The True Purpose of Practice

Venerable Changren sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where he currently resides. This interview was recorded on October 31, 2019.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. To practise is to cultivate the heart, to refine it until it is pure and bright.

We must cultivate a pure heart and awaken the light of our true self. Finding our original nature—that is the ultimate purpose of practice. Yet, almost everyone forgets this. They mistakenly treat worldly wishes as the goal of their practice. Many people spend their entire lives practising, only to find they have gained no real benefit and achieved nothing. If you cannot change yourself, you cannot transform your achievements.

Step-by-Step Transformation

Change requires solid, step-by-step effort. There is no such thing as 'instant' skills in practice; it all requires careful, personal adjustment. Every time you correct a fault, you are seizing an opportunity for growth. That is exactly how true accomplishment is built.

In practice, one must not be impatient or panicked. Encountering obstacles is perfectly normal. It is only when you hit a bottleneck that you truly understand the need for correction. How many days have we spent in this mortal world, inevitably making mistakes and creating karma? But when those moments arise, how does your heart change? Practice is meant to address these very things. No one is a sage; everyone makes mistakes. But once you recognise a fault, how should you change your ways?

The Path to Self-Discovery

Practice is not for the sake of others; it is about how you, yourself, should change. These worldly stains often stem from desire—the deep-seated longing for the Five Desires and the Six Dusts. Everyone has desires. When you chase after them, you easily commit errors without even realising it. This is hard to avoid in this world, but if you can cultivate just a little more awareness, many of these mistakes can be corrected.

Your destiny must be transformed by your own hands; your heart must be adjusted by your own efforts. Practice is for nothing else but this: to look honestly at your own faults and ask, 'How can I truly change myself?' This is the question that practitioners must face. Do not seek the purpose of practice in this world. Instead, grasp the precious nature of practice, see its true meaning, and find your way back to your true self and your original nature.

I am grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Grandmother. Namo Amituofo."