Transforming the Environment Through Right Thought, Right Vision, and Right Action

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Hang Zhou, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land. This account reflects upon his experiences and observations regarding the spiritual state of a lay practitioner. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Hai Ze, on May 27, 2020.

Venerable Hang Zhou speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Hang Zhou. It is truly astonishing to realise just how troublesome and complex the human body is! Before I encountered Practitioner Su, when I was known as Lucas, I was headstrong and stubborn. I led my disciples forward with a singular, misguided focus, causing pain to others to vent my own inner dissatisfaction. In doing so, I created a dark and wretched world of my own making. Now, having been transformed by the compassion of Practitioner Su, I have turned back. I have realised that I must use a kind heart, the right Dharma, and virtuous actions to help not only myself but others to change, thereby creating a new world of goodness. Looking back on these two extreme paths of life, I have come to a firm conclusion: it is far more difficult to perform good deeds than it is to commit evil; doing evil is, unfortunately, far easier.

The Heavy Burden of the Human Form

This is because everyone’s personal habits and ego are so deeply ingrained and difficult to change. Furthermore, when karmic creditors and attached spirits come to settle old scores or seek revenge, they find it much easier to incite us to do evil by playing into our existing habits. This is why it is all the more remarkable that Practitioner Su has the profound skill to subdue such extremely vicious, mutated viruses, demon crowds, and Plague Gods. To have such an opportunity is incredibly rare—it is a blessing that is hard to come by! The more clearly I see the stubborn and evil side of humanity, the more deeply I appreciate how precious it is to encounter the Buddha. Only by meeting the Buddha can we unravel the evil, stubborn, and pessimistic spirits within us and adjust our course toward the right path.

The human realm is far more complex than the spiritual realms because humans possess a physical body. This body serves as a battleground for karma, where karmic creditors and attached spirits control, demand repayment, or seek revenge. Therefore, humans must strive to break free from this cycle of karma so that their true spirit can take charge, rather than being controlled by these external forces. Practitioner Su understands this principle perfectly, which is why she gives Dharma talks to educate the beings in the spiritual realms. Since these beings lack a physical body, once their spirits are awakened and subdued, they can turn back toward the right path, leave their suffering behind, and find peace. Moreover, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, those who have the good fortune to encounter the Buddha can even be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Complexity of the Human Body

For those in the human world, however, it is an immense challenge to break through the limitations of the physical body and the interference of karmic creditors to elevate one's spirit. It is truly not easy! One genuinely needs the guidance of a true spiritual friend, for they can see the problems we cannot, helping us to jump free from the control of karma. They help us distinguish clearly between the influence of karmic beings and the autonomy of our own true nature. If one can achieve this, it would be wonderful! This is the vital purpose behind Practitioner Su leading all the practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to learn the Buddha’s teachings and strive for Buddhahood.

Those who have realised their true nature possess great power and have made great vows. They can use the Buddha’s power and the power of the Dharma, combined with compassion and wisdom, to educate the spiritual realms, allowing those beings to attain true liberation. This is precisely why Practitioner Su is able to subdue so many beings from the spiritual realms. Having gone through so much, I have finally found my roots. My roots are in the Western Pure Land, and these roots must be part of a group dedicated to saving the world. This is what my disciples and I are currently striving to do.

A Dialogue with the Controller

I was deeply moved by a recent conversation with the 'Nameless Great Being'—the primary controller within the lay practitioner's body. I was struck by the realisation that the practitioner's body and spirit are essentially separated; they exist together, yet the spirit is controlled and unable to act autonomously. The concept of 'oneness' should not only apply to external life, sentient and insentient beings, but more importantly, it should apply to the karmic creditors and attached spirits within our own bodies. Only by moving away from opposition and toward harmony can we lead a peaceful and balanced life.

Practitioner Su has instructed that I must communicate with this Nameless Great Being. Currently, this being controls the practitioner. If they help the practitioner perform good deeds, they are ultimately helping themselves. When the time comes and their karmic connection with the practitioner ends, their own spirit will be elevated. However, if they cause the practitioner to create conflict or perform evil, when the time comes, their spirit will fall into the realm of insects and lowly creatures, finding it difficult to escape and never attaining liberation. I believe this Nameless Great Being is intelligent and knows what is best. I am now conducting this interview through a heart-to-heart connection, and I trust that the energy and the message I am conveying will be received by them as well! I stand guard outside the practitioner’s body, ready to receive any guidance from the Nameless Great Being at any time.

The Power of the Infinite Life Sutra

At this moment, the practitioner, who was speaking fluently about their views, suddenly smiled, fell silent, and sat down, as if handing over their time to someone else, lost in deep contemplation. I believe the Nameless Great Being has heard the words of Practitioner Su that I relayed. From outside the body, I can see the practitioner's true spirit at the chest area; it is much calmer now, no longer filled with depression, anxiety, or sorrow. Because the practitioner's concerns were addressed through Practitioner Su’s reminder to the Nameless Great Being, and because of the being's kind response, the practitioner has been able to let go of their burdens, allowing their true spirit to settle. To me, this is a very good sign. I hope the practitioner’s true spirit can also grow roots of goodness. Only by thinking well, seeing well, and doing well can one transform their current circumstances and state of mind. This power must be manifested by the practitioner themselves before the Buddha’s power can truly take hold.

