The Path to True Perfection

Venerable Yongning, a dedicated practitioner who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, currently resides at the centre, where she continues her dedicated cultivation. This interview, which captures her profound insights into the nature of spiritual practice, was recorded on July 12, 2019, by the disciple Shi Faxin.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Spiritual practice is the process of achieving a state of completion that transcends the ordinary life. To truly practise is to attain a state of purity that remains untainted by the dust of this world. Even while we are still navigating the complexities of the mundane world and dealing with unfinished business, our mindset and our approach to these matters begin to change. We find ourselves carrying a greater sense of understanding and compassion. Our tone of voice becomes softer, and our interactions become more gentle. This is a natural manifestation of the inner transformation that occurs when one is truly walking the path.

The True Meaning of Practice

The influence of the Buddha’s teachings is deeply rooted in the human heart. It is not something that can be grasped by merely working oneself to the bone or by complaining about the heavens and the earth. The Dharma is transmitted into this world for a singular purpose: to relieve the suffering of all beings. That is the very reason for its existence. In the human world, we are often trapped by our attachment to this physical body, and by the people, events, and objects that we hold dear. We bind ourselves with these attachments, and in doing so, we make our own lives incredibly difficult. We end up wasting our short lives in a cycle of unnecessary struggle.

The Trap of Worldly Achievement

Let us examine the nature of achievement in this world. When individuals rise to positions of power or become leaders in their respective fields, they often set goal-oriented targets for themselves. In the process of striving for these goals, they cultivate a personality that demands perfection. Yet, within this pursuit of perfection, it is almost inevitable that self-satisfaction and even arrogance will take root. Often, this mindset develops so gradually that the individual does not even realise it is happening. It manifests in the tone of their voice, in their attitudes, and in every move they make. Sometimes, to highlight their status, they use external clothing or ornaments to project a sense of self-importance. In this way, they build up a thick layer of pride. The longer one remains in the dyeing vat of secular life, the deeper the stains become. Unless one learns to jump out of this cycle and discern right from wrong, one remains trapped.

Breaking Free and Finding the Light

True practice is the correction of improper behaviours and misguided concepts within the secular world. When you are finally willing to take that step and let go, you will discover that your heart is no longer so burdened. The protective mechanisms that you feel compelled to activate every single day can be gradually dismantled. Why can the heart be filled with such Dharma-joy? It is because you have finally found an exit. You have found the best way to use your remaining time: to help others break through their delusions and attain enlightenment. You help them walk out of the confusion of the past so that they can face the future with a sense of clarity and light. For such a person, there is no longer any fear of death.

The Buddha’s teachings are the very essence of life, for we come to understand that only by seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss can we truly attain immortality. Let us spread the Dharma far and wide, so that all may attain eternal life in the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo."