Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 34: The Fusion of the Pratyekabuddha Stage—"The Fusion of Pratyekabuddha Wisdom, the Bodhisattva's Compassionate Wisdom"

In the morning light of Lingxu Mountain, Amin concluded his morning prayers and gazed at the distant mountains, pondering how to further integrate the wisdom of the Pratyekabuddha into his practice of the Bodhisattva Path. He understood that the Bodhisattva Path's core mission was to save sentient beings, but amidst the hustle and bustle of saving sentient beings, one must not neglect one's own inner growth and awareness, and the wisdom of the Pratyekabuddha could provide a valuable supplement to this end.

Amin realized that the key was to find a balance between the self-cultivation of a solitary enlightened being and the bodhisattva's work of saving sentient beings. He began to explore this balance in his daily practice. In conversations with fellow practitioners, he shared his reflections: "The bodhisattva path and the solitary enlightened state are not mutually exclusive, but rather can be mutually integrated. When saving sentient beings, we should, like the solitary enlightened being, constantly maintain inner vigilance and self-awareness, reflecting on our own spiritual practice through the various circumstances of sentient beings. At the same time, in our own practice, we should also be mindful of the suffering of sentient beings, remaining true to the bodhisattva's original compassion."

After hearing this, the fellow practitioners nodded in agreement. However, some expressed concern: "Brother Ah Ming, this is easier said than done. How can we focus on self-awareness amidst the complexities of saving sentient beings? And how can we ensure that our self-cultivation doesn't lead us into self-centeredness?" Ah Ming smiled and said, "It is indeed a challenge, but as long as we maintain righteous thoughts and proceed step by step, we will surely find the path that suits us."

Not long after, a village at the foot of the mountain was struck by a severe drought. Upon hearing the news, Ah Ming decided to lead some fellow initiates to the village to offer assistance. Carrying food, water, and herbs, they trekked to the village. They found the village parched and devastated. The villagers' faces were haggard, their eyes filled with anxiety and despair. Seeing the villagers' suffering, Ah Ming's heart was filled with boundless compassion.

While assisting the villagers, Ah Ming fully utilized his solitary wisdom to navigate various situations. While organizing fellow initiates to distribute supplies and soothe the villagers, he constantly monitored his own inner state. When he saw an elderly man expressing dissatisfaction with the small amount of supplies he received, Ah Ming, rather than focusing solely on solving the external issue as usual, first examined whether he was harboring any impatience or anger. He discovered that he was indeed experiencing a slight inner turmoil, and he immediately adjusted himself, communicating with the elderly man with a more calm and patient attitude, understanding his needs and providing a reasonable solution.

In search of water, Ah Ming journeyed alone to the valley outside the village. Calming his mind, he employed the meticulous observational skills of a solitary enlightened practitioner, carefully searching for signs of a water source. He observed the valley's topography, the growth of vegetation, and the changing moisture content of the soil. Throughout this process, he maintained a deep concentration and tranquility, like a solitary enlightened practitioner in deep mountain retreat. Yet, his heart remained ever concerned for the villagers, and this bodhisattva's compassion fueled his actions.

Finally, Amin discovered clues to underground water in a hidden spot in the valley. He led the villagers in digging and successfully found the source. The villagers cheered and burst into tears of gratitude towards Amin and his fellow practitioners. Amin watched the villagers' joy without a trace of pride or complacency. He knew that this was the result of the combined power of the bodhisattva path and the wisdom of the pratyekabuddha.

After returning to the monastery, Amin gathered his fellow practitioners to share his experience. He said, "Throughout my work in the village, I deeply experienced the beauty of integrating the wisdom of solitary enlightenment with the bodhisattva path. When we face the suffering of sentient beings, we must not be solely drawn to external difficulties but also pay attention to our own inner state. Only with inner peace and clear wisdom can we better help sentient beings. The practice methods of solitary enlightenment, such as self-awareness and insight into nature, can provide powerful support in our efforts to save sentient beings."

A fellow practitioner asked, "Brother, how can we more systematically integrate these two kinds of wisdom in our future practice?" After a moment's reflection, Ah Ming replied, "This requires constant practice and reflection. In every interaction with sentient beings, we must deliberately utilize the self-awareness of Prajnaparamita. At the same time, in our own practice, we must be guided by the compassion of bodhisattvas and consider how to better give back to sentient beings. For example, when meditating, we can visualize the suffering of sentient beings to strengthen our bodhisattva compassion. When saving sentient beings, we must always be mindful of whether our words and actions conform to the norms of the bodhisattva path, and at the same time, we can gain insight into our own inner state of practice through the reactions of sentient beings."

However, the integration process wasn't always smooth. Some practitioners, attempting to utilize prajnaparamita wisdom, became overly self-focused and neglected the needs of sentient beings. They became trapped in their own little worlds, unable to extricate themselves. Upon discovering this problem, Amin promptly communicated with these practitioners. He explained, "We integrate prajnaparamita wisdom to better serve the bodhisattva path, not to deviate from it. When we discover through self-awareness that we've become too self-absorbed, we must immediately correct ourselves with bodhisattva compassion and refocus our attention on the suffering of sentient beings."

To further explore the balanced approach to integration, Amin decided to retreat for a period of time. During this period, he delved deeply into the scriptures and combined them with his own practice, attempting to find a more comprehensive integration method from both theoretical and practical perspectives. In his retreat room, he reflected day and night, reviewing his experiences with village aid and past spiritual practice, analyzing the lessons learned from both successes and failures.

After a long retreat, Ah Ming emerged with a look of increased resolve and wisdom. He told his fellow practitioners, "During my retreat, I've gained some insights. When integrating the wisdom of the Pratyekabuddha with the Bodhisattva Path, we must base ourselves on the Bodhisattva's Four Immeasurables—loving-kindness, joy, and generosity—and incorporate the Pratyekabuddha's self-awareness and insight into nature into every step of our practice. When facing sentient beings, whether providing material assistance or spiritual guidance, we must first cultivate compassion from the depths of our hearts and then use the Pratyekabuddha's wisdom to determine the most appropriate approach. In our own practice, we must also approach our growth and progress with joy and generosity, not clinging to personal gains or losses, and dedicating the fruits of our practice to all sentient beings."

Fellow initiates expressed deep inspiration after hearing Ah Ming's insights. Under Ah Ming's guidance, they continue to explore the integration of the path of pratyekabuddhahood and the bodhisattva path in their daily practice and in their efforts to help others. They know that this is a long and challenging journey, but as long as they persevere and rely on the bodhisattva's compassion and wisdom, they will surely achieve greater accomplishments on the path of practice and realization as described in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra, bringing more light and hope to the world.