The Boundless Heart

The Essence of the Boundless Heart

The true heart is without edges or limits. If your actions in this life align with this truth, you are truly an awakened being, a genuine practitioner of the Buddha's path. Those who have realised their true nature return to their original state. Their words and their actions are simply the expression of their original, authentic self. Yet, today, many beings have drifted far from their true self. They are lost in the cycle of rebirth, living lives that are fragile and fading, like a candle flickering in the wind. This is truly a pitiable state.

The Tragedy of the Limited Mind

Why do we find ourselves in such a state of suffering today? It is because we have lost sight of our original face. We have forgotten who we truly are. The original heart is boundless. It sees everything, and it reaches everywhere. However, if you perceive limits, you see only what is finite. You act within boundaries, and everywhere you look, you create walls. These walls may be internal—the limits of your mind-capacity, your compassion, your tolerance, and your Wisdom. Or they may be external—the physical boundaries of matter, land, nations, and territories.

The Illusion of Boundaries

When you are truly without a heart of attachment, you are boundless. In this state, your mind-capacity, compassion, tolerance, and Wisdom are immeasurable. But because you have a heart of attachment, you create boundaries:

• Your mind-capacity becomes limited, and you begin to make choices based on preference.
• Your compassion becomes restricted, and you only offer it to those you favour.
• Your tolerance becomes finite, and you judge others based on who they are.
• Your Wisdom is compromised, and your mistakes become apparent.

Returning to the Infinite

To understand the difference, consider the nature of these two states of being:

The Boundless Heart:

• It is free from the heart of attachment and free from objects.
• It is unstained, endless, and pure.
• It is infinite, formless, and beyond measure.
• It transcends concepts of size, height, or depth; everything is immeasurable.

The Limited Heart:

• It is tethered to the heart of attachment and fixated on objects.
• It is stained, finite, and impure.
• It is restricted, shaped by form, and defined by quantity.
• It is trapped in concepts of size, height, and depth; therefore, it is always limited.

Namo Amituofo