essential part of the path, my mind was not easily distracted by messy thoughts or delusions when I chanted. I remained focused on the present moment, often filled with Dharma joy during the chanting. Day after day, I participated with the Master and his fellow practitioners, bathing in the sounds of the Dharma. On the day the Master attained rebirth in the Western Pure Land, seven-coloured auspicious clouds appeared in the sky. Amidst our chanting, we personally witnessed Namo Amituofo arriving to welcome him. We were overjoyed in the void, and in that instant, I made a vow: 'The Dharma affinity today is rare and precious; I, too, wish to follow the Buddha to the Western Land!'

In that very moment, a lotus pedestal appeared alongside the Buddha. Although I was astonished, I kept the Buddha-name in my heart—it could not be broken! I had always told myself that if the Buddha-name were broken, it would be like severing my Dharma Body and wisdom-life. No matter what happened before my eyes, the Buddha-name remained constant in my heart. Sure enough, I stepped onto the lotus pedestal. I saw the Master already seated on his, and my own pedestal flew to the side of Namo Amituofo, joining the ranks to follow the Buddha to the West.

The Mechanics of the Universe

It is because of that original affinity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land that, over a thousand years later, I have this opportunity today to follow Practitioner Su into the void. At approximately 3:20 AM, before the sky had brightened, the space outside the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre was already filled with countless sentient beings and external Bodhisattvas from the cosmos, waiting to join the ranks for the deliverance. As soon as Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body entered and the Buddha-name was voiced, the action began.

The dark sky erupted with light because Practitioner Su led us through it. Between the stars, planets rely on a form of gravity to maintain safe distances while orbiting. Within the cluster of planets closest to Earth, all exist by orbiting the sun. The nine planets each have their own orbits and rotations. If one were to change, altering its magnetic field, it would have a corresponding impact, large or small, on the others. However, because the distances between stars are so vast, these influences or interferences are mitigated, maintaining a state of balance. Every life form on every planet shares a commonality: the relationship between the spirit and the body. Regardless of whether the physical lifespan is long or short, it eventually ends, but the spirit is unborn and undying—it does not disappear. In each life, the same spirit simply changes its appearance, donning a different physical form. Every life’s encounters are related to the actions of past lives. The laws of karma and cause and effect are the laws of the universe; they are universal and shared, not merely applicable to the worldly realm, the six realms, or the ten Dharma realms.

Breaking the Gravitational Pull of Karma

The void is filled with various creatures, including many suffering spirits. These spirits are tethered by the gravitational pull of their own planets—let us call this the pull of karma—preventing them from reincarnating on other planets. However, if there was a causal connection in the past and the conditions are now met, a powerful sense of compassion and the strength of a vow can break this gravitational pull. This allows that immense compassion and vow-power to take effect, changing their original destiny and even allowing them to enter another planet. This principle applies to sentient beings across many planets and star systems—what we often refer to as the entire Dharma-realm and empty space.

Let me describe what happened today. After our group set out and streaked across the sky, Buddha-light and the Buddha-name accompanied us the entire way. First, we visited another space of the Earth—what we call the Celestial Realm and the Four Sacred Realms. They had long been kneeling, waiting for Practitioner Su’s assistance to lead them into the Western Land. Practitioner Su’s magnetic field has the capacity to connect with the Western Pure Land; whether the celestial beings and the sages of the Four Sacred Realms can enter depends on whether their own vows and strength are sufficient.

A Sea of Deliverance

From all directions in the void, countless souls emerged. They had different appearances—tall, short, fat, thin—all unique. It turned out they came from different planets, but because the Buddha-light and the Buddha-name pierced through, the limitations of space were opened. They were drawn by the Buddha-light and the Buddha-name, appearing one after another like waves of the sea—the old, the young, the weak, and the women. They had been waiting in the void for our arrival. At that moment, distance was no longer an issue; the vast distances between planets seemed to have been drawn close. Practitioner Su opened the space, and many beings from those planets who had affinities with us Venerables were also saved, joining the ranks of these beings. It is difficult to describe the emotion that filled my heart. The sky was overflowing with sentient beings. Practitioner Su waved his sleeves continuously, fearing that he might miss any soul that could be saved, ensuring they were all gathered together.

Then, amidst the sound of the Buddha-name, a golden light appeared, covering the entire sky. Everyone’s eyes lit up; they were astonished by how dazzling this light was. It was Namo Amituofo and the Western Trinity appearing before us, with the Pure Ocean Assembly following behind. The scenery of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss was right before our eyes—infinitely gentle, compassionate, and magnificent. The sentient beings all opened their mouths in awe, including many of the celestial beings and sages of the Four Sacred Realms who had followed us. They looked at the scene before them in disbelief, some even moved to tears, weeping uncontrollably. The Buddha-light shone upon them, and regardless of whether they had injuries, illnesses, pain, or physical deficiencies, they were healed and restored to their original, perfect forms. Immeasurable and boundless sentient beings filled every visible and invisible space. Namo Amituofo’s golden light covered the sky, containing many large and small halos of light from the Western sages, Practitioner Su, and us Venerables. In truth, there was no longer any distinction between 'you' and 'me'; at that moment, we all merged into one. Everyone entered the light of Namo Amituofo, and we rejoiced that they had been welcomed into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. It was such a moving scene!

Infinite Gratitude

The infinite grace of Namo Amituofo gathered our strength and saved these immeasurable, boundless sentient beings, regardless of borders, star systems, or space. All of this is part of our daily life; this vast, boundless source of life and infinite grace is right beside us, inexhaustible and ever-present. How could we ever repay it? Infinite gratitude! It turns out that a human being, through their own efforts—by aligning their heart and vows with Namo Amituofo and cultivating the Dharma Body—can manifest the power of life to such an extraordinary extent, saving so many sentient beings and causing Namo Amituofo to manifest before us to welcome them to the Western Land. Thanks to the Buddha’s grace! Thanks to Practitioner Su! All sentient beings share in the endless benefits of the Dharma."

The content of this interview was received and recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.