What is Practice?

There is a certain type of African elephant that is said to travel to its birthplace when it feels that it is near death. Spiritual practice is returning to our home, our true self, through discovering our original nature, which is inherently wise and compassionate, lacking nothing. When the ripples disappear from the surface of a lake, the moon is reflected accurately. Similarly, spiritual practice begins with calming down and concentrating our minds. From the surface of a calm, tranquil and focused mind, wisdom, compassion, inner happiness and freedom will arise.
There was a man who had led a very anxious and restless life. One day he visited a prominent Buddhist master in order to restore peace and tranquility to his mind. The master just told him, “You need to practice the dharma.”
From the very next day that man attended all the services and rituals, and learned many rites. When he thought that he had learned all that he needed to know about the dharma, he again visited the master. However, he was once again told, “You need to practice the dharma.”
Now the man began to study the scriptures fervently and with great determination. The next time he visited the master, he was told the very same thing, “You need to practice the dharma.”
The man then commenced to practice sitting meditation, nearly all day long, for several years, and once more went to see the teacher thinking that this time he had really practiced the dharma. Yet again the teacher told him, “You need to practice the dharma.”
The man, now very upset and frustrated, shouted angrily, “Master! What IS practicing the dharma?!” The master replied, “Practicing the dharma is working with your mind.”
Spiritual practice is none other than calming, brightening, and correcting our minds. In the calm, bright and focused state of mind, perpetual, unconditional, indestructible happiness and freedom arise.