Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 50: Ups and downs and breakthroughs in spiritual practice (IV) "Suspicion lingers in my heart, teachers and friends clear my confusion"

In the tranquil and mysterious spiritual realm of Lingxu Mountain, although Amin has experienced many hardships, when dealing with difficulties such as famine in the temple, misunderstandings from the outside world, and bottlenecks in his own practice, he has resolved them one by one with wisdom and perseverance. However, the path of practice is like the galaxy in the vast sky, deep and endless, and new challenges still follow.

During this period, Ah Ming's in-depth exploration of Buddhism encountered a deep cloud of doubt. In particular, his understanding of the profound and core doctrine of emptiness reached an unprecedented strait. Whenever he attempted to comprehend it, his thoughts became tangled, and the more he struggled, the more confused he became. The spiritual concepts that had once been clear and distinct within him now seemed shrouded in a veil, becoming hazy and unclear. He began to question whether his practice was on the right track, and this self-doubt, like a shadow, quietly eroded his heart.

Ah Ming knew that if he couldn't resolve this mystery, his spiritual journey would stagnate or even lead him astray. So, he decided to seek guidance from a highly respected elder on Lingxu Mountain. The elder had white hair and a kind face, his eyes radiating endless wisdom and the tranquility honed by time. Filled with reverence and trepidation, Ah Ming arrived at the elder's meditation room.

The Zen room was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window, casting streaks of golden light onto the floor. After respectfully bowing to the elder, Amin frankly expressed his confusion: "Elder, I am deeply confused about my understanding of 'emptiness.' The 'emptiness' mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures seems to contradict the reality of all things in the world. I find it difficult to grasp its true meaning. I hope you will kindly enlighten me."

The elder nodded slightly, a kind smile on his face. He gestured for Ah Ming to sit down, then slowly spoke, "Ah Ming, 'emptiness' isn't as illusory and incomprehensible as you imagine. Look at the table and chairs in this meditation room." The elder spoke, gently patting the wooden table beside him. "Superficially, this table is here, with its shape, color, and texture, ready for us to use. But if we delve deeper, we see that it's nothing more than a combination of wood, nails, and other factors. The wood comes from trees, and the trees themselves depend on soil, sunlight, and rain for their growth. If we dismantle these factors one by one, where does this table exist? It doesn't have an independent, unchanging self-nature. This is a manifestation of 'emptiness'."

Ah Ming listened intently, a glimmer of understanding gradually appearing in his eyes. The elder continued, "Take our lives as an example. Look at a flower. When it blooms, it is gorgeous and beautiful, loved by everyone. But it will eventually wither and turn to dust. The flower's beauty and withering are not eternal; they change with the changing conditions. This is true of all things in the world, including our joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness, and the cycle of life and death. All are without self-nature; they arise and perish in the interplay of causes and conditions. This is the principle of 'emptiness'."

The elder then recounted some classic examples, such as the Diamond Sutra's verse: "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew and lightning; they should be viewed in this way." He elaborated, "This tells us that all worldly phenomena, whether material or spiritual, are like dreams, illusions, dew and lightning; they arise and disappear in an instant, illusory and unreal. We should not cling to their appearances, but rather penetrate their true nature of emptiness."

As the elder explained the Dharma in simple terms, Amin's doubts instantly dissipated, like snow meeting the blazing sun. It was as if he had finally seen the light after groping in the darkness for so long. He felt a surge of gratitude towards the elder and a deeper reverence for the Dharma. "Elder, I understand. 'Emptiness' doesn't deny the existence of all things. Instead, it allows us to transcend our attachment to superficial phenomena and view the world with greater wisdom," Amin said excitedly.

After leaving the elder's meditation room, Ah Ming felt as if he had been reborn. He understood the importance of communication and discussion with teachers and friends on the path of spiritual practice. So, he discussed with his fellow practitioners and decided to organize regular spiritual exchange gatherings.

On a moonlit night, Ah Ming sat with fellow practitioners in the temple courtyard. The night was serene, with only the occasional chirping of insects adding a touch of life to the tranquil atmosphere. A fellow practitioner broke the silence, saying, "Brothers, I'm often troubled by anger in my practice. Whenever something unpleasant happens, I find it difficult to suppress the rage within me. I know this goes against the Dharma, but I can't control myself. What should I do?"

Ming pondered for a moment and said, "Brother, anger stems from our attachment to and expectations of things. When things don't go as we wish, we become dissatisfied and angry. This is just like our previous misunderstanding of 'emptiness'. If we can view everything with the wisdom of 'emptiness', understanding that all things have no self-nature and are impermanent and changing, then we will not be so attached to our thoughts and expectations, and anger will naturally decrease."

Another practitioner continued, "I often have trouble concentrating when reciting the sutras. My mind wanders. Is this a sign that I'm not diligent enough in my practice?" Ah Ming replied, "Brother, spiritual practice isn't something that can be achieved overnight. Having your mind wander while reciting the sutras is a sign that our inner thoughts haven't been cleared. Before reciting, we can sit quietly for a moment, observe our hearts, and let go of these distracting thoughts. Also, if you find your mind wandering while reciting, don't be too upset; simply bring your attention back. This is also a part of the spiritual practice process. Through continuous training, our concentration will gradually improve."

In these exchange gatherings, everyone shares their own confusions and insights from their spiritual practice. Differing viewpoints can sometimes lead to heated discussions, but it is precisely these discussions that allow everyone to consider issues from different perspectives, learn from each other, and encourage each other.

During a discussion on "compassion and wisdom," one practitioner argued that compassion should be prioritized because without it, wisdom can be misused. Another practitioner felt that wisdom is a prerequisite for compassion; without it, so-called compassion can become blind acts of kindness. Ming listened to their debate and said, "Both practitioners have valid points. In the Bodhisattva Path, compassion and wisdom are like the wings of a bird or the wheels of a vehicle; neither is indispensable. True compassion is grounded in wisdom. It is not simply sympathy or pity, but the ability to discern the root causes of suffering in sentient beings and to help them find liberation through wisdom. Without the guidance of compassion, wisdom can become cold and empty. In our practice, we should strive to balance the two and grow together."

As these spiritual exchange gatherings continued, the bonds between Amin and his fellow practitioners deepened, and they no longer felt alone on their spiritual journey. Each exchange felt like a beacon lighting a bright light in each other's hearts, dispelling confusion and bewilderment. Amin also deeply understood that within the spiritual family, the companionship and inspiration of teachers and friends are an indispensable source of strength. Like stars, they shone in this vast spiritual firmament, illuminating the path to enlightenment. This also strengthened Amin's resolve to advance steadily along the path of the seventeenth stage of practice described in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra, advancing step by step toward higher spiritual realms. Through this process of interaction and growth, he continuously deepened and expanded his understanding of the state, practice, and fruition of spiritual practice.