Treating Others with a Sincere Heart

The Key to Awakening

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju's Teachings

Chief Writer: Venerable HaiZe

October 2, 2022

If you truly wish to realise your true nature, you must first reclaim your sincere heart. This sincere heart is the golden key that unlocks the door to Awakening. Those who have not yet recovered their sincere heart remain lost in the cycle of rebirth. They cannot return to their original face—the state of being that existed even before their parents gave them life—and they remain unable to see their true self.

The Barrier of Self-Protection

Those who have realised their true nature, when they wish to help or save others, will always treat them with a sincere heart. However, those who are preoccupied with self-protection are different. Even if they believe they are treating others with sincerity, they are often driven by self-interest, seeking only to secure their own standing or survival. Because of this, they will always hold something back, and their sincere heart remains covered by layers of ego.

The Habitual Nature of the Ego

When self-protection becomes a deeply ingrained part of your personality and habits, it manifests naturally in your daily life. You may not even be aware of it, as it has become a subconscious, automatic reaction. For those who are practising to find their true self, this condition acts as a formidable obstacle. No matter how much progress you think you have made or how hard you have worked, you will remain unable to realise your true nature. This is because the protective layers of the ego have obscured your sincere heart, preventing you from seeing your true self.

The Path of Repentance and Change

We encourage all students to reflect deeply and examine whether you have fallen into this pattern. You may also ask a true spiritual friend to provide guidance and point out your blind spots. When you receive such advice, you must:

• Accept it with a sincere heart, without any doubt.Put in the work of repenting and changing your ways.Commit to this process consistently to clear the obstacles from your path.

Only by doing so will you have the opportunity to realise your true nature. Namo Amituofo.