What is the actual purpose of dharma? The Buddha had explained again and again that purpose of dharma is to tame the mind, to purify the mind. We can purify our mind as we engage in worldly activities. You can cultivate love and compassion, and patience with your family and those who surround you, while living a worldly life. If you practice in this way, you are a true practitioner, without having to seclude yourself into the mountain retreat. If you do not practice this essential point, you might seclude yourself into a mountain retreat reciting mantras for many years, but if you do not let go of self grasping, there might only be a temporary result at best, but ultimately you will still not attain enlightenment, and as a result of a prevailing state of affliction you might still fall into the lower realms.

-- Garchen Rinpoche