THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REPENTANCE WITH FORM AND REPENTANCE WITHOUT FORM
Master Jun Hong Lu: I would like to reiterate that we must perform repentance precisely because we are sentient beings, which make us susceptible to defilement and grasping at all sorts of things. This is the very reason we need to repent. Otherwise, there will never be a need for us to repent of our wrongdoings.
Repentance can be categorised into repentance with form and repentance without form. The former calls for the performance of repentance from inside out, while the latter occurs when one repents from the bottom of one’s heart, that is, one’s repentance is genuine and performed with utmost sincerity.
What does it mean by repentance with form? Our ignorance, bewilderment, arrogance and jealousy are apparent forms that we need to repent for; we are too arrogant, we are too deluded, we have erred – this is called repentance with form.
On the other hand, repentance without form is when you repent in all sincerity. The fact that you have given rise to Bodhi, you are able to apply your Buddha mind to reflect on the speech, actions, mannerism and thoughts in your daily life.
Repentance without form requires us to uproot our ignorance, delusion, arrogance and jealousy. On top of this, we must constantly strive for improvement because otherwise, ignorance will very soon set in.
Repentance without form is a type of enlightenment, it is the awakened nature within us. A Buddhist practitioner who strives for improvement has a magnanimous heart and his magnanimity knows no bounds.
Let me ask you, isn’t this the case in life? Assuming something goes wrong, and without hesitation, this person apologises, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault”, don’t you think he is a person with a magnanimous heart?
On the flip side, there are those who have erred and yet they will never own up to their mistakes, do you think such people have a big heart?
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 9 Chapter 1
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