The Vengeance of Meat Spirits

This article records an interview with Venerable Chang Ren, who reflects upon the spiritual consequences of meat consumption and the karmic retribution of slaughtered animals. The interview was conducted by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on January 10, 2023.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Chang Ren. When we observe the world today, we see a humanity that has become deeply attached to the consumption of flesh. Most people find it difficult to go even a single meal without meat; they feel physically uncomfortable, even weak, if they do not satisfy this craving. They believe that only by consuming the flesh of other beings can they feel truly satisfied and at ease in their own bodies.

However, consider the reality of this situation. The spirits of these animals, once they are slaughtered and consumed, carry hearts filled with profound hatred. From the very moment the blade falls, their resentment begins to accumulate. They wait, lingering in the shadows of our world, specifically seeking to find the humans who took their lives to exact their revenge. It is a cycle of suffering that never truly ends."

The Invisible Fire Burning Across Australia

"If you could see what I see, you would be struck by the sheer scale of this karmic debt. The entire sky over Australia is densely packed with the spirits of cows. It is not just the spirits of cows, but also the spirits of pigs and various sea creatures—all of these beings, slaughtered by human hands, are hovering in the space around us, waiting for their chance to seek revenge. The hatred within these animals is not merely a feeling; it is like a raging, invisible fire that is currently burning across the entire continent of Australia.

This is why the country is so incredibly dry. It is the collective, burning rage of these animal spirits that is scorching this land. The humans living upon this soil are the primary targets of this retribution. They are the ones who must face the consequences of this accumulated hatred, yet they remain entirely unaware of the spiritual reality unfolding around them. They have simply grown accustomed to the harsh weather, the relentless sun, and the scarcity of rain, never realising that the environment itself is a reflection of the spiritual turmoil caused by their own actions."

Practitioner Su’s Compassionate Intervention

"When Practitioner Su first arrived in Australia, she looked upon the parched, drought-stricken land and felt a deep, overwhelming compassion. She could not bear to see so many earthly creatures suffering. The insects, the small crawling beings, and even the trees and flowers that grow upon this earth were all struggling to survive without water. They were withered, their leaves dry and brittle, the trees standing like skeletons—there was no vitality left in the landscape.

To help these beings, Practitioner Su has been tirelessly performing Chao Du. In recent years, she has been working with immense effort to save these spirits and to pray for rain, so that all the beings within this land might finally receive the nourishment of water. During these sessions of Chao Du, Practitioner Su has saved countless animals—cows, in particular, are the most numerous. Because Australia produces such vast quantities of beef, there are so many cow spirits whose eyes are literally red with hatred, driven by an intense desire to seek revenge against humanity. Practitioner Su, with her boundless compassion, has saved them one by one, helping them to find liberation and leave their suffering behind."

A Call to Return to Nature

"When these spirits are finally saved and guided away, the space that was once densely packed with resentful spirits begins to clear. It is only then that the rain can fall. When the rain finally comes, all the beings who have been nourished by it rejoice loudly. The insects and the small creatures of the earth, in particular, can be heard singing the Buddha-name in gratitude, their hearts filled with profound thankfulness toward the Buddha.

Australia serves as a perfect example of how devastating the impact of meat-eating truly is. In the end, the karmic retribution always returns to the humans themselves, leading to suffering that is beyond description. It would be far better to reduce our killing, to allow all spirits to return to a state of peace, and to end this cycle of blood and vengeful retribution. Let us return to the natural order of things, where we all believe in the Buddha, chant the Buddha-name, and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo."