Extra 2: Tashi Phuntsok
I, Tashi Phuntsok, sit alone in the void where three universes converge. Here, there is no up or down, no past or present; only pure existence flows silently. My consciousness, like an ancient mirror, reflects my complete trajectory from reincarnated spirit child to cosmic ferryman.
The string of phoenix eye bodhi beads in my hand has long since become a node of consciousness, each bead recording a crucial moment of decision. Closing my eyes, I can see myself in countless timelines: the young man pondering Buddhist principles in the scripture hall; the spiritual child wavering under the moonlight over love; the man who made an unrepentant choice in the avalanche; the traveler who travels through time and space without forgetting his original aspiration...
Every decision is like throwing a stone into the water, causing ripples on the surface of the lake of existence.
Memories unfold slowly like a scroll—
I'll always remember the shock I felt the first time I presided over a sky burial. Facing the solemnity of death, I first began to question the theory of reincarnation: If the soul is immortal, why do we fear death so deeply? If life is a cycle, why is every parting so heartbreaking?
These questions, like seeds, lay buried in my heart, only to sprout when I met Yanfei. Her composure, wielding the Sky Burial Knife and her calm composure in the face of life and death, opened my eyes to another possibility: perhaps the Dharma lies not in scriptures, but in the complete acceptance of life itself.
Giving up my spiritual child identity wasn't a betrayal of faith, but a deeper pursuit of truth. The temple leaders said I was trapped by love, but they didn't understand—through love, I saw a greater compassion.
That avalanche was the most beautiful accident of my life. At the juncture of life and death, I saw neither pure land nor hell, only the interweaving paths of countless lives, like a web of light. At that moment, I understood: death is not the end, but a point of transformation.
This journey through time and space allowed me to witness the grandeur of existence. From the poetic beauty of Chang'an to the solemnity of the future Buddhist kingdom, from the chaos of the secret realms of mountains and seas to the radiant light of the Xingchen Academy, each world speaks to a different facet of truth.
The most unforgettable thing is the days spent with the Kham family.
Faced with the torment of the blood curse, I briefly considered using my spacetime abilities to forcibly change their fate. It was Yan Fei's wisdom that enlightened me: true compassion isn't about shouldering others' suffering, but about helping them find their own strength.
Dorje Gyaltsen's final words made me realize that the value of life lies not in its length but in whether one lives out one's true self. His sacrifice was not an end, but a new beginning.
At the Three Realms Inn, Su Li's words, "Time and space intersect here," made me realize: all our journeys are a search for a way home. And home is not in any specific time or space, but in the awakening of the present moment.
When faced with the truth about the Primordial Light, I was deeply confused. If the universe is truly a testing ground, are all our efforts still meaningful? It was Yan Fei, with her unwavering determination, who told me: Even if the whole world is a dream, love is the only reality.
The arrival of this state of unity marked a significant turning point in my spiritual journey. When all phenomena converged into one, and all forms ceased to exist, I finally understood the true meaning of the Heart Sutra's verse: "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form." The essence of existence lies not in the realm of emptiness and existence, but in present awareness.
The birth of the new universe allowed me to witness the mystery of creation. With their pure existence, those spiritual beings showed me that the Dharma is not a bondage but a liberation; that the precepts are not limitations but protection.
The harmony of the third universe showed me that the Middle Way is not a compromise, but a wisdom that transcends opposites. Just like skillfulness and wisdom, which appear to be two different things, they are actually one and the same.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Yanfei sitting opposite me.
Her presence is like the bright moon shining across a thousand rivers, each reflection true and real. The mourner walking alone on the grasslands, the infatuated lover watching by the holy lake, the traveler exploring time and space, the wise man awakening amidst the myriad phenomena... Each of them is a guiding light on my spiritual path.
Our gaze transcends language. Deep in our consciousness, two heart lamps shine together.
"Remember?" Her thoughts drifted by like a gentle breeze. "You said you would find a way to live up to the Tathagata and to live up to your love."
I smiled: "Now I know that Tathagata and you are both false names. The true nature is not to be sought outside, but within the present moment of awareness."
The three universes now revolve harmoniously, like the constant rotation of the universe. The old universe's rigor is like discipline, the new universe's freedom is like meditation, and the third universe's balance is like wisdom. And our love is the bodhicitta that permeates the three studies.
Dawa has become a true Dharma heir. Watching him skillfully guide sentient beings from across the universe, I feel the comfort of the continuity of the Dharma lineage. He has inherited our insights and also established his own tradition. This is the most righteous lineage.
The day before yesterday, he led seekers from the new universe to ask for Dharma.
These consciousnesses are curious about the spiritual methods of the old universe, especially how to maintain the middle way in the midst of opposition.
"Teacher," a consciousness as clear as glass asked, "between the individual and the whole, between freedom and norms, how can we find the middle path that is neither extreme nor extreme?"
