The World Beneath the Water: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Hidden Lives Within the Deep

The world beneath the water is teeming with life, and every single creature within it possesses a spirit. These beings are born according to the laws of karma and cause and effect, and they perish in accordance with the same karmic retribution. When it comes to their next life, they have no power to choose their destination. They are entirely at the mercy of the karmic forces they have accumulated, drifting through the currents of existence without the ability to steer their own path.

When we look at the ocean, we see a vast array of life, including:

• Fish, which swim through the depths bound by their past actions.
• Shrimp and crabs, which scuttle along the seabed, caught in the cycle of karmic debt.
• Shellfish and other aquatic organisms, each one a sentient being shaped by its own history of cause and effect.

These creatures are all beings of karma. Even the very molecules of the seawater itself are, in a sense, karmic beings. They have become what they are due to the specific karmic causes and effects they have sown in the past. Every single life form in the water is a sentient being, following the path dictated by its karma, unable to resist the powerful pull of its own past deeds.

The Unchanging Cycle of Karma

Whether it is in the water, in the air, or upon the land, all creatures are born according to their karma. They lack the power to change their circumstances, and for many lifetimes, they find it difficult to escape this cycle. They are trapped in the six realms of rebirth, wandering through the vast expanse of samsara without a clear way out.

However, the human world offers a unique and precious opportunity. As humans, we have the capacity for True Cultivation. We can engage in diligent practice to seek out and rediscover our true nature. This is the fundamental truth of the six realms of rebirth: while other beings are trapped by their instincts and their karma, humans possess the consciousness and the physical form necessary to break free.

Opening Space Through the Sacred Name

Beyond what our physical eyes can see, there exist countless spirits in the unseen dimensions of space. These beings are often lost, yet they have the potential to be saved. When we chant the six-character name of Namo Amituofo, we open up space, allowing these spirits to hear the Buddha's name. Through this, they can receive the benefit of Chao Du and find the clarity needed to be reborn into a better life.

This is the immense, immeasurable value of the six-character name. It is a beacon of light that pierces through the darkness of ignorance and karmic obstruction.

The Precious Opportunity of Human Life

Every single creature in the vast ocean possesses a true nature, just as we do. They are only obscured by the heavy veils of karmic debt and the cycle of rebirth, making the prospect of seeing their true nature seem like a distant, unreachable dream. The true value of human life lies in the fact that we have a body and a mind capable of practice. We can use this life to engage in True Cultivation, to see our true nature, and to finally step off the wheel of the six realms of rebirth.

If you have the good fortune to be a practitioner in this human form, you must seize this moment. Do not let your time pass in vain. Practise with sincerity, chant Namo Amituofo, and make the firm vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the only way to leave suffering behind and find true, everlasting happiness.

Namo Amituofo