The Weight of a Single Thought

This interview was recorded on October 2, 2018. The spirit of the late Chang Yung-fa, founder of the Evergreen Group, sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides within the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, having attained clarity regarding the karmic consequences of his past life and the profound nature of spiritual existence.

Chang Yung-fa speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. In my past life, I would never have dared to pit an egg against a stone. It was only after I began listening to the sutras and practising the Dharma that I finally understood: whether it is a soft stone, a hard stone, or a broken egg, one must accept them all as they are. Throughout my life, I travelled the seas and witnessed the scenery of countless nations. Many of these places looked like beautiful paintings, each country possessing its own unique characteristics. And within those characteristics, there were always sentient beings—often not just one, but countless, dense layers of them.

The Terrifying Reality of Thought-Created Spaces

I remember once, while viewing an art exhibition, I saw a truly magnificent painting. It depicted a scene I had never encountered before—a simple, rustic village that felt incredibly peaceful. The surrounding landscape appeared so serene and leisurely. For a fleeting moment, I imagined myself walking into that painting to explore it. In that instant, it felt as though the time and space had shifted. Only now do I realise that what I experienced was entering a 'space.' These spaces are infinitely layered, one within another. It is truly terrifying to realise that the moment you conceive a thought, a space is created. Do not even talk about the three hundred and sixty-five days of a year; in just a single afternoon, the number of spaces I created through my work and family concerns is beyond calculation.

Now I finally understand why Practitioner Su has an endless number of spaces to perform Chao Du. Humans have thoughts, animals have thoughts, and ghosts have thoughts. The web of spaces formed by these thoughts is finer and more intricate than any fishing net; it is so dense that perhaps even water would struggle to pass through it. Once you have 'thought' something, the gaze of your spirit is no longer your own. You must not be happy simply because you think during the day and dream at night. In the past, I would dream of women and feel as though I were young again, waking up feeling quite pleased. Who would have known that this was exactly where I would meet my end? My spirit was simply snatched away by others. These matters are truly terrifying. In the end, even the physical shell I inhabited was no longer under my own control.

The Truth Behind the Success

Thinking back on it now, I still feel a deep sense of regret. It is no wonder that in the end, I had to let go of my business and my family. By all accounts, I should not have been that kind of person. That I became so helpless was because I had already lost the ability to master my own fate. Not to mention the time I spent suffering from illness—I was already undergoing karmic retribution long before the end.

Generally speaking, the secrets of entrepreneurs are never made public. Being a man who valued his reputation, I would usually never speak of these things. However, for the sake of saving others, I am revealing all of this now. I do not fear being laughed at, because the grave truth is that ninety-nine percent of the people on the streets are in the exact same situation as I was. Everyone who reads this account written by Chang Yung-fa should wake up.

The Only Path to Deliverance

Only the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia can rescue a scattered soul, and only here can one's karmic creditors be truly resolved. To engage in genuine Chao Du to eliminate disasters, one must possess absolute sincerity; otherwise, the sentient beings who have followed you throughout your many lives will not let you go. They are suffering, and you are suffering too. If you have the opportunity in this lifetime, you must resolve these debts. Chao Du is performed to repay the debts you have accumulated throughout your many lives; otherwise, you could not repay them even in a hundred lifetimes. Everyone should have a broad perspective and a heart of repenting. These are the most critical keys.

The greatest achievement of this life should be to lead sentient beings to become Buddhas, and to become a Buddha yourself. You who are still living are much luckier than Chang Yung-fa, for you can personally perform Chao Du for your own sentient beings. This rare opportunity, which has been waiting for you for so long, would be a great pity to let slip away. Who knows how long it will be before you encounter such a chance again? Everyone must think this through clearly."

The content of this message was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxin.