This interview was recorded on September 20, 2018, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, where Venerable Chang Ren resides and offers guidance to those seeking deliverance from the suffering of the mundane world. The session was documented by the chief writer, Shi Faxi, to preserve these essential teachings for all beings.
Venerable Chang Ren speaks:
". Many people only realise after arriving here that there are so many different spaces within this world. Each space is governed by a unique personality or state of mind. Some people are preoccupied with their physical bodies, others with their emotions, their desires, or their possessions. Everyone carries different and viewpoints. While these various magnetic fields and spaces may share certain similarities, they also possess distinct differences. Everyone is bound by these myriad circumstances, yet the only thing that can truly unlock the truth is one's own sincere heart—a heart that is genuinely willing to transcend these limitations.
The Trap of -Created Space
Why is it problematic to exist within these spaces? It is because we are often unable to see our own true nature. As these spaces become increasingly difficult to escape, we find ourselves sinking deeper and deeper into them. Those who are unaware of the truth might assume that these phenomena of time and space are simply the way things are. But the reality is that we have become unrecognisable to ourselves. Too many people today live entirely within their own subjective worlds, unable to see their true selves. They are completely blinded by various illusions and deeply captivated by the spaces they have conjured up themselves.
Many children have stumbled into these traps, driven by the pursuit of fame, profit, and desire. Modern education places far too many burdens upon our children. Invisibly, the new generation has become the vessel for the hopes of the previous one. Expectations are heaped upon them, and children are forced to navigate this world with a heavy load of responsibilities and 'shoulds.' When children do not understand these pressures, they resort to competition, comparison, and even jealousy or manipulation to meet the standards of excellence set by adults. Because the behaviour of children is constantly shifting, the quality of our education becomes all the more critical.
The Erosion of Innocence
There are so many spaces, and children are gradually entering them because their thoughts and desires have become overly complex. It is precisely because education forces upon them so many unnecessary pursuits that their simple, pure hearts are damaged. Sometimes, the very methods we use to 'help' our children become the greatest hidden hands that harm them for a lifetime.
The matter of these spaces must be addressed with purity and goodness, coupled with a state of 'no-mind' and 'no-thought.' We must not harbour any arbitrary or delusional cravings. Only then can we truly understand what is 'self' and what is not. These are things that require education and a fundamental shift in perspective. If the world does not adjust quickly, these external forces will only grow stronger. If a child, through a single moment of unawareness, enters these spaces—and within those spaces lie even more layers—it becomes an unavoidable tragedy. Therefore, I urge everyone to practise diligently and to provide the next generation with proper guidance and transformation. The importance of education lies not only in cultivation but in the hope that children can find their true selves and achieve their full potential.
The Path to
The education provided at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is rare and magnificent. It allows one to find their true self, realise their true nature, help other beings, and spread the to save the world. Such a state of being is entirely different from the dust of the mundane world. I hope everyone can understand this, learn to unlock these spaces, and realise that when one is no longer trapped within them, one possesses far greater capabilities. This is a vital issue, and I hope everyone will face the truth and the importance of education with sincerity.
I am grateful to the Grandmother, and I am grateful for the of the Buddha, who created the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss and established the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is the centre for spreading Pure Land education, and the great teacher of Pure Land education is Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo."
