Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 36: The Aspiration of the Bodhisattva Stage - "The Bodhisattva's Great Aspiration Arises to Save All Living Beings"

In the sacred and solemn atmosphere of Lingxu Mountain, Amin experienced many spiritual trials and enlightenments. Deep within his heart, he gained a deeper understanding of the Bodhisattva Path. He knew that the Bodhisattva Path was a path filled with both greatness and hardship, its ultimate goal being to liberate all sentient beings from suffering. This was no easy task, requiring boundless compassion, wisdom, and unwavering perseverance.

On a bright, sunny morning, Amin rose early, bathed, and donned his neatly monastic robes. With awe and reverence, he slowly walked toward the pagoda perched high on the mountainside, exuding an ancient atmosphere. Incense curled around the pagoda, and prayer flags fluttered in the wind, as if offering blessings for the sacred moment that was about to unfold. By then, numerous monks and laypeople had heard of Amin's intention to generate bodhicitta and had flocked to witness this solemn occasion.

Amin stood at the foot of the pagoda, gazing up at the towering structure, a surge of emotion welled up within him. He took a deep breath, then spoke slowly, his voice a little low at first, yet filled with determination and resolve: "Today, before this pagoda, witnessed by all the eminent monks, the monastic community, and the faithful, I, Amin, solemnly vow the Bodhi aspiration. I vow to use my body, my heart, and my wisdom to liberate all suffering beings in the world, enabling them to escape the sea of ​​suffering and attain liberation. No matter how difficult the road ahead, no matter how many hardships and obstacles I may encounter, I will remain steadfast and never retreat." Amin's voice gradually rose in pitch, echoing throughout the valley. His powerful conviction seemed to transform into tangible force, shaking the hearts of everyone present.

Everyone was moved by Amin's determination. With excitement and admiration gleaming in the eyes of like-minded individuals, they stepped forward, expressing their willingness to follow Amin and embark on this challenging and miraculous path of Bodhisattva practice. Among them were young monks with a fervent faith in the Dharma, eager to achieve merit on the Bodhisattva path; and also believers who had experienced the vicissitudes of life. They saw in Amin the dawn of hope and redemption, determined to let go of past worries and attachments and devote themselves to the great cause of saving all sentient beings.

After making his vow, Amin immediately led his followers into action. They first arrived at a poor village deep in the mountains, with inaccessible roads and barren land. The villagers lived a life of extreme hardship. As Amin and his group entered the village, the scene before them was heartbreaking. Dilapidated houses lay crumbling, and the villagers, dressed in rags, looked haggard, their eyes revealing helplessness and despair. Children, emaciated from hunger, played in the mud. Seeing the stranger approach, their eyes showed curiosity, but more of a sense of wariness.

Amin walked into a villager's home. The room was dark and damp, with almost no decent furniture. An old woman sat in a corner, watching Amin and the others with faint eyes. Amin approached and asked softly, "Old donor, your life is so difficult. What's the problem?" The old woman sighed and said slowly, "Master, our village is poor, the harvest is poor, and the children often don't have enough to eat. We don't have money to treat the sick, so we can only leave it to fate." As Amin listened to the old woman's words, his heart was filled with compassion and a desire for salvation. He secretly vowed to fundamentally improve the lives of these villagers and guide them to the path of liberation.

Ah Ming and fellow initiates visited the village, gaining a deeper understanding of the villagers' living conditions and needs. They discovered that the village's poverty stemmed not only from harsh natural conditions but also from the villagers' lack of knowledge and skills. Many villagers had relied on traditional farming practices for generations, lacking knowledge of how to improve the soil and increase yields, and lacking alternative income streams. Furthermore, medical care in the village was extremely poor, and even a minor illness could be fatal.

Faced with these questions, Amin fell into deep thought. He knew that to truly help these villagers, he needed more than just temporary material assistance. More importantly, he needed to help them develop self-reliance and guide them to spiritual awakening, understanding the true meaning of life and the path to liberation. Thus, Amin decided to launch a series of relief and education activities in the village.

A Ming first gathered the young and middle-aged people in the village and taught them advanced farming techniques and knowledge. He personally led the villagers in reclaiming wasteland, improving the soil, and planting high-yielding crops that were suitable for the local area. He also encouraged the villagers to develop side businesses, such as raising poultry and livestock, and weaving handicrafts. To address the villagers' sales challenges, A Ming arranged for fellow practitioners to go down the mountain and contact businesses, helping the villagers establish sales channels.

While improving the villagers' material lives, Amin also provided spiritual guidance. Every evening, he would preach Buddhist teachings to the villagers in the village grounds. Using simple, accessible language, he shared the wisdom of Buddhism, teaching them how to let go of greed, hatred, and ignorance, and how to treat others with compassion and kindness. Initially, the villagers struggled to understand these teachings, more concerned with filling their stomachs. Undeterred, Amin used real-life examples to illustrate Buddhist principles, gradually cultivating their interest.

However, along the way, Amin encountered difficulties and challenges. Some villagers were skeptical of new farming techniques and reluctant to try them. Others, faced with setbacks in developing side businesses, wanted to give up. Amin understood that this was due to the villagers' long-standing poverty and hardship, resulting in a lack of confidence and courage. Therefore, he patiently communicated with these villagers, encouraged them to persevere, and personally helped them resolve their problems.

In the village, there was a stubborn young man named Aqiang. He initially didn't welcome Amin's arrival. He believed that Amin and the other monks were just putting on a show and wouldn't truly change the village's destiny. Amin noticed Aqiang's attitude and took the initiative to talk to him. Amin discovered that while Aqiang had a somewhat impatient temper, he was also very thoughtful and possessed a relentless spirit. Amin encouraged Aqiang to take the lead in experimenting with new farming techniques and provided him with extensive guidance and support. Under Amin's patient guidance, Aqiang gradually changed his mind and began to actively cooperate with Amin's work. Inspired by him, other villagers also joined in the effort to improve their lives.

As time went by, changes began to appear in the village. Crop yields gradually increased, and the villagers' incomes grew. Long-lost smiles began to appear on their faces, and they were filled with gratitude towards Ah Ming and his fellow practitioners. Ah Ming, observing these changes, felt a deep sense of peace. He knew that this was only a small step on the Bodhisattva Path, and that countless sentient beings still awaited his salvation.

After achieving initial success in the village's relief efforts, Amin wasn't satisfied. He began to consider how to expand this model to more impoverished areas, benefiting even more people. He gathered his fellow initiates for a discussion, and everyone offered their ideas and suggestions. Some suggested collaborating with other monasteries to jointly carry out relief efforts, while others suggested training local volunteers to continue promoting village development after Amin and his colleagues left.

Ming listened attentively to his fellow practitioners' opinions, maintaining a firm belief in the Bodhisattva Path and a deep concern for all sentient beings. He knew that countless difficulties and trials awaited him on this challenging Bodhisattva path, but his bodhicitta, like a bright lamp, would always illuminate his path and give him the strength and courage to face it all.