Why Does the Mind Remain Turbulent Even When Chanting Sutras and Reciting the Buddha’s Name?

All spiritual practices ultimately lead to inner stillness. When the mind is unsettled, even prayer or recitation of the Buddha’s name yields little fruit. Let us learn to cultivate the soul through the teachings of Venerable Thich Chan Quang.

Have you ever sat in a temple, chanting sutras and reciting the Buddha’s name, yet felt your heart restless? Or perhaps one morning, amidst the crowd, you suddenly realized you had been holding onto resentment for a very long time? During a dharma talk at Giac Lam Patriarchal Pagoda, Venerable Thich Chan Quang shared a profoundly insightful perspective on practice. He did not speak of lofty or complex methods, but returned to the simplest and most essential truth: cultivating the inner self and calming the soul.

## The Root of All Spiritual Practices

Venerable Chan Quang began with a familiar question: Why do some people practice for many years, yet their minds remain chaotic? He reminded us that Buddhism offers eighty-four thousand Dharma gates, but they all converge on a single point. Speaking on practice, he said:

"We practice countless Dharma gates, but we must ensure that our inner mind becomes still. If we can return to this inner stillness, then that practice is correct. But if we practice without achieving inner peace, it seems we have gone astray."

This means that if a method makes us increasingly prone to anger, anxiety, or emotional disturbance, it is not the Buddha’s teaching. A true Dharma gate must lighten the mind, purify it, and reduce greed, hatred and delusion.

## The Miraculous Power of Prayer

Many wonder: If Buddhism teaches cause and effect (karmic law), why does prayer yield results? Venerable Chan Quang explained that prayer is a form of mental karma. When we pray with sincere faith, our soul generates powerful energy that can influence heaven and earth.

"What moves heaven and earth is our own soul... If you come here with all your earnestness, determined to pray for world peace and the well-being of all sentient beings—do not be superficial—with that total determination, you truly open up a mental karma for yourself that greatly impacts this world."

Therefore, each time we pray, let us be wholehearted and focused, avoiding distraction. It is the concentration of the soul that holds true power.

## Right Thought: Facing the Truth

In daily life, countless situations disturb our peace. Venerable Chan Quang gave specific examples: seeing a beggar, being scolded, or noticing someone dressed improperly entering the temple. If we judge or criticize, our mind becomes turbulent. If we respond with compassion and understanding, our mind remains calm.

"Right thought means thinking correctly, which leads to enlightenment and liberation... If wrong thought leads to misguided thinking, the mind grows increasingly chaotic until one might lose sanity. But if right thought guides us toward correctness, the mind gradually becomes quiet."

For instance, when someone calls us foolish, many hold onto grievance for months. Neither reciting the Buddha’s name nor sitting in meditation dispels such irritation. The teacher pointed to another method: facing the truth. Go to the person who criticized you, ask them to clarify the error, and understand the cause. When we face the truth with love, afflictions (kleshas) naturally dissolve.

## Applying Practice in Daily Life

Practice is not confined to the temple. Every moment and every interaction is an opportunity to apply the teachings. Venerable Chan Quang told the story of a Buddhist devotee who had a sacred dream and received much praise on social media, only to see his blessings from merit diminish. The lesson is clear: when praised, we must become more humble, generating greater compassion and respect for others.

"Therefore, practice must transform the soul. If the soul cannot change, this place cannot be a holy land... It takes only one person. If the entire Sangha practices diligently, mastering the mind, achieving inner stillness, reducing greed, hatred and delusion, and lessening ignorance, selfishness, and agitation, then this place immediately becomes a holy land."

Each of us can turn where we live into a holy land by cultivating our souls: reducing greed, reducing hatred, and reducing delusion.

## Begin Today

Do not wait until you return to the temple or finish a retreat. Right now, look within: What thoughts arose just now? Were they right thought or wrong thought? Each day, practice thinking correctly and speaking with compassion. Whenever discomfort arises, return to the breath. Instead of criticizing, generate mercy. Gradually, your mind will become still, and life will feel lighter. Start today, so that every moment of your life becomes a step on the path of the Buddhas.