The Priceless Heart Devoted to the Dharma: Why It Is the Most Precious Asset of Human Life

Have you ever wondered what is truly the most precious thing in this life? Is it money, property, or relationships? All of these, when lost, can be regained. But there is one thing, if lost, means losing everything, with nothing to compensate. That is the heart devoted to the Dharma – the light guiding us through life's storms.

**What Is the Heart Devoted to the Dharma? Why Is It Priceless?**

Before knowing the Dharma, our mind is swept by worldly joys, sorrows, gains, and losses. We suffer because of fame, relationships, and external changes. But since encountering the Buddha's teachings, the Buddha and the Dharma reside in our heart. Thanks to this, we view all changes with tranquility and peace. Venerable Thích Chân Quang teaches: "The thing that brings us serenity and peace is precisely this heart devoted to the Dharma. Therefore, this heart devoted to the Dharma is the most precious thing, surpassing all others in this world."

Losing money, gold, or love, we can accept. But losing the heart devoted to the Dharma means losing all. With nothing to rely on, we drift in samsara, in darkness and suffering.

**One with a Dharma Heart Is a Warrior; One without Is a Slave**

When we have a heart devoted to the Dharma, we become warriors – those who clearly see the goal and know the path to fight the evil and bad within our own minds and in society. If we lack it, we are merely those led astray by mistakes, like duckweed drifting with the current. The Venerable emphasizes: "We become warriors to combat evil and wrongdoing. If we lack this heart devoted to the Dharma, we become bandits, we become demons ourselves."

Victory is not defeating others, but conquering ourselves, gradually attaining stages like Stream-Enterer and Once-Returner, to stand firm on the shore of peace.

**Courage and Wisdom: Seeing Our Own Faults**

To cultivate a heart devoted to the Dharma, we need courage and wisdom. Courage here is not about defeating others, but about daring to acknowledge our own mistakes. Wisdom is daring to see our own faults. He explains: "Courage is daring to admit faults. Wisdom is daring to see our faults. Most of us are cowardly and ignorant because we dare not admit our own mistakes."

Only when we see our own faults can we change and become better. This is a long and arduous path of practice, yet incredibly precious.

**The Four Pillars of a Heart Devoted to the Dharma**

The heart devoted to the Dharma is not an abstract concept; it is formed from four important elements: reverence for the Buddha, understanding of the teachings (such as believing in cause and effect, non-self), respect for the Sangha (especially our own teacher), and the ideal of practice, enlightenment, and liberation. If one of these four is shaken, the heart devoted to the Dharma will gradually collapse. The Venerable warns: "If we lose one of these four things, the rest will slowly crumble."

Therefore, we must constantly maintain and nurture these four pillars.

**Those Who Destroy the Dharma Heart Are the Most Evil**

In this world, the greatest evil is not killing, but destroying another person's heart devoted to the Dharma. For killing a body, one can be reborn and find the Dharma again. But if the heart devoted to the Dharma is destroyed, one will live in darkness and suffering forever. He says: "What is the greatest evil in this world? It is destroying the heart devoted to the Dharma in others, causing their faith to waver."

The wicked often use subtle tactics: excessive flattery, grand promises, then slowly sowing doubt and discrediting our teachers. We must always be vigilant, not deceived by sweet-talking words.

**Guarding the Heart Devoted to the Dharma – A Noble Mission**

The heart devoted to the Dharma is a priceless asset, the light guiding us through life. Always cherish and protect it through practice, following the Buddha's teachings, and skillfully sharing the Dharma with others, inspiring their reverence for the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, not for ourselves. As the Venerable teaches: "Speak in a way that helps others understand how sublime the Dharma is. May they revere the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and not revere us."

Let us keep our heart devoted to the Dharma steadfast, and we will never lose our way.