Venerable Yongning on the True Nature of Existence

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. He reflects upon the nature of human existence, the weight of worldly attachments, and the critical importance of seizing the opportunity for liberation. This account was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxin on April 23, 2019.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Yongning. Why do we come into this human world? Does anyone truly know how many years they have left, or how many years they even desire to live? We spend our entire lives paying a heavy price for the sake of survival, for the sake of our children, and in the end, we still find it impossible to let go. But think about it—what do we actually gain from this heart that refuses to let go? All the various matters, big or small, that weigh upon our hearts, and all the people and things that trigger our thoughts—if we truly examine them, do they change anything once the thought has arisen? If they do not, then have we not simply disrupted our own purity? Everything we thought was so important was, in reality, entirely unnecessary."

The Illusion of Attachment

"The stars in the sky can speak, and the fish beneath the water can express themselves. So, where is the difference between us and them? The answer is: there is no difference at all. He is who he is, and I am who I am, yet why is it that sometimes I understand his heart, and he understands mine? It is because, at the fundamental level, there is no separation between humans and all other beings. Every single person possesses the true self-nature, and all are talents that Practitioner Su wishes to cultivate. However, even those who appear to be the best have their tempers, and even the smallest children have their own stubborn ideas. The more one thinks, the less things go according to plan. Plans can never keep up with the changes of the world, and in every stage of life, there are sentient beings waiting for deliverance."

The Tragedy of Lingering Habits

"Everything arises according to conditions and ceases according to conditions. This is why we must grasp every single moment of our practice to save beings. Only by truly seizing these moments will this human body not be obtained in vain. I am not speaking to anyone in particular; this applies to everyone equally. Because I, Yongning, no longer have a physical body—I am a spirit—and because I follow Practitioner Su to assist in Chao Du, I have witnessed countless spirits. I must say, I am filled with deep emotion. I have seen many spirits rescued by Practitioner Su from within and beyond the void, only to discard their bright future in the Western Pure Land the moment they shed their physical form. Why? Because they clung to their old habits and their own personalities.

In the very instant that their temper flared, they fell into the white light and were cast back into the cycle of rebirth in the human world. I break into a cold sweat for them, for they have gone to be reborn while still carrying their own deep-seated attachments. Today, I only hope that they are saved by the Buddha-name and that they might encounter the Buddha’s teachings again in the human world. Are these habits of ours, so deeply rooted, truly worth it? It is so difficult to tame oneself, and in the end, all that remains is regret that cannot be undone. Life is empty; please, do not be led astray by your own confusion. You must walk the right path and practise correctly."

A Call to Diligent Practice

"The fourfold assembly of disciples here has no reason for concern regarding their practice. What is needed is to modify, cleanse, and let go of all worldly things, and to truly learn everything the Buddha teaches. A day spent with a grounded heart, a day of diligent practice, is entirely different from the past. For the sake of rebirth and the salvation of beings, one must truly generate the heart and make the vows. Do not let this life be in vain. Namo Amituofo."