Eight Standards for Assessing a Perfect Soul

Xuefeng

The video of a mudslide pausing for 16 seconds to allow a van to escape should be watched repeatedly. The mudslide, which halted its torrential flow long enough for a person to flee, only resumed with greater force after the van left the deadly whirlpool. This event clearly demonstrates that karma is real and credible, divine power exists, and miracles do occur.

Life exists on different levels: the more advanced a being, the more perfect its soul; the more primitive a being, the more flawed its soul. The more advanced a being is, the closer it lives to a perfect world; the more primitive, the more it dwells in an imperfect world. A perfect soul more easily avoids danger and hardship, while a flawed soul is more prone to fall into risks, suffering, and crises.

Perfecting one's soul is the most important lifelong work for any individual. This endeavor is thousands of times more significant than earning money or pursuing power and status. Consider plants: the more developed the roots, the more luxuriantly they grow. If the roots decay, the plant will inevitably wither and die. The soul is the root system of life.

So how can you determine whether your soul is perfect? Here are eight standards for assessment:

1. Reverence for the Creator

A perfect soul believes in and reveres the Creator of the universe and LIFE—Greatest Creator—and worships Greatest Creator with awe and respect.

2. Respect for All LIFE

A perfect soul holds all forms of LIFE in reverence, refraining from cruelty or the wanton destruction of LIFE.

3. Respect for Nature

A perfect soul approaches nature with reverence, whether observing its myriad phenomena or experiencing its transformative changes.

4. Humility Toward Divine Beings

A perfect soul respects gods, Buddhas, celestials, and saints, never displaying arrogance or overstepping boundaries, and always maintaining humility.

5. Freedom from Negative Traits

A perfect soul is free from jealousy, comparison, competition, theft, robbery, or bullying. It consistently expresses gratitude, cherishes life’s small moments, and remains content.

6. Equality in Relationships

A perfect soul does not discriminate between high and low status, wealth or poverty. It does not flatter the powerful, fawn over the rich, or disdain the poor and underprivileged.

7. Harmonious Conduct

A perfect soul does not oppress outsiders, harbor hostility toward foreigners, seize others’ belongings, disparage people of different faiths, cultures, or races, or participate in gambling. It refrains from complaints, resentment, rage, deception, extremism, and violence.

8. Love for a Simple Life

A perfect soul finds joy in a peaceful, ordinary life, cherishes harmonious neighborhood relationships, prefers simple and rustic rural environments, and values days of favorable weather and universal peace.

While there are many more characteristics of a perfect soul, possessing these eight traits essentially confirms a soul’s perfection. Such a soul is likely to avoid misfortune and calamities. Furthermore, those who achieve selflessness, egolessness, detachment, and freedom from debts are well-positioned to ascend to heaven.

January 9, 2025