The Unseen Work of Chao Du by Practitioner Su

On March 12, 2018, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, a series of interviews were conducted with various monastics, historical figures, and spirits who had sought the profound spiritual Chao Du offered by Practitioner Su. These testimonies, recorded by the fourfold assembly, detail the transformative power of the Pure Land Dharma Gate and the compassionate work of Practitioner Su in guiding sentient beings toward rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Daily Report: Venerable Yongning

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"The achievement of true skill is never a matter of a single day or night. It is a process of long-term cultivation, one that must be continuous and persistently diligent. Practitioner Su has been bearing the suffering of sentient beings for many years. Recently, we have all witnessed him calling forth the spirits residing within his own body. The disciples see this and feel deep heartache, yet they also understand the responsibility they must strive to uphold.

The temple is about to open, and the disciples know they must progress further to guide the masses. The habits cultivated since beginningless time must be gradually faded through the Pure Land Dharma Gate. However, when you cannot fully purify them in an instant, do not let yourself fall into agitation, discouragement, or frustration. Give yourself more encouragement, shake off your sleeves, and continue to move forward step by step. If you constantly blame yourself and obsessively probe into your own problems, you will never run out of issues to solve, because human nature and thought are inherently complex. In this way, you cannot maintain the pure heart of the Pure Land. Whether your personality has been purified or habits still exist, your heart should remain level. Everything is a natural manifestation within the natural state; otherwise, you cannot practice in the Pure Land, and you will only cause your own karmic creditors to multiply.

Purification is not a difficult matter. As long as you let go of yourself, do not treat the good medicine as bitter, remain content and happy, benefit the masses, and practice selflessness, the heart of Meditation (Concentration) will naturally arise. I share these words of encouragement with everyone."

The Wisdom of the Third Patriarch, National Master Xianshou

National Master Xianshou speaks:

"Sea and sky merge in a single expanse of openness. Dancing through heaven and earth in a single instant. This realm and others are truly endless. There is no limit to the benefit for humans and devas. Where can one find the traces? They are all hidden within the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Practitioner Su’s eyes contain the dimensions of space. Layer upon layer, all clearly understood.

Worldly people find it hard to see the clarity. They are always separated by a veil of fog. Right and wrong are defined by one’s own ego. Thinking it is right, yet it is actually wrong. In the end, one must bear the laws of karma and cause and effect. Self-righteousness requires adjustment. Everything is medicine held in the palm. Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving are never apart. A great heart and vast capacity turn the universe. The heart encompasses the void, stored within the chest.

Internal transformation is formless, the mouth opens in laughter. Nothing can disturb the joyful expression. This is truly the gate within the gate. The interstellar expanse is boundless. The human world has nothing like this. Only at this time, in this other place, does it exist. It is like a cool breeze pouring into the heart, while the heat of disturbance never rests. Every second, the environment is transformed, because it is guided into the Western Land. The worldly dust is murky, a realm within a realm. The Eight Meritorious Waters wash away everything. Everything is a spirit among spirits. All are treasures in the palm of the Buddha. Practitioner Su’s great heart contains the infinite, achieving the true self within this."

Steve Jobs on Purification

Steve Jobs speaks:

"Today, the hearts of the great virtuous ones have become much more compassionate. If we calculate by ranking, Yin Chuan is the most compassionate, followed by Yideng, Faxian, and finally Wuren. Suddenly, I had a realization: originally, we were all likely produced from the same cell. Through the branching and splitting of various environments, we developed sharp edges. After many lifetimes of reincarnation, these edges became thicker and more numerous. The original light was obscured; the truly pure and white appearance turned grey, black, and dark brown. The light of human nature became faint, but it is still there—some buried deep, some shallow, some barely letting light through.

Now, we can only rely on learning the Buddha’s teachings and purification, washing away layer by layer, to shine flawlessly once again. This metaphor is enough to describe these great virtuous ones. Depending on the degree of purification, some have reached a light brown with a glimmer, and to enter the grey-translucent stage requires deeper purification. This speed is already considered very fast. Once you reach the grey-translucent stage, interference from sentient beings will be much less. This will also help in the connection of the body and everything remaining in the brain, consciousness, and Alaya consciousness. I am optimistic about all of this; it is right before our eyes."

