Can Bacteria Become Humans in the Future? How Do They Become Human Sentient Beings?

In the future, bacteria will not only be able to become human beings, but will also be able to learn Buddhism and cultivate practice, and even attain the Buddha Way. The key lies in how they become human beings. To become a being in a particular realm, one's merit must correspond to that of the beings in that realm. Even to become a deva of the desire realm, a deva of the form realm, or a deva of the formless realm, one's merit must correspond to that of the beings in those heavenly realms. If one is to be reborn in other Buddha-lands in the future, one's merit must also correspond to that of the beings in those Buddha-lands; otherwise, one cannot live together with them. Likewise, even among human beings, the members of a family must have corresponding merit; otherwise, they cannot become one family, or the family will fall apart, with each member going their own way and living according to their own merit. The same applies to a group: if their merit differs, they cannot come together or work together.

Bacteria are the lowest, most inferior, tiniest beings in the sentient-being realm, with the least merit. By gradually accumulating merit through serving on the bodies of humans and somewhat larger animals, they maintain the basic life activities of these beings. When their accumulated merit reaches a certain level, they will be reborn as somewhat larger animals. As animals help one another, their merit increases further, and they will be reborn as even larger animals with greater autonomy and stronger survival capabilities, until they are finally reborn as human beings. If their karmic conditions are good and they encounter the Buddha-dharma, they will first hold blind faith in the Buddha-dharma, and eventually develop correct faith in it.

All the merit accumulated by sentient beings comes from serving other sentient beings. Therefore, if we wish to possess greater merit, we must no longer be selfish and self-interested, thinking only of our own petty affairs and refusing to benefit others. The truth is that helping others is helping oneself; the merit one cultivates never falls upon others. Cultivating merit is never done for the sake of others—only by trying to let others gain benefit can one oneself have benefit to gain.