In Nichiren Buddhism, we are told that practice and learning are required to keep Buddhism alive. (See this post.) But Chinese Master Hsuan Hua offers a different perspective: Help others instead of yourself.

We are all gathered here to investigate the Buddhadharma, and we should put into practice all that we know, no matter how little it may be. If you fail to apply what you know, then it would be better if you didn’t know it at all. Before learning any Buddhadharma, you cannot put it into practice, as you are unaware of it. However, once you have learned the Buddhadharma, you should cultivate the teachings in a serious, down-to-earth manner. You should walk solidly on the ground, leaving a footprint with every step you take. This is how pragmatic you should be as you advance in your cultivation.

Benefiting others is of utmost importance in cultivation. Help others instead of yourself. Forget about yourself. Cultivation is about helping others selflessly in all that you do. What are the most crucial aspects of cultivation? Do not be jealous, obstructive, or afflicted. You must end afflictions. If you do not end afflictions, you will not be able to end birth and death. You can end afflictions by transforming them into bodhi. Having transformed them into bodhi, you will always be wise, leaving ignorance behind. If you are afflicted, you will always be ignorant, never gaining wisdom. Do not get afflicted over trivial matters. Do not be jealous or obstructive. This is very important. So, just as we study the Buddhadharma every day, we must put it into practice every day. As the saying goes,

Words spoken wonderfully, words spoken well,
If not put into practice, are not the Path.

No matter how eloquent and wonderful your words are, if you do not cultivate honestly and diligently, you will never attain the Path. There are a few people here who are about to become awakened. All they have to do is to cultivate their resolve to benefit others and forget about themselves.