Previously, when Practitioner Su visualised Namo Amituofo entering the practitioner's body to take command, a powerful energy did indeed enter, raising the positive energy within and causing a stir among the beings inside. However, this positive energy could not be sustained and gradually weakened. In my view, this was because the positive energy lacked support from the internal positive forces of the practitioner, which primarily come from the practitioner's true spirit. Because the true spirit was trapped and powerless, even when the Buddha’s power appeared, it could only provide temporary assistance. If that positive energy could have been supported by the practitioner's own internal strength, it would have resonated and perhaps even flowed continuously. How wonderful that would have been! Inconceivable things would have happened, and the things we yearn for would have come to pass. This confirms the principle that one must first manifest their own strength before the Buddha’s power can be fully applied.

A Mass Deliverance from Within

Therefore, elevating the energy of the trapped true spirit is of the utmost importance. I hope Practitioner Su can provide the Infinite Life Sutra and her own Dharma-broadcasting machine to the practitioner's true spirit, which is currently confined in the chest. The machine should contain Practitioner Su’s latest lectures and various recordings of the Buddha-name chanting, allowing the practitioner to choose freely, thereby letting the Buddha’s power be infused into the sutras and the chanting. I also ask that Practitioner Su open the space for the practitioner's true spirit, just as she has for us, so that they can directly hear the Dharma teachings. This should greatly assist in elevating their energy. I am truly grateful to be at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are always by our side, providing guidance and assistance. I hope we can fulfill our mission, serving as a beacon of light for this confused world.

As I transmit this message, the beings within the practitioner are also able to hear it. I have discovered that the fifty trillion cells within the practitioner have their own spaces. Some control the practitioner's actions, living and breathing with them. When there is a meeting, some beings follow along; when the practitioner faces others, different beings take the lead. When the practitioner returns home to their family, yet another group of beings takes control. These beings use the practitioner's body to react; the various movements, expressions, and reactions of the body are actually based on the intentions of these beings. Thus, when is the practitioner's true spirit actually in charge? I will need to observe further to find the answer.

When the practitioner is busy or has various thoughts, it is rarely their true spirit in control. Instead, many internal beings are awakened, joined by external attached spirits. These external spirits often share the same philosophy as the practitioner, moving in and out of the body. This is what I have observed while guarding from the outside. During this interview, I suddenly heard beings inside the practitioner crying. At the same time, another group of beings in the head area was reviewing documents, deciding on various matters. These crying beings caught the attention of myself and Fa Yuan (Mo Lian Tan).

I asked, 'Why are you crying?'

An elderly man, who appeared to be an official, replied, 'We heard the Dharma teachings, but we did not know where the voice came from. I listened quietly, and I felt both sad and moved. I realise now that to live a good life and avoid suffering, one must change their thoughts and habits; otherwise, we just poison ourselves. I was harmed in my past life because I did not change my ways, which allowed my own internal beings to find me and seek revenge. I did not know this. Even after I died, I followed the person who harmed me. Now I realise he only harmed me because he was controlled by my own internal beings. Oh! Oh! I only know the truth now. He was controlled by my own beings when he harmed me. Now that I am dead, I have been seeking revenge, trying to harm him to settle the score. Alas! When will this cycle of karmic retribution end? I do not want to continue like this.'

I then told these beings, 'The teachings you hear are coming from Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. You have had a rare moment of realisation. Do you wish to leave behind the suffering of this cycle of rebirth and revenge? If I harm you in this life, you harm me in the next—it is endless. If I take you back to the temple and ask Practitioner Su to perform Chao Du for you, you can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, leaving behind the suffering of samsara. Are you willing? I can take you to the temple.' The beings nodded in agreement.

I immediately asked my disciples to prepare, and I spoke loudly to all the beings within the practitioner: 'Those who are willing to return to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre for Chao Du by Practitioner Su and be reborn in the Western Pure Land, please come out!' At that moment, many beings emerged from the practitioner's head, face, shoulders, back, hands, and feet—many generals and soldiers appeared! The practitioner must have been a leader of great armies in the past.

When my disciples took these beings back to the temple for deliverance, Practitioner Su must have sensed it. Across the vast distance of an eight-hour flight, without any barriers, they were able to hear Practitioner Su’s teachings. It is a great blessing for the beings within the practitioner to hear the Dharma, and it is truly the compassion of the Buddha! All beings who can encounter Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su now have the opportunity to receive deliverance and be reborn in the West. I am filled with gratitude, and then more gratitude!'

This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple, Venerable Hai Ze."

Namo Amituofo.