Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 84: Approaching the Ground of Remaining Dependence (XVIII) "Liberation is within reach, perseverance is unwavering"

In that ancient temple deep in the mountains, time seemed to slow and stretch out, and Amin's spiritual journey entered a crucial stage. Every morning, he rose at the sound of the morning bell, walked to the quiet corner behind the meditation room at first light, and began his long meditation practice.

At this point, Amin could clearly sense that liberation was within reach. It was an intuition deep within his soul, like a faint glimmer of dawn in the darkness. He only needed to take one more small step forward to completely break through the fog of samsara and break free from the shackles that had bound all beings for so long. Yet, he remained undaunted and complacent. Instead, like a taut bowstring, he devoted himself ever more resolutely to diligent practice. With a sincere and pure heart, he devoted himself to the profound wisdom of the Dharma. The longing for liberation burned like an unquenchable flame within his heart.

He proactively increased his meditation and chanting time, extending his daily meditation from four hours to six. Each time he sat on the cushion, he felt as if he were in a world apart, the hustle and bustle of the outside world gradually fading away, leaving only a profound dialogue with the Dharma. He focused on the rise and fall of his breath, letting his thoughts drift away like smoke on a calm lake, until his mind was empty and clear. As he chanted, his voice was deep and powerful, each word a key, unlocking the endless treasures of wisdom within the Buddhist scriptures. He delved deeply into each word, no longer content with superficial understanding, but striving to uncover the profound philosophy hidden behind each text, eager to achieve unprecedented understanding and breakthroughs in this final, crucial sprint.

Ah Ming knew that this final path of spiritual practice was like climbing a towering, treacherous peak. Although the magnificent view from the summit was already visible, and the dawn of freedom seemed to flicker before his eyes, he also knew that the closer he got to the summit, the more rugged and precipitous the path would become, requiring extraordinary effort and hardship. Every step would likely be accompanied by sweat and pain, and even deep inner struggle and confusion.

To better motivate himself and his fellow practitioners, Amin proposed forming a dedicated practice group. In the temple's quaint scripture library, Amin sat with several like-minded practitioners, their resolute faces illuminated by the flickering light.

"Brothers and junior brothers, we all feel the approach of liberation. However, at this crucial moment, we must not relax even a little." Ah Ming glanced at everyone with a determined look. "We should form a diligent practice group, jointly formulate a practice plan and goals, support each other, and encourage each other. Only then can we hope to obtain the true scriptures in this final journey."

Everyone nodded, their eyes gleaming with the same determination and enthusiasm. Young fellow practitioner Huineng spoke first, "Brother A-Ming, what you said is absolutely right. I'm willing to work with you all, but I'm not sure how to formulate a practice plan."

Ah Ming pondered for a moment and said, "We can start with meditation, chanting, studying Buddhist texts, and daily practice. For example, we should meditate for at least six hours a day, chant with greater concentration and depth, and discuss and share insights on difficult passages in the texts. Also, in our daily activities, whether walking, sitting, or lying down, we should use the Dharma as a guide, constantly observing our words, actions, and thoughts."

Fellow practitioner Juechen continued, "Then we need to establish some monitoring and reminder mechanisms to prevent people from unconsciously slacking off during their practice."

"That's a great idea," Amin agreed. "We can pair up and check each other's progress every day. If we find anyone slacking off, we can give them prompt reminders and encouragement."

After much discussion, a dedicated practice group was formally established. They developed a detailed practice plan, wrote it down on a piece of yellowed rice paper, and posted it on the wall of the Sutra Library, constantly reminding each member of their mission and responsibility.

The interactions within this group became increasingly frequent and in-depth. After their daily meditation sessions, they would gather in the temple garden to share their experiences and insights.

Ming was the first to share, "Today, while meditating, I felt as if I had a glimpse of liberation in the silence, but was immediately disturbed by distracting thoughts. This made me deeply realize that even if liberation is within reach, our inner greed, hatred, and delusion still follow us like shadows, and we need to overcome them with an even stronger will."

After hearing this, Hui Neng was deeply moved and said, "Brother, what you said is true. When I recite the scriptures, I am often distracted by past thoughts and find it difficult to fully immerse myself in the wisdom of the scriptures. It seems that we need to work harder on cultivating concentration."

