Can Bacteria Transform into Humans in the Future? How Could They Become Human Sentient Beings?

Bacteria in the future will not only be able to become humans but also learn and practice Buddhism, ultimately attaining Buddhahood. The key lies in how they transform into humans. To be reborn into any realm of sentient beings, one's merit must correspond to the merit of beings in that realm. Even to become a celestial being in the Desire Realm, Form Realm, or Formless Realm, one must align with the merit of beings in those heavenly realms. When reborn in other Buddha lands in the future, one's merit must also correspond to that of the beings in those lands; otherwise, they cannot coexist. Just as within a human family, members must have corresponding merit; otherwise, they cannot become a family, or the family will disintegrate, with each member going their separate way, living according to their own merit. The same applies to a group: if merit differs, they cannot come together or work collectively.

Bacteria are the lowest, most inferior, smallest, and least meritorious beings in the realm of sentient beings. They gradually accumulate merit by serving larger beings, such as humans and larger animals, maintaining their basic life activities. Once merit accumulates to a certain level, they reincarnate into slightly larger animals. These animals help each other, further increasing their merit, until they reincarnate into larger animals with greater autonomy and vitality, eventually becoming human. If conditions are favorable and they encounter the Buddha Dharma, they may initially hold a superstitious belief in it, eventually developing genuine faith.

All merit accumulated by sentient beings invariably comes from serving other sentient beings. Therefore, if we wish to possess greater merit, we must cease being selfish and self-interested, focusing solely on our own affairs and refusing to benefit others. The truth is that helping others is helping oneself. The merit one cultivates never transfers to others; cultivating merit is never done for others. Only by striving to benefit others can one obtain benefits for oneself.