Buddha-Light and Sentient Beings: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Dim Horizon of the Ghost Realm

In the vast expanse of the six realms of rebirth, the ghost realm exists within a grey, dim space. Beings residing there often endure their existence for a thousand years, yet their perception of time differs vastly from our own. In that realm, a single day is equivalent to thirty days in the human world. This is why it is a long-standing tradition in the human world to offer food and prayers on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. For the beings in the ghost realm, these offerings are equivalent to receiving a meal in the morning and evening, providing them with necessary sustenance.

The Hidden Burden of Attached Spirits

If this is the reality for beings in the ghost realm, we must consider the implications for those of us living in the human world. Many individuals carry karmic creditors and attached spirits within their own bodies. These entities are also beings of the ghost realm, and their presence significantly impacts our daily lives. Human energy is primarily derived from the food we consume. This energy is essential for our physical activities and the proper functioning of our internal organs. Consequently, there is a fundamental consumption of energy required just to sustain life. Within the human body, there exists a form of Qi—or energy—that can be transformed into the vitality of our essence, energy, and spirit. This specific energy is precisely what beings in the ghost realm seek to consume.

The Clarity of the Awakened

Beings in the ghost realm are generally invisible to the human eye. However, those who have realised their true nature, or true spiritual friends, possess a purified body and mind. Through the purification of the Six Roots, they can often perceive the conditions of these ghost realm beings that remain hidden from our physical sight. Yet, it is important to note that they do not become attached to these appearances. They observe with clarity and detachment, maintaining their focus on the path of liberation.

The Impact on Vitality

When a person carries many attached spirits, or when their karmic creditors manifest, these entities often draw upon the person's internal energy. This is why such individuals frequently feel physically weak, lethargic, and lacking in strength. Conversely, those who practise with a pure heart and mind—where there are few attached spirits or where such beings find it difficult to draw near—exhibit different qualities: they possess abundant mental and physical vitality, they do not tire easily, and they are not prone to excessive drowsiness, as their energy is not being drained by external attachments.

The Superior Energy of Buddha-Light

In the context of the Buddha’s teachings, the most profound source of energy is found in Buddha-light and the Buddha-name. The more one purifies their heart and cultivates goodness, the higher the quality of the light within their own being. Buddha-light is the most supreme source of benevolent energy, and the Buddha-name—specifically the name of Namo Amituofo—contains the infinite merit and power of the Buddha within it. When Buddha-light shines upon sentient beings, or when beings draw near to this light, they receive the energy contained within it. This process serves to elevate the quality of one's spirit. Therefore, wherever the Buddha is present and the Buddha-light shines universally, it is a sign of great auspiciousness. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is such a place. We should all cherish this environment, engage in diligent practice, and strive to see our true nature. Namo Amituofo.