Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 60: Ups and downs and breakthroughs in spiritual practice (14) "Where inspiration springs forth, writings inspire future generations"

In the tranquil Zen temple of Lingxu Mountain, the morning bell tolled slowly, shattering the stillness of the night. Amin rose from his humble Zen room, gazing out the window at the morning light, his heart filled with a burning inspiration for the Dharma. For days, inspiration had flowed endlessly through him like a perpetual mountain spring, urging him to embark on the great journey of writing and sharing this precious Buddhist wisdom for future generations of practitioners.

Ah Ming strolled to the temple's Sutra Library, surrounded by ancient bookshelves and permeated with the delicate fragrance of sandalwood. He found a desk in a corner, gently brushed off the dust, spread out a sheet of rice paper, and picked up his brush. However, the moment the tip of his pen touched the paper, he hesitated, wondering, "How can I clearly express the profound meaning of the Dharma in words? Every word carries the weight of guiding practitioners toward liberation; the slightest deviation is imperative." He knew that the journey of writing a book was like groping in the dark, requiring utmost caution and focus.

Ah Ming recalled a time when he spent his days in a meditation cave, agonizing over the true meaning of Buddhism. Faced with myriad inner delusions and confusion, he nearly fell into the abyss of despair. But it was during that endless struggle and self-confrontation that he gradually grasped the subtle state of "searching and observing" as described in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra. He realized that the initial stage of practice requires reflection and observation, seeking the truth within and without, much like searching for a ray of light amidst a fog. He thus wrote: "At the outset of practice, one should cultivate a searching and observing mind in all things, observing both within and without, realizing that all things arise from the combination of causes and conditions and are not truly existent. This is the first step toward the path, like the oar of a boat, helping us to forge ahead through the waves."

The afternoon sun shone through the window, casting patches of light and shadow on Amin's focused face. At this time, his good friend, Monk Huineng, walked into the Sutra Library, holding a cup of steaming hot tea. Huineng gently placed the tea on the table and said, "Brother Amin, you have been writing all day. Don't be too tired. Have a sip of tea to moisten your throat first." Amin raised his head, looked at Huineng gratefully, took the teacup, took a sip, and said, "Brother Huineng, you know that my book this time is related to the wisdom and life of many practitioners. If I can pass on the Buddhist teachings accurately, it will be my greatest wish in this life." Huineng nodded slightly and said, "Brother, your compassion and wisdom will surely make this book a shining light on the path of practice. However, this Buddhist teaching is profound, and I am afraid that you will encounter many challenges when explaining it."

Ah Ming knew that Huineng's words were true. As he discussed the contents of his writings with other eminent monks, a flood of differing opinions and viewpoints emerged, sparking a fierce clash of ideas. Several elders, reviewing Ah Ming's chapter on "Cultivating the Mind and Nature," had a serious disagreement. One elder frowned and said, "Ah Ming, your interpretation of 'the mind and nature are originally pure, but are contaminated by external factors' leans too far towards the view of emptiness. This is slightly inconsistent with the teachings of this temple and may mislead practitioners." Ah Ming's heart tightened. He was well aware of the elder's profound attainments and high status in Buddhist studies, but he also firmly believed in his own true insights from practice. He respectfully clasped his hands together and responded, "Venerable Elder, in my practice, I have personally experienced that although the mind and nature inherently possess Buddha nature, under the contamination of the world, without insight into the principle of emptiness, true liberation is difficult. This is my profound understanding of 'having a mind and nature.' Please allow me to elaborate."

Amidst this heated debate over the understanding of Buddhist doctrine, Amin faced immense pressure and skepticism. However, he remained undeterred. He understood this as a valuable opportunity to delve deeper into the Dharma and refine his work. After several days of lengthy and in-depth discussions and exchanges, Amin, while respecting traditional teachings, skillfully incorporated the valuable suggestions of the various eminent monks and meticulously revised and refined his work.

When the manuscript was finally completed and published, Amin's heart was filled with relief and joy. He personally carried boxes of brand new books and embarked on a dissemination tour to temples and Buddhist colleges across the country. In a magnificent temple, Amin stood in the solemn scripture hall and distributed books to monks and lay people who came to listen to the Dharma. An elderly layperson with white hair took the book with both hands, tears of joy in his eyes. He said, "Master Amin, you have given us the key to open the door to liberation. In today's world, materialism is rampant and people are restless. We need such Buddhist wisdom to guide us back to the right path." Amin smiled and clasped his hands together, responding, "This is my responsibility. I hope that everyone will, through reading this book, deeply understand the true meaning of Buddhism, practice accordingly, and attain the supreme fruition of the various stages described in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra."

However, during the process of disseminating the book, Amin also discovered some problems and conflicts. Some practitioners had different understandings of certain profound Buddhist principles in the book, which led to arguments and disagreements. Some practitioners felt that Amin's explanation of the "Bodhisattva Path Practice" in the book was too idealistic and difficult to implement in real life; while others felt that Amin's description of the "Zen state" was too obscure and difficult to understand, making it daunting. Seeing this, Amin thought to himself: "It seems that the spread of Buddhism is not always smooth sailing. This is due to both the differences in practitioners' foundation and understanding ability, as well as my own shortcomings in expression. Although I have written books, I still need to continue working hard to guide more people to correctly understand Buddhism in a more accessible way."

At night, Amin returned to the Zen temple on Lingxu Mountain and sat in meditation alone before the Buddhist hall. Reflecting on his journey—from his sudden inspiration to the writing of his book, from his debates with eminent monks to the dissemination of his work—he was overwhelmed with emotion. He deeply realized that he had taken another solid and significant step on his spiritual path. This step not only elevated his own spiritual attainments but also served the great mission of spreading the Dharma and benefiting all sentient beings. He silently prayed, "May the Buddhist wisdom contained in this book spread like a prairie fire, illuminating every lost soul and leading them to the ultimate shore of enlightenment and liberation." Outside the Buddhist hall, the night sky twinkled with stars, as if silently blessing Amin's good deeds and prayers.