The Path of Perseverance: An Interview with Venerable Chang Gao

This article records an interview with Venerable Chang Gao, who shares profound insights on the nature of perseverance in spiritual practice. The interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on July 10, 2023.

Venerable Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. A smooth and comfortable path of practice does not necessarily lead to growth. On the contrary, it is the path filled with stumbles and falls that truly tempers us, allowing us to strip away the impurities accumulated throughout our many lives and rediscover the brilliance of our true self.

The Crucible of Failure

I once encountered a practitioner who possessed remarkable perseverance. I asked him, 'Why is it that you always seem to have more perseverance in your practice than others?' He replied, 'It was forged through every single failure I have encountered.'

He told me, 'Over twenty years ago, before I began studying the Buddha Dharma, my personality was incredibly abrasive. I had a terrible temper, a great deal of anger, and a heart filled with greed. In the secular world, with such habits and personality, few people wanted to be around me. I constantly offended others because of my own nature. My heart was in agony, for I did not want to be this way, yet I could not help myself. Ultimately, I chose to walk the path of practice, knowing deep down that it was the only way to save myself. I had to walk this path.'

No Retreat, Only Forward

'Practice is not about gaining something; it is about fundamentally changing oneself. On the day I entered the temple, my master gave me only one instruction: "Only move forward, never retreat." I understood what he meant, but when I tried to live by those words, I found it incredibly difficult. My practice could not always be smooth sailing. Every time I lost my temper, I felt a deep sense of guilt and agony, for I would harshly reprimand myself for regressing. My mood was deeply affected, and for a long time, I found the practice to be agonizing. I even considered giving up.'

Peeling the Onion of the Self

'One day, a fellow practitioner sat beside me and said, "Practice is about growing through failure. There is no need to be discouraged, and there is no concept of gain or loss." I looked up at him and asked, "But my master told me that in practice, one only moves forward and never retreats." He smiled and said, "I have seen all your efforts. After every setback, you re-examine the mistakes you have made and improve upon them. When you make the same mistake again, you look at what has not yet been corrected and continue to improve. This process may seem like a cycle of repeated errors, but in reality, you are like someone peeling an onion, purifying yourself layer by layer. Think back now: compared to the past, is the temper you lost yesterday any different?"'

Transforming Adversity into Opportunity

'Through his words, I finally understood. After reorganizing my thoughts, I continued to move forward. Every time I stumbled, I stood up bravely. I realized that such tempering is necessary. Only through such painful experiences can I truly grow. In this process, I am making slow but steady progress. I no longer let the concepts of gain or loss destroy my practice. I face my failures with equanimity, readjust my approach, and strive to be better each time. Every experience yields a harvest.'

This practitioner eventually completely transformed his abrasive and irritable personality. He concluded, 'Ten thousand failures in exchange for this small achievement today—it is worth it. I will continue to work hard.'

I deeply admire this elder. He once helped me when I encountered difficulties in my own practice, for he understood the state of mind that feels impossible to overcome. Under his guidance, I realized that practice is actually without obstacles. As long as one changes their mental note, even adversity can become a favourable condition.

Namo Amituofo."