This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changgao, who reflects on the spiritual dimensions within natural phenomena and the profound work of spiritual deliverance. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on March 20, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia.
Venerable Changgao speaks:
". A sudden gust of sea breeze sweeps past, and within its invisible currents, I hear a multitude of voices—crying out, pleading, and desperate for salvation. It is a sound that would be imperceptible to most, yet it is as clear as a bell to those who understand the nature of the spiritual realms.
Through the intervention of Practitioner Su’s , we have come to realise that space is not merely empty distance. It is a layered reality, a repository of history. There are places where these layers of space are densely packed, overlapping one another like pages in a book. In these areas, the number of spirits is staggering. Consider the vastness of the ocean—whether on the surface, deep within the dark trenches of the seabed, or even across the expanse of the shoreline—these spaces are crowded, teeming with sentient beings who have been trapped there for ages."
The Hidden Layers of Space
"When a gust of sea breeze blows, it carries more than just air and salt. It carries the spirits themselves. These beings use the sound, the speed, and the intensity of the wind as a medium to transmit their messages to the human world. Most people walk through these winds without a second thought, completely unaware of the drama unfolding around them. However, for those who are sensitive, or for those who possess the ability to perceive the spiritual realms, these messages are unmistakable. They can hear the language of these spirits and understand the depth of their sorrow and the urgency of their pleas.
Here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, what we hear is the message of space itself. A single gust of wind does not contain just one spirit; it often contains an entire history. The breeze that is blowing right now, for instance, carries within it an entire 'war space.' If one looks closely into this specific dimension, it becomes clear that a brutal conflict once took place upon these very waters—a massive maritime war."
Echoes of a Forgotten War
"In that war, countless military weapons were deployed—warships, artillery, and fire-power of every description. All of these remain imprinted within that space. One can see the intensity of the battle, the desperation of the soldiers, and the ruthless tactics employed by both sides to secure victory. The destruction was not limited to the armies involved; the entire ocean was a victim. Countless marine creatures, innocent and unaware, were caught in the crossfire and perished in agony.
This gust of sea breeze is essentially a carrier for the cries of these suffering creatures. When Practitioner Su’s Body arrives, the golden light radiates, bathing the entire ocean in . The maritime space contained within this wind is immediately granted . All the fallen soldiers, along with every single marine creature that suffered in that conflict, are restored to their original state through the power of the Buddha-name. And it is not merely a restoration of their physical form; Practitioner Su, in his boundless compassion, restores them to the human body, allowing them to follow the golden light and leave their suffering behind forever."
The Boundless Scope of Deliverance
"The example I have just described is but one instance of the many spaces we encounter today. It is important to understand that the scope of Practitioner Su’s work is unimaginably vast—it is by no means limited to a single space. Consider the ocean as a whole: from the moment it was formed until this very second, it has been in a constant state of flux. The ocean of ten years ago is vastly different from the ocean of today, and these changes create new layers of space. Practitioner Su saves them all. Regardless of the time or the location, as long as the Causal Conditions are ripe, the golden light shines in, helping the beings trapped within to finally escape their confinement.
Every single day, vast multitudes of spirits are sent into the golden light. The number of spaces that have accumulated over countless kalpas is so great that it defies calculation. For so long, these beings have never had the chance to be saved. In this lifetime, Practitioner Su acts on behalf of the Buddha to save the world, working tirelessly every day to help these beings achieve liberation and leave their suffering behind. Witnessing this, all the spirits kneel in profound gratitude.
