Date: 12/28/2024 12/29/2024
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Knowledge
The Relationship Between Practice and Training the Mind
In Buddhist tradition, the terms “practice” and “training the mind” are often used interchangeably, but they carry distinct nuances. Practice (bhāvanā or sādhanā) refers to the broader range of actions and disciplines undertaken on the path to awakening, while training the mind is the essential core that gives meaning and direction to that practice. Without inner transformation, practice risks becoming empty ritual; without the structure of practice, mental training can become vague or unsustainable. Together, they form a complete and dynamic path of liberation.
Spiritual practice encompasses all activities undertaken with the intention to overcome suffering and cultivate clarity, compassion, and wisdom. This includes ethical conduct, meditation, chanting, study, generosity, and mindfulness in daily life. The external forms of practice may vary, but their true value lies in whether they lead to inner change. That is the realm of mind training.
Training the mind means observing, understanding, and transforming the mental patterns that generate suffering. According to the Buddha, “All things are preceded by mind, governed by mind, made by mind.” This points to the root of suffering not being the world itself, but how the mind relates to experience. If our practice does not touch the mind—if we chant with pride, meditate with craving, or follow precepts with rigidity—then we are missing the essence.
This is why true practice cannot be separated from inner work. All external actions arise from mental states. If the mind is filled with greed, hatred, or delusion, no matter how refined our conduct appears, suffering will follow. Conversely, if the mind is grounded in clarity, kindness, and equanimity, then even simple actions become powerful steps on the path. Thus, practice must always return to the question: what is the state of my mind?
At the same time, mind training needs the support of structured practice. Buddhism is not abstract theory or empty introspection—it is a methodical path. Practices like meditation help stabilize attention; ethical conduct protects the mind from harmful tendencies; listening to teachings sharpens understanding. These are not separate from mental training—they are its expressions and tools.
The relationship between practice and mind training can be described as “practice is the method, mind training is the goal; mind training is the foundation, practice is the support.” Practice gives us the means to transform the mind. Training the mind gives practice its depth. In this way, practice is not about accumulating merit or experiences, but about reducing suffering and increasing wisdom.
In modern times, there is a tendency to focus on techniques or peak experiences while neglecting the slow, honest work of inner transformation. People may seek the benefits of meditation without being willing to face their fears, desires, and reactivity. But the Buddha’s path is not about escaping the mind—it is about understanding it fully. Whether through the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the Eightfold Path, or the Six Perfections, all true practice points us inward, toward direct realization of how the mind creates bondage—and how it can be freed.
Ultimately, the fruit of practice is seen in the mind. A truly mature practitioner is not necessarily someone with special powers or spiritual status, but someone with a mind that is stable, kind, and insightful. They respond to life with presence, without clinging or aversion, and their wisdom flows naturally into compassion.
Thus, practice is not a retreat from the world, but a way of meeting the world with understanding. It is not about perfecting the self-image, but about loosening the grip of self-centeredness. Practice is training the mind, and training the mind is the heart of practice. Only when the two are united does the path become alive, transformative, and deeply liberating.
