The Path of True Heart and Sincere Intent

The Luminous Essence of True Sincerity

True heart and sincere intent, which we call true sincerity, is a rare and precious quality in this world. It is difficult to encounter because our lives are often dominated by the ego and personal attachments. When one holds onto a sense of self, it becomes nearly impossible to see the truth. When one harbours private agendas, it becomes difficult to maintain genuine sincerity. Our physical bodies are merely vessels of karmic retribution, and our minds, when tainted by selfishness, become minds of karmic retribution. To find the true heart, we must look beyond this tainted state.

The true heart is not the mind of karmic retribution. It is a state that is entirely free from even the slightest trace of pollution. It is defined by the absence of the ego, the absence of private desire, and the absence of any defilement. This is what we call true and pure. If you carry even a small amount of ego, a fragment of selfishness, or a hint of attachment, you are not yet in a state of true purity.

The Sacred Journey of Purification

Consider the analogy of a piece of clean, bright white cloth. If it is stained by even a tiny speck of filth, it is no longer perfectly white or luminous. The practitioner must work diligently to purify these stains. You must continue this process until not a single trace of defilement remains. Only then will you reach the moment of realising your true nature. This process of cultivating a true heart and sincere intent is the very path to awakening, and it is a quality that is inherently present within your own self-nature.

For those who have realised their true nature, this sincerity is not something that requires forced effort. It is their natural state of being. Their actions flow spontaneously from this pure source, without the need for calculation or artifice.

Awakening to the Original Nature

Think of an infant, who is pure and free from all attachments. Their eyes are clear, and they perceive everything as good. This state of innocence is the foundation for growing roots of goodness and eventually achieving the fruit of Bodhi. Their smiles are naturally pure and kind, capable of melting even the coldest and most frozen hearts. You and I were once like that, yet today, that original purity seems to have vanished without a trace.

As practitioners, we must engage in diligent practice to remove defilements and attain purity, seeking to rediscover that original truth. We must strive to ensure that our true heart is untainted and our sincere intent is free from falsehood. We must learn to rectify our body, mind, and spirit in the present moment.

The Unbroken Flow of the Buddha-name

Sincere intent means having no secondary thoughts. It is like the person who chants the Buddha's name with a single, focused heart, without any distraction. To be a true practitioner of Buddha-recitation, one must:

• Chant the Buddha's name directly and continuously.
• Ensure that no other thoughts are allowed to intermingle with the chanting.
• Maintain a steady, unbroken flow of the Buddha-name, connecting each recitation seamlessly to the next.

True heart and sincere intent are the essential processes of purification. They are qualities that already exist within your true self; they cannot be found by searching externally. Therefore, you must encourage yourself to treat others with a true heart and sincere intent. This is the way of the practitioner.

Namo Amituofo

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui