Where Does the Childlike Heart Reside?

The Radiance of the Childlike Heart

During the noon offering of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered a vital reflection on the state of our hearts. He asked, where does the childlike heart truly reside? This heart is not a physical location but a state of being that we must cultivate through our daily practice.

When you chant Namo Amituofo, every single word and phrase must be clear and distinct. One recitation follows another without interruption, and your mind does not wander into stray thoughts. In listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, you must listen with complete clarity. Do not overthink or analyse; simply let the teachings naturally permeate your heart. Take in as much as you can, allowing the wisdom to settle within you.

As you perform your prostrations, listen intently to the Buddha-name. Ensure every movement is precise and deliberate. Do not let your mind drift to other matters, and do not allow yourself to become drowsy or lose focus in the vastness of space. Even when you are busy with your assigned tasks, you must remain diligent and responsible. Throughout these activities, the Buddha-name should never cease in your heart. It should resonate within your heart, then extend to your head, and finally, it should be felt as if it is orbiting throughout your entire body. These practices are the essential methods for purifying the heart and transforming your state of mind.

The Entanglement of the Karmic Heart

Conversely, we must ask ourselves: where does our heart reside when we are not in this state of purity? Often, we find our hearts dwelling in places that keep us bound to the cycle of rebirth. We may be caught up in the turbulence of our own emotions and subjective thoughts. We may be overly concerned with the Body, Speech, and Mind of those we are attached to, or preoccupied with the affairs of our family members, both those from our past and those in our current life.

We may be constantly revisiting memories of people, events, and situations that have already occurred. We may be holding onto a single sentence we heard or harbouring a seed of anger within us. We may be desperately searching for answers to the misunderstandings we encounter in our daily interactions with people and things. When your heart resides in these places, it is still rolling in the mud of pollution and karma. Before you have successfully transformed your karma, this heart remains a heart of karmic force.

The Path to Awakening

If your practice allows you the opportunity to achieve purification of the heart and the transformation of your karma, only then is there a possibility of realising your true nature as an awakened being. If you are able to purify your heart and transform your mind, I urge you to continue with unwavering dedication.

If you find that your heart is not yet in this state, please adjust your heart and your behaviour immediately. Only then will you have the opportunity to make true progress in your practice. Namo Amituofo.