Clean Heart, Pure Actions!
'What is a pure heart? It means a heart of innocence and sincerity,' this is the interpretation in *Zhai Hai* (Great Compilation). It originates from the Southern Dynasty Song scholar Yan Yan's *Tao Yi Shi Le*, 'Be modest and unassuming, and cultivate a genuine heart.' A pure heart signifies innocence and integrity, which is the foundation for becoming a person with a pure heart.
According to *Cai Gen Tan* (Vegetable Roots Canon), 'When making friends, bring a trace of chivalrous spirit; when doing things, keep a bit of pure heart.' It seems that people with a pure heart have been greatly admired throughout history. In today's materialistic world, it is important to be a person with a pure heart, to enjoy the simple happiness of pure water without fragrance, to achieve a long and beautiful life.
Being a person with a pure heart is a level of life quality. 'Be humble and open-minded, examine yourself and reflect on your actions,' this is the way ancients promoted for learning and governing people. As Shakespeare once said, there is a kind of humble work that uses tenacious spirit to endure hardship and the lowest things often point to the highest goals.
Being a person with a pure heart is a life practice. Amidst the vicissitudes of life, only those who have experienced hardship can think clearly, endure loneliness, maintain a spiritual height, and not be swayed by materialistic desires or selfish interests. They don't fall into decline when at a low point, they don't shrink back when facing difficulties, and they don't become arrogant when praised for their achievements; they don't boast when they achieve success.
A person can only achieve a pure heart when their knowledge, experience, and qualities have accumulated enough. They don't say boastful words, they don't show off their abilities, they always maintain the vitality and vigor hidden deep in their hearts and minds.
People should keep a bit of a pure heart. If the world is simplified, the world will be simple. Holding a calm and distant heart, watching flowers bloom and fall, watching clouds roll and drift, observing the rise and fall of the sea, tasting the ups and downs of life, living your own wonderful life in the long river of life, and living a peaceful and tranquil life in the noisy world.
Being a person with a pure heart is a level of life realm. 'The heart is like a dry well, without waves; wealth and status don't matter; hardship and cold don't matter; gain and loss don't matter,' this is the interpretation of pure heart by the Qing Dynasty scholar, Xie Lan, in *Yue Wei Cao Tang Notes*. This is a very high level.
When people live in the world, regardless of whether they are rich or poor, high or low, lucky or unlucky, they inevitably encounter fame and fortune. People with a pure heart don't scheme and fight for advantages, they don't waste their minds and hearts, and they don't deliberately avoid fame and fortune. They deal with things with mature and wise attitudes and elegant and wise styles.
Being a person with a pure heart is a kind of life wisdom. As *Cai Gen Tan* says, 'The ancients valued not greed, which is why they lived a life of one generation.' In the ever-changing world, only those who have experienced the hardships of life can see through things, decipher human nature, and deal with things with a mature, wise, and elegant style, and a broad and wise style.
Zheng Bao had a poem that said, 'The people were afraid of corruption, officials were clear because of pure hearts.' This is his philosophy of governance, which made him a celebrated official for thousands of years, and his name is still revered today.
Being a person with a pure heart is a kind of life philosophy. In today's prosperous era, it's important to maintain a simple and quiet, serene life. Holding a pure heart is like savoring tea and wine, sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet, carefully tasted, to perceive the big aspirations and interests of life. A broad heart is tolerant, and a pure heart creates a soul.
In today's world, with a colorful and diverse world, it's important to be a kind and open-minded person, a cheerful and open-minded person, a person with a pure heart like a lily. Even if you don't achieve great happiness, the subtle satisfaction will linger in your heart, bringing you peace and tranquility, and quiet self-sufficiency.