Juechen raised his own question: "When I observe my thoughts, I sometimes find it difficult to distinguish between true Buddhist thoughts and worldly distractions in disguise. Do you have any insights?"

After a moment's reflection, Ah Ming replied, "This requires us to accumulate experience in our daily practice, examining every thought based on the Buddhist teachings. For example, if a thought is filled with greed or hatred, it is definitely distracting. However, if it is filled with compassion, wisdom, and a yearning for liberation, it is mindfulness."

Through such exchanges and interactions, everyone learns from and inspires each other, their passion for practice grows stronger, and a rich and positive atmosphere permeates the temple. Like travelers groping forward in the darkness, they illuminate each other and collectively strive for the impending state of liberation with all their might, daring not to slack off or neglect even the slightest bit.

However, the path of spiritual practice isn't always smooth. As practice deepens, inner conflicts and confusions gradually surface. During a meditation session, fellow practitioner Mingxin suddenly fell into a state of confusion. He found that the more he sought liberation, the more anxious he became, as if he were bound by an invisible force, unable to break free.

Mingxin approached Ah Ming, bewildered. "Brother Ah Ming, I thought my practice would bring me closer to liberation, but why am I in even deeper trouble now? When I was meditating, my mind was filled with distracting thoughts. I even began to doubt whether I could ever truly achieve liberation."

Ah Ming looked at Ming Xin's anxious face and gently comforted him, "Brother Ming Xin, don't be anxious. This situation is normal during the practice. When we approach liberation, our inner karma and obsessions often rebound more fiercely. The anxiety and confusion you feel are manifestations of your struggle with the greed, hatred, and ignorance deep within your heart. At this time, we must treat it with a normal mind, stick to the original intention of practice, and not be intimidated by these temporary difficulties."

To help Mingxin overcome his difficulties, Amin participated in an in-depth meditation practice with him. During the meditation, Amin guided Mingxin to focus on his breathing, allowing him to concentrate on each moment of the present moment, not deliberately pursuing the result of liberation, but to feel every spiritual touch during the practice.

After a period of effort, Mingxin gradually emerged from his predicament. He gratefully said to Ah Ming, "Brother, if it weren't for your timely guidance and help, I would have strayed further and further down this wrong path. Now I understand that liberation isn't achieved overnight; it requires us to practice the Dharma with unwavering faith and unremitting effort in every moment."

Ming smiled and said, "Junior brother, your understanding of this principle is a great progress. On this path of cultivation, we are supposed to support each other and grow together. As long as we maintain our unremitting efforts, one day we will be able to overcome numerous obstacles and reach the other shore of liberation."

Through the collaborative efforts of the diligent practice group, they continued to make new progress on their spiritual path. During an in-depth Buddhist study session, Amin gained a deeper understanding of the "ground of remaining dependents" in the Yogacarabhumi Sutra. He realized that liberation is not simply individual transcendence, but rather a spiritual elevation and transcendence achieved through the karmic connection with all living beings.

He shared his insights with his fellow practitioners: "Fellow practitioners, in our pursuit of liberation, we cannot simply focus on our own spiritual achievements. We must also pass on the compassion and wisdom of the Dharma to more sentient beings. Just as we are in this temple, through mutual communication and support, we grow and progress together. In this world, countless sentient beings are struggling in the sea of ​​suffering. We should use the power of our own practice to illuminate the light of hope in their hearts. Only in this way can we truly realize the vastness and perfection of the Dharma."

After listening to the speech, everyone was deeply moved. They became more determined in their belief in spiritual practice. They not only worked hard for their own liberation, but also moved forward courageously in order to spread the gospel of Buddhism in the world and save more sentient beings.

As time passes, Amin and his fellow practitioners advance further and further on the path of diligent practice. Their hearts grow calmer and more resolute, and their perception of liberation grows clearer. Although unknown challenges and difficulties may still await them, their unwavering dedication, like a ship sailing through a turbulent sea, always steadfastly heads towards the shore of liberation. The dawn of light on the other shore, fueled by their faith and hard work, grows brighter and more dazzling.