Acting for the Sake of All Beings

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe:

My children, you must always remember that you are but one among countless beings. To save others is to save yourself; this act of salvation should be performed without discrimination. Conversely, to harm others is to harm yourself, for every injury carries the weight of suffering. To guide beings toward liberation is to guide yourself, for in the act of guiding, you resolve the suffering of all.

If no one tells you these truths, it is difficult for you to realise them on your own. This is because people have become accustomed to viewing themselves as separate, independent entities. However, you must ask yourself: who is this "self" that you cling to so tightly?

The Mirage of the Isolated Self

Have you ever truly contemplated the nature of your existence? Consider these fundamental questions: Is the physical body truly you? Is the mind truly you? Is the spirit truly you?

Most people have never paused to consider these questions. They simply assume that they are who they think they are, and they see no difference between these aspects of their being. In reality, the body is a shared vessel. It is a home for both living cells and various spirits that coexist within it. Every one of these beings is a part of your physical existence.

The Unseen Multitude Within

Some of the spirits residing within you are in a state of dormancy, while others are awakened by the fluctuations of your mind. They possess feelings, and they react to your thoughts and actions. These spirits share a deep connection with your past lives through the laws of karma and cause and effect. The current state of your body is a manifestation of these karmic relationships. This includes everything you experience in your daily life: the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death; your physical appearance and features; your mental state and emotional stability; and your physical sensations and perceptions.

Often, these conditions are not the intention of your own true self, but rather the influence of the spirits that coexist with your body. These spirits include your karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demon crowds. This is a reality that most people have never heard of or seen, yet it is happening within them every single day.

The Alchemy of Transformation

This influence is particularly strong when you insist on your own opinions. When you are stubborn, you must ask: who is it that is truly insisting? Is it you, or is it the beings within you? Those with open eyes can see that the one insisting is often not the person themselves, but the spirits residing within their body. These spirits are often more powerful than one's own true self. Consequently, they express their intentions through you, and others perceive these as your own thoughts. This leads to various developments in your life, all of which unfold according to the laws of karma. At such moments, you are merely one of the beings caught in the cycle of rebirth.

Most people spend their entire lives trapped in this cycle. However, through diligent practice, you can transform your karma. By regulating your mind and changing your personality, you can also help the spirits within you—such as your karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demon crowds—to regulate their own minds and change their personalities. This provides them with the opportunity to resolve their conflicts, accept Chao Du, and transform their karma to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Walking the Path for All Beings

This is a great blessing for the students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and for the spirits residing within them. By helping these spirits leave the ghost realm and the Demon Realm, you elevate their future destinations, sparing them from endless suffering and allowing them to enter the human or heavenly realms, or even the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. You must cherish this precious opportunity.

True practice is to act for the sake of all beings: for the beings within your own body; for all beings with whom you share a karmic affinity; for all earthly creatures; and for all sentient beings in the Dharma realm. By doing so, you are simultaneously elevating the quality of your own spirit, continuing until you reach the state of an awakened being, attain Buddhahood, and enter the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo