Traveling through time and space.

Chapter 98: Perseverance in Adversity

In the winter of the fifteenth year of the Zhenguan reign of the Tang Dynasty, a bitterly cold wind howled across Chang'an, shrouding the entire city in a chill and a chilling atmosphere. Inside the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, candlelight flickered as Amir sat alone in his small meditation room, staring blankly at the wall, his heart filled with loss and confusion.

"I have come here across thousands of mountains and rivers, am I going to be trapped here and have all my ambitions come to nothing?" Amir murmured to himself, with a hint of bitterness and unwillingness in his voice.

At this moment, Jueyuan gently pushed open the door and walked in, holding a bowl of steaming vegetarian porridge in his hands. Seeing Amir's expression, Jueyuan felt a pang of sadness, but he still managed to cheer himself up and said with a smile, "Brother Amir, don't be so depressed. Come, eat something first."

Amir raised his head slightly, glanced at Jueyuan, and said with a wry smile, "Master Jueyuan, I'm trapped here now, how can I have the dignity to enjoy delicious food? I wanted to contribute to the exchange of Buddhist teachings, but I didn't expect to cause so much trouble to everyone."

Jueyuan sat down next to Amir, placed the porridge on the table beside him, and said seriously, "Brother Amir, this is only a temporary predicament. You see, although the winter is cold, spring will always come. Your insights and knowledge are like the shining stars. How can they be obscured by temporary dark clouds and lose their brilliance?"

Amir was slightly moved, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes: "But the court's restrictions are so strict, what else can we do?"

Jueyuan held Amir's hand and said firmly, "As long as the faith in our hearts remains unextinguished, there will always be a way. I have secretly organized a small academic group in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It is composed of like-minded people who are eager to continue to communicate and discuss with you. In this small world, we can continue to study Buddhism in depth and pass on the flame of cultural integration. And you, Brother Amir, can compile your research insights into a book so that this wisdom will not be buried and can be continued by those who are destined to explore it in the future."

Amir felt a warm feeling in his heart after hearing Jueyuan's words. He nodded heavily and said, "Okay, Master Jueyuan, you are right. I can't give up like this."

Elsewhere in the city, in Liu Yifeng's studio, he stared blankly at an unfinished painting. It depicted Amir, Jueyuan, and others discussing Buddhism before the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, sunlight bathing them, a symbol of hope and harmony. Yet, reality now proved cruel.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Liu Yifeng stood up and opened it. It was a young monk. With his hands clasped together, he said, "Donor Liu, Master Jueyuan asked me to pick up some of your paintings about cultural exchange. He wants to show them to the academic community to inspire everyone to persevere in their beliefs."

Liu Yifeng's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Okay, I'll go get it right away. Please tell Master Jueyuan that I will do my best to use my brush to record their perseverance in difficult situations, so that more people can know about their efforts."

At a secret gathering at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, several scholars and monks gathered together. Though the atmosphere was subdued, a resolute look shone through each of their eyes. Amir began to recount his latest insights into the concepts of "realm, practice, and result" from the Yogacarabhumi Sutra. His voice was low but powerful: "In the spiritual practice traditions of the Western Regions, the understanding of 'realm' focuses more on the impact of external circumstances on the inner self. For example, practicing in the desert, with its endless wind, sand, and scorching heat, is a unique 'realm' that allows practitioners to more deeply appreciate the impermanence and resilience of life..."

The scholars listened attentively, occasionally raising questions and insights. An older scholar remarked, "Amir, the external environment you're talking about seems to complement the inner self-reflection practice found in Central Plains Buddhism. Perhaps we could explore this further and find a more comprehensive path to practice."

Everyone nodded, and just then, they heard footsteps outside. Everyone suddenly became nervous, and Jueyuan quickly stood up to check. It turned out to be a young monk coming to serve tea, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Jueyuan looked at everyone and said softly, "Although our current situation is difficult, every exchange is an accumulation of hope. Everything we do is not only for our own pursuit of Buddhism, but also for all sentient beings in the world to have a broader spiritual world."

As time went by, Amir worked tirelessly day and night, and his research gradually became a book. Meanwhile, Jueyuan's secret academic group continued to grow and develop. Although they were cautious, they still aroused the suspicion of some conservative forces.

One day, a court official and his entourage arrived at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, claiming to be investigating any irregularities in academic activities. Jueyuan calmly greeted them and said, "Sir, we are simply practicing meditation and reciting Buddhist scriptures here. There is nothing wrong with this."

The official looked around but found no obvious evidence. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly saw the manuscript in Amir's room. The official frowned and said, "What is this?"

Jueyuan's heart tightened, but he still replied calmly: "Sir, these are some of Amir's personal insights and records of Buddhism. They do not violate the will of the court."

The official picked up the manuscript and flipped through a few pages. He found that while some of its viewpoints differed from those of the Central Plains tradition, it was also filled with reverence and wisdom for Buddhism. He pondered for a moment, put the manuscript down, and said, "Hmph, you better take care of yourselves. Don't give me any leverage."

After the officials left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Amir looked at Jueyuan and said gratefully, "Master Jueyuan, if it weren't for you, things might have been very different today."

Jueyuan smiled and said, "Brother Amir, as long as we hold on to our faith, nothing can stop us from pursuing the true meaning of Buddhism."

In this cold winter, the group of people in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda are like faint but firm lights, burning tenaciously in the face of adversity. They use their actions to interpret their dedication to in-depth research on Buddhism and cultural integration, waiting for the arrival of spring and the moment when Buddhist and cultural exchanges will shine brightly again.