The excerpts from the lecture “Habituation and True Nature” by Revered Master Bennie, provided by the Australian Buddhist Practice Incorporated, clarify the distinction between “learning” and “habituation.” Revered Master Bennie illustrates that “habituation” (huân tập) is the repetitive exposure to external experiences that forms habits and knowledge, but these are impermanent and not our true nature. In contrast, humanity’s true nature is likened to gold in a gold mine, inherently present but requiring self-discovery and verification through the practice and study of Buddhist teachings. The lecture encourages listeners to verify the teachings to discover their innate abilities, such as the Six Supernatural Powers (Lục Thần Thông) discussed in the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, which are not acquired through habituation.
