Amamiya Rin opened his eyes, his brows tightly knit.
Through self-suggestion and small hypnotic tricks, his daily walking, sitting, and sleeping were not greatly affected. However, when he attempted to enter Dhyana (meditative absorption), the thoughts of [Tomie] became excessively noisy.
It was like a needle dropping on the floor of an empty, sealed room; even that would turn into a cacophony.
The [Abbot] saw Amamiya Rin's distress but simply shook his head gently.
"The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a standing mirror bright. At all times polish it diligently, and let no dust alight. Cultivation is not achieved overnight; do not rush, take it slowly."
Amamiya Rin took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety in his heart.
"Abbot, I would like to ask you to explain the other five Wondrous Gates of the Breath Counting Meditation and the [White Skeleton Visualization]."
Hearing this, the [Abbot]'s white eyebrows furrowed slightly, and the look of disapproval on his face became more apparent. He felt that Amamiya Rin had not taken his words to heart at all.
"Cultivation most avoids aiming too high when one's reach is short. You have not yet entered the gate of Breath Counting Meditation, yet you are thinking about the subsequent steps, or even directly practicing the [White Skeleton Visualization]. It is like trying to build a high-rise without a stable foundation."
"Abbot, I am under another curse named the 'Golden Millet Dream'."
Amamiya Rin interrupted the [Abbot]'s admonition and revealed his little secret.
"This curse causes my time in the [Dream World] to be infinitely stretched. A single sleep in reality might equate to ten years, or even decades, in the dream. I may not have that much time to slowly polish my foundation in reality, but I can do it in the dream."
"Such a fierce curse?"
The [Abbot] was stunned for a moment, but then he realized just how dangerous this [Long Dream], which appeared to be a stroke of fortune, truly was.
Compressing decades of experience into a single night—how could the human brain withstand it?
"So be it. Since [Ranko] guided you here, and you possess such an anomaly, this poor monk will explain the Six Wondrous Gates and the [White Skeleton Visualization] to you."
The [Abbot] no longer spoke of proceeding step-by-step. Instead, he skipped the Gate of Counting and explained the subsequent practices to Amamiya Rin.
"After the Gate of Counting comes the Gate of Following. One abandons counting breaths and the mind follows the breath. From intentional control to natural awareness, the mind and breath merge into one, like salt dissolving in water, leaving no trace..."
"After the Gate of Following is the Gate of Stopping. Both mind and breath cease their activity, entering into Dhyana. One breaks the attachment to the object of breath, entering the state of 'One-Pointedness of Mind.' At this time, body and mind vanish, like the great void containing clouds. Only at this realm has one truly entered Dhyana."
"These three are the Study of Concentration, teaching one to achieve a meditative state where the mind abides in one place and delusions do not arise. The latter three—the Gate of Contemplating, the Gate of Returning, and the Gate of Purifying—are the Study of Wisdom. Using wisdom to observe and break the attachment to the self, observing wisdom, exhausting delusion and returning to the source, one aligns with Nirvana and attains the fruit of the [Arhat]."
"..."
The more he spoke, the more mystical it sounded.
Amamiya Rin was slightly speechless. So, if he successfully practiced the Six Wondrous Gates, would he ascend to the Western Pure Land and become a Buddha?
The [Abbot]'s gaze fell upon The Sutra on the Secret Essential Methods of Chan on the table, and his tone became solemn.
"The gist of the [White Skeleton Visualization] is not to visualize white bones, but to break the greedy attachment to the physical body by visualizing the impurity of the corporeal form. When practicing, one must proceed gradually, starting the visualization from the toes. From skin to muscle, then to tendons and veins, and finally to bones, slowly peeling away the illusion of beauty, leaving only the stark white bones... If one can focus on practicing the [White Skeleton Visualization] for ninety days, one can sequentially attain the fruits of the Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami, and [Arhat]..."
The [Abbot]'s voice was peaceful and slow as he recounted the essentials of the Breath Counting Meditation and the dangers of the [White Skeleton Visualization] one by one.
Amamiya Rin listened with rapt attention while flipping through The Sutra on the Secret Essential Methods of Chan, striving to carve every character into his mind.
The explanation lasted for a long time, as the [Abbot] not only explained the Breath Counting Meditation and The Sutra on the Secret Essential Methods of Chan, but also expounded on the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra for Amamiya Rin.
The teaching continued until the sky outside the window had completely darkened. Dim yellow lights were lit inside the temple. The [Abbot] prepared a vegetarian meal for Amamiya Rin and arranged a simple guest room for him to stay in.
After finishing the vegetarian meal, Amamiya Rin took out his wallet and looked. He had given Miss [Yuko] twenty thousand yen. Between buying The Sutra on the Secret Essential Methods of Chan, eating lunch, and taking the transport, the remaining money was pitifully scant.
However, Amamiya Rin did not begrudge these expenses.
Although [Hashimoto Ayaka] and the others had turned into [Tomie] before paying the full compensation, a large portion of the compensation already paid had not been used up. There should still be around a million yen in the trust account designated by the court.
Amamiya Rin counted out five ten-thousand-yen notes from his wallet and handed them to the [Abbot].
"Abbot, this is a small token of my appreciation. Thank you for your guidance."
Amamiya Rin spoke sincerely.
The [Abbot] glanced at it and shook his head: "The benefactor has physical inconveniences and many places where money is needed. There is no need for incense money."
"Please, you must accept it. Explaining the Buddhist Dharma practice might seem like a simple effort to you, but for me, it is a life-saving grace."
Amamiya Rin's attitude was resolute, and he showed no intention of retracting his hand.
"Since that is the case, this poor monk will accept it. Many thanks for the benefactor's almsgiving."
Seeing the stubborn look in Amamiya Rin's eyes, the [Abbot] sighed and finally accepted it.
Amamiya Rin pressed his palms together and bowed to the [Abbot].
The next morning, Amamiya Rin woke up early.
Leaning on his crutch, he walked to the tea room from yesterday. The [Abbot] was already there dining; seeing Amamiya Rin arrive, he prepared a portion of breakfast for him as well.
After the meal, under the [Abbot]'s guidance, Amamiya Rin continued to practice the Breath Counting Meditation.
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale...
He sat on the futon, following the posture taught by the [Abbot], his back straight and his hands forming the Dhyana Mudra.
His consciousness focused on the tip of his nose, feeling the inflow and outflow of breath, taming his restless heart bit by bit.
Days passed one by one. Aside from necessary meals, rest, and a small amount of activity to stretch his bones, Amamiya Rin spent almost all his time on that square futon.
He didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly, a burst of noisy feminine laughter and chatter came from outside the tea room.
As the sounds approached from afar, Amamiya Rin frowned and opened his eyes.
He saw more than twenty [Kawakami Tomie]s, dressed in various styles, swarming into the courtyard giggling. Some wore fashionable short skirts, some wore traditional kimonos, and others wore nurse uniforms, but without exception, they all bore that perfectly demon-like face.
"Oh my, so this is [Kikoku Temple]? It's so broken-down."
One [Tomie] looked around with disdain.
"[Rin]-kun~ Are you really practicing here? It's so boring, come out and play with us!"
Another [Tomie] shouted toward Amamiya Rin in the tea room.
"Exactly, what's good about being a monk? It's all clear soup and water. Look at what we brought!"
A third [Tomie] raised a high-end pastry box in her hand and shook it.
The [Tomie]s smiled beautifully, their lovely eyes glancing about. Their voices interwoven—sweet, seductive, delicate, resentful—burrowing into Amamiya Rin's ears like countless small insects, attempting to disturb his mind.
The [Abbot] said nothing. From somewhere, he produced a Vajra pestle and walked to the door of the tea room. He sat cross-legged, resembling a Dharma-protecting Vajra. His aged yet benevolent face radiated a dignified and imposing aura at this moment.
The [Tomie]s did not forcibly break into the temple. They simply stayed outside the tea room, using their beautiful voices to tempt Amamiya Rin.
"Ignore them. Continue counting your breaths," the [Abbot]'s voice came steadily, like the needle that calms the sea.
Amamiya Rin acknowledged with a sound. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes again, and tried hard to ignore the warbling voices outside.
This process was extremely mentally exhausting. The voices of the [Tomie]s circled in his mind like flies. Amamiya Rin's back gradually became soaked with sweat, his hands holding the mudra trembled slightly, his brows furrowing and his expression occasionally turning grim.
His counting was constantly interrupted, his mind repeatedly pulled away. It took immense energy to drag his attention back to his breathing.
Time flew by. Unknowingly, half a year passed. The [Tomie]s tirelessly attempted various methods of seduction, and Amamiya Rin practiced day after day accompanied by them.
At first, he could barely count a dozen breaths amidst the [Tomie]s' clamor.
Later, he gradually became able to ignore those voices and images, focusing on the breath itself. He no longer needed to count silently; he simply naturally perceived the entry and exit, the length, and the temperature of the breath, naturally entering the practice of the Gate of Following.
"He seems... actually a bit different now..."
A [Kawakami Tomie] leaning on the tea room windowsill frowned slightly, a look of doubt appearing in her eyes for the first time.
She looked at Amamiya Rin sitting quietly on the futon. His breathing was steady and long, and his whole body radiated a calm aura he had never possessed before. It was as if their voices could no longer enter Amamiya Rin's heart.
"Yeah. Before, if we made this much noise, he would have been sitting on pins and needles long ago."
Another [Tomie] leaned over, her tone lacking its previous ease.
"Is the Buddhist Dharma really effective? Tsk! There's no shortage of high monks who have knelt before us like dogs."
