Buddhist define living beings as those creatures, large and small, human and non-human, who have consciousness. As noted in an earlier article, we do not consider larger living beings or humans to be more important than tiny ones or those from other realms. In a related article we explained that all living beings have Buddha Nature and will someday become Buddhas. However, there is a very evil view held by some Buddhists that all living beings were once Buddhas, but who devolved into ordinary living beings. That is simply not true.
Evil View No. 24: Acknowledging that living beings came from the devolvement of Buddhas. There are some people who frequently describe living beings as Buddhas. They say that in beginning-less time living beings were once Buddhas but later devolved into living beings due to the arising of ignorance and defilements. This is an evil doctrine expressed by those who do not understand Buddha-dharma. Living beings have always been living beings and since beginning-less time have never been Buddhas. Living beings are surrounded by karmic hindrances, such as the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death. However, all living beings possess Buddha-nature. They can become Buddhas through learning Buddhism, cultivating themselves, and practicing according to the dharma. You must understand that living beings definitely did not devolve from Buddhas into living beings. Living beings are living beings. There is no such thing as Buddhas devolving into living beings. If Buddhas could devolve into living beings, then when would Sakyamuni Buddha devolve into a living being?
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