Sincerity and Authenticity

A person’s inner intention goes far towards determining the extent to which a particular action is good or evil, effective or ineffective. As Buddha so forcefully stated in the Dhammapada, action begins with the mind; it is created by the mind; it goes forth according to the inner state of the mind. In some of the passages gathered here, sincerity means the natural and spontaneous flow of the mind, devoid of all pretense and egoistic grasping. Other passages call for self-examination and self-cultivation in order to manifest true sincerity. Father Moon views the cultivation of sincerity, what he calls jeongseong, as fundamental to the spiritual life.

This section treats sincerity as a virtue in daily life. On the topic of sincerity in approaching God, see Chapter 16: Devotion and Purity of Intention.