The Path of a Soft Heart and a Firm Mind

Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on the first of October, 2021, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony.

The Balance of Inner Resolve and Outer Grace

When it comes to your own spiritual practice, your heart must be firm and unwavering in meditative concentration. Do not let your resolve be easily shaken by the distractions of the world. However, towards the outside world and the people you encounter, you should maintain a soft heart and follow conditions with grace. Whether you are dealing with your own inner state or interacting with others, you must strive to see well, speak well, think well, and act well. This is the way to create the supreme conditions for your spiritual growth and progress.

The Education of the Heart

The education of the heart is a continuous process. Every thought and action, in every passing second, serves as an education for the beings within our bodies. If you do not change your personal ego and selfishness, every word and action will only create karma. You must be cautious in your speech and actions; do not be careless, unless you have reached a state of no-mind and no karmic consciousness. The beings within our bodies are infinite in number; they are all those with whom we have shared past lives and karmic connections.

Transforming Karma Through Repentance

Now, by repenting and changing your ways, you hope to resolve the conflict of the past. Towards the beings you encounter in the present, you must also maintain a soft heart and follow conditions. Cultivate Goodness widely, but do not force things, so as to avoid creating new karma or deepening old enmities. If you do not act with this wisdom, these beings will remain trapped within your body, and when will they ever find true liberation? We must always remember that our practice is not just for ourselves, but for the benefit of all beings who look to us for guidance and release.

A Call to Constant Mindfulness

Let us reflect deeply on these teachings. Every moment is an opportunity to either create further suffering or to plant the seeds of liberation. By maintaining a firm heart in our practice and a soft heart in our interactions, we align ourselves with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Let us continue to chant Namo Amituofo, keeping our hearts pure and our intentions focused on the ultimate goal of rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo