The Difference Between Cells and Bacteria

Question: Why can HeLa cancer cells survive outside the body for 59 years, continuously dividing and growing?

Answer: These cancer cells are actually bacteria—viral bacteria—which are harmful to the human body. There is a difference between cells and bacteria: cells are material form (rūpa) composed of the seeds of the four great elements; they lack the seven consciousnesses and are not sentient beings. Bacteria, however, not only possess material form composed of the seeds of the four great elements, but also have the manas, the tathāgatagarbha, and consciousnesses such as the mind consciousness and the body consciousness; they are sentient beings. The cells within the body are sustained solely by one's own tathāgatagarbha through arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing; once outside the body, the four great elements disintegrate, and the cells gradually scatter, decay, and perish. 

Bacteria, as sentient beings, are sustained solely by their own tathāgatagarbha through arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing while inside the body, and even after leaving the body, they are still sustained solely by their own tathāgatagarbha through arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing. All kinds of viruses actually belong to the category of bacterial sentient beings; they can survive outside the body, and perhaps can survive quite well. Therefore, as long as the living environment is suitable, viruses and bacteria can survive and develop whether outside or inside the body. Some cancer cells are also viral bacteria and can continue to live even after leaving the body. The coronaviruses that have emerged in recent years are all bacterial sentient beings; they can still survive on materials at low temperatures. Bacterial sentient beings can arise on all kinds of materials under suitable environmental conditions; if the environment changes and becomes unsuitable for bacteria to survive, the bacteria will perish.