The Great Heart

This story explores the nature of worldly love and the compassion of practitioners, through the teachings of the Buddha and real-life experiences.

One late autumn afternoon, within the grounds of Tu Tan Pagoda, yellow leaves drifted gently onto the brick courtyard. A group of elderly Buddhists sat gathered on the temple porch, holding warm cups of tea, their gazes distant. The air was so still that only the sound of wind passing through the leaves could be heard.

The abbot sat in the center, looked around once, and spoke with a deep, warm voice. "For those who have lived through marriage, may I ask sincerely: what are your feelings about it?"

An elderly woman with silver hair sighed and shook her head. "It is wearying, teacher. We thought it would be happiness, but we found only suffering."

The old man beside her nodded slowly. "That is true. When we were young, we thought loving each other was enough. But after living together, we realized it was full of anger, resentment, and jealousy."

The teacher looked around and saw everyone sighing in resignation. Not a single person claimed to be happy. He smiled softly, as if he already knew the answer.

"Do you know why?" the teacher asked. "Because worldly love is inherently selfish. People love each other because of karmic debts from past lives, or because the other person brings them happiness. When the debt is paid and the happiness fades, the love dissolves."

Another elderly woman looked surprised. "But teacher, I truly loved my husband. I cared for him for decades."

"You loved him," the teacher asked gently, "but if he gave you nothing, would you still love him? If he were a beggar, with no home and no money, would you love him?"

The woman fell silent, looking down at the ground. After a long pause, she whispered, "I... I do not know."

"That is precisely the point," the teacher said. "The Buddha taught that there is no true love in this world. People love others because those people bring them happiness. When happiness ceases, love also ceases."

The teacher continued, "Long ago, King Pasenadi asked Queen Mallika, 'Who do you love most?' She replied, 'I love Your Majesty most. But if I speak the truth, I love myself most.' The king was surprised and asked why. The queen explained, 'Because Your Majesty brings me glory, status, and happiness. If you were a beggar, I would not love you.' The king went to ask the Buddha, who confirmed that this was correct."

The Buddhists sat in silence, reflecting deeply. An elderly man spoke slowly. "So, is all our love just an illusion?"

"Not entirely an illusion," the teacher replied. "But it is not real, nor is it enduring. It is merely driven by karmic conditions from previous lives. When the debt is settled, the love vanishes. As practitioners, we must seek a different kind of love, one that is higher: compassion."

The teacher paused, gazing into the distance. "Compassion is unconditional love. It is not based on karmic ties or selfishness. It loves all sentient beings, including plants, rivers, and mountains. When a meditation master enters meditative concentration, their mind opens, and compassion floods everywhere. They love nature and all creatures."

A novice monk sitting nearby asked, "Teacher, how can we attain this compassion?"

"We must practice meditative concentration and break through ego-clinging," the teacher answered. "When the self dissolves, compassion naturally arises. Like the Buddha, when He attained absolute non-self, great compassion enveloped the entire universe. Every second, every minute, He loved all sentient beings. But we cannot feel it because we keep the doors of our hearts closed."

The teacher looked at the Buddhists, his voice lowering. "You have experienced worldly life and know its suffering well. Now, learn to open your hearts. Do not love only specific individuals; love everyone. That is true happiness."

An elderly woman’s eyes welled with tears. "Teacher, I am old. Can I still practice?"

"It is never too late to practice," the teacher smiled. "As long as you are willing to open your heart and let go of selfishness, compassion will gradually emerge. Little by little each day, you will find life lighter and happier."

That evening, the Buddhists left with a new state of mind. They no longer complained about life but began thinking about practicing universal love. One elderly man said to his wife, "From now on, let us stop being jealous. We love each other, but we also love others."

The woman nodded, joy shining in her eyes. "Yes, we are old. Why bother with jealousy? Let us practice loving all beings."