Unlocking True Potential to Save the World

This interview was recorded on September 14, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Venerable Changren, a former Demon King who has since turned back to the True Teachings to serve as a Dharma protector, shares profound insights on the nature of true spiritual power, the dangers of commercialising one's abilities, and the urgent necessity of uniting to save the world through the teachings of Namo Amituofo.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"What I speak of is known across the ends of the earth and the corners of the sea. Space is constant; it has always been here. I can traverse it freely, existing wherever I choose. Why not pass through? Why keep things buried in your heart, fussing over trivial matters?"

Beyond the Limits of Technology

"Things that technology cannot reach are not necessarily beyond the reach of the human body. Thoughts, intentions, vibrations, truth, and falsehood—all are contained within the inner world. There are also spatial realms you cannot see, and pasts and futures you cannot know. While the development of technology remains heavily restricted, the human body is already capable of being developed. It all depends on whether you are willing to do so, for this is your inherent instinct. However, this instinct can only be used to save the world. Nothing else may cross that line; this is the sole condition and the most important principle. This is what we call Truth."

"In this world, there are indeed several people who have truly realised these inherent skills. When they first manifested, it was truly heartening. The number of followers multiplied, and monastics from all directions came to seek audience and pay respects, because at that time, everyone truly believed in such things. But later, these few capable individuals strayed from the principles and deviated from the norms of Truth. Their erroneous intentions might have been subtle at first, but by the end, the error was glaringly obvious. From then on, everyone became repulsed by such abilities, even regarding them as magic. Indeed, once the heart deviates, the skill becomes the path of demons. Since it is no longer in harmony with the True Teachings, if it is not Buddha, it is Mara. It is indeed magic, but their original skills were genuinely realised. Why did they ruin their own futures? The reason lies in the lack of Truth."

The Unwavering Standard of Truth

"The standard of Truth is impartial. You must achieve a state of complete Middle Way, where neither side exists. Only when you achieve this can you ensure you do not create karma throughout your life. Yet, you must still remain vigilant, for you could be contaminated at any moment. Therefore, there is no such thing as a capable person or extraordinary skill. To truly act as a Master—that is the only way to be grounded. The most regrettable thing in a person's life is not knowing how to wake up. They are entangled in happiness and joy, unable to let go of pain and suffering, and those in high positions are obsessed with their status. This includes many monastics, both present and past. Regardless of who is being spoken of, one must first examine one's own faults and inspect the depths of one's heart: are you still yourself? Have you received retribution? If you simply dismiss this as a mere lecture, you will forever live in the same place. You will find it difficult to advance and impossible to achieve anything. This is an absolute fact, because Truth is exactly this way. No one can change the standards of Truth; only in this way can the universe maintain its necessary discipline. Otherwise, it would have long since fallen into chaos. Who else would be left to regulate everything?"

The Reality of Karmic Debt

"Today, I want to tell you about the Truth that you find hard to imagine. If you can still continue to live in self-satisfaction, you are truly remarkable. However, I must tell you that most people no longer have this ability, because the power of regulation is not something you can resist. They can destroy your entire life without the slightest effort. They are, of course, guilty, but it is also reasonable, because in most cases, you were already acquainted with them. You have simply forgotten the debt you owed them in the beginning. They are merely here to collect that debt now. So, it is reasonable. If they collect too much, then it becomes unreasonable."

"If everyone could remember these past dust-laden events, everyone would certainly fall into panic and should feel so much self-reproach that they could not go on living. Therefore, the compassion of the Universal Truth allows everyone to drink Meng Po’s soup before being reborn, forgetting their past and present lives so they can start over and live well. These past lives cannot be destroyed; the laws of karma and cause and effect remain the same. You are only temporarily allowed to forget everything in this life so you can make a fresh start. Karma is not empty; the karmic retribution that should be repaid or collected will come knocking when the time is right. The reality of cause and effect does not allow for suspicion."

