The Lost Opportunity for True Practice

Venerable Changren, a dedicated practitioner residing at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of the Buddha. She now resides at the Centre, where she offers profound insights into the true essence of spiritual practice and the common pitfalls that hinder genuine awakening. This interview was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxi on November 7, 2019.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Changren. People in this world often fail to realise the profound significance of the Buddha’s teachings and practice. Many see only the surface—the rituals, the outward appearances, the social aspects of being in a temple—but they remain blind to the true essence of what it means to practise. It is a tragedy, for they stand at the threshold of liberation, yet they do not know how to step through the door.

The True Meaning of Practice

The most authentic purpose of practice is to find one's way back to the true self. However, in this modern age, very few people truly value this. Why? Because they do not understand the immense benefits of returning to their true self. When you realise your true self, you can live with a clarity and freedom that is impossible to find elsewhere. Your heart can attain eternal meditative concentration—a peace that is not merely a fleeting emotion or a hollow, illusory state, but a solid foundation that remains unshaken by the storms of the world.

Many people approach practice because they are seeking stability, but they are looking for it in the wrong places. They want to feel calm, but they do not understand the true meaning of practice, which is vast and deep beyond measure. It is not just about feeling good for a moment; it is about a fundamental transformation of the soul.

The Illusion of Progress

Throughout history, countless people have pursued spiritual practice, yet the results they hope for are often elusive. Many are merely caught up in the appearance of practice. They do not go deep enough. It is only here, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, that one can truly understand what it means to practise. True practice requires a breakthrough; it requires a radical change in how we perceive ourselves and the world.

Most people have no idea how many subtle, hidden layers within their own bodies and minds need to be changed. Human beings are complex, layered with habits and karmic patterns that emerge one after another, like waves in an endless ocean. To catch these patterns, to identify them, and to transform them—this requires immense effort and skills. This is the real work of practice. It is a level of insight that even generations of practitioners may not necessarily achieve, because to truly understand oneself, one must first have the courage to face oneself. If you cannot look into the mirror of your own soul, then any talk of change is merely empty words.

The Trap of Self-Deception

I have seen many who have practised for a lifetime. Perhaps they have even gathered a following of fellow practitioners who look up to them, who believe in them deeply, and who trust their every word. When you are surrounded by such reverence, who is left to point out your subtle mistakes? Who is left to tell you where you have gone wrong? Often, we find it difficult to face these truths ourselves, and so we leave these hidden flaws unaddressed. These unresolved changes become the very seeds of our failure, the reasons why our practice never reaches the ultimate goal of rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

How many people have missed their golden opportunity for liberation in exactly this way? I ask you to look at yourself today: are you falling into the same trap? A true opportunity for practice is a chance to see yourself clearly and to summon the courage to change. Have you truly achieved the standard of genuine practice? You must ask yourself this question. In all the days you have spent practising, what have you actually accomplished? What have you truly transformed?

A Debt of Gratitude

I am deeply grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and for the teachings of my grandmother, who guided me onto this path. Without that guidance, I would still be wandering in the dark, lost in the illusions of the world. Namo Amituofo."