Craving Is the Primary Cause of Rebirth in Evil Realms

Buddhist practitioners who genuinely seek liberation should carefully examine the various feelings within their minds in daily life, scrutinizing what they crave, what matters to them, and what they invest their thoughts and energy in. Once identified, they must analyze the nature of this mentality, its significance, and its consequences. Then, they should find ways to counteract their attachments and sensations. By doing so, their practice will remove obstacles, and progress on the path will accelerate.

Our habitual tendencies of greed, accumulated since beginningless kalpas, are deeply ingrained and difficult to recognize, as they have become second nature. Only those who have overcome and subdued these tendencies can perceive greed in themselves and others. It is like living in a perfumed chamber for so long that one no longer notices the fragrance, or dwelling by a cesspit until one no longer detects the stench. Only those outside can smell the perfume or the foulness.

The scope of greed is vast; any attachment to phenomena within the desire realm constitutes greed. Talented poets, writers, and painters who excel in their crafts often end up in the ghost realm after death, as their pursuits are rooted in attachment. How much more so for those entangled in love and affection—such attachments bind them to rebirth in the ghost realm. Those who frequently paint horses, capturing their spirit with great focus, may be reborn as horses. Those who write vividly about ghosts and spirits, immersing their minds in such themes, will likely become ghosts after death. Whatever occupies one’s mind constantly determines one’s future companionship. Painters who concentrate intensely on painting horses align their minds with horses and may be reborn as horses. Writers absorbed in ghost stories resonate with spirits and may become ghosts after death. By contrast, if we recite the Buddha’s name, our minds align with the Buddha, leading to rebirth in the Buddha’s presence. A mind aligned with virtue leads to rebirth in fortunate realms, while a mind aligned with evil leads to rebirth in unfortunate realms.

When the karmic retribution in the ghost realm ends, if some merit remains, one may be reborn in the animal realm. After the karmic retribution in the animal realm concludes, those with residual merit may return to the human realm. Thus, the time spent in a human body is exceedingly brief, while the duration in the three lower realms is immensely long. For every sentient being, suffering predominates, and joy is scarce. Therefore, we should plan for future lives, enjoy fewer pleasures now, and preserve merit for later existences. Only with abundant merit can we swiftly attain rebirth as humans.

Those with profound roots of goodness and merit, dwelling near the Buddha, receive guidance and are influenced by the Buddha, progressing rapidly in their practice. Even without the Buddha, being near bodhisattvas who have severed afflictions or arhats also accelerates practice, as proximity to virtue elevates, while proximity to vice degrades. Gross greed may still be observable, but subtle attachments are numerous and nearly imperceptible except to those free from afflictions. How rare is the opportunity to obtain a human body! How fleeting is the time spent in human form! How exceedingly uncommon is it to attain liberation while human! For those of us who have already obtained this human body, how should we seize this precious opportunity? Diligent cultivation and realization, even to attain a slight degree of liberation, is a question we must frequently contemplate deeply.