The Trap of False Spiritualism

"Karmic illnesses, karmic obstacles, karmic bad luck, and calamities—I believe most of you still believe in these, unless you belong to a Western country where you may not yet understand them clearly. In Asia, this is almost a universally acknowledged fact. Those who pay attention to these matters will even try their best to break through the karma created in the past, seeking channels to resolve past-life causes and effects. Some truly compassionate people genuinely want to repay all of this. Others are not necessarily uncompassionate, but their primary goal is to hope that they can have an easier life and change the fixed destiny of their fate. Such people still account for a significant number in the world today. And those who can encounter a true solution can be said to be almost non-existent, because most encounter psychics who are not authentic. They charge high fees but lack equivalent power. These false abilities will eventually backfire on them. If one acquires ill-gotten gains, the karmic burden is very heavy, especially when it involves the netherworld; the consequences are even harder to imagine."

"I am clear that these capable psychics, or those who claim to be able to change destiny, who can communicate with karmic creditors, or hold large-scale Chao Du Dharma assemblies for a fee, usually do not come cheap. But because everyone genuinely wants to solve the problems they encounter and has nowhere else to turn, they have no choice but to spend money to avert disaster. Seeing that the public does this, they feel reassured and believe that all of this will be effective. Often, when life hits a major bottleneck, a great disaster, a serious illness, or spiritual interference, these people are forced to look for a way out, all for the sake of returning to their original, peaceful state. It is also a form of seeking survival, a panic born of the fear of death."

The Danger of Commercialising Dharma

"Many such skills have quietly opened for business in the secular world, but these are not great cultivation, and they are far too deviated from the Truth. Perhaps these capable individuals are aware or unaware, but they should understand that they are creating karma. Although the money they receive is earned with their own hands, the scope involved is too vast and too subtle. This money cannot be used. If you take it, you will also become ill. How many spaces have come because of this money? There are the spaces of those seeking help, and the spaces of the netherworld. How could your body possibly remain pure? You might have truly possessed such special abilities, and they were sufficient to help others, but in the end, because of improper use, you have not only gone astray—lacking Truth—but you are also increasingly commercialising these abilities. You are selling your abilities; you do not have a true heart for saving the world."

"Abilities that differ from the ordinary are yours from birth, and they are also your blessings, cultivated in past lives, or obtained later in life. But remember, these cannot become tools for your profit. If you are still doing this, you have already gone astray. This path is very subtle; what is being grasped is the pure heart. When you have such abilities, the emptiness is watching your heart closely—whether it is true or false, real or illusory, righteous or deviated. The emptiness sees everything in detail. When such a subtle, deviant thought emerges, you are no longer authentic. You have been caught, and you have karmic trouble. The one who catches you is your own karmic creditor. They are reasonably using the standards of Truth to carefully weigh your true heart. This is why learning Buddhism teaches us no-mind; the reason lies here. Because only with no-mind will you not create karma, and all actions will be real."

The Call to Join the Mission of Salvation

"How many people crave abilities that they cannot obtain, yet you use such skills to open a business on the streets? Besides being inappropriate, you are also pushing yourself toward a terrifying cliff, ready to fall into an abyss at any moment. Modern people generally have deep karma and strong personalities. How much money can you earn from them? But you are challenging their karma. No matter how powerful your skills or the forces behind you are—regardless of whether they are righteous or evil—you are still just an ordinary person. You certainly cannot bear the price of such cause and effect. I only hope, out of kindness, that everyone will not squander such abilities. They should be used to help where it is truly needed. Good skills should be used in the right places; that is great cultivation. At the same time, it allows you to do some good deeds and accumulate some merit."

"A person's life, when truly examined, is not worth much. For the sake of a few short years of life, people are busy and anxious, and in the end, they are left only with regret and pain. Because how many people have spent their whole lives struggling just for survival, forgetting why they came into this world? Those who are endowed with the mission to save the world may be led by forces from the unseen realm early on, allowing them to see this point early. Then, they might choose to practice, or those with great vows might choose to become monastics. If they choose the right direction at this time, they can be people of great achievement. Furthermore, through proper practice and purification, their power can be sufficient to save the entire Dharma realm of emptiness. Such an accomplished person will be a Master of salvation. Everyone should support them together, each exerting their own talents. This is not the time to distinguish between high and low. Everyone has a clear, leading Master, and a common goal: that is salvation. There is also the power to go to the Western Land together, without a heart of discrimination. It is everyone being together, the true heart of a family."

