Venerable Master Chin Kung summarised the guiding principles of Buddhist practice thus: “Sincerity, purity, impartiality, proper understanding and compassion. See through to the truth, let go, be at ease, accord with conditions, and be mindful of Amitabha Buddha.” Those ten concepts fully encapsulate the Buddha’s teachings.

Buddhism is a universal teaching that teaches a way of living and thinking, a most practicable life teaching. “Sincerity” is innate to our true nature, and is without the slightest dishonesty to self or others. “Purity” of mind means the total absence of mental contamination, selfishness, interpersonal discord, desire for fame and profit, greed, anger, ignorance, and arrogance. “Impartiality” means no comparisons of higher or lower, or thinking oneself is better than others.

“Proper understanding” means no delusion. “Compassion” is caring for all living beings unconditionally and doing one’s utmost to help them, which is the heart of a bodhisattva. Only with such a heart can one practise the bodhisattva path. The concepts above are the virtues of our true nature and the true wisdom of the Buddha.

“Seeing through to the truth” is wisdom. “Letting go” is accomplishment. To see through to the truth is to properly understand the reality of life and the universe, the relationships between all phenomena. “Letting go” means renouncing all wandering thoughts, discriminatory thoughts, attachments, afflictions, and worries. Only through completely letting go of these can one achieve purity, impartiality, and enlightenment. The ability to see through and let go requires true wisdom. Sakyamuni Buddha taught about wisdom for over twenty-two years, to teach us to see through to the truth and to let go.

The Buddha taught us that the best approach when faced with matters, worldly or beyond, is to remain “at ease and accord with proper conditions,” accommodate living beings, and rejoice in their merits. We ought to diligently help when the opportunity arises, but we should not give rise to this thought when the conditions do not allow. We are then at ease. Without having even the slightest of intentions is truly “according with proper conditions.”

The ten concepts conclude with “being mindful of Amitabha Buddha.” Being mindful of Amitabha Buddha means being mindful of sincerity, purity, impartiality, proper understanding, and compassion. This is the mental approach to being mindful of the Amitabha Buddha. Being mindful of seeing through to the truth, letting go, being at ease, and according with proper conditions, is practising mindfulness of Amitabha Buddha. This is what a bodhisattva learns to do at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. This is something we ought to learn—being properly mindful of Amitabha Buddha, the one phrase that encompasses all teachings, worldly and beyond.