What is purity? Why is it important to be Pure at Heart?

Purity means wherein there exists no adulteration, no contamination whatsoever

There are 2 paths one can tread on, to conduct his worldly interactions:

1. One driven by Heart; and

2. The other driven by Intellect

The path of Purity is one that is driven by Heart, and not Intellect

The path driven by heart is that of pure love

People driven by heart feel other’s pain as if it’s their own. Without thinking about their own comfort and interest, they eagerly reach out to help the needy in every possible manner they can. One who serves heartily never discriminates; he helps one and everyone. And when he is helping others, the feeling of ‘yours and mine’ does not arise in him at all. He has only one intention, a pure intention to help everyone. He only wishes welfare of everyone.

The path driven by intellect is full of calculations

While hearty people derive pleasure from giving, intellectuals normally enjoy receiving and hoarding. So, in its every move, one is always calculating, ’What do I gain out of this?’ Dealings done with an intellectual approach emit vibrations that are hurtful and intimidating. The one driven by intellect thinks he is making smart moves, but in the process is only creating entanglements. The law of nature is so precise and accurate that eventually, one’s tricks end up making him aimlessly wander in this world.

The characteristics of intellect vis-à -vis heart are as under:

Intellect

Shows loss and gainr
Wants personal gainr
There is selfishness in the dealingsr
Wants something in retu

Sees faults in othersr
Is impatient, restless and emotionalr
Creates differencesr
Leads to contempt for the other personr
Heart

Shows benefit and harmr
Wants everyone to benefitr
There is love in the dealingsr
Has no expectationsr
Sees one’s own faults and improvesr
Is calm, patient and empatheticr
Promotes unityr
Harnesses feeling of gratitude towards othersr
Why is it important to be pure at heart?

When what one says comes straight from the heart, what one thinks and expresses is ruled by his heart, and whatever one does is with a sincere and an earnest, genuine intention that flows from the bottom of his heart, such a person is said to be pure at heart. His entire personality reflects love, warmth, kindness and affection towards other people.

His behaviour is heartily

Heartily signifies an eager and enthusiastic approach filled with vigor and energy to do good of others. Heartily does not mean emotionally. Emotions arise from intellect, they rise, remain for some time and then die down, whereas compassion arises from heart, it is constantly there.

A heartily behaviour gradually makes one God-like

Such person’s worldly dealings are ideal and non-intimidating; oozing with compassion towards mankind.

Heart attracts heart and Intellect attracts intellect

One’s hearty approach inspires others too to follow their heart in interactions from their side. Whereas the use of intellect makes us narrow and mean-minded, and prompts others also to develop a similar mindset.

The easy way to be pure at heart

When one appreciates people who are pure at heart, and sincerely prays that, “May I too become like him!”, the narrow-minded attitude within him fades away and he too starts becoming a hearty person himself. Eg. When we see someone welcome his guests heartily, serving them food with a pure and warm heart even when the guests have turned up at an odd hour; we too begin to behave heartily in a similar situation if we choose to learn and cultivate a similar attitude as his.

So, when we heartily appreciate the good and positive qualities in others, those qualities will surely manifest in us. And when we happen to err, no matter how severe a mistake we may have committed, if we repent heartily for the mistake committed by us, the mistake leaves and our heart flourishes. So, let’s begin this practice immediately!

And let’s use our self for others to help people

Human life is meant for helping others. Helping others means using one’s mind, speech and actions for the good of others. When we help others, it makes them feel happy; and when they feel happy, we in turn become happy. Real happiness is in giving to others. When we begin to do for others, we will not have to do anything for our self, it will be well taken care of by the Nature.

We all are blessed with a loving heart, so today onwards why not have this heart beat for others? Let’s heartily serve others and spread pure love to make this place a better place to live in for the mankind!

The pure heart helps us progress spiritually

One who has a pure heart, who does not want any worldly comforts for himself, who is serving others heartily, and he sincerely wants to know only the Soul; Gnani, the Enlightened One, through his divine spiritual powers, graces him with the knowledge of the Soul and caps his very starting point of binding new karma (worldly suffering). Once this charging (binding) of new karma is stopped, automatically when discharge of all old karma finishes, all sufferings come to a permanent end and he attains liberation. So, heartily accepting the invaluable spiritual knowledge received from Gnani, and by heartily walking on the path shown by Gnani, our work is done!! We come out of the vicious cycle of birth and death, and thus we come out of the worldly miseries and suffering. And for this, a pure heart is all that is required!!