Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 22: The Beginning of the Stages of Achievement in Cultivation—"Observing the Precepts to Eliminate Defiled Thoughts, and Realizing the True Suchness Through Meditation"

In the pure land of Baohui Sutra Temple, which is blessed by the morning bells and evening drums, Zhiming, after experiencing the sedimentation of the state of thinking, officially stepped into the state of practice, a new realm of practice full of challenges and sublimation.

As the dawn light broke over the sky, Zhiming rose early in his familiar meditation room. He straightened his robes, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented resolve. Today marked the momentous day he officially began his practice of observing the precepts. These precepts, the primary method for achieving enlightenment through spiritual practice, serve as a sturdy defense against the surging tides of worldly temptations. Zhiming knew this was a grueling battle against the deepest desires of greed, hatred, and delusion.

The strict precepts of Baohui Monastery encompassed every aspect of life. From dietary moderation to prudent speech, from disciplined behavior to inner purity, each was crucial to spiritual practice. Zhiming's first challenge was to control his material desires. Besides his daily studies and labor at the monastery, he frequently interacted with devotees who came to pay their respects. Once, a wealthy merchant, after making a substantial donation, recognized Zhiming's exceptional intelligence and diligent practice and offered to build him a spacious and comfortable meditation room, furnished with exquisite Buddha statues and precious Buddhist scriptures. This was undoubtedly a great temptation; the new room offered a superior environment for his practice, allowing him to study the scriptures and meditate without distractions. However, the precepts of the monastic disciplines suddenly surfaced in Zhiming's mind. He understood that material enjoyment would only hinder his spiritual practice and foster arrogance and attachment. He respectfully clasped his hands together and bowed to the merchant, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, donor. However, every inch of land in Baohui Sutra Temple is a place for practice. Although my meditation room is simple, it is enough to shelter me from the wind and rain and allow me to devote myself to practicing Buddhism." Seeing his firm attitude, the merchant was a little puzzled, but also moved by his piety, so he had to give up.

In the process of living together with fellow practitioners, Zhiming and Brother Huikong reached an agreement to help each other observe the precepts. Brother Huikong was a senior practitioner with a deep understanding of the precepts and strict adherence to them. They would check on each other and remind each other every day. Once, while helping to sort out the Sutra Academy's warehouse, Zhiming came across an ancient book that told strange stories from the world. The vivid and interesting stories and beautiful illustrations in the book instantly caught his eye, and his fingers unconsciously turned the pages. At this moment, Brother Huikong happened to pass by. Seeing Zhiming's actions, he frowned slightly and said softly: "Brother Zhiming, although such books may attract people's attention, they can easily disturb our mind and lead us astray from the right path of practice." Upon hearing this, Zhiming was startled, as if awakened from a dream. He quickly put the book back to its place and clasped his hands together to thank Brother Huikong: "Brother, your teachings are like enlightenment. I almost broke the precepts."

However, the path of spiritual practice was not always smooth, and Zhiming encountered intense inner conflict while observing the precepts. On one occasion, while out shopping for supplies for the monastery, he passed by his former home. His family was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing him arrive, his mother's eyes welled with tears, while his father gazed upon him lovingly. His mother took his hand, sobbing, and said, "Son, you've been away for so long, and I miss you so much. If everything is okay at home, can't you come back and stay for a few days?" Zhiming looked at his elderly parents, a mixture of emotions. The bonds of family tugged at his heart at that moment. He knew his parents' longing was profound, and as a son, he owed it to them to fulfill their filial duty. But he also knew that once he entered his home, he could be drawn into the whirlpool of worldly emotions, unable to extricate himself, and thus violate his spiritual precepts. He suppressed his inner grief and slowly said, "Dad and Mom, I have devoted myself to Buddhism, determined to practice and seek liberation. Although I cannot always be by your side, I will chant sutras and pray for you in the monastery. May you be safe and healthy." Though his parents were filled with disappointment, they understood their son's determination and could only helplessly watch him leave. The moment Zhiming turned around, tears welled up in his eyes. He kept reminding himself that this was a painful decision that must be made on the path of practice. Only with unwavering faith could he continue on the path of upholding the precepts.

