Repentance is the way to return to a clear mind.

Repentance in Buddhism is different from simple regret. If you have harmed or caused someone pain, you must first look at it honestly. If you hide your faults or insist that it is not your fault until the end, it becomes difficult for the other person and your heart becomes more tightly closed.

There is recognition in repentance. It contains a heart that can say, “I was wrong,” a heart that recognizes shame, and a heart that decides not to repeat the same mistake again. This heart is not a heart that destroys itself by humbling itself, but a heart that heads back to the right path by doing.

But repentance is not about dwelling on the past. This does not mean that you should stop shedding tears when you see your mistakes. It means admit it, apologize for what you have to apologize for, and walk in a clean direction again. Repentance is a practice because it leads to new action.

The original mind is like the sun. Clouds can cover the sun, but they cannot take out the sun itself. Likewise, fault may cover the heart, but it does not completely defile the original pure nature. So, repentance is not about despairing and saying, “I am finished,” but about recognizing the clouds that are blocking us and turning back toward the light.

True repentance begins with admitting what you did wrong, but it doesn't end there. We must believe in our original clear mind and go so far as to change our actions today in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes. At that time, repentance becomes not a burden of guilt but a door to practice.