The Testimony of Yin Shun

Yin Shun speaks:

"It is inconceivable! It is inconceivable! I see that after Practitioner Su’s great injury, his skill has increased manifold. The Buddha is compassionate; to allow Practitioner Su to have the ability and speed to save beings more rapidly, this physical injury was something no ordinary person could endure. Practitioner Su truly achieved what others cannot endure and practiced what others cannot practice. During the morning walking meditation, Practitioner Su’s Dharma Body led everyone forward without fear. To let everyone understand the importance of becoming a Buddha, the daily visits to the hells, the persistent demands of karmic creditors, and the listening to counseling and resolution—all of this is to ensure that everyone’s spiritual nature can become clearer and to understand the importance and sense of mission in promoting the Buddha’s teachings.

Whenever Practitioner Su’s Buddha-eye scans a physical body, he knows exactly how many sentient beings are hidden within and how many lifetimes of karmic creditors are following. Yet, Practitioner Su is compassionate and never uses coercive means to force a resolution, because he understands the suffering of sentient beings; he understands their pain and attachments. This is why the spirits are willing to submit and listen to the advice to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. I am repeating what the fourfold assembly already knows, but outsiders do not know, and future sentient beings and Bodhisattvas do not know. We must proclaim this to all sentient beings and Bodhisattvas in the Dharma Realm.

Every day, the Chao Du is immeasurable—saving those at the level of Equal Enlightenment down to those in the hells. The speed is so fast, and the reaction so agile, that even I, following along to assist in the Chao Du, find it hard to learn this skill. If one has not found the Dharma Body, it is even more difficult to learn and inherit this unique ability of Chao Du. I can only use the word 'praise' for Practitioner Su.

As Practitioner Su mentioned, if we still have our own selfish thoughts and intentions, the spirits all have the power of reading minds—they would drown us first. How could we perform Chao Du? We would be 'delivered' by the sentient beings first. This long discourse is merely to remind the fourfold assembly who still have physical bodies: the Buddha Jewel is before you. You must practice great filial piety, cherish what is before you, exert your own efforts diligently and unceasingly, make vows to inherit this, and help immeasurable sentient beings and Bodhisattvas. Namo Amituofo!"

The Daily Report: Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew speaks:

"Every day, I see Practitioner Su’s inconceivable progress and persistence. I admire him greatly. To be able to silently bear the suffering of sentient beings in this generation, without seeking merit or fame, is rare and extraordinary. Only in this way can the Wisdom (Prajna) radiated daily to help sentient beings be so different from the ordinary. To bring along so many spirits, he stops at nothing. Beyond traveling through heaven and earth, he leads them to realize the red dust of the world, to understand what is true and what is false, what can be taken away and what cannot.

He helps many wake up from the fog, thereby changing their own destiny and becoming willing to follow the Buddha to the West. If he were not burdened with the responsibility of saving beings and passing on the lineage, I believe he would have long since returned to the West, no longer suffering the pain of a physical body. Using such a compassionate heart to carry the responsibility of the Dharma lineage, he preserves the last hope for the world, lighting up a broad and smooth path for future generations to follow. The vanguard is already here, waiting for those who will take up the baton to proclaim this path to more people. This is a path of ultimate bliss, a method of liberation. I hope the masses can have the blessings to come and investigate it for themselves."

The Testimony of Faxian

Faxian speaks:

"Brother, you have worked hard. Regarding the morning Chao Du, you have helped immeasurable spirits be reborn in the Western Pure Land. This skill is something none of us can learn. The speed of flight is so fast that even I have some difficulty following. A voice told me this is because I have not let go of too many worldly things within myself, which causes the speed of information transmission to be fast or slow. I know this myself, and I feel ashamed and repentant. These days, seeing the temple and seeing my own past, I have truly woken up a lot. In the bustling metropolis, I had never imagined the inner worlds of these people, but today, through your guidance, I have truly seen these terrifying realities. Even when I feel pain, I must find a way to change. I have walked and seen much in this life, but one must suffer within oneself. A bound character will suffer until one cannot breathe. I was once a practitioner, and now that I must find it back, I really have to put in the work. I will practice diligently, relax my body and mind. There are many things in this world that I cannot take with me. I will learn to release these worldly matters. Brother, please rest assured. Namo Amituofo."

The Testimony of Venerable Changren

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Seeing Grandma suffer day and night, I truly cannot bear it. This morning, watching Grandma stand on the stage of the void again, pouring out her heart of salvation, I was truly moved by such persistent faith and the responsibility of delivering the void. It has also summoned immeasurable beings of the void to compete to come and protect the Dharma, as well as to help with the Chao Du. For the sake of this promotion of the True Teachings, Grandma has suffered a lot. Although I know Grandma is a very strong 'great husband,' I know the pain brought by the worldly physical body is still very agonizing.

