The Beings Within Our Bodies

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, during the noon offering on November 10, 2024.

The Hidden Dwellers Within

You may ask, what exactly are the beings within our bodies? These are the sentient beings who currently reside within your physical form. They encompass a wide range of spirits connected to you through the deep, intricate threads of your past lives. This group includes your ancestors, parents, and teachers from countless lifetimes; your karmic creditors, who have followed you through time to seek balance; your family members and loved ones from previous existences; and attached spirits, which are beings from the spiritual realms, including those in the ghost realm and even the demon realm.

Your true self, in the context of an eternal life that knows neither birth nor death, has encountered countless people, events, and environments. Many of these beings now exist within your body in a spiritual state. In essence, your physical body serves as their current dwelling place.

The Cycle of Karmic Retribution

My child, do you realise that you have also been one of these beings in the spiritual realms? When you were in the ghost realm, you too once resided within the bodies of those who were your karmic creditors in the human world. At that time, you were the one carrying out actions to seek revenge, settle old scores, and demand repayment for past grievances. Once that physical body passed away, you would have quickly departed and continued your existence within the ghost realm. This is one of the fundamental truths of the six realms of existence and a vital part of the laws of karma and cause and effect.

These beings within our bodies coexist with us; they are, in a sense, a part of our physical being. When these beings are at peace, you feel at peace. However, when they are filled with anger, resentment, or a desire for revenge, your own body will inevitably suffer the consequences. Every thought and intention you have, as well as the state of your physical health—including the processes of aging and the onset of illness—are all closely related to the condition of these beings within you.

Mastering the True Self

The state of your Body-Mind-Spirit depends entirely on which side holds the power to take charge. If you allow the beings within your body to take control, your life will be defined by the cycle of aging, sickness, and death. However, if you allow your true self to take charge, you can transcend these limitations. When you are the master of your own spirit, you can realise a state that is not bound by the decay of the body. Even when your worldly lifespan comes to an end, your spirit can depart from the body and move towards a higher path. For the practitioner who is diligent in chanting Namo Amituofo, once the spirit leaves the body, it will be guided directly into the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo