The True Essence of Practice: An Interview with Venerable Chang Ren

Venerable Chang Ren discusses the fundamental nature of spiritual practice and the importance of aligning one's heart with the Truth. This interview was recorded by Chief Writer Shi Fa-Xi at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre on October 19, 2017.

Venerable Chang Ren speaks:

"The concept of 'practice' is not easily put into action. Whether one is truly considered a person of 'practice' or someone who has 'not practised' at all—even in secular terms, we speak of self-cultivation and refinement—is it really so difficult? How does one truly embody the meaning of this word? Have you ever been described as such?

To practise is to adjust the imperfect into the perfect. It involves modification, correction, adjustment, and refinement. It is the act of mending all deficiencies to achieve total sufficiency. 'Practice' is a journey undertaken to correct and adjust one's behaviour. Why do we practise? To attain the righteous path. Why do we practise? To seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Nothing in this world is perfect; everything requires adjustment and tempering to reach its proper state. And once it reaches that proper state, that is the best it can be. If you try to make it 'better' than that, you have gone too far and must practise to bring it back. Only the state of 'just right' is truly satisfying. If you possess a human body and do not practise, what are you here for?

The Misconception of Practice

Many people misunderstand the meaning of practice. Those who do not wish to pursue it often say, 'That is a path for Sages,' or 'I am just an ordinary person.' By saying such things, they distort the true meaning of the practice. In fact, if you say such things, you are the one who needs to practise even more, because your perspective is deeply skewed. The most obvious meaning of 'practice' is to change your ways. Do you truly have no faults or inferior tendencies that need correcting? If you do not, then you are truly remarkable—you are a Sage. And shouldn't a Sage practise even more diligently?

Modern education rarely addresses the subject of practice. Unknowingly, society has categorised 'practice' as merely a religious activity. This is not the case. Every single person should practise. Whether one chooses to shave their head or completely renounce worldly life to return to the truth depends on one's individual Causal Conditions on the path of practice. It is not necessarily the same for everyone. However, the purpose of practice is for everyone to find their true self. The extent to which you can achieve this depends entirely on your own Causal Conditions and willingness. No one can force another; after all, the power of decision lies in your own hands. You must be cautious in how you decide the great matter of life and death.

Seeking Truth Within

Because of the current lack of such educational philosophy, these precious life concepts are wrongly classified under religion. If these Truths belonged only to religion, it would greatly diminish the power and Truth they are meant to exert. Practice is nothing more than the hope that everyone can become pure and good. To go deeper, it is a method to let go of delusions and return to the Truth. As you delve deeper, you will gradually begin to understand the illusory nature of worldly affairs. What benefit can one gain from practice? The answer is 'emptiness.' You will see the Truth of emptiness.

Many people in this world feel empty and anxious. They travel everywhere, seeking a sense of satisfaction and a Truth to hold onto. But the Truth is not found by looking outward. You could walk the entire world and still not understand this profound reality, because the Truth lies within your own true self. Yet, few people understand this. Most believe that by exhausting themselves studying scriptures, or by visiting famous masters and joining prestigious schools to seek the Dharma and take refuge, they will achieve success. But these methods are not in accordance with the Dharma, because they are still seeking externally. These things are merely added onto the body; they have not been truly learned or practised. In the end, most people only fall into the trap of 'textual obstacles' or exchange their emptiness for a kind of infatuated satisfaction. This fills the void, but it makes the goal of awakening to one's true self seem even more unreachable.

The Path to True Achievement

Practice is meant to correct behaviour, yet in their confusion, many people add even more incorrect behaviours to their lives. This does not seem like a wise move. You should examine your own practice: is it right, or is it wrong?

Awareness and the awakened nature allow one to perceive the true flavour of all Dharma principles. Emptiness is the foundation of everything. Practice is absolutely not about pursuing what you personally consider to be achievements or states of being. Practice exists only to refine true purity. It is not merely a superficial simplicity or plainness, for many people possess these outward appearances while lacking any foundation of practice within. Practice requires one to be clean and pure from the very bottom of the heart. It is to have no seeking! It is to have nothing! Only then can there be true purity and freedom. Nothing in this world is not illusory. I hope everyone can see this clearly and practise properly—truly practise. Only then will there be real achievement, and this achievement is the ability to transcend the cycle of life and death.

A Call to Real Practice

Learning the Buddha’s teachings is not just about folk belief. The Buddha’s teachings are vast; they possess the breadth to traverse space and are the ultimate Truth capable of ending the great matter of life and death and terminating the cycle of karmic retribution. If everyone studies and practises diligently, letting go of the self, this ability is inconceivable. Practice must be 'for real' to be authentic. Only then can everything become true. The ultimate Truth awaits everyone to explore it deeply and gain the flavour of the Dharma from within. This is the most exquisite Dharma joy. Does your practice need to start over from the beginning? As long as you still possess this physical body, you are still a vessel capable of achieving success. I hope everyone can practise according to the Dharma. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is worth your participation and understanding. Once you come, you will know what the practice of the heart is all about. It is not an easy path; pain and frustration are bound to exist because the ego is difficult to abandon. So, think about it—have you let go of your 'self' yet? It is better to face true practice sooner rather than later, as that will be the only real benefit for your rebirth in the Western Pure Land. I hope everyone will strive forward. Practise with true purity. Namo Amituofo."