Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 48: Ups and downs and breakthroughs in spiritual practice (Part 2) — "Evil thoughts grow secretly, righteous thoughts break through the confusion"

In the peaceful spiritual paradise of Lingxu Mountain, after experiencing the trials of the demonic realm and strengthening his Daoist heart, Ah Ming's path of cultivation remains fraught with obstacles. Despite having reached the profound realm of the tenth bodhisattva stage, evil thoughts still creep in his heart like ghosts in the night.

One day, sunlight bathed every inch of Lingxu Mountain. Amin sat in meditation in his Zen room, cultivating concentration. Initially, his mind was as calm as a lake, unruffled. However, deep within his consciousness, jealousy, like a long-dormant poison, began to slowly germinate. He recalled a young practitioner whose exceptional talent and rapid progress in Buddhist understanding had earned him widespread acclaim within the temple. Amin was startled to sense a subtle sourness and jealousy rising within him. He knew jealousy was a grave taboo in spiritual practice; it not only obscured inner clarity but also hindered one's progress on the Bodhisattva Path.

Ah Ming immediately became alert and began to use the power of mindfulness to deeply reflect. He calmed his mind and carefully examined the source of his jealousy. He discovered that, subconsciously, he still harbored a lingering attachment to his own spiritual achievements and a fear that others would surpass him. This attachment and fear were the very breeding ground for jealousy. Drawing on Buddhist insights, he dissected the root causes of his jealousy. He contemplated the impermanence of all things and the interdependent nature of causes and conditions, understanding that each person's spiritual path was unique. The progress of others was not a threat to his own, but a blessing for the entire Buddhist tradition and its propagation. Through this profound reflection and introspection, Ah Ming, like a skilled physician, precisely identified the root of his jealousy and, using Buddhist wisdom as a scalpel, eradicated it. As the jealousy dissipated, his heart regained its purity and brightness. His mind, once shrouded in a haze, became as clear as a mirror.

On another occasion, Ah Ming participated in a Buddhist debate. His opponent was a distinguished monk with sharp words and unique insights. As the debate progressed, his opponent's words became increasingly pointed, directly exposing flaws in Ah Ming's understanding of the Dharma. Ah Ming couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. He felt his face grow slightly hot, his heartbeat quickened slightly, and an urge to retort and defend his own views arose within him. But just as his anger was about to erupt, his righteous thoughts flashed like lightning, piercing the darkness within him. He immediately realized that this was the work of evil thoughts. If he allowed this anger to spread, it would not only disrupt the harmonious atmosphere of the Buddhist exchange but also violate the compassion and tolerance of the bodhisattva path.

Ah Ming silently recited the sutra in his heart, using its power to calm his inner turmoil. He began to contemplate the true nature of anger, realizing that it was merely a manifestation of self-absorption, an excessive attachment to one's own perspective and a resistance to others' disapproval. He silently pondered, "My perspective isn't absolute truth either. Others' doubts and objections are precisely opportunities for me to deepen my understanding of the Dharma. Why should I become angry over this illusory self-attachment?" Through this process of deep contemplation, Ah Ming's anger gradually transformed into compassion and tolerance for his opponent. He listened to the other party's arguments with a smile, then responded with humility, not only addressing the shortcomings of his own view but also demonstrating the noble demeanor of a bodhisattva in the debate. This transformation earned the admiration and respect of those present. They all witnessed in him the courage and wisdom of a true practitioner in confronting inner evil.

Ming knew that the growth and management of these inner evil thoughts were valuable experiences and lessons on the path of spiritual practice. He decided to compile his methods for managing these evil thoughts into a collection of spiritual practice experiences, hoping to help more young practitioners find the right direction and avoid detours in the vast ocean of spiritual practice.

In the temple's scripture hall, Amin gathered a group of young practitioners. His face was kind, his eyes gleaming with boundless compassion and wisdom. He sat before them and slowly began, "Young practitioners, the path of spiritual practice is like sailing against the current; if you don't advance, you're retreating. On this long journey, we are inevitably prone to harboring various evil thoughts, such as jealousy, arrogance, and hatred. These evil thoughts, though seemingly minor, are in fact immensely harmful. They are like hidden reefs, threatening to sink our spiritual boat at any moment."

A young practitioner, looking puzzled, asked, "Master Ah Ming, why are these evil thoughts so hard to detect? Often, by the time we become aware of them, they've already been wreaking havoc within us." Ah Ming smiled and patiently explained, "This is precisely the cunning nature of evil thoughts. They often creep in without our noticing, feeding on our inherent greed, hatred, and ignorance. For example, when we observe others' achievements and harbor a sense of comparison, jealousy can follow. When we believe we have a certain understanding of the Dharma, arrogance can blind us. Therefore, we must constantly maintain inner vigilance, like guarding a precious city, preventing evil thoughts from taking advantage."

Ah Ming then detailed his method for combating evil thoughts. He said, "When evil thoughts first arise, our first step is to calm down and use the power of mindfulness to detect them. Mindfulness is like a bright light, illuminating every corner of our hearts. Then, through deep introspection, we can trace the root of the evil thoughts. These roots are often closely linked to our three poisons: greed, hatred, and ignorance. For example, jealousy stems from self-love and hatred toward others; arrogance is excessive attachment to the self. Once we have identified the root, we should contemplate them with the wisdom of the Dharma, recognizing the illusory and impermanent nature of these evil thoughts. Just as we encounter terrifying scenes in a dream, upon waking, we recognize their unreality. Similarly, evil thoughts are merely illusions within our minds. As long as we do not let them deceive us and adhere to the correct knowledge and understanding of the Dharma, we can dispel them."

The young practitioners listened attentively to Amin's teachings, their eyes gleaming with understanding and determination. Under Amin's guidance, they began to practice these methods of counteracting evil thoughts in their daily practice.

A young practitioner named Huixin was often plagued by arrogance during his practice. Confident in his mastery of Buddhist texts, he often displayed arrogance in front of fellow practitioners and dismissed their opinions. After listening to Master A-Ming's teachings, he began to reflect deeply on his behavior. Whenever arrogance arose, he followed Master A-Ming's instructions, first calming his mind and then examining his inner greed. He realized that his memorization of Buddhist texts was merely a means of spiritual practice, not a source of ostentation. True spiritual practice involves inner purification and compassionate salvation for all beings. In this process, his arrogance gradually dissipated, replaced by respect and care for his fellow practitioners and a more rigorous approach to his own practice.

Over time, under Ah Ming's meticulous guidance, these young practitioners have made remarkable progress in their practice of overcoming unhealthy thoughts. Their hearts have become purer and more resolute, and they have taken more solid steps on the Bodhisattva Path. Ah Ming, watching these young practitioners grow and transform, feels filled with joy and satisfaction. He knows that amidst the twists and turns and breakthroughs of practice, the wisdom of the Dharma is like a spark, passed down and burning in the hearts of generations of practitioners, illuminating their long journey towards enlightenment and injecting endless vitality and vigor into the promotion and development of the Dharma.