How Does Appreciation Heart Stop Bad Karma?
Appreciation Heart frees us from greed by bringing us into the present. Through Tai Chi, nature, and mindful practice, we awaken sensitivity, observe Dharma, and transform daily habits. True joy comes not from seeking more, but from deeply valuing what we already have.
Physical practice: open your hand, open your heart, create a lotus. Develop sensitivity and awareness in your body.
Appreciation Heart takes us out of greed. This is because we stop searching. We return to observation.
Our greedy habit means we never enjoy the present. We always want something new, something more in the future. Or we’re thinking about the past.
All this good karma and bad karma—these are twins that both lead to hell karma.
When the heart is in the past or the future, it’s never in the present. And our essence—the dharma joy—is only ever in the present.
So we must change our habit from not appreciating to having a habit of appreciation.
This will change the habit from being greedy, to being free from greed.
Sifu says we should practice Appreciation Heart, not always be lazy and greedy for more.
Then we can appreciate the chance to learn Amitabha Buddha’s system. We can appreciate the chance that there is wisdom to learn. We can appreciate our karma. We can appreciate Amitabha Buddha’s kindness for creating a system for us to learn in.
In regular life, we can go out to nature and observe the four elements. We can train our body with Tai Chi, appreciate being sensitive, aware of the energy, the space, the philosophy, the function of the moves, how to create a strong centre.
We work hard on our job, but we should also work hard on training ourselves, learning Buddhist philosophy, and being generous.
We can practice appreciating our karma. Family karma is our biggest test. We must respect family, but not blindly follow, not get lost.
Appreciation will help us develop tolerance.
There are things we can change this lifetime and things we cannot. Some that are easy and some that are not. We can change habits into being aware of more Dharma.
Instead of just lying down relaxing—lie down listening to mantras.
Instead of just sitting—sit with acupuncture needles.
If we’re relaxing, we can be stretching.
Appreciate the chance there is always more to be aware of.
Tai Chi—we cannot develop if we are lazy.
Sifu says: I love Tai Chi. It creates a joyful feeling in my body when I do it. I’m aware of the energy, the space, the philosophy. I’m observing elements. All the information in one moment—the heart is now free and joyful. To feel this incredibly sensitive awareness—I’m into creation of Wuji.
