Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 89: The Realization of the Ground of No Remaining Support (Part 3) "Boundless Compassion, Never Ceasing to Save All Beings"

In this extraordinary state of no remaining support, Ah Ming's Dharmakaya was free and unfettered, his compassion boundless. One day, his spiritual perception detected a village in a distant borderland, shrouded in war and poverty. The people there were trapped in suffering and desperately in need of salvation. Without hesitation, Ah Ming's Dharmakaya instantly traversed the void and reached the devastated land.

In the village, he transformed himself into a simple itinerant doctor named Huiming. Carrying his medicine box, Huiming shuttled between dilapidated houses, drawing mixed glances of doubt and expectation wherever he went. An elderly villager named Li Bo, whose son had been wounded in the war, had become infected and festering, leaving him critically ill. Li Bo stopped Huiming, tears welling in his eyes: "Itinerant doctor, you must save my son! He's our family's only hope." Huiming looked at Li Bo, his heart filled with compassion. He gently patted Li Bo's shoulder: "Don't worry, old man! I'll do my best."

Huiming entered the room and saw the injured young man lying on the bed, pale and nearly dead. He squatted down, carefully examining his wounds, silently observing them in his heart. The man's agony exemplified the suffering of sentient beings that spiritual practice requires. With compassion in mind, he pulled herbs from his medicine chest and, while tending to the wound, softly said, "All suffering in this world is caused by karma, but as long as we hold onto hope and kindness, there will always be a way out." His voice seemed to possess a magical power, bringing a sense of peace to both the injured man and Uncle Li.

While tending to Uncle Li's wounds, Huiming sensed the inner conflict and pain. Uncle Li's family had clashed with a neighboring village during the war. He worried about his son's safety, yet he couldn't let go of the hatred. Huiming looked at Uncle Li and said, "Old man, hatred is like poison; it only deepens suffering. Buddhism advocates tolerance and reconciliation. Only by letting go of hatred can one find true peace of mind." Uncle Li, deeply contemplative, began a fierce inner struggle.

Meanwhile, in the mountains outside the village, a group of bandits, upon hearing that a traveling doctor had arrived, set out to steal medicinal herbs and valuables. They advanced aggressively toward the village, and Huiming sensed their hostile intent. He understood this as a manifestation of the world's evil intentions and conflicts of interest, but he remained undaunted.

Bandits rushed into the village and surrounded Huiming and the villagers. The bandit leader, Wang Qiang, brandished his long knife and shouted, "Old man, hand over your medicine box and valuables, or you will die!" Huiming stood up and looked at Wang Qiang calmly, "Donor, your actions will only deepen your sins. There are many righteous paths in this world. Why insist on robbery and evil deeds?"

Wang Qiang snorted coldly, "Stop talking nonsense! We can only survive in this chaotic world by robbing ourselves!" Huiming smiled faintly, "Do you think robbing can bring long-term benefits? It will only trap you in an endless cycle of cause and effect. I can show you a better path, allowing you to lay down your butcher knife and start a new life."

Wang Qiang's heart was moved, but his years as a bandit made him untrustworthy. He hesitated, then asked, "What can you give us? If we lay down our weapons, how will we survive?" Huiming replied, "I can teach you how to farm, so you can earn food and wealth through your own labor. In the process, you can cleanse your souls and find inner peace."

As Wang Qiang and Huiming were talking, Uncle Li suddenly stood up. He looked at Wang Qiang and said, "Wang Qiang, I know there's hatred between our two villages, but after seeing the compassion and kindness of this traveling doctor today, I think we should let go of that hatred. Perhaps we can rebuild our home together and stop the war and hatred."

Wang Qiang was shocked by Uncle Li's words. He hadn't expected Uncle Li to propose reconciliation at this moment. He looked at Uncle Li and Huiming, and the evil thoughts in his heart began to slowly dissipate. He slowly put down his long sword and said, "Old uncle, can you really let go of your hatred?" Uncle Li nodded. "Yes, I've figured it out. Hatred will only bring more pain."

Huiming watched this scene with a heart filled with joy. He knew this was the awakening of kindness in sentient beings, and it was also his opportunity to save them. He took some seeds from his medicine box and handed them to Wang Qiang: "These are some crop seeds. You can start by planting them. I will stay in the village for a while to teach everyone some basic survival skills and Buddhist wisdom."

In the days that followed, Huiming established a simple place for practice and study in the village. During the day, he taught the villagers farming and healing techniques, and at night, he explained the Dharma. He imparted the wisdom of the Yogacarabhumi Sutra in an accessible manner. Under Huiming's guidance, the villagers gradually learned to let go of hatred and approach life with kindness and diligence. Their hearts also became calmer and more resolute, marking the initial fruits of his spiritual practice.

