A Sincere Heart Without Deceit

The Essence of a Sincere Heart

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. On the twentieth of December, 2024, during the second session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these profound teachings on the nature of sincerity.

A sincere heart is an intrinsic part of our true self. To possess a sincere heart means to be entirely free from falsehood, deceit, or any form of insincerity. When you can treat others with a truly sincere heart, you are acting as a person of virtue. Such a heart is in perfect harmony with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. In the natural state of existence, the actions and thoughts that arise from this sincerity are authentic and real, devoid of any artificiality. This is the true condition of a heart that is sincere and without deceit.

Navigating the Challenges of the Age of the Dharma’s Decline

However, we must be honest about the state of our minds in this current age. For most people, thoughts arise like a gushing spring, constantly polluted by the Five Poisons and the Five Desires. Because of this, the phenomenon of attached spirits is difficult to stop. When the sincere heart is covered by these layers of pollution, it becomes incredibly difficult to treat others with genuine sincerity. This is the common situation in the age of the Dharma’s decline, and it is a reality that every practitioner must clearly recognise.

You must face these situations and resolve to improve. You must strive to cut off the influence of the Five Poisons and the Five Desires. If you do not, your sincere heart will remain hidden, and it will be difficult for your practice to achieve spiritual success. The Five Poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—along with the Five Desires—wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep—act as heavy veils that obscure your true self.

Where Does the Sincere Heart Reside?

You may ask, where can this sincere heart be found? It is not something distant or unreachable. It can be seen in the following ways:

• When you have the Buddha in your heart, you can see it.
• When you have faith in the Buddha, you can see it.
• When you embody the Buddha’s teachings in your actions, you can see it.
• When you hold the Buddha’s vows in your heart, you can see it.
• When you recite the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo continuously, without interruption, you can see it.

By keeping the Buddha-name at the forefront of your mind, you allow your sincere heart to manifest through the constant flow of your practice.

The Path of Diligent Purification

If you wish to make progress in your practice, you must be active and persistent. This requires a dedicated approach to your daily life:

• Engage in diligent practice without laziness.
• Work to change your personality traits that are not in line with the Dharma.
• When you have made a mistake, change your ways and vow never to repeat it.
• Commit yourself to purification, and then more purification, until the stains of your past are washed away.

As you purify yourself, the attached spirits that have been influencing you will also receive the benefits of this purification, or they may accept the opportunity for Chao Du to leave their suffering behind. As these obstacles are cleared, your sincere heart will gradually emerge, and you will naturally find yourself in sync with your true self. A sincere heart, free from all deceit, is not far from the state of an awakened being. Namo Amituofo.