This interview features Venerable Yongning, a monastic who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. Currently residing at the centre, Venerable Yongning shares profound insights on the necessity of preparing for a peaceful transition from this life. This discussion was recorded on August 22, 2023.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". I am Venerable Yongning. When we reach the final chapter of our lives, the time for departure inevitably arrives. But how many people can truly say they are prepared to leave this world in a state of absolute peace? The reality is that everyone's final moments are vastly different. In my observations, I have seen that at the very moment of passing, most people are still burdened by attachments. They are unable to let go, and many depart this human world filled with deep, lingering regrets.
Life does not always unfold according to our plans. For the majority, life ends in the midst of impermanence—a sudden, unexpected departure. For countless others, the end comes only after enduring the excruciating agony of prolonged illness, finally drawing their last breath on a cold hospital bed.
The Preciousness of Every Moment
Every single life is a precious gift, a fleeting opportunity in the vast expanse of time. While we still possess a healthy body, are we truly grasping this chance? We must strive to reach that final moment with the ability to let go completely, to depart without a single tether of attachment. We must aim to leave this world without being manipulated by our , free from the suffering of illness and the weight of past deeds.
Practitioner Su often mentions in his talks that 'practising Buddhism means no illness, no death.' This body can be free from illness, and the soul itself is eternal—it never truly dies. But how can one achieve a body free from sickness? The greatest key to this is the act of 'transformation.' And the prerequisite for this transformation is the wisdom to truly 'let go.'
The Key to Transformation: Letting Go
If you wish to change your personality, you must first learn to let go of your attachment to it. Often, this attachment to our own character is invisible; we may not even be aware that it exists. Consider someone who is prone to anger. When faced with a difficult situation, they have the choice to handle it rationally, without being clouded by emotion. Yet, such individuals are often trapped by the habit of letting their emotions take control, and they rarely manage to resolve the situation effectively. Why must we insist on being emotional? It is because these invisible attachments are hidden deep within, causing to naturally follow these ingrained habits and erupt with internal turmoil.
When you truly desire to change your personality, you must first learn to persuade yourself that change is necessary. Do not face every situation with the same rigid, habitual personality. Try to let go of these unnecessary traits and replace them with a better, more compassionate temperament. Not only will this make your circumstances better, but you will also be the primary beneficiary of this growth.
and Our Inner State
Every person carries within them karmic creditors whose personalities mirror their own. When you are prone to anger, it is certain that many of the karmic creditors within you are equally irritable. If you begin to change yourself, they will inevitably change along with you. However, if you remain stubborn and refuse to transform, they will not only maintain their rigid attachments, but they will often become even more aggressive and difficult to manage.
Having followed Practitioner Su in the work of for many years, I have witnessed countless spirits suffering in agony. Why must they endure such pain? Because during their lives, they did not understand the necessity of change. After death, they are forced to go to various realms to receive the retribution for their actions. If you were to ask them if they regret their choices, every single one of them would nod, many even weeping as they confess that they truly regret not changing when they had the chance.
A Final Opportunity for Change
Every person who possesses a human body still has the opportunity to change. Even those whom society labels as 'evil' or those with the most difficult personalities still have a chance, provided they have even one breath left in them. The end of life should be a complete and perfect full stop. Do not allow yourself to be dragged through suffering only to depart in a state of pain and resentment.
This body is merely a borrowed tool. It is a vessel that can help elevate one's spirit. As long as you are willing to change it and adjust it, these transformations will benefit the soul within—the soul that has been reincarnated through countless lifetimes. By doing so, you help ensure that when the final breath leaves the body, the spirit can truly achieve liberation and depart from the cycle of samsara. Namo Amituofo."
