I N T E R N A T I O N A L

© REN XUE International 2020 All Rights Reserved

www.renxueinternational.org

5 ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF THE HEART

T R U S T

In REN XUE, trust refers to many things: trust in ourselves, in our body’s abi l i ty to heal , trust in others and trust in the wisdom of the universe. Trust helps us bui ld healthy relat ionships with others by breaking down the barr iers between people and increasing understanding and connectedness. When we face challenges in l i fe, trust helps us remain in a posit ive state. Trust al lows us to develop our ful l potential , and we l ive in a state in which i t ’s easier to heal ourselves.

Trust is the key that opens the door to al l the other essential qual i t ies of the heart .

O P E N N E S S

Openness al lows Qi and information to f low freely. Like trust , i t is an essential qual i ty for healthy relat ionships. I t al lows us to see ourselves honestly and clearly and be at ease with what we see. When the heart and consciousness are open, they unify, which makes connecting with self and others easier . Openness, accompanied by a healthy state (one that is unif ied, posit ive, calm, relaxed and natural ) creates a posit ive cycle: maintaining a healthy state contr ibutes to more openness, and openness, in turn, enables a healthy state. Connecting with nature and pract icing Yuan Gong methods help develop openness by support ing our connection with universal Qi .

All facets of openness rest on a foundation of trust .

L O V E

Love is the natural state for human beings. Total ly uncondit ional and pure love is the expression of the true self and an open heart . Love connects us with ourselves and with others in a most int imate way. I t motivates us to cult ivate our deepest natural qual i t ies and accept responsibi l i ty in our interact ions with others. I t is an important source of the power and strength needed for l iv ing a meaningful l i fe.

Love is a qual i ty that can be cult ivated and deepened.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

© REN XUE International 2020 All Rights Reserved

www.renxueinternational.org2

G R A T I T U D E

Gratitude is an essential part of human l i fe. A heart f i l led with grat i tude makes our l ives happier , more posit ive and l ighter . Grat i tude leaves nothing out : i t extends to others, to animate and inanimate objects, to ourselves and to our bodies. When we are aware that our individual l ives are interwoven with the entire external world, we are able to experience deep grat i tude for everyone and everything. Focusing on grat i tude by connecting our hearts with what we’re grateful for helps us navigate challenges in a healthy, relaxed and calm way. I t enables us to see the benefits hiding within apparently diff icult experiences.

Gratitude shifts our perspective, so we perceive our connection with everything around us.

G O N G J I N G

Gongj ing is a composite heart qual i ty . I t embodies trust , openness, love, grat i tude and other qual i t ies, such as accommodation, compassion, humil i ty, appreciat ion, understanding, and empathy. True respect is the cornerstone of Gongj ing. I t is the manifestat ion of a healthy heart and vital for a heart-to-heart connection with others. Cult ivat ing true respect for ourselves, others, and nature is important for our growth. When we have true respect, an authentic sense of trust and openness is possible. In turn, our hearts are open to love and grat i tude. This cycle connects us to a pure and sincere humil i ty ar is ing from a calm state deep in the heart . Al l these interwoven qual i t ies are integral to Gongj ing. As Gongj ing develops, i t enables a unif ied l i fe by taking the focus off the fragmented “me” and dissolving the dist inct ions between the internal and external . The deeper our Gongj ing, the more inner strength we generate.

Gongj ing ar ises from a true understanding that everything is a manifestat ion of the laws of the universe (Dao) . Gongj ing helps us hold everyone and everything as equal , valuable, and part of the whole.