A complete spirit is composed of three distinct yet interconnected souls: the Master Soul, the Soul, and Soul. These three souls govern both your spirit and your physical form throughout this life. Each has its own specific duty and occupies its own rightful place within your being. The Master Soul governs the entire body; it enters the body at the moment of conception and remains until the very end. Your physical body, with its four elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, is formed according to the Causal Conditions of the Master Soul in this lifetime. When the elements separate at the end of your life, the Master Soul departs from the body. It carries within it the imprints of all your actions, thoughts, and consciousness from beginningless time. Both the Consciousness Soul and the Body Soul emerge from this Master Soul.
The Peril of the Wandering Spirit
Although these three souls are born from the same root, they often become fragmented. This occurs because of selfishness, ignorance, and the relentless stream of wandering thoughts. When you are influenced by personal habits, the , and , your actions deviate from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. You become deeply attached to your own preferences, which creates the dangerous condition where the souls may leave the body. If your souls scatter and leave the body, your spirit is no longer complete. Consequently, your spiritual nature cannot remain pure or good, and the prospect of reaching an awakened being becomes a distant, unreachable goal.
The Consciousness Soul: When this soul scatters, your consciousness loses its master, and you manifest signs of confusion and mental instability. If this soul is displaced, may take over your mind. You are no longer acting according to your own original intent, but are instead being driven by the thoughts and desires of these karmic creditors.
The Body Soul: When this soul scatters, your physical form loses its protection, making you highly susceptible to illness. If this soul is displaced, karmic creditors may take over your physical form, causing your cells and internal organs to manifest various diseases and conditions.
When the Consciousness Soul and the Body Soul leave the body, they suffer and lose the ability to master their own existence. This is the reality of and the cycle of rebirth, which leads most people to experience the suffering of old age and sickness until the moment of death.
The Return to the Source
When the souls are scattered, they often drift in a state of aimlessness, sometimes attaching themselves to other places. To restore them, one requires the assistance of a practitioner who is pure, kind, and compassionate—someone who has realised their true nature and possesses the . Such a person has the ability to observe the state of your spirit and call your souls back into your body. However, simply returning to the body is not enough. If you do not change your ways, if you remain impure, or if you continue to harbour evil thoughts and desires, your souls remain in constant danger of leaving the body once again.
Therefore, after the souls have returned, you must diligently cultivate yourself:
Cultivate Selflessness: Release your attachment to the Five Desires and the Six Dusts.
Follow the Right Path: Align every action with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
Purify Your Thoughts: Step by step, return to a state of purity and goodness. By ensuring that every thought is pure and free from evil, you help your souls to settle firmly within your body.
The Eternal Resonance of the Name
For the dedicated practitioner who seeks purification, who strives to be purely good and free from evil thoughts, the path is clear. By learning from the Buddha, listening to the Buddha, and striving to be like the Buddha, you can maintain a state of continuous chanting of Buddha's name. When you eliminate desires, remove defilements, and ensure that your Six Roots are pure, your three souls will remain securely anchored within your body without the risk of scattering. While it is possible for scattered souls to be called back, such opportunities are rare. It is far better to prevent this fragmentation through consistent, daily practice.
At the end of your life, these three souls will merge into one as they depart the body. This is the state of the intermediate being, which will either become the spirit that enters the next cycle of rebirth or, for the one who has practised faithfully, the spirit that is reborn in the of Ultimate Bliss. You must nourish your heart and your nature, and protect your three souls with care. Only when your three souls are complete and whole will you have the opportunity to realise your true nature.
