Human-Heartedness

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Justin Stone

Buddhism stresses that “things causally produced are void,” that is, temporary and not enduring. Lao Tzu’s TAOISM speaks of “not attempting to play the TAO, letting the TAO play you.” Hinduism, and there are numerous kinds of Hinduism, counsels faith in numerous gods, all emanations of the one Deity (or Reality).

These all have deep roots, too difficult to understand intellectually. However, Confucius’ teaching of human-heartedness as being most important, is easy to understand and quick to ring a bell. He felt that human-heartedness, along with “TEH” (the power of inner sincerity) was most important. As my late friend, Swami Krishnanand, stressed: “If you don’t find God in the hearts of men, where do you expect to find him?”

Cheating your fellow man, cutting corners to get a slight monetary advantage, is the opposite of human-heartedness. The fact that you can get away with it has nothing to do with it. It’s good to examine your financial actions in light of TEH and Human-Heartedness. And, above all, it’s necessary to be honest with yourself and not rationalize.