The word Purification (净化 - Jìng Huà) holds a depth that goes far beyond simple cleaning. To truly understand it, we must look at the wisdom hidden within the characters themselves and how they apply to our lives through the lens of Zhen(Truthfulness), Shan(Compassion), and Ren(Forbearance).

The Etymology of "Purification" In Chinese, the character 净 (Jìng) is composed of "Water" on the left and "Struggle/Compete" on the right. Its original meaning describes water so incredibly clear that even the tiniest particles within it seem to be "competing" to show their true form. It implies a state of absolute transparency, free from any hidden impurities.

The character 化 (Huà) depicts two figures—one upright and one inverted—symbolizing transformation and evolution. Thus, "Purification" is the process of removing the cluttered, the impure, the harmful, and the redundant to restore a state of clarity, rectitude, purity, and harmony.

The Physical Dimension: Lightening the Burden On a surface level, purification starts with the body. It involves cleansing our blood, our internal organs, and even our thoughts. In modern medicine, we see this through processes like dialysis (blood purification) or gastric lavage (stomach pumping). However, these are merely external methods. True physical purification requires deep internal cleansing of all organs and systems.

Measuring Purification with Truth, Compassion, and Forbearance 1. Purification through Truth (真 - Zhēn) Honesty is the first step. To purify, one must first admit that the body and mind are overburdened. Without truth, purification cannot begin. We must strip away hypocritical social masks, self-deception, and vanity. By returning to our original, true selves and facing who we really are, we stop living merely for the sake of external things.

1. Purification through Compassion (善 - Shàn) This involves cleansing the heart of hostility, envy, and selfish desires. When a person washes away the impurities of selfishness, the pure kindness that flows out is the most powerful form of compassion. In terms of the body, Compassion means being kind to yourself: reducing the load, giving your organs time to rest, and allowing your systems space to breathe. It is a gentle, yet enduring, form of cleansing.

2. Purification through Forbearance (忍 - Rěn) Forbearance is the guarantee that purification will be completed. It means enduring short-term discomfort, resisting the pull of old habits, and restraining the impulsiveness that demands "instant results." By purifying anxiety and impetuousness, we remain as still as water even in adversity, filtering out emotional turbulence to achieve inner steadfastness.

A Bright Dwelling for the Soul The cleaner the body becomes, the brighter the dwelling place of the soul. Every act of purification is a way of saying to yourself: "Welcome back—to the most authentic version of you."

Purification is not limited to the human body; it is a principle reflected in the renewal of the entire universe. I was inspired to share these reflections after encountering the word "Purification" in a profoundly precious book. While these are my surface-level insights, the deeper inner meanings can only be found by reading the original text in full.