The Scripture of Cleansing the Mind - Collection of Rain Blossoms, 洗心經

We gain more from purifying our minds than we may know. Image: Shutterstock.

The Scripture of Cleansing the Mind contains a four-line verse:

When the mind meets the world yet leaves no trace,

the true nature within naturally shines—clear and bright.

To one with such clarity, the vast universe is like a mustard seed,

and mighty Mount Sumeru is like a speck of dust.

This is not just a dream—it’s something that can be seen with clear eyes. When the heart is narrow, it cannot hold even a speck of dust. But when the heart is wide, it is like the sky and the earth—open, boundless, and without end. With such a heart, all things can be held, and yet there is still peace.

In the Noise and in the Stillness

This is why, even though the world may seem huge, a steady and clear heart can make it feel as small as a mustard seed. Think of a busy place like Hong Kong, where the streets are crowded and noisy, and people hurry after money and desires. It’s easy to feel lost there, with no place for the heart to rest. But life in the countryside is different. The cool wind and bright moon become friends, and temptations are few. In such a place, the heart grows calm. Peace flows in, and the heart opens wide—so wide it feels like it can hold the whole universe. When the heart feels this way, the thought that “the world is so big” simply fades away.

When the Heart Is Free

Our inner state shifts with what surrounds us. If we cling to what is in front of us, it feels solid and unshakable. If we hold to nothing, it feels as though nothing is really there. This is why the saying goes, “Mount Sumeru is as small as a speck of dust.” It’s not just poetic talk. When the heart is calm and free from clinging, even the highest mountain becomes small.

洗心經

雨花集

濟公活佛

洗心經有四句偈語﹕「見境不留影，自性自然明；宇宙如纖芥，須彌如纖芥，須彌如微塵」。夫心境者，狹之不能容一塵，廣之無崖無岸。今證釋之。

世界雖大，縮之如芥子。例如香港，熙熙攘攘，奔逐於物慾之中，則覺地大人多，茫茫無所依止；但住在郊區中，祇見清風明月，物慾之誘惑，少之又少，則覺心胸廣闊，能保含宇宙於胸際，何大之有。

所以心境乃由境而化，執境有境，執無便無。須彌如微塵，非虛語也。 

This translated text is a chapter from Collection of Rain Blossoms, a scripture written by JiGong Living Buddha in the 1900s through spirit writing. Here the link to the original Chinese source.

If you are interested in other chapters of this book, here is the link to the table of contents.