Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 52: Ups and downs and breakthroughs in spiritual practice (VI) "Slander surges, forbearance leads to enlightenment"

On Lingxu Mountain, a land that has become even more sacred due to the baptism of disasters, Amin had just taken a short break from the rescue efforts after the earthquake and plague, and before he could relax his physical and mental fatigue, a more severe test suddenly came like a storm.

One day, as usual, Ah Ming was traveling down the mountain to a nearby village to preach the Dharma, offer spiritual guidance, and distribute daily necessities. He noticed the villagers looking at him with a strange look. The villagers, who had previously treated him with respect and warmth, now avoided him, their eyes filled with wariness and disgust. Ah Ming was filled with confusion, but he remained calm and approached them to inquire about the reason.

However, before he could open his mouth, an old man came up to him tremblingly with the help of a cane and shouted, "You cultist, how dare you come to our village! Go away, we don't welcome you here!" Amin was stunned by the sudden accusation. He hurriedly said, "Old donor, why do you say that? I am devoted to Buddhism. Everything I do is to promote Buddhism and save sentient beings. How could I be a cultist?" But the villagers did not listen to his explanation. They gathered around him and accused him.

"Don't try to quibble. It's all over the place. You're using the cover of Buddhism to deceive people and defraud them of their money," said a middle-aged woman angrily.

"That's right, we can't have people like you in our village. You'd better leave now, otherwise we won't be polite!" A young man said viciously, waving the hoe in his hand.

Only then did Amin realize he had been subjected to unwarranted slander and defamation. A wave of grievance and helplessness welled up within him, but he quickly composed himself. He knew that in this turbulent world, misunderstanding and slander were inevitable, and this was precisely the kind of hardship a practitioner needed to face. He recalled the Buddhist teachings on forbearance and tolerance. So, he silently lowered his head, clasped his hands together, and said softly, "Dear donors, since you believe this, I will not argue. But I want to tell you that the Dharma is a symbol of compassion and wisdom, and everything I have done is with a clear conscience. I only hope that you will not be deceived by these false rumors and will soon awaken to enlightenment."

With that, Amin turned and slowly left the village. His back seemed somewhat forlorn amid the villagers' angry glares and scorn, but his heart remained remarkably resolute. He knew that his endurance wasn't a sign of weakness, but rather a spiritual practice. He returned to the temple on Lingxu Mountain. Although his fellow practitioners expressed their trust and support, the external slander continued to pour in. After hearing the rumors, some pilgrims stopped coming to the temple to burn incense and worship, and the temple's incense offerings became sparse.

Despite this difficult situation, Ah Ming remained unafraid. He rose early each day to devoutly chant sutras and worship Buddha in the Buddhist temple, diligently cultivating his practice. He pondered the underlying causes of the slander, realizing it might be the manifestation of negative karma he had accumulated during his practice, or perhaps a trap set by demons to hinder his ability to spread the Dharma. Whatever the cause, he remained determined to resolve it with forbearance.

Besides his spiritual practice, Ah Ming still cared about the villagers who had misunderstood him. He prayed for them at the temple, hoping they would soon see the truth and escape the misery of the rumors. He held no hatred in his heart, only compassion and sympathy for all beings. He knew these villagers were misled by the rumors out of ignorance, and he wanted to influence them through his actions.

As time went on, Amin's forbearance and perseverance began to show their strength. Some villagers who had come into contact with him began to recall the many acts of kindness he had performed for them. His selfless rescue during disasters, his attentive care for the sick, his profound and accessible explanations of the Dharma—these images constantly surfaced in the villagers' minds. They began to question the truth of the rumors that Amin was a cultist.

Amin's words and actions in the temple were also observed by some pilgrims and passersby. Seeing that Amin remained steadfast in the Dharma and compassionate despite facing such massive slander, they could not help but feel respect for him. These people began to speak out to dispel the rumors about Amin, sharing their experiences of the real Amin.

Gradually, the truth came to light. Those who had slandered Amin realized they had been deceived by the rumors and felt a surge of guilt. The old man who had first rebuked Amin, upon learning the truth, brought several villagers to the Lingxu Mountain Temple. Upon meeting Amin, the old man, his face filled with shame, said, "Master, we were wrong. We were blinded by those abominable rumors and behaved so disrespectfully towards you. Please forgive us." Amin smiled, stepped forward, helped the old man up, and said, "Old donor, there's no need to blame yourself. It was all a misunderstanding. Now that the truth is out, it's a relief for everyone to wake up."

Amin considers this experience of forbearance an invaluable treasure. He knows that it not only deepened his understanding and advancement in spiritual practice, but also deepened his understanding of the true meaning of Buddhism. He decided to write about this experience as a reflection on spiritual practice and share it with fellow practitioners, hoping that they will be able to uphold their Buddhist convictions when faced with slander and defamation, resolve grievances with forbearance, and continue to grow in the face of adversity.

While writing about his spiritual reflections, Amin deeply analyzed the inner changes he experienced when facing slander. He wrote, "When slander first struck, I inevitably felt a sense of grievance and resentment, but the wisdom of Buddhism quickly alerted me. I knew that everything in this world is like a dream, and reputation is nothing but an illusion. If I had become angry and defended myself against the slander, I would have fallen into the trap of demonic obstacles. Only by forbearing humiliation could I maintain inner peace and clarity amidst this turmoil."

He elaborated on the importance of forbearance in spiritual practice: "Forbearance is not passive endurance, but an active form of practice. It can temper our will and eliminate our inner hatred and attachment. In the process of forbearance, we are like a sword tempered in a fierce fire, impurities are gradually removed, and our quality is improved. Just like the bodhisattva practice realm taught in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra, forbearance is one of the important paths to enlightenment."

Ming also shared his own practice of forbearance: "When being slandered, one must first observe one's own heart, become aware of the arising of anger, and promptly stop it. Then, view the slanderer with compassion, as they are also sentient beings trapped by afflictions. Through practices such as chanting sutras and meditation, one can focus one's attention on the wisdom of the Dharma, allowing its power to resolve the pain and grievances within one's heart."

His insights into spiritual practice spread widely among practitioners, and many were deeply inspired after reading them. Some practitioners facing similar difficulties followed Amin's teachings and successfully resolved their inner pain and external conflicts. As a result, Amin's name became more respected in the spiritual community, and he became a role model for many practitioners in the practice of forbearance.

After surviving this defamation scandal, Amin's spiritual practice has reached a new level. He has gained a deeper understanding and practice of the seventeen stages of enlightenment described in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra. He knows that the path of practice is full of twists and turns and challenges, but as long as he remains steadfast in his faith in the Dharma and faces everything with compassion and wisdom, every setback will become a step towards Bodhi, and every breakthrough will bring him closer to the supreme state of enlightenment. He will continue to forge ahead steadfastly on this long path of practice, working tirelessly to promote the Dharma and save sentient beings.