This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changren, who reflects on the nature of personality and its profound impact on spiritual practice at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on March 7, 2023.
Venerable Changren speaks:
". When we begin to discuss the path of practice, it is inevitable that we must address the subject of 'personality.' It is a fundamental aspect of our existence that we often overlook, yet it dictates so much of our journey.
Personality acts as a master that controls this physical body, and in turn, becomes trapped within the confines of that very personality. Our Body-Mind-Spirit is constantly subjected to the interference of these traits, which act as a significant barrier to our spiritual progress. One could say that personality is the primary 'resistance' to our practice. However, it also holds the potential to become a powerful 'assistance' in elevating our spirits. Once we truly change our personality, the resulting purity of the body will naturally drive the growth of our spirit.
The Architecture of the Soul
While the human body appears almost identical from one person to the next, each individual carries a unique aura. Every soul is distinct, and naturally, once a soul enters a physical body, it brings with it the imprint of its own essence. It begins to shape the flesh, moulding the physical form into a likeness that mirrors its own spiritual state. Whether it is in the depth of one's gaze, the subtle quality of one's temperament, or the overall energy one radiates, you can perceive the approximate state of that person's soul. These traits manifest in the most inadvertent of moments.
Of course, there are times when this is not the case—such as when the body is being controlled or utilised by external forces, or when one's own soul has long been cast out by the sentient beings residing within the body. In such instances, the soul may be unable to fully inhabit its own vessel, or it may be hiding in some dark corner of the body, forced to watch as its own physical form is manipulated by others.
The Layers of Influence
Regardless of the state in which your soul currently resides, this body arrives with certain personality traits already embedded within it from the moment of rebirth in this lifetime. These traits are innate; they exist within the body from the very beginning, independent of any influence from the external environment we encounter later in life.
When we look at it this way, the manifestation of a personality is influenced by a multitude of factors. There are the memories of past spiritual lives, the constant interference and influence of the sentient beings residing within us, and the patterns we have learned from our environment in this current life. All these diverse factors converge to influence the body, causing it to naturally exhibit a specific, often rigid, personality.
Once a personality is firmly established, it becomes incredibly difficult for the body to become pure and transparent. This is because personality acts as a pollutant, clouding the body and making it nearly impossible for it to undergo true purification.
The Fiery Echoes of Past Lives
During the of the grandmother's , we were able to observe many sentient beings from the 'volcano space' who possessed particularly fiery and aggressive personalities. When these beings held a human body in their past lives, they were prone to intense anger and resentment. Their tempers were volatile, and because they never addressed these traits, they carried this same personality with them through every single lifetime they spent in a human body.
From the vantage point of the volcano space, one can clearly see that regardless of the family environment or the circumstances into which these beings were born throughout their many lives, their personalities remained unchanged. They continued to be reincarnated while clinging to these same destructive traits. They would be reborn, only to manifest the same patterns again and again. Who is it that suffers in the end? It is always the soul, trapped in this endless cycle of rebirth.
Transcending the Cycle of Personality
Do not allow your personality to become a resistance that hinders your path forward. The traits you have carried with you throughout your many lives should be thoroughly changed in this lifetime. By doing so, you not only resolve the conflict with the sentient beings within you but also assist yourself in attaining a pure body. When you let go of the 'self,' you no longer have a personality to defend. Let your personality become an assistance that elevates your spirit. Change it completely, do not let it become a barrier to your practice, and do not carry it with you into yet another cycle of rebirth.
