The Most Precious Treasure in Life: Your Own Mind and Heart

Dear friends, today let us reflect on a question that seems simple yet holds profound depth. Why do we visit the temple? Why do we cultivate ourselves? The answer may lie in the deepest place within us, our own mind and heart. Venerable Thich Chan Quang shares that all goodness originates from a beautiful soul. If the mind is bad, the person is bad; if the mind is good, the person is good.

If our mind is unwholesome, then we are unwholesome beings. If our mind is wholesome, then we are wholesome beings.

Therefore, guarding the purity of our mind and heart is not merely empty advice but a vital life goal. In this world, we are often swept away by appearances, money, and fame. Yet when we leave this life behind, all those things remain here. Only karma and merit, created by our inner state, follow us into the next existence.

Why Is the Mind and Heart Our Greatest Asset?

Venerable Thich Chan Quang emphasizes that ultimately, the true value of our life lies in our karma and merit. These arise directly from our mind. When our mind is good, we bring happiness to others and create blessings for ourselves. When our mind is bad, we cause suffering to others and accumulate negative karma for ourselves. Thus, we must weigh every action, word, and thought carefully.

In the end, the worth of our life is determined by our karma and merit.

A person who helps others may generate merit, but if they constantly boast about their deeds or look down on those they helped, that merit can turn into negative karma. Consider how siblings divide inherited land. Fighting over every inch creates resentment, while yielding brings blessings. The teacher reminds us always: when the mind is good, heaven and earth offer protection and support.

Weighing Karma and Merit in Every Thought

For beginners on the path, weighing karma and merit is essential. We must observe each thought, word, and deed to know what to do and what to avoid. Venerable Thich Chan Quang advises us to ask ourselves constantly.

Whenever you think something, check if it is good or bad. Whenever you speak, check if it is good or bad. Whenever you act, check if it is good or bad.

This practice helps us avoid mistakes and gradually become better people. However, the teacher warns against self-satisfaction. Even claiming to be only twenty percent good shows humility. He humorously notes that we might truly be only two percent good, reminding us to strive diligently in our practice.

Protecting the Mind from Negative Influences

Many sources can corrupt our mind and heart. First are the seeds of negativity carried over from past lives during rebirth. Second is the influence of our current environment, such as family, friends, or misleading teachings. For example, some sects teach that spiritual practice means doing nothing at all. While this sounds like the Buddha's words, it actually leads to laziness, selfishness, and cruelty. Therefore, we need wisdom to distinguish truth from falsehood.

The mind is the root of everything, but how can we achieve a completely pure mind? That is the real challenge.

Those with great merit have the power to change circumstances and transform the world for the better. When we help others without clinging to credit, our blessings grow larger day by day.

Living to Nurture the Soul Daily

What is the main purpose of human life? Some say to love, to get rich, or to eat. But according to Venerable Thich Chan Quang, the most important goal is to nurture our mind and heart, making them better every single day. All other goals are secondary. We study, work, and experience life to accumulate knowledge and ethics, all to feed our inner growth.

Live to nurture your mind and heart, improving them day by day.

The teacher divides this nurturing into two levels. The lower level involves eliminating greed, hatred, delusion, anger, selfishness, jealousy, and competitiveness. The higher level involves sanctifying the inner self through meditative concentration, becoming a holy being amidst ordinary life. Regardless of the level, our duty is to make our mind increasingly pure.

Today, you can begin by asking yourself, "Is this good or bad?" in every thought, word, and action. Care for your mind and heart like a precious seedling. Live to cultivate a beautiful soul, for it is the only treasure we carry when we leave this temporary world.