A Unified Effort for the Western Pure Land

"In modern society, no one wants to do this work of a salvation team, because few are willing to pay the price, or they cannot find the correct method. Most still put themselves first. But everyone should see a truth: if everyone in this world cannot attain rebirth, and everyone is still sinking in the six realms of rebirth and the sea of karma, can you escape it yourself? You will certainly be one of them, a being in the sea of suffering."

"Only by standing up to benefit the masses will you truly benefit yourself. Everyone is trapped in this physical body, living a life, mistaking the false for the true, and in the end, taking nothing with them. It is a great pity. A person's life can be utilised to its maximum potential; why would everyone not want to do so? Why insist on clinging to your own feelings and perceptions? Even when it is clearly painful, you are still reluctant to let go, unable to put down everything in the secular world. Today, I want to tell you: only by letting go of everything and joining the mission of salvation can you encounter Truth and find your free Dharma Body. Living a spiritual life, every day is about saving people, helping people, and doing good deeds. That is infinite happiness; that is the world of Ultimate Bliss."

"If everyone's power can be gathered and properly exerted, and everyone finds their great cultivation to save the world and deliver beings, it will be easy. Each person in their respective position has an indispensable functionality. Everyone supports each other, and only then can salvation truly operate. Everyone is equally important. Even the volunteer holding the broom is very important. Every position has its meaning, because how would the person standing on the front lines have time to turn back and sweep the dust on the ground? All these trivial matters require someone to be responsible. By supporting the True Teachings together, we can achieve a circle without any missing corners. This is what salvation looks like—a positive force of working together. Is there any need to fear the calamity of the Dharma-ending age? Not only is there no need to fear, but everyone can also joyfully welcome the day of returning to the Western Land. Now, we only lack a leading force and the true education of propagation. There is absolutely still an opportunity to turn back to the True Teachings and the righteous path."

The Path of Namo Amituofo

"Those rare capable individuals in the world, if they can stop living selfishly for their own benefit and contribute their entire cultivation to support the operation of the True Teachings, stop living for their own personal lives, practice well to find more of their true self-nature, purify their inherent instincts, and apply them to saving the world—everyone is a valuable talent. The heart of salvation is equal, and everyone's power is equally important. For such a good future, everyone should work together. Those with money contribute money; those with strength contribute strength."

"Many people may have heard this saying: a person's life comes from the retribution of karma. If you can now turn it into coming from the power of vows, your accumulated karma from lifetimes can be gradually repaid as you accumulate merit and atone for your past sins. Everyone has great cultivation within them. Perhaps you know it or you do not, but this is called instinct. It is an ability that everyone possesses. Only through practice can it be realised. Perhaps you cannot understand this, but there is a sentence in the Avatamsaka Sutra: 'All beings have the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata, but they cannot realise it due to their delusions and attachments.' The only way to remove external contamination is through practice and true purification."

"The temples of ancient times were truly pure. Many eminent monastics truly let go. When the Five Desires, the Six Dusts, greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt—the many bad habits of the world—are removed, finding one's cultivation is natural, and applying it to saving the world and delivering beings is a great power. The society of the past was simple, pure, and had few of the pollutions and the mutations of the human heart that we see today. The problems of current society are not small; the act of salvation is imperative."

"I now advise the world: you should walk with Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo has truly come to this world. I was once a Demon King in the Demon Realm, but I have already turned back and become a volunteer Dharma protector. Let us work together, and we will soon achieve the prosperous age of Namo Amituofo. Do you not want to seek a life of Ultimate Bliss? Let us build the Amituofo Village of Ultimate Bliss together! It only requires everyone to contribute a small amount of effort, to give what you have—perhaps wealth, material resources, or ability. Do not measure how much; just do your best to work together. With a truly free heart, we do what we can with the ability we have. Remember that our final destination is to return to the Western Land. In this way, there is no burden, and there will be no reluctance to let go, because you have already slowly and completely given everything, supporting the True Teachings. The one presiding is Namo Amituofo. Let us all try our best to be volunteers. I also welcome everyone to join, and I will also do my best to protect the Dharma. Namo Amituofo."

Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia

Contact: Venerable Hailiang / Practitioner Cao

Phone: +61-456-793-638

Blog: http://purelandstone07.pixnet.net/blog

E-mail: pureland.stone@outlook.com

Address: 120 Gordon Smiths Road, Goombungee, QLD 4354, Australia