The Truth of Karma Spanning Three Lifetimes

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

December 31, 2023.

The three lifetimes encompass the past, the present, and the future—the lives we have lived, the life we now experience, and the lives yet to come. There is a profound saying that captures this reality:

• If you wish to know the causes of your past, look at what you are experiencing in your present life.If you wish to know the fruits of your future, look at what you are doing in your present life.

The Eternal Echoes of Cause and Effect

This teaching is not merely a term used within the Buddha’s gate; it is the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. It is not simply a description of the six realms of rebirth on Earth. Rather, it is the fundamental reality for every single being, every planet, and every space throughout the entire universe, whether in this world or in other realms.

When we speak of the past, we are not referring only to the life immediately preceding this one. It encompasses the entirety of our history across infinite kalpas and countless lifetimes. The truth of our existence is captured in this verse: "Even after a hundred or a thousand kalpas, the karma created does not vanish; when karmic conditions and the causes and effects meet, the fruits will be received by oneself."

The Infinite Tapestry of Karmic Conditions

This is the absolute truth of our existence. It does not apply only to those who are Buddhist practitioners; it applies to everyone without exception. Throughout the Ten Directions of the Dharma Realm, every being and every event is governed by these karmic conditions and the causes and effects. We are all woven into this vast, interconnected web of action and consequence.

Transcending the Wheel of Rebirth

Only those who have reached Awakening or have attained Buddhahood can truly take charge of their own destiny. Only they have the power to transform karma and break free from the cycle of rebirth. For all other beings, we remain subject to the momentum of our past actions until we find the path to liberation.

A Sacred Sanctuary for Awakening

At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where Namo Amituofo is residing here, we are blessed with the guidance of the teachers and the support of Practitioner Su. This is a rare and precious opportunity. Now is the time to diligently practise, to chant Namo Amituofo with sincerity, to seek Awakening, and to transform your karma. Do not let this moment pass in vain, for the path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is open to all who are willing to walk it with a sincere heart.

Namo Amituofo