Not Easy to Find Unrelated Beings In This Long Course of The Cycle of Rebirth

Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not identifiable of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving. One person, roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.

It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your mother.

For what reason?

Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not identifiable of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving. For such a long time, Monks, you have experienced discontentedness, misery, and disaster, and swelled the cemetery.

It is enough to experience fading away of strong feelings towards all conditions, enough to become free from strong feelings towards them, enough to be liberated from them.

Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your father.

For what reason?

Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is enough to be liberated from them.

Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your brother.

For what reason?

Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is enough to be liberated from them.

Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your sister.

For what reason?

Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is enough to be liberated from them.

Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your son.

For what reason?

Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning…. It is enough to be liberated from them.

Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving.

It is not easy, Monks, to find a being who in this long course has not previously been your daughter.

For what reason?

Because, Monks, this Cycle of Rebirth is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not identifiable of beings roaming and wandering on, hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) and fettered by craving. For such a long time, Monks, you have experienced discontentedness, misery, and disaster, and swelled the cemetery.

It is enough to experience fading away of strong feelings towards all conditions, enough to become free from strong feelings towards them, enough to be liberated from them.

(Reference: SN 15.14 - SN 15.19)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how the beginning of The Cycle of Rebirth is not discoverable and that we have all been countless beings in the past.

In this long roaming and wandering of countless existences that we have all experienced in the past, The Buddha explains that it would be difficult to find a being today who has not previously been your mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, or some other relative.

Due to our countless rebirths in multiple existences, every being that exists today has been your relative at some point in the past.

For example, when you and I were lizards, we may have been brothers, sisters, etc. I have been your mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, or some other relative at some point in a past existence.

Keeping this in mind, one can find it easier to practice loving-kindness and compassion for “all beings”. Knowing that each being on this planet has been your relative at some point in the past, would you be interested in causing harm to that being? Are you more interested to live in harmony with “all beings” thinking of each other as relatives? Can you choose to eat the flesh of an animal when you understand that this being has been your mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter at some point in the past?

These are all reflections that you can consider to improve your practice of loving-kindness and compassion towards “all beings”.

Loving-kindness (Pāli: mettā) is active goodwill towards all beings without judgment. A genuine interest in seeing all beings be well.

Compassion (Pāli: karuṇā) is concern for the misfortunes of others.