Grandma’s demonstration through his own body has surely awakened many people. Faxian is among them, seeing it clearly. His spiritual nature is very clear, and he often tells me and his own physical body that he must strive for the True Teachings. Faxian knows his own vows and responsibilities for this life, and he has always been protecting everything of his own. Only now has he truly woken up to the fact that these things cannot be taken away. Faxian knows the principle that a human body is hard to obtain and the Buddha’s teachings are hard to hear. He also knows he should seek further improvement, because the daily scenes at the Great Buddha Temple are very exciting and happy for him to see. Faxian is a talent; as long as he is further developed, he is also a great vessel who can truly be of service. I will continue to support and help him. Seeing the disciples under my seat every day, the sorrow in Faxian’s heart is infinitely deep. Faxian must work hard, and everyone else too. The True Teachings are about to open. Namo Amituofo."

The Testimony of Yin Chuan

Yin Chuan speaks:

"Born into wealth, I was the eldest grandson of the family, and everyone’s expectations were focused on me. One could say I was born with a golden spoon. Everything was taken care of for me, and I lived my life according to everyone’s expectations. Even when choosing a marriage, there were many voices. I have always had a kind of 'sorrow of the rich' in my heart. Lamentation and lack of confidence have actually accumulated over a long time; this is the dullness brought from this life. Today, I saw a space within a space: a mother and daughter, depending on each other for survival, selling vegetables they grew themselves. But the vegetables did not look good, so business was not very good.

I calculated that if all these vegetables were sold, it might only be enough for the mother and daughter to eat one meal, and perhaps the next meal would not be guaranteed. Squatting on the side of the road, the environment was very poor. The daughter looked like she should be at an age to be in school, but because the living environment did not allow it, she could only follow her mother to sell vegetables. I wept and felt sad. Under the Buddha-light, everyone looked up, the music of the heavens played, and everyone’s hearts warmed up. They moved toward the light involuntarily, but some stubborn old grandpas and grandmas, perhaps having lived this kind of life for a lifetime, still had their persistence regardless of how the external environment changed. I helped by chanting the Buddha-name loudly, but they still ignored me. There was nothing to be done; I could only wait until I come back in a few days to see if they wake up a little. The suffering of this life, if not discovered from the heart, will not be understood. Everyone is still living in their own space, thinking they are happy, but in the end, they all walk the same path of reincarnation. True liberation from destiny is the true breakthrough of life and death. Today’s scene made my heart softer. I thought of the suffering of others, not just the suffering in my own heart. It turns out the real world is so cruel. After wiping away the sweat and tears, the direction for the future is clearer, and the vows in my heart are more real. It is all vivid, engraved in my memory and brain consciousness, never to be forgotten. Waiting for the time when the salvation of the world opens, I will exert myself well. I also hope for the Buddha’s blessings so that the Master’s physical body can recover quickly. Namo Amituofo."

The Testimony of Huang Jinxuan

Huang Jinxuan speaks:

"Life has a hundred states, and there are many things that can be realized from each posture. Today, Practitioner Su led everyone to sweep through every vegetable market. If it were not for Practitioner Su, I would not have entered a vegetable market for a long time, or rather, I would never have gone at all. I never thought that a market would have so many spirits in need of help—chickens, ducks, geese, fish, pork, beef, lamb, shellfish, all kinds of marine life can be found here. And this is only a part of it. I also saw that every boss or employee selling these things had spirits attached to them—those they had sold or slaughtered—or they had entered a space from which they could not escape.

If Practitioner Su had not brought the great virtuous ones and me here, I would not have understood that space is everywhere and at all times. If a person does not learn the Buddha’s teachings, they will enter their own personal space. The market is just a small microcosm of the six realms of existence. Only then did I know that if a person does not learn the Buddha’s teachings, how could they know how terrifying this world is? How many things cannot be done, how many thoughts cannot be had? True practice allows one to see a different world. Opening the obstacles of space, one will understand the importance of immigrating to the West and the intense plea for liberation. This place is no longer suitable for survival; only seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land is a wise choice. But how many know this truth? Proclaiming this truth to let more people understand is also saving oneself, not being led by worldly temptations, seeing through and letting go of all this falsehood, and obtaining this line of liberation is the person with the most blessings."

