The Profound Nature of All Living Beings

This world is composed of a vast array of living beings, and each of these beings possesses a unique physical form. We see this diversity everywhere we look, yet we often fail to recognise the underlying truth that connects us all.

The Infinite Tapestry of Living Forms

Every living entity has a body that defines its existence in this world. Consider the vast spectrum of life that surrounds us:

• Human beings, who possess the human form.
• Animals of the six realms, including various beasts, insects, and creatures that crawl or fly.
• Earthly creatures, such as those dwelling in the soil, the depths of the oceans, and the vast array of birds and avian species.
• The natural world, including mountains, rivers, flowers, grasses, and trees.
• Microscopic life, such as the dust particles in the air, molecules of water vapour, and the tiny stones upon the earth.
• The unseen world, including the various cells, viruses, and bacteria that exist within our own bodies and throughout the environment.

Within every one of these diverse forms, there resides a spiritual being. To put it simply, we call this the spirit. This spirit is present within every form, yet it is often deeply covered up by layers of ignorance and past conditioning.

The Wandering Spirit and the Laws of Karma

The location and state of this spirit are determined by the strongest habits or personal traits carried over from one's previous life. When a being passes away, they are subject to the laws of karma and cause and effect. After undergoing judgment by the Ten Kings of the underworld, the spirit is led to take on a new physical form, effectively being reborn into the next life.

For those who have practised the five precepts during their time in the human world, the spirit may be fortunate enough to be reborn as a human once more. However, this is truly a rare and difficult achievement. This spirit exists within the human body and serves as the true master of that life. It is important to realise that within all the various biological forms mentioned, there is a corresponding true self that acts as the master of that specific existence.

The Unified Essence of Heart and Spirit

Although the spirit may cycle through the six realms of rebirth, constantly changing its appearance and form, the spirit itself is neither born nor destroyed. Within this spirit lies the Alaya consciousness, which acts as a vast storehouse, recording and preserving every single event, thought, and action since time immemorial.

The heart and the spirit exist together as one. The actions of the spirit are directed by the heart, which acts as the master. In this sense, the heart and the spirit are a single, unified entity. The different states of body, mind, and spirit among various beings are what create the distinctions between them, leading to unique characteristics, methods of survival, and environmental conditions.

The Radiant Path to Self-Realisation

Even among beings of the same species, there are differences in their nature. If we were to explain this using human language, we could say that even identical beings possess different personal habits and egos. These habits are the result of the consciousness being activated. Through the continuous operation of the laws of karma, beings develop discriminations, attachments, and their own specific environments and objects of focus.

This is true for humans, for the various beings in the animal realm, for earthly creatures, and for all beings caught in the cycle of the six realms of rebirth. This is the fundamental truth regarding the similarities and differences among all living beings.

Therefore, as a practitioner, you must diligently nurture your spirit. By chanting Namo Amituofo, you can receive the assistance of the Buddha's power. This will allow you to enter into the purest of states, the goodness of all goodness, and eventually realise your true nature, revealing your original Buddha-nature. Through this practice, you can leave suffering behind and find true happiness.

Namo Amituofo