Where Do Suffering Beings Reside?

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. April 4, 2026.

The Plight of the Unawakened Soul

Where do suffering beings reside? In truth, all beings who have not yet rediscovered their original, true self-nature and have not yet reached the state of an awakened being are considered suffering beings. This is because they lack the ability to be the master of their own minds. Before one has successfully transformed their karma, they are constantly subjected to the relentless pressure of impermanence.

The habits we have cultivated over countless lifetimes are deeply ingrained, making them exceptionally difficult to change. When these habitual tendencies manifest, they create the perfect conditions for our karmic creditors to seek balance, for attached spirits to enter our bodies, and even for the influence of demon crowds to take hold of our actions.

The Heavy Chains of Accumulated Karma

These situations are not merely theoretical; they are observed frequently at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, where Namo Amituofo is residing here. Human beings may be aware of their suffering, yet they find themselves unable to leave it behind. This is because the force of their accumulated karma is far too powerful to overcome through ordinary means.

When we consider the weight of our existence, we find a staggering accumulation of:

• Old debts from countless past lifetimes that remain unsettled.
• New karma created in this current life through our thoughts, words, and deeds.
• The heavy, overlapping layers of karmic force that bind us to the cycle of rebirth.

If one does not rely on the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo, the blessings of the Buddha, and the systematic resolution of karmic grievances, how could one possibly hope to end the cycle of birth and death or transcend the three realms of existence?

The Volatile Fires of the Mind

Where do suffering beings reside? We can see them everywhere, especially when the fires of anger arise. When you find yourself unable to control your own temper, you are essentially opening the door to profound spiritual danger. This moment of emotional volatility serves as an ideal opportunity for:

• Karmic creditors to manifest and demand resolution.
• Attached spirits to enter your body and influence your consciousness.
• Demon crowds to exert their power and further cloud your judgment.

The Compassionate Path to Eternal Peace

Where do suffering beings reside? They are found in every corner of the universe. It is a great suffering to be trapped within the vast spaces of the Dharma Realm, unable to find a way out. Whether one is in the heavenly realms, the realm of asuras, the human world, the animal realm, the realm of hungry ghosts, or the hells, the inability to escape the cycle of rebirth is a profound and unending suffering.

Even those who reach the Four Sacred Realms, while no longer pressured or controlled by the cycle of rebirth, are not yet at the final destination. If they only seek personal liberation, their path is incomplete and contrary to the true spirit of the Buddha’s teachings. The Buddha’s teachings are fundamentally about seeing the suffering of all beings, working to rescue them, helping them leave suffering behind, and bestowing upon them true happiness.

By witnessing the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death, we come to understand the nature of our predicament. We must then:

• Diligently practise to rediscover our true self-nature.
• Strive to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all.
• Earnestly seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

By following this path, you will be able to fulfil your wish to leave all suffering behind and ultimately attain Buddhahood. This is the only path to complete and final liberation. Namo Amituofo.