The Essential Nature of Spiritual Practice: An Interview with Venerable Yongning

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who shares profound insights on the necessity of spiritual practice in the modern age. This interview was conducted at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. It was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on September 12, 2022.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Yongning. You ask if spiritual practice is necessary? It is a question that resonates deeply in this era, and it is one that we must address with complete honesty.

The Modern Disconnect

Many young people today find it increasingly difficult to grasp why one would dedicate their life to practice. We live in an age of instant gratification, where high technology and endless information are at our fingertips. Everything is so convenient, so accessible. Why bother with the rigours of the Dharma when the world offers such immediate comfort? It is a challenge to see the value of the unseen when the seen is so alluring.

A Reflection on Our Own Failings

When I am asked this, I first feel a profound sense of shame. Why? Because we, as practitioners, have failed to set a clear, compelling example. If we lived the Dharma with true clarity and joy, others would naturally see the necessity of it. Instead, our lack of genuine attainment has left many confused about the very purpose of our path. It is a heavy burden to carry, knowing that our own lack of diligence has contributed to this misunderstanding.

Intellect vs. True Attainment

If practice is merely about filling the brain with more knowledge—learning subjects outside our previous fields of study—then it is a tragic waste. One might appear highly educated, even professional, but does this knowledge truly serve the spirit? When the time comes to close our eyes for the final time, we will know the truth. But as it stands, it seems many are still unable to escape the cycle of being reincarnated. We must ask ourselves: are we truly practising, or are we just collecting more intellectual baggage?

The Path to True Liberation

Spiritual practice is not about keeping this physical body lost in the illusions of the world. It is about helping it wake up, purifying the mind, and allowing the spirit to find liberation. If one cannot understand the depth of suffering inherent in the cycle of being reincarnated, it is impossible to fully grasp the meaning of practice. We are buried under a mountain of complex thoughts and overwhelming information. This noise covers our consciousness, preventing the body from feeling the inner spirit, and thus, we remain blind to the agony of a spirit that cannot find its way home.

A Life Beyond the Cycle

No matter how much enjoyment the world offers, no matter how magnificent a life we may lead, we cannot escape the reality of death. If young people could cultivate true foresight—if they could stop being mesmerised by the immediate present and look clearly at the cycle of birth and death—they would see that life can have a different value. It is possible to live a life that is truly extraordinary, one that leaps over the boundaries of life and death and breaks free from the cycle of being reincarnated. It is a life of true brilliance, far removed from the mundane struggles of the world.

Namo Amituofo."