Where Does the Heart Abide?

The Inquiry of the Heart

During the profound Third Session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we are invited to pause and reflect upon the most fundamental question of our existence. Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju asks us: What is this heart of ours? Where does it truly reside? It is a question that pierces through the distractions of our daily lives, urging us to look inward and examine the source of our intentions.

We must not allow this heart to drift aimlessly like a leaf in the wind. There are countless wandering spirits in the vast void, lost in the darkness of their own confusion. You must be vigilant; do not let your heart fall into that same abyss of aimless wandering. If you lose your focus, you risk becoming trapped in the very cycle of being reincarnated that you seek to transcend.

The Foundation of Righteousness

The education we receive in our youth is intended to rectify the heart and set us upon the right path. It is essential that you do not allow your heart to become biased or clouded by selfishness. When you enter into the right path of practice, you must ensure that your heart remains upright and uncorrupted. This is how you align yourself with the Middle Way.

When your heart is upright and free from the stains of ego, your body, mind, and spirit will naturally become pure. This purity is the foundation upon which your success in practice is built. Conversely, a biased or selfish heart will inevitably ruin your practice. It leads you away from the Middle Way and leaves your body, mind, and spirit tainted by the dust of the world.

The Buddha-Heart in Action

If you focus only on your own experiences—your own birth, your own ageing, your own sickness, and your own death—you are merely observing the phenomena of being reincarnated that defines this world. You are caught in the turning of the wheel, trapped by the limitations of the self. However, when you shift your focus to the present moment and to the needs of others, everything changes.

When you dedicate your efforts to helping all beings leave suffering behind and assisting them in their journey to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you are manifesting the true Buddha-heart. This is the essence of the Buddha-vow in action. By living for the sake of others, you transcend the small self and enter into the vast, compassionate reality of the Buddha. May you always keep this heart, for it is the path to true liberation.

Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo