The Abbot was left speechless.
Tomie's magic was a rule that transcended human intellect.
In the end, it was not a curse that could be dispelled, but the materialization of human desire.
To resist Tomie's charm, one had to truly be free of lust for women; otherwise, falling under her spell was only a matter of time. Unless one was born gay, who could truly achieve such a feat that violated the laws of nature?
Monks?
The monks here weren't forbidden from marriage, and the monks over there played wilder than anyone.
"I beg of you, Abbot. Please explain the mysteries of the White Skeleton Visualization to me. My body is inconvenient to move, and I do not plan to make another trip to any other temple."
Amamiya Rin lowered his head and pleaded sincerely.
He had to learn the White Skeleton Visualization. If the Abbot of Kikoku Temple wouldn't teach him, he would have no choice but to visit other monks.
After all, the White Skeleton Visualization wasn't some secret magic spell; the abbot of any legitimate temple should understand it.
The Abbot looked at Amamiya Rin's lowered head and fell silent for a while.
Only the rustling sound of wind blowing through the courtyard leaves remained in the tea room. After a moment, he finally sighed, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen.
"Very well."
The Abbot finally spoke, his voice peaceful but carrying a trace of helplessness. After all, this was leading a fine young man down a divergent path.
"Since your mind is made up, and Ranko guided you here, this poor monk will do his best to help you. However, towering buildings rise from the ground; no matter how urgent it is, you must start from the foundation."
The Abbot picked up the now lukewarm tea and took a sip, then set down the teacup, his gaze landing on Amamiya Rin's uplifted face.
"In your current state, your mind is flighty and impetuous, overgrown with distracting thoughts. To practice the White Skeleton Visualization directly would be no different from lighting a lamp in a gale; not only will it fail to light, but it will burn you instead. Learn the Breath Counting Meditation first to settle your mind."
"Breath Counting Meditation?"
Amamiya Rin asked in confusion.
The Abbot's fingertips gently rubbed the rim of his teacup, his gaze resting on the swaying ginkgo leaves outside the window as if recalling the distant past.
"This Breath Counting Meditation is called Anapanasati in Sanskrit. 'Ana' is inhalation, 'Pana' is exhalation. Simply put, it is the mindfulness of breathing. It is said that when the Buddha first turned the Wheel of Dharma at Deer Park, he taught this method to his disciple Ananda. It is the most fundamental method of Zen practice passed down to this day. Whether it is the Sixteen Stages of Insight in the Southern transmission, or the White Skeleton Visualization and Buddha Recitation Zen in the Northern transmission, all use Breath Counting Meditation as the preliminary means to regulate the mind."
The Abbot turned his head to look at Amamiya Rin, his benevolent features becoming solemn.
"Have you read Journey to the West?"
"Of course."
Amamiya Rin nodded.
He was Chinese in his past life; how could he not have read Journey to the West?
The Abbot said, "Cultivation is the cultivation of the mind. Sun Wukong symbolizes uncontrollable delusion, and the White Dragon Horse represents scattered desire. The core of Breath Counting Meditation is to regulate the mind, helping you tether the Mind Ape that is Sun Wukong and lock up the Will Horse that is the White Dragon Horse. Only when you have successfully reined in your heart can you begin to practice."
Amamiya Rin suddenly realized the truth. He had heard long ago that Journey to the West was about Daoist methods of cultivating the mind, but it turned out the Buddhist methods of cultivating the mind were in there as well.
"By the way, Abbot..."
Amamiya Rin's eyes dodged about, but he couldn't resist asking, "Um, regarding cultivation... can one cultivate magic power?"
Having listened to the Abbot explain so many methods of cultivation, Amamiya Rin couldn't hold back.
With all these elaborate theories, surely it wasn't just about cultivating one's state of mind?
"Magic power?"
The Abbot shook his head and spoke in an admonishing tone, "The point of cultivation is to cut off afflictions and realize the ultimate reality, not to pursue supernatural powers. If one sees that all forms are not forms, one sees the Tathagata."
Amamiya Rin asked, "I understand that. I just want to know, what should a cultivator do when they encounter demons and monsters? For example, Officer Indou is responsible for special cases; how does she usually handle it when she encounters danger?"
"Supernatural power is no match for Karma. If one cultivates the Sixth Consciousness, one can anticipate danger. When Breath Counting Meditation is cultivated to a profound level, one can regulate the body and mind, improving one's physique. As for Ranko... I was the master who taught her mind cultivation. She learned Onmyodo elsewhere. In order to cultivate Onmyodo, Ranko's internal organs were torn asunder, and her body is riddled with scars. She is already obsessed with supernatural powers and has deviated from the right path of liberation."
The Abbot sighed with compassion, revealing a somewhat helpless expression.
It was unclear if he was sighing for Officer Indou stepping onto a crooked path, or sighing because young people always thought about supernatural magic power and had no interest in the true path of Zen meditation.
"...In other words, when we who cultivate Buddhism encounter demons and monsters, we can only run away?"
Amamiya Rin blinked.
The Abbot's words gave him a certain sense of déjà vu.
Breathing? Running away? Ripple Overdrive!
The Abbot was not annoyed by the slight offense in Amamiya Rin's words; he simply nodded decisively.
"Do not try to be brave. Ranko is a top-tier Onmyoji in this country, yet she is often covered in cuts and bruises. Even to the extent that... when encountering demons and monsters, running is just what you do."
Amamiya Rin could vaguely sense that the 'even to the extent that' which the Abbot hesitated to speak of was likely something terrible. However, since the Abbot did not intend to reveal Officer Indou's privacy, Amamiya Rin naturally wouldn't press for answers.
"Abbot, how should I learn this Breath Counting Meditation?"
Amamiya Rin returned to the main topic and asked seriously.
"Breath Counting Meditation has Six Wondrous Gates: Counting, Following, Stopping, Contemplating, Returning, and Purifying. The first stage, the Gate of Counting, uses counting breaths to gather the scattered mind."
The Abbot stood up and walked to Amamiya Rin's side, extending a withered hand to press on his shoulder.
"First, adjust your sitting posture. Straighten your back, but do not be stiff..."
Under the Abbot's direction, Amamiya Rin placed his crutch aside. He rested his hands naturally on his knees, palms facing up, thumbs lightly touching.
"This is the Dhyana Mudra. It can help you gather your scattered Qi. The key is to let your body relax."
Amamiya Rin did as told. Once he had adjusted his posture, the Abbot returned to sit opposite him, his fingertip gently tapping his own nose tip.
"The secret to Breath Counting Meditation is to know when the breath enters and know when the breath exits. You do not need to think about where the breath comes from or where it goes; simply focus your attention on the tip of your nose. When inhaling, know that the air is coming in; when exhaling, know that the air is going out. With each completed inhalation and exhalation, silently count a number in your heart, from one to ten. If you forget what number you were on halfway through, or if your thoughts run off elsewhere, do not rush; simply start again from one."
"Sounds like counting sheep?"
Amamiya Rin quipped, closing his eyes and following the Abbot's instructions.
When inhaling, he could feel the cool air brushing past the tip of his nose, carrying the scent of grass and trees from the courtyard.
When exhaling, the warm breath rushed out, causing his nostrils to tremble slightly.
(One, two, three...)
Amamiya Rin counted silently in his heart, but just as he reached the third cycle, the clamor of the Tomies interrupted his counting. Faces, some happy and some angry, flashed through his mind, causing Amamiya Rin's heart to contract violently and his breathing rhythm to fall into disarray.
Too loud! It was simply too loud! The voices of the Tomies never ceased.
Or rather, their thoughts had never been interrupted.
Under normal circumstances, thoughts flow through a person's consciousness level almost every minute and second. Although the Tomies were not deliberately striking up a conversation with him, when he gathered his mind inward to practice Zen meditation, even the smallest thoughts on the spiritual level became exceptionally noisy.
____
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