While observing the precepts, Zhiming also began practicing meditation. He found a perfect place for meditation in a secluded cave in the hills behind the Sutra Academy. The cave was surrounded by lush greenery, its entrance shaded by a curtain of vines. The interior was pleasantly cool and quiet, with only the occasional rustle of wind and the faint chirping of birds in the distance. Zhiming would come here every day, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, his hands in a mudra, his eyes closed, and his mind focused.

At first, when he tried to enter a meditative state, his mind raced like a wild horse, unbridled. His thoughts drifted back to his joyful childhood playing in the fields with his friends, to the heated discussions of the Dharma with his fellow monks at the monastery, to the controversial article, and to the moments spent with Sister Jinglian. These thoughts flooded in like a tide, making it difficult to concentrate. Undeterred, Zhiming applied the Buddhist wisdom he had gained in the stage of meditation to observe the arising and dissipation of these thoughts. He told himself that these thoughts were like clouds in the sky, seemingly real but illusory. If he didn't let himself be swayed by them, they would eventually dissipate on their own.

As his practice deepened, Zhiming gradually entered a state of ethereal tranquility through meditation. During one deep meditation session, he felt as if he were immersed in a vast, boundless universe, surrounded by brilliant stars and radiant nebulae. He saw his body as tiny as a speck of dust, while his thoughts, like cosmic energy waves, propagated and diffused through the boundless void. In that moment, he gained a deeper understanding of the principles of dependent origination and emptiness and the inherent purity of the mind. He realized that all things in the world arise from the combination of causes and conditions and are essentially empty. The mind is inherently pure, merely obscured by worldly dust. The process of meditation is a process of brushing away this dust, allowing the radiance of the mind to manifest. In meditation, he realized that the fruits of his thinking in the realm of thought were not merely theoretical, but were further refined and verified through the practice of meditation.

In addition to observing the precepts and practicing meditation, cultivating compassion is also a crucial element of spiritual practice. The villages surrounding Baohui Monastery often faced natural disasters and hardships. One year, a rare flood devastated several nearby villages, leaving many displaced and homeless. Zhiming and his fellow monks lent a hand and participated in rescue and disaster relief efforts. At a makeshift relief center, they distributed food, clothing, and medicine to the villagers, offering comfort to those affected. Zhiming saw an elderly woman shivering in the cold wind, holding her young grandson, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness. A strong feeling of compassion welled up in his heart. He approached, draped his monk's robe around the woman, and whispered, "Auntie, don't be afraid. The Buddha will protect you all through this difficult time." The woman looked up at Zhiming's kind face, tears of gratitude welling up. In helping the villagers rebuild their homes, Zhiming shared the hardships, carrying wood and repairing the houses. His hands were thickly callused, but his heart was filled with joy. This joy came not from material rewards or personal gains or losses, but from a deep, selfless love and help for all living beings. He deeply felt that in the process of helping others, his mind was further purified and elevated. Compassion, like a seed in spring, took root in his heart, sprouting and growing vigorously.

In the initial stage of the practice, the environment refers to the holy place of Baohui Sutra Temple full of Buddhist atmosphere and the surrounding suffering villages, which provide specific places and objects for Zhiming's practice; the practice refers to a series of specific behaviors of Zhiming in the process of keeping precepts, meditation and cultivating compassion, such as rejecting material temptations, helping fellow practitioners to keep precepts, meditating in caves, and rescuing disaster-stricken villagers; the result is that Zhiming's understanding of Buddhism has become deeper in his heart, his observance of precepts has become more firm, his meditation skills have improved, his compassion has grown, and he has won more respect and admiration from people in the sutra temple and the village. At the same time, it has also further strengthened the soul resonance between him and Sister Jinglian. They encourage and support each other on the path of practice, and move towards a higher level of practice together, laying a solid and solid foundation for the subsequent in-depth practice in the practice and the exploration of higher levels in the "Yoga Sūtra".