Transcending the Cycle of Suffering

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who assists Practitioner Su in the work of delivering spirits at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He reflects on the profound nature of human suffering and the path to liberation. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on September 27, 2023.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Yongning. Many people in this world feel that their lives are filled with bitterness. They often complain about heaven and blame others, yet they never stop to observe or contemplate the true reasons why their lives have become so painful. They are trapped in a cycle of their own making, unable to see the path out.

I have been following Practitioner Su in the work of Chao Du—delivering spirits. These spirits, drifting in the vast expanse of space, are in a state of extreme suffering. If Practitioner Su did not reach out to rescue them, to pull them from the darkness of those realms, they would remain there forever, enduring endless torment. It is a heavy, suffocating existence that most people in the human world cannot even begin to imagine.

The Regret of the Departed

When these spirits are finally brought out from those dark spaces, they are all moved to tears. They weep uncontrollably, expressing their profound regret. They lament that their lives ended in such a hollow way. They spent their entire existence toiling for this physical human body, only to find that upon death, they possessed nothing. They could not take their wealth, their status, or their possessions with them; they only carried away a heavy burden of karma.

Now, those who still possess a human body seem to be walking the exact same path. They are heading toward the same cycle of being reincarnated, which will only lead to greater pain and deeper suffering. Since the outcome is already known, why not choose to change starting from this very moment? Why wait until it is too late to turn back?

The Roots of Human Anguish

Every person's suffering is not without cause. When I look at people, I see the various forms of their pain: some suffer from disharmony in their families, others from dissatisfaction in their work, some from the difficulty of raising children, and others from the agony of physical illness. There is every kind of suffering imaginable. As long as people living in this world find it difficult to see through their attachments and let go, they will be forced to endure these various forms of torment.

I once observed a woman who wore a look of constant sorrow. She would spend her days staring at her mobile phone, longing for her children. To her, life was truly bitter. She had raised her children, but they had grown up and drifted far away from her. She had hoped that they would care for her and look after her in her old age, but in the end, she found herself completely alone. She felt as though even a mosquito would not care to pay her any attention.

The Cycle of Cause and Effect

This woman was filled with resentment, and her heart had become poisoned by hatred. She lived an incredibly unhappy life, to the point where she even contemplated ending her own existence with medication. There are so many people like her in this world. If one were to look back at her youth, it would not be difficult to understand why she faced such a fate. When she was young, she loved to play and seek pleasure. She would constantly entrust her children to her aunt, then to her parents-in-law, and then to her neighbours. These children never had the chance to bond with their mother. Naturally, as they grew up, they felt no affection for her. They only maintained contact out of a sense of duty because she was their biological mother. When she sent messages or called, they would answer, but if she became too demanding or frequent, they would simply ignore her, pretending they had not seen or heard from her.

The woman's suffering did not come from nowhere; there was a clear cause. If one looks even deeper into her youth, it becomes apparent that she was being manipulated by her own karmic creditors. That is why she acted the way she did—abandoning her young children to pursue her own fleeting joys. If she had understood the importance of repenting for her sins, she might have suffered less interference from these spirits and had more opportunities to awaken. Unfortunately, she did not understand, and she allowed her body to be controlled, unable to find a way to wake up from this dream of suffering.

The Path to True Liberation

It is not just this woman; almost everyone's body is being controlled to some extent. Why is this control so intense? It is because our bodies are still filled with greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt. We are still attached to wealth, beauty, fame, food, and sleep. With these temperaments and desires, it is very difficult for the body to avoid the manifestation of karma. In the past, it was precisely because of these personalities and desires that we committed immeasurable and boundless sins. Now, these debts are being awakened, and they are coming one by one to collect.

If you want to stop suffering, the answer is to change. You must truly and thoroughly extinguish greed, anger, and delusion. You must let go of the body's attachment to desire. Do not let your heart fluctuate constantly. You should return to a state of purity. Naturally, your heart will become calm, your life will become smooth, and you will be able to harmonise your body and mind with ease.

Returning to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss

Life is suffering, but it does not have to be. Because the human body is essentially an illusion, how can there be a 'life' to cling to? Let go of your attachments and cravings for this world. Let go of your possession of this false body. Naturally, you will be able to break free from suffering and no longer be tormented by it. To those who are suffering, please, let go! Let your heart return to purity, change your personality, and save the spirits within your own body. Chant Namo Amituofo together, return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, escape the sea of birth and death, and attain eternal bliss.

Namo Amituofo.

Yongning"