Venerable Chang Ren, a dedicated monastic, shares profound insights on the nature of and the transformative power of spiritual practice. This interview was recorded on September 11, 2018, by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia, where many seek deliverance and spiritual purification.
Venerable Chang Ren speaks:
"There are so many truths in this world that tell us we should be content and find in that contentment. Those who are never satisfied easily fall into chaotic thinking. Within such an atmosphere of scattered and reckless thoughts, one easily loses their own clear heart.
The of the World
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is different now than it was before. It is filled with positive energy and countless rays of brilliant light. This is the colour of dawn, signifying that the darkness of the world is about to wake up. Everyone is gradually being adjusted by the power of the Buddha, gradually undergoing purification, and gradually becoming different. The moment you are truly willing to walk with the Buddha, every single second becomes an opportunity to succeed in finding yourself again. Because the world operates on such a fair principle: if you act, you must do so with sincerity. What you will receive in return is an inconceivable and magnificent brilliance.
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is an incomparably magnificent temple, but only through sincere, genuine action and true purification can one receive help. It is like the saying, 'you reap what you sow.' With every bit of effort you put in, the harvest might be good, or it might be bad. But as long as you hold firm to your faith in the present moment, the final change you receive will be the greatest possible benefit. Because you are under the compassionate care of the Buddha, for anyone who truly makes a vow and sets their heart on the path, success is an absolute certainty.
The Truth of
Each person must bear the karma they have created. This statement is equally magnificent because it is the Truth. If we lived in a world without Truth, how terrifying would that be? Throughout the Realm and the universe, there exists an eternal, unchanging Truth everywhere. Every space and every sentient being must abide by it. If one is slightly careless and commits a mistake, according to the standards of Truth, one is indeed guilty. However, if one continues to repent and change one's ways, one can indeed eliminate many spiritual obstacles and lighten the suffering of retribution through the power of Truth.
But when the same mistake or the same temperament manifests again, the past actions will be pulled forward once more. This is because, within that space of the past, your history exists as a reality. Now, because of your current state, you create an attraction; space attracts space. Everything you did in the past will manifest before you. This is the manifestation of spiritual obstacles. What is the reason? It is because your personality has not changed. All your words, actions, and even your mental notes remain as insincere as they were in the beginning.
Stopping the Cycle of Karma
I hope that everyone will stop seeking out more karma. You should put an end to all delusional thoughts and improper actions, and live in the present moment. Regarding the past, you should embrace it with a heart full of repentance. When you have the ability, you should perform for those past experiences, because your current existence is just as real as they were in the past.
Practice is not about anything else; it is about changing yourself, changing your past, and turning over a new leaf. Everything must be done with true sincerity. Practice will become a real force, and change will surely manifest as expected.
A Rare Opportunity for Deliverance
This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. Everyone can gather here to practise together and purify together. This is an opportunity that so many people long for but cannot find. Modern people lack sufficient and do not yet understand this place. When the Causal Conditions unfold, this will be the Pure Land that everyone actively wants to grasp. The world is full of chaos and contamination; only here can you reorganise yourself and change yourself. But you must truly achieve this in reality. With one part of true intent, you will absolutely receive the greatest benefit. The world is false; only keeping yourself clear and bright is the most important thing. I am grateful to my grandmother, and I am grateful to for creating the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and for establishing this place, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, as the Western path for everyone to return home.
