Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 64: Ups and downs and breakthroughs in spiritual practice (XVIII) "Rumors abound, but righteous action dispels delusion"

On a summer day in Lingxu Mountain, the sun blazes like fire, and the cicadas chirp in the forest, seemingly evoking the endless heat and chaos. In the temple's main hall, Ah Ming has just finished a morning class and is sharing his insights and reflections on spiritual practice with his fellow disciples.

"The path of cultivation is like this summer forest, full of all kinds of noise and interference. But we need to be as steady as a rock and not be moved by the outside world." Amin's voice was calm and firm, echoing in the hall.

However, in recent days, an undercurrent has quietly been brewing in the villages at the foot of the mountain and the surrounding areas. Rumors about Ah Ming have surfaced from nowhere. Some claim that Ah Ming has gone astray in his practice, mastering sorcery that will bring disaster to the land. Others accuse him of appearing compassionate but selfish, exploiting his disciples for personal gain. These rumors, like a poisonous fog, have spread rapidly, causing panic among villagers and pilgrims who are unaware of the truth.

When Ah Ming first heard these rumors, he was slightly startled. But he quickly entered a deep state of inner contemplation, realizing that this was yet another test on his spiritual path, a manifestation of demonic activity in the world. The "Bodhisattva Grounds" of the Yogacarabhumi Sutra inherently require facing various external distractions and demonic obstacles, and these rumors were a challenge to his faith and concentration.

Amin gathered his disciples together, looked at their worried and angry faces, and said calmly, "Disciples, don't let these rumors disturb your mind. Our practice is to realize the truth and save all sentient beings, not to care about others' unwarranted slander."

Hui Neng stood up and said angrily, "Master, these rumors are truly abominable. We cannot sit idly by and do nothing. We must go and explain things clearly to the villagers."

Ah Ming shook his head slightly and said, "Hui Neng, calm down. If you rush to defend yourself at this moment, it may only make the rumors worse. We just need to stick to the right path and dispel these false rumors with righteous actions."

Therefore, Amin decided to hold a public demonstration of his practice in front of the temple gate. After the news spread, many people came to watch with curiosity and doubts.

That day, the sun blazed brightly across the square in front of the mountain gate. Amin, dressed in simple monk's robes, sat upright on a cushion and began his practice. He first demonstrated the practice of observing the precepts, explaining in detail the meaning of the Five Buddhist Precepts and how they apply to daily behavior, from how to treat the lives of all living beings to how to reject greed, hatred, and delusion in words and actions. His every movement and every word was filled with respect and awe for the precepts.

Then, Amin entered a meditative state. His posture was like a pine tree, his face serene, his breath steady and long. Under the gaze of the crowd, he seemed to have entered another world, the surrounding clamor seemingly indifferent to him. As time passed, Amin's meditation deepened, and his aura gradually spread, instilling awe in some of the people present, and their initial skepticism gradually subsided.

Ah Ming then began to demonstrate his practice of cultivating compassion. He recounted how he cultivates compassion for all living beings in his daily life, from small animals in the forest to villagers seeking help. He mentioned rescuing a wounded fawn, caring for it until it recovered and released it back into the forest. He also mentioned providing food and clothing to impoverished families, offering them spiritual comfort and support.

As Ah Ming demonstrated his practice, his disciples assisted him, explaining his philosophy and methods and answering questions from the audience. Venerable Huijue spoke gently, "Dear donors, our Master has always adhered to orthodox Buddhist practice and has never had any evil thoughts or deeds. These rumors are completely groundless."

As Amin's practice demonstrations continued, more and more people began to realize they had been misled by rumors. They saw Amin's sincerity, compassion, and profound spiritual foundation. One elderly man, who had previously believed the rumors, looked ashamed and said, "It seems we have misjudged Master Amin. He is a truly great monk."

However, some people remained stubborn and continued to spread rumors, whispering among the crowd. One of them, Wang Er, harbored a grudge against the temple due to a previous dispute over land use and was one of the instigators of the rumor. Seeing the crowd wavering, he felt resentful and stood up, saying, "This might just be a deception. Don't let him fool you."

Upon hearing this, Ah Ming slowly opened his eyes, looked at Wang Er calmly, and said, "Donor Wang, the resentment and prejudice in your heart are like the poisonous flames of this summer day. They will not only burn others, but also plunge yourself into an abyss of pain. With the compassion of Buddhism, I hope you can let go of your obsession and return to the right path."

Wang Er was shocked by Amin's gaze and words, but he still pretended to be calm and turned away from the crowd.

Although there were still some isolated voices of opposition, over time, most people came to see the truth. The villages surrounding the temple returned to their former tranquility and peace, and more and more people came to worship and seek Buddhist teachings.

Amin took this opportunity to offer his disciples a deeper understanding: "Disciples, this experience has taught us that in our practice, we will encounter all kinds of rumors and malicious slander. But as long as we adhere to the right path and use righteous conduct as our armor, we can maintain inner purity and steadfastness in this illusory world. This is also what we need to understand as we transition from the 'ground of searching and observing' to the 'ground of neither searching nor observing' on the path of practice as described in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra: transcending attachment to external evaluations and guiding our actions with inner wisdom and enlightenment."

To help his disciples better cope with similar situations, Amin established a "Mindfulness Hall" at the monastery. Here, disciples regularly engage in self-reflection and mindfulness training. Through meditation, chanting, and discussion, they strengthen their awareness and control of their thoughts, and avoid being influenced by external rumors and interference.

During a practice session in the "Right Mind Hall," disciple Huiming raised his confusion: "Master, although we successfully dealt with the rumors this time, what should we do if we encounter a more complicated situation next time?"

Ah Ming smiled and replied, "Hui Ming, this requires us to constantly elevate our spiritual practice. In Samadhi Samadhi, we must deepen our concentration and grow our wisdom, making our hearts as clear as a mirror. No matter what kind of rumors or interference we encounter, we can clearly see their essence and remain unmoved. At the same time, we must view these experiences as nourishment for our practice, transforming them into a source of compassion and wisdom, so that we can help more sentient beings trapped by rumors."

Over the years, under Amin's leadership, Lingxu Mountain Monastery became not only a sacred site longed for by practitioners, but also a hub for spreading positive energy and correct knowledge and understanding in the surrounding area. Amin's reputation spread far and wide, and his spiritual deeds and wisdom in dealing with rumors were passed on, inspiring more people to uphold the righteous path in their practice and life, and not fear falsehood. Amin himself, through these trials, continuously advanced toward the higher realm of practice described in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra—the perfect state of "Bodhisattva Ground." He knew the road ahead would still be full of challenges, but as long as he maintained righteous conduct and compassion, he would surely traverse the fog and reach the shore of liberation and enlightenment.