The Departure of the Spirit and the Resolution of Karma

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Teachings from Namo Amituofo:

Every sentient being carries a burden of karma that is as vast as the great oceans and as heavy as Mount Sumeru. Because of this, the debts we have incurred from past lives manifest one after another, like a relentless tide. When these karmic creditors arrive to claim what is owed, whether they appear simultaneously or in a continuous, unbroken stream, how can a mortal being possibly endure such pressure? The suffering is truly immense—it is a pain that is difficult to bear, difficult to express, and seemingly endless. It affects the body, the mind, and the spirit all at once.

The Weight of Ancient Debts

At such times, the practice of the Dharma serves as a vital support. It helps the practitioner recognise their suffering, engage in deep repentance, and sincerely hope for the understanding of their karmic creditors. However, the speed at which karma manifests and the urgency with which these creditors come to claim their due often outpace our efforts to change. This leads to the manifestation of the sufferings of old age, sickness, and death. When these sufferings appear, they are the very things that the karmic creditors must face alongside the practitioner. After all, the functions of the physical body have their limits. When these limits are exceeded and the body can no longer bear the load, the time for the separation of the four elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—has arrived.

When the Elements Dissolve

When the four elements separate, the true self leaves the body. At this critical juncture, the karmic creditors and other spirits residing within the body also depart with great speed. This occurs because a body undergoing the separation of the four elements has lost its vital energy and essence; it has become a cold, yin-natured vessel. Since the karmic creditors themselves are also yin-natured beings, they cannot continue to attach themselves to this fading form. If they were to remain, it would be a case of adding yin to yin, which would only serve to weaken them further. Instead of being nourished by the yang energy of a living body, their own remaining vitality would be drained and diminished. Under such circumstances, all sentient beings—whether they are karmic creditors, attached spirits, or demon crowds—will inevitably depart from the body.

The Lingering Echoes of Retribution

Once the practitioner ends their life in this world and the spirit leaves the body, they enter the intermediate state. Their destination in the next life is determined by the good and evil deeds performed during their lifetime, or by the final, most powerful thought held at the moment of death. As for the karmic creditors, if their wish to collect their debt or seek revenge has been fulfilled, they will depart to face their own individual laws of karma and cause and effect. However, if they have not yet had the chance to settle their grievances, they will remain in the ghost realm. They will endure the dim, sunless days of that existence. When the spirit of the former debtor has the opportunity to obtain a human body once again, these spirits from the ghost realm will be waiting. As soon as the person emits any mental note, fluctuation of thought, or even the specific scent associated with their past karma, these spirits will be drawn to them to seek revenge, continuing the cycle of retribution.

A Path Toward Compassionate Resolution

The purpose of our practice is to transform our karma through the cultivation of the heart. We hope to halt the accumulation of further debt and, through diligent practice, eventually achieve the ability to perform Chao Du, helping our karmic creditors leave suffering behind and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. If your own karma has manifested, you must strive to stop the cycle here and now, so that you do not have to suffer any longer. You must invite your karmic creditors to join you in receiving Buddhist education—that is, to listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma together. Do not continue the cycle of revenge. Through your own constant repentance, your efforts to change your ways, and your determination to change your personality traits, combined with the assistance of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and true spiritual friends, you can help these spirits become willing to accept resolution and Chao Du. In this way, both parties can cease their suffering and dissolve their karma, allowing the path of practice to continue.

The Infinite Light of Chanting

Chanting Namo Amituofo is the finest remedy for all suffering. Through the act of chanting, one gains peace and happiness in the present life and secures rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, ultimately achieving liberation from the cycle of rebirth. It is the supreme Dharma Jewel for benefiting oneself and others, and for saving all beings. Namo Amituofo.