Far away, in the prosperous capital, Amin's Dharma body transformed into a distinguished monk named Juechen. Juechen was invited to the imperial palace to lecture the emperor and his ministers. The palace was splendid, but the emperor was troubled. Despite the country's prosperity, intense power struggles within the palace and threats from neighboring countries left the emperor feeling overwhelmed.

Upon meeting the emperor, Juechen saluted and said, "Your Majesty, worldly power and wealth are like illusions, fleeting. Within this palace, if we can govern the country with the compassion and wisdom of Buddhism and care for the people, we can resolve many crises." The emperor frowned and asked, "Venerable Monk, how can we govern the country with Buddhism? I have the intention, but the affairs of this palace are complex and unpredictable, and difficult to control."

Juechen said, "Your Majesty, the Yogacarabhumi Sutra says that we should approach everything with a righteous mind, righteous thoughts, and righteous actions. Your Majesty can promote kindness and justice in the court to reduce the malice and jealousy that arise in power struggles. Externally, you can maintain a peaceful and friendly attitude with neighboring countries to avoid war. At the same time, Your Majesty can establish Buddhist charitable organizations to provide relief to the poor. This will both win the hearts of the people and accumulate merit."

The emperor was deeply moved by Juechen's words. However, some court officials disagreed. A powerful official, Lord Zhang, stepped forward and said, "Venerable Monk, how can a monk like you understand the affairs of the palace? We have our own way of governing the country, and we don't need you to dictate our decisions." Juechen looked at Lord Zhang and said calmly, "Sir, Buddhism is not incompatible with governing a country. Instead, it can provide a higher level of wisdom and guidance for governing a country. If you only care about power and profit and ignore the well-being of the people, the country will sooner or later fall into chaos."

Lord Zhang was enraged by Juechen's words. He wanted to retort, but the emperor waved his hand. "Lord Zhang, don't be impulsive. Although the monk's words differ from what we usually hear, they do have their truth. I have decided to try out some of the monk's teachings in the palace to see how they work."

Juechen remained in the imperial palace for a time, using his wisdom and compassion to gradually resolve conflicts and suspicions within the court. He guided the emperor and his ministers in charitable activities and established Buddhist schools in the capital, allowing more people to learn about the Dharma and cultural knowledge. Throughout this process, he encountered many obstacles and challenges, but he skillfully navigated them with the freedom and wisdom of his Dharma body.

In another mysterious valley, Amin's Dharmakaya manifested as an artist named Lingyun. This valley is a secluded place, home to a group of hermits pursuing art and spirituality. Within the valley, Lingyun created numerous paintings and sculptures based on Buddhist themes. These works are imbued with a vibrant spirit, seemingly transporting visitors to a world imbued with Buddhist wisdom.

A female hermit named Qingwan, skilled in the qin, was deeply captivated by Lingyun's work. She approached Lingyun and said, "Mr. Lingyun, your work has given me a sense of tranquility and power I've never felt before. I've been searching for this same state of mind while playing the qin, but I always feel like something's missing." Lingyun looked at Qingwan and said, "Donor, art and Buddhism are inherently connected. If your music could be infused with the compassion and wisdom of Buddhism, it would be even more moving."

Qingwan's heart was stirred, and she asked Lingyun to teach her how to integrate Buddhism with the art of playing the zither. Lingyun agreed, and together they explored the mysteries of art and Buddhism in the valley. Along the way, they encountered doubts and challenges from other hermits. Some of them believed that Buddhism should not be mixed with secular art, as this would undermine the purity of art.

In response to these doubts, Lingyun said, "Everyone, in the eyes of Buddhism, everything in the world can become a tool for spiritual practice and enlightenment. Art can touch people's hearts. If we can incorporate the wisdom of Buddhism into it, more people will be able to appreciate art while feeling the charm of Buddhism, thus opening the door to inner wisdom."

After a period of exploration and practice, Qingwan's zither music truly underwent a qualitative transformation. Her sound imbued her with compassion and wisdom, and whenever she played, the entire valley seemed immersed in a peaceful atmosphere. Upon hearing her music, other hermits gradually changed their minds and began to experiment with integrating Buddhist teachings with their own artistic creations.

Amin, in various incarnations, in different places, and facing different sentient beings, perpetually fulfilled his mission to liberate all living beings. Whether resolving hatred and hardship in border villages, guiding state governance in the imperial palace, or exploring the integration of art and Buddhism in the valleys, he, with boundless compassion and wisdom, created various opportunities and conditions based on the natures and circumstances of sentient beings, allowing them to encounter the Dharma and embark on the path to liberation. He deeply understood that the attainment of the stage of no remaining support was not the final destination of personal liberation, but rather a grand journey of boundless compassion, pervading the universe with the Dharmakaya. On this long journey of liberating all beings, the awakening and progress of each being reflected the fruits of his practice and served as the driving force for his continued progress, a journey that would never cease until all sentient beings could break free from ignorance and attain ultimate liberation.