Putting the Buddha’s True Spirit to Practical Use

To attain arhatship, that is, to reach the mental stage of having avoided all defilements, is the pinnacle of the Hinayāna teaching. But if such a person isolates himself in the mountains, the merits attained by him stop at that stage. The Buddha’s teachings are very valuable, but their value cannot be displayed fully unless the person preaches them, elevating his hearers and giving them power and courage, and thus improving the whole world. So long as Buddhist monks are confined to their temples after their own enlightenment and devote themselves to performing funeral and memorial services, they do not put the Buddha’s true spirit to practical use.

Buddhism for Today, p290