Rediscovering Virtue

A practitioner realizes that the true purpose of cultivation is not to attain supernatural powers or enlightenment, but to rediscover the profound virtue within the soul.

On a late autumn afternoon, pale golden rays of sunlight slipped through the cracks of the meditation hall door, illuminating the red brick floor. A young monk sat there with his back straight and hands forming a mudra, yet his mind was unsettled. He looked out the window at dry leaves falling gently in the wind, and an indescribable unease rose in his heart.

He had been ordained for three years. Three long years filled with midnight practices, intense periods of meditative concentration, listening to dharma talks, and chanting sutras. But the more he practiced, the more he felt lost in a labyrinth. Every day, he heard fellow practitioners speak of liberation, enlightenment, and becoming a Buddha. These goals sounded noble, yet they seemed impossibly distant. He asked himself: "Why am I practicing? What am I truly seeking?"

One day, after a session of meditative concentration, he went to see his teacher. The master was sitting under a bodhi tree, holding a dry leaf, gazing into the distance. The young monk pressed his palms together and bowed low. "Venerable sir, I have a question. I have practiced for a long time, but I feel I have made no progress. People say one must realize the Way and become a Buddha, but I find these things difficult. I do not know what to do."

The teacher looked up, smiling kindly. "My child, what do you think is the purpose of practice?"

The monk hesitated. "I believe it is for liberation, for enlightenment, for becoming a Buddha..."

The teacher shook his head gently. "You are correct, but not entirely. Many people come to me asking about meditation and high teachings. They want to hear about mysteries and supernatural powers. But I usually refuse. I only speak to them of simple, ordinary matters. They become disappointed and leave. Yet I am not sad. Because I know that the true path of practice does not lie in lofty theories, but in the conduct and character of each person."

The monk sat beside his teacher, listening intently. The master continued, "I want those who come to practice to first possess good conduct. They must have virtue. Only on the fertile ground of a virtuous soul can I build the castle of meditative concentration. This castle will be solid and safe from collapse. If built on barren ground lacking virtue, it will soon crumble."

The monk sensed an understanding, though it remained vague. He asked, "Then what is the purpose of practicing meditation?"

The teacher looked directly into his eyes, his voice warm and deep. "Why practice meditation? Simply to seek virtue again. It begins with virtue, and it ends with virtue. Do not set overly lofty goals. Sometimes, those goals become ambition. If a practitioner says they practice to become a Buddha, I say they have ambition. If someone says they practice to attain the Way or become a Zen master, I also say they have ambition. A true practitioner has no such goal."

Surprised, the monk asked, "But if there is no lofty goal, how can I have the motivation to practice?"

The teacher smiled. "My dear, the highest goal is precisely to seek virtue. When you first started, you sought virtue. You established moral precepts. Why do you practice meditation now? Also just to seek virtue. But the virtue found later is deeper than the initial virtue. For example, at first, you said you would not be greedy, angry, arrogant, or jealous. After long practice, when you have developed stability of mind, you still say you are not greedy, angry, arrogant, or jealous. But the depth is different. It is more profound, more meaningful. You look deeply into your own ego and see it clearly."

The monk fell silent, reflecting. The teacher continued, "Before, saying 'no greed' was just a statement. Later, you see the greed hidden deep within your ego, and you dissolve it. That is the value of the latter stage. Or consider anger. Initially, when others scolded you, you tried not to get angry because the Buddha taught so, and your teacher advised so. But for a long-time practitioner with deep meditative concentration, their lack of anger is different. It is complete absence of anger. Their calmness is not forced; rather, their mind is already flat, pure, and spacious. No dust can disturb it anymore."

The monk felt as if a beam of light shone into his soul. He realized that for three years, he had chased illusory goals—hidden ambitions for attainment, fame, and respect. He had forgotten the most fundamental thing: virtue. He knelt down, pressing his palms together. "Venerable sir, I understand. I will no longer set distant goals. I will simply seek virtue, day by day, hour by hour."

The teacher placed his hand on the monk's head and smiled. "Very good. Remember, a practitioner who seeks to destroy their ego in order to find virtue will go far on the path. But one who practices to realize enlightenment, to find the true mind or Buddha-nature, will not go far. When the goal is misplaced, it creates hidden ambition in the mind, and this very ambition strengthens the ego."

From then on, the monk completely changed his way of practice. He no longer sat in meditation hoping for attainment. Each time he sat, he gently gathered his mind, observed his breath, and allowed his soul to become pure. He practiced letting go of ambitions, jealousy, and arrogance. He learned to love his fellow practitioners, live in harmony, and perform all actions with the intention to help others. His life became lighter and more peaceful. He no longer felt tired or discouraged. He knew he was on the right path.

**The Meaning of the Story**

The true purpose of spiritual practice is not to chase lofty goals like realizing the Way or becoming a Buddha, but to rediscover the profound virtue within the soul. Virtue is the solid foundation for all cultivation. When we misplace our goals, hidden ambition increases the ego, causing us to sink deeper into ignorance. Only when we make virtue our goal can we advance far on the path.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang