Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 74: Approaching the Ground of Remaining Dependence (VIII) "Right Mindfulness is Constant and Continuous, Delusion is Completely Obliterated"

Inside the meditation hall of the Lingxu Mountain temple, sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window lattices, casting strands of golden light. Dust particles danced slowly in the air. Venerable Amin sat upright on a cushion, surrounded by a group of practitioners who had come to discuss Buddhism. Some came from nearby temples, others were hermits practicing solitary cultivation in the mountains. Their backgrounds varied, but they all shared a reverence for the Dharma and a passionate pursuit of truth.

At this time, a young practitioner named Zhikong spoke first. His eyes were bright and his tone was a little anxious: "Master A Ming, I think that in practice, we should first focus on studying the Buddhist scriptures and use the meaning of the scriptures as a guide. Only then can we practice Buddhism in life." Before he finished speaking, another old man named Huichen shook his head and retorted: "My friend, what you said is wrong. Buddhism is inseparable from worldly awareness. If you only bury your head in the scriptures and ignore the little practices in life, it will be difficult to realize the truth." For a while, there was a lot of discussion in the Zen hall. Everyone expressed their opinions. The atmosphere was warm and noisy.

Venerable Amin listened quietly to the speeches, his face calm and serene, his eyes gleaming with profound wisdom. Despite the flurry of voices and the clash of opinions, his heart remained as still as a bottomless pool. His righteous mindfulness served as a solid barrier, shutting out the external noise and distractions. It also served as a shining beacon, illuminating his inner understanding of the Dharma amidst this sea of ​​​​verbal confusion.

Venerable Amin raised his head slightly, clasped his hands together, and after the noises of the crowd subsided, he slowly spoke, "Fellow practitioners, the path of Buddhist practice is like countless rivers flowing into the sea; each path is different, but all lead to the other shore of liberation. Fellow practitioner Zhikong emphasizes the study of the Buddhist scriptures, which is a way to accumulate wisdom and resources. This allows us to establish a correct cognitive system within the framework of Buddhist teachings, which is the key to practice in the 'stage of accumulation of merit.' Fellow practitioner Huichen emphasizes practical application in daily life, which also hits the nail on the head. The true meaning of Buddhism needs to be realized and attained through the trials of this worldly life. This is precisely what the 'stage of supplementary practices' emphasizes: deepening our understanding and perception of Buddhism through practical action."

Upon hearing Master Amin's words, everyone nodded and focused their gazes on him, eyes filled with anticipation and respect. Master Amin continued, "In this discussion, we should not cling to our own views, but rather maintain an open mind and learn from one another. Just as I, amidst this chaos, guard my heart with mindfulness and remain unswayed by all the talk, I can clearly discern the subtleties of everyone's perspectives and, in turn, enrich my understanding of the Dharma. This practice of mindfulness is the key to our journey of spiritual practice, continuously approaching the 'ground of remaining support.' Delusions are like fog in the dark night, easily leading us astray. Constant and continuous mindfulness can dispel delusions and keep us on the bright and righteous path of the Dharma."

After his words, Master Amin saw Zhikong's face reflect in deep thought, as if he had grasped something, while Huichen nodded slightly, his eyes revealing approval. In this encounter of Buddhist thought, Master Amin, with his powerful mindfulness, not only maintained his own spiritual realm but also skillfully guided the group in a deeper exploration of the ocean of Buddhist wisdom, making this discussion a precious opportunity for growth on their spiritual paths.

A few days later, the temple welcomed a special visitor. This woman, Jinxiu, was dressed in gorgeous attire and adorned with exquisite jewelry. She exuded an air of worldly wealth. The daughter of a wealthy merchant, she had heard of Master Amin's virtue and wisdom and had come to seek guidance on some of her spiritual concerns.

Jinxiu was led into the meditation room by the young novice monk. Master Amin looked up and saw that her silk dress shimmered with luster. The necklace around her neck, the bracelets on her wrists, and the pearls in her hair shone brightly in the light of the room. An ordinary person might be attracted by this luxurious appearance, feeling envy or admiration. However, in Master Amin's heart, right mindfulness instantly arose, like the rising sun, instantly illuminating his entire inner world.

Jinxiu bowed respectfully to Master Amin and began to recount her troubles. She spoke of living in a wealthy family, where she had no worries about food and clothing, yet she often felt a sense of inner emptiness, a sense of being lost in this bustling world. Master Amin listened quietly, his gaze calm and compassionate, unfazed by Jinxiu's glamorous appearance and worldly worries.

As Jinxiu spoke, she fiddled with her jewelry, the jingling sounds of which were particularly clear in the quiet Zen room. However, Master Amin seemed not to hear. He was focused on Jinxiu's inner pain and confusion, using the wisdom of Buddhism to understand its root.

After Jinxiu finished speaking, Master Amin said softly, "Donor, these jewels and fine clothes you own may be symbols of status and wealth in the eyes of the secular world, but from the perspective of Buddhism, they are nothing but illusions, like flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water, which will eventually disappear. They cannot bring you true inner peace and satisfaction."

Jinxiu was slightly taken aback. She looked at Master Amin's simple robes and the minimalist meditation room, then compared them to her own luxurious attire. A complex wave of emotions welled up in her heart. She asked, somewhat puzzled, "Master, if all this is illusory, then what is real? How can I find inner peace?"

Master Amin clasped his hands together and said, "Donor, truth lies in our original mind, in our understanding and practice of the Dharma. All things in the world are born from the combination of causes and conditions. When causes and conditions come together, they appear; when causes and conditions disperse, they disappear. Your wealth and prosperity are also the result of past causes and conditions, so you should not be attached to them. You should observe your inner heart with mindfulness, discerning every thought and intention, and not be deceived by external material things. Just as I look at your jewelry, although it is dazzling, I do not feel the slightest desire for it. This is the power of mindfulness. You should do the same. In your daily life, always maintain inner clarity, practice mindfulness while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, and gradually let go of greed and attachment to material things. Only then can you find an inner haven of peace in this complex world."

Jinxiu listened to Master Amin's words, her heart struck as if by a hammer, and she began to reflect on her life. She realized that she had long been immersed in the pursuit of material things and enjoyment, while neglecting her true inner needs. A hint of remorse and a yearning for Buddhism flashed in her eyes. She said, "Master, your words are like a revelation, awakening me from a dream. From now on, I will practice mindfulness and change my attitude towards life."

Master Amin nodded slightly and said, "It is a blessing that the donor has realized this. You can start with simple meditation. Sit quietly at a fixed time every day and focus on your breathing. When distracting thoughts arise, don't try to drive them away. Instead, use mindfulness to notice them and let them float away like clouds in the sky. In your daily life, always remind yourself not to be drawn into material things and to treat everything in the world with a normal heart."

After Jinxiu's departure, Master Amin sat alone in his meditation room, his inner understanding of mindfulness deepened. He understood that the practice of mindfulness isn't achieved overnight; it requires constant refinement and strengthening in countless life situations. Just as in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra, from the initial aspiration to practice, to the "Ground of Accumulation" where one diligently accumulates various roots of merit, to the "Ground of Preparation" where one strengthens one's practice through various specific practices such as meditation and precepts, and now, as one approaches the "Ground of Remaining Dependence," mindfulness becomes the key to resisting distractions and maintaining inner purity and focus. Only by keeping mindfulness burning like a never-extinguished lamp in every corner of life can distractions be driven out of hiding, leading to true inner liberation and freedom.

In the days that followed, Master Amin paid more attention to teaching his disciples mindfulness practice. He gathered his disciples in the temple courtyard to sit together and share his own spiritual insights.

Master Amin looked at his disciples' young and energetic faces and said earnestly, "My disciples, mindfulness is the sharp sword on our path of practice, capable of cutting through the thorns of delusion. When we interact with the outside world, whether we are facing the words and actions of others or the temptations of various material things, we must always be mindful. For example, when we are chopping wood in the mountains, we should focus on the axe and the tree in our hands, feeling the power of each swing, rather than letting our minds wander. When we are chanting scriptures, we should focus all our attention on the meaning and rhythm of the scriptures, and not be distracted by the chirping of birds and insects."

A disciple named Wuzhen asked, "Master, what should I do if my mindfulness is accidentally interrupted by distracting thoughts during my practice?"

Master A Ming smiled and replied, "Wu Zhen, this is a common situation in practice. When mindfulness is interrupted, don't be upset, and don't get caught up in chasing after distracting thoughts. Simply pull your mind back and return to the present moment of practice. Just like when we are walking and accidentally trip over a stone on the side of the road, we don't sit on the ground and complain about the stone, but stand up and keep moving forward. Every time mindfulness is interrupted and returned to normal, it is a progress in practice, which can make our mindfulness more stable."

The disciples felt enlightened after listening to Master Amin's teachings. They all expressed that they would strive to cultivate mindfulness in their future practice to make their hearts purer and more resolute.

Over time, Master A-Ming discovered that a disciple at the temple named Jingxin was struggling with his mindfulness practice. Jingxin was a rather active and lively person, with many distracting thoughts. He often struggled to maintain concentration for extended periods during meditation. Watching his fellow disciples' progress, he felt a surge of anxiety and frustration.

Venerable Amin noticed Jingxin's distress, and one quiet evening, he took him to the garden behind the temple. In the moonlight, the flowers in the garden exuded a delicate fragrance, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Pointing to a clear spring in the garden, Venerable Amin said to Jingxin, "Jingxin, look at this spring! It flows day and night, never stopping. Our mindfulness should be like this, uninterrupted by external distractions, always maintaining continuity. The reason you have difficulty concentrating in your practice is because your mind is disturbed by too many distracting thoughts, just as many leaves and impurities have fallen into this spring water."

As he spoke, Master Amin picked up a fallen leaf and gently placed it in the spring. The leaf swirled on the surface, disturbing the previously tranquil waters. "But as long as we are patient and allow the water to continue washing away the fallen leaf, the spring water will eventually become clear again. When you practice, don't rush for results. When distracting thoughts arise, just like watching a fallen leaf in the water, observe it from the perspective of an outsider, rather than letting yourself be drawn into them. Gradually, your mindfulness will become like this clear spring, constant and continuous, and distracting thoughts will naturally vanish like the fallen leaf, leaving no trace."

Jingxin gazed at the clear spring, and something seemed to dawn on him. He gratefully said to Master Amin, "Master, your analogy has helped me understand a lot. I used to be too eager to eliminate my delusions immediately, but ended up being trapped by them. From now on, I will follow your teachings and practice patiently."

Under Master A-Ming's careful guidance, Jingxin began to adjust his practice. Every morning, he would sit quietly by the spring in the garden, observing the flow of the water as a reminder to maintain mindfulness. In his daily life, he also paid more attention to his inner awareness. Whenever distracting thoughts arose, he would recall Master's words and approach them with the mind of an observer. Gradually, he found that he was able to maintain concentration for longer periods of time during meditation, and his distracting thoughts gradually decreased.

Master Amin watches his disciples' continuous growth in mindfulness practice with a heart filled with joy. He knows they are steadily advancing along the path of practice outlined in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra, moving from a preliminary understanding and practice of mindfulness to a deeper understanding and mastery. He, in the process of teaching his disciples and cultivating connections with sentient beings, is constantly approaching the higher realm of the "Standard of Remaining Dependence." In his practice and mission to liberate sentient beings, he continues to write his own Buddhist legend, hoping that one day, through the fulfillment of his practice, he can lead even more sentient beings out of the sea of ​​suffering and toward the bright shore of liberation.