Yet another [Tomie] twitched her lips and spoke with contempt.
But, no matter what they said, Amamiya Rin just sat there, ignoring their voices.
They looked at each other, all seeing the same emotion in each other's eyes.
This feeling of being unable to grasp control made them feel very uncomfortable, accustomed as they were to being pursued by men.
However, this kind of thing would not make them retreat; instead, it aroused an even more vigorous competitive spirit.
To conquer a male, even [Tomie]s who were incompatible as fire and water would unite and cooperate.
There was once an ugly man who, because he knew he would never receive true love, saw through [Tomie]'s true nature and never succumbed to her charm.
As a result, the [Tomie]s cooperated to put on a play, collectively bullying a severely burned [Tomie]. This caused the ugly man to feel empathy for the bullied [Tomie], and he gradually fell in love with her.
The result held no suspense. After confirming she had successfully seduced the ugly man, [Tomie] decisively healed her burns, ruthlessly mocked the ugly man, and left swaggering.
"Boring! This is too boring!"
"Do you think you're some handsome, dashing, and suave man? Fine, even if you are, you'll never find girlfriends more beautiful than us!"
"Goodbye! Never to see you again! We're through!"
"Narcissistic guy, do you really think we have to hang onto you forever?"
...
The [Tomie]s caused a ruckus for several days in a row. Discovering that Amamiya Rin just sat there, unresponsive as a stone, their faces gradually changed. Complaining, mocking, and scolding, they left [Kikoku Temple] one after another.
Listening to those fading sounds of coquettish anger and footsteps, Amamiya Rin's taut nerves finally relaxed slightly, and he let out a long breath.
Only he knew how difficult the cultivation just now had been. [Tomie]'s temptation was not completely ineffective; it was just forcibly suppressed by his stronger willpower.
On the morning of the second day, when the morning light shone into [Kikoku Temple] once again, brisk footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
"[Rin]! We've came to see you!"
"Little [Rin]~ Did you miss us?"
Accompanying two crisp and melodious female voices, two unexpected visitors appeared at [Kikoku Temple].
Amamiya Rin subconsciously opened his eyes and looked toward the sound. He saw two women, different in style but equally eye-catching, walking into the courtyard and heading straight for the tea room.
Walking in front was a purple-haired young girl. She was tall and voluptuous, wearing a fitted kendo uniform. Her appearance was dignified and beautiful, her temperament steady.
Following behind her was a blonde woman. Underneath a white lab coat, she wore a simple T-shirt and short skirt that outlined an extremely proud figure. She wore an innocent and slightly dazed smile on her face.
"[Saeko]? [Shizuka]!"
Amamiya Rin stood up, somewhat surprised.
"We heard you were practicing here, so we came to visit."
[Saeko Busujima] walked up to Amamiya Rin, took out her handkerchief, and meticulously wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, her eyes gentle and full of love.
"Yes, yes! Little [Rin], it's been a long time. I missed you so much."
[Shizuka Marikawa] ran happily into the tea room and threw herself onto Amamiya Rin, the soft and ample sensation pressing against his chest.
Seeing this, the [Abbot] silently stood up and left the tea room, leaving the space to them.
"I'm fine, it's just that cultivation is indeed a bit mentally draining."
Amamiya Rin laughed, a smile appearing on his face.
[Saeko Busujima], [Shizuka Marikawa]—two beauties of different styles surrounded Amamiya Rin, their eyes full of passion and concern.
As safety mechanisms created in his previous [Long Dream]s, their arrival made Amamiya Rin subconsciously relax his body, basking in this rare warmth.
"That's good. Seeing that you're alright, we can rest assured."
Hearing this, the smile on [Saeko Busujima]'s face became even softer. She leaned over and gently hugged Amamiya Rin, her full bosom pressing against his left arm, transmitting a reassuring temperature and touch.
[Shizuka Marikawa] was not to be outdone. She hugged Amamiya Rin's waist tightly, rubbing her cheek against the side of his face: "Little [Rin] seems to have gotten thinner. You definitely haven't been eating well here. We brought handmade bento and snacks, you know."
The two of them surrounded Amamiya Rin in the center. The intimate physical contact and words full of love were like a warm tide; Amamiya Rin was almost about to succumb to this land of tenderness.
However, having practiced the Breath Counting Meditation for so long, Amamiya Rin would not sink into lust so easily. He gently broke free from [Saeko Busujima] and [Shizuka Marikawa]'s embrace, pulling the two of them to sit down in the tea room.
[Saeko Busujima] took out exquisite bento and snacks from the food box and brewed a pot of tea.
[Shizuka Marikawa], meanwhile, skillfully massaged Amamiya Rin's shoulders, making him narrow his eyes in comfort.
The service from the two of them made Amamiya Rin involuntarily enjoy this rare moment of tranquility, his heart feeling a wave of stability.
____
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