The Testimony of Zhao Puchu

Zhao Puchu speaks:

"After watching today’s Chao Du, I am truly moved. I never thought that one person’s compassion could be so infinitely inclusive of all things. Even while his body was being invaded and disturbed by spirits, he was still free and easy in the void, leading a large Chao Du team to help spirits be reborn in the Pure Land. Speaking of it, I am ashamed. I do not have the heart and capacity like Practitioner Su. It is impossible to send such a huge number of spirits to the West. Every spirit has the five supernatural powers and can know the true thoughts in one’s heart. Even a slight fluctuation will be clearly perceived. Only by having no heart, no thought, and no intention—true unconditional compassion and compassion for the same body—can this be done.

I have always thought my heart capacity was already very broad, but I did not expect that a person could really cultivate to such a realm, as broad and boundless as the Buddha-heart. I only wish that the spirits can be freed from suffering and truly correspond with the Buddha, implementing the sutras step by step. It is hard to find such a person in a thousand years. The fourfold assembly who have the blessings to follow should learn well, put down their own opinions and attachments, so that they can open their heart capacity and learn such magnificent Dharma. Everyone can become a Buddha, everyone has such ability, everyone is a future Buddha. Breaking through the obstacles of the Five Desires and Six Dusts, clearing the blockages of space, and having a direct flight to the West—to come and go freely, to be reborn at ease, is that not joyful?"

The Daily Report: Mr. Wuren

Mr. Wuren speaks:

"Today, my heart is a bit heavy. Early in the morning, I received a phone call with bad news. My long-time friend passed away from illness. We were very close, like brothers. I knew he had been ill for a long time and never got better. Although he had a lot of wealth and saw many famous doctors, he still could not escape death. My physical body feels sad for him. Actually, Practitioner Su let me go into the hells, and I already saw him there. Several times I saw him being punished. I did not expect time to be so fast; his lifespan was exhausted.

He went to several hells, his body was broken and ruined by punishment. It is truly impossible for the physical body to recover. Most people in the world do not know this fact and can only blindly continue to take and inject drugs. In the end, the body rots, the person dies, the spirit suffers in hell, and the physical body is also in a human purgatory. It is agonizing. Being a human, why is it so bitter? Yet why are we bitter without knowing it? I truly hope that everyone in this lifetime can be reborn in the Western Pure Land and not come back to be a human again. Only the Buddha’s teachings can lead everyone to liberation. Only by revitalizing the Buddha’s teachings will the people of the world have a chance to be saved. I must let myself stand up and help everyone. Namo Amituofo."

The Testimony of Jinshan Living Buddha

Jinshan Living Buddha speaks:

"Whether in terms of spiritual nature or reality, since the interviews began, it seems to have ignited great expectations and hope for the fourfold assembly. Several experiences make it seem difficult to believe again. Is the result real? Is this time real? This is also why worldly people always raise doubts about people, things, and objects. It is easy to be prejudiced by experience and block all possibilities. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are always compassionate and do not seek rewards, coming again with pure goodness. If the heart capacity is larger, allowing for many different causal conditions and all good deeds and thoughts that can lead to Buddhahood, believe that you are a Buddha, and accept that everyone around you is a Buddha.

Of course, with the good adjustment of one’s own heart and thoughts, what one sees, hears, and does will naturally be on the path—the great path to the West. Every day, Yin Chuan follows Practitioner Su in walking meditation and chanting the Buddha-name, and the various moving things he sees—especially these great virtuous ones who are working so hard to inherit the Pure Land lineage—each one is walking on thin ice. Today, Yin Chuan saw the Master’s Chao Du becoming faster and broader, reaching the entire void and the entire Dharma Realm. Everyone is happily chanting the Buddha-name, following the Buddha-light, and being compassionately led by the Buddha. Only when one truly sees Practitioner Su does one know what a great brave one and great benevolent one is. His heart is only on saving beings, on saving the world. The team that saves the world always moves every great virtuous one wherever they go. The Buddha-light is so strong, and Practitioner Su is so compassionate. Now that Yin Chuan is learning the Buddha’s teachings, regarding how much his own spiritual nature can dominate, whether it is which sentient being or Bodhisattva, there is almost no need to consider or be unable to let go; they just follow the Buddha-name and leave. The Buddha-light is even greater; even Practitioner Su’s radiance is cleaner and brighter than ever before. So if someone asks if Yin Chuan will attend the Dharma assembly, I am full of confidence: he will be there. The biggest obstacle between spiritual nature and reality is the doubt in the human heart, which blocks a stronger energy field. Let the facts be as you expect. Alas, the Pure Land school is indeed important. Is the heart pure yet?"