I taught this from heart to heart: "The Middle Way isn't about standing in the middle, but about transcending both sides. Just like observing your breath, you don't cling to the in-breath or the out-breath, but simply be aware of it clearly and distinctly."
Yan Fei added: "True freedom isn't about doing whatever you want, but about not being swayed by circumstances. True rules don't restrict your hands and feet, but about protecting your original aspirations."
The seekers' hearts are opened and their minds are enlightened. In the new universe, spiritual practice has just begun, and our experience is like a finger pointing to the moon.
After seeing off the person who came to ask for Dharma, I walked around the node of time and space.
Every step is based on reality, and every thought is based on awareness. This place has transcended the concepts of time and space, becoming a meditation hall for the three universes to practice together.
I reached the edge of the cycle of life and death, where three universes now contemplate the koan together. Here practitioners from different worlds contemplate the age-old koan: "Where does life come from, and where does death go?"
Watching my younger students diligently contemplate, I recall my own struggles in the Zen hall, pondering the question, "Who is reciting the Buddha's name?" Back then, I was lost in concepts. Now I understand: the answer lies not in thought but in present awareness.
"Master Pingcuo," a practitioner from the third universe bowed and asked, "We are contemplating the koan 'All things return to one, but where does one return to?' Please kindly enlighten us."
I helped this sincere practitioner to his feet: "All things return to one, not even one remains. If there is still a place to return to, then you have already strayed from the purpose."
The practitioner suddenly realized: "So that's how it is! If nothing exists, where can I go?"
Such Dharma connections unfold daily at the intersections of time and space. As the ferrymen of the three universes, Yan Fei and I no longer preach the Dharma. Instead, we offer guidance as circumstances dictate, allowing each practitioner to realize their own true nature.
As night fell, I returned to the redwood tree.
Yanfei is brewing tea, and the fragrance of the tea fills the air. Although we have transcended the physical body, these daily rituals remind us that the Dharma is in the world and is inseparable from the worldly awareness.
"Today, the elders of the old universe raised a profound question," Yan Fei handed over the teacup. "Since all dharmas are empty in nature, why do we still need to show compassion and save sentient beings?"
I took the teacup, feeling the warmth of the moment. "How do you respond?"
"I say, precisely because all dharmas are empty in nature, we should be compassionate and save all beings. If there were any dharma to be gained, we would have already fallen into the common view."
This answer delighted me. Indeed, while prajna and compassion may seem like two separate things, they are in reality one and the same. True emptiness gives rise to wonderful existence, and wonderful existence reveals true emptiness.
All the trials we experience: the trials of life and death, the trials of love, the trials of truth...are all aids to spiritual practice. It's not that we are overcoming difficulties, but rather that the difficulties are saving us.
Late at night, we dwell in the silence of the three universes.
The stability of the old universe is unchanging, the new universe is lively and full of vitality, and the third universe is the ultimate principle of balance and the middle way. The three realms are only mind, and all things are only consciousness.
"Sometimes I wonder," I whispered, "if the young novice monk chanting in the scripture hall saw what happened today, would he believe it?"
Yan Fei held my hand and said, "He will believe it. Because the Bodhi seed has already been planted in his heart. All our experiences are just to make this seed blossom and bear fruit."
Yes, the Buddha is in your heart, so don't look far for him. The sacred mountain is only in your heart.
At the third millennium Dharma Assembly of the three cosmic eras, we were invited to share our experiences in practice.
This is not an ordinary teaching, but a transmission from the heart. Practitioners from three universes simultaneously connect with our spiritual path.
When the sharing ended, the Dharmadhatu was completely silent. That was not the darkness of ignorance, but the light of great awakening.
Afterwards, the bliss of the Dharma fills the three realms. It is not an individual joy, but the natural expression of the Dharma nature.
At the peak of Dharma joy, I attained the ultimate enlightenment: practice and saving others, self-interest and altruism, worldly and transcendental, are the only way.
After the Dharma Assembly ended, we made a decision: to completely open the time and space node and make it a place for cultivation in the three realms, rather than our personal residence.
"The cause and effect have arrived," I said to Yanfei, "Let the Dharma flow forever, not just in one place."
She smiled knowingly: "That's right, that's right. Even the Dharma should be abandoned, let alone the non-Dharma."
We transformed the grounds beneath the redwood tree into the "Unrivaled Dharma Door," where any practitioner could come to investigate the truth. The rosary beads became an endless lamp, illuminating the path of practice in the three realms.
At this moment, I abide here, realizing the perfection of Dharma nature.
I am not the searching novice monk, nor am I the practitioner who has traveled across mountains and rivers, nor am I even the wise man who has witnessed the dependent origination of the Dharma Realm. I am the Dharma Nature itself, manifesting the path of practice through the dependent origination of Tashi Phuntsok.
Yan Fei came to my side, we smiled at each other, and everything became one.
In the distance, Dawa is guiding new practitioners. He not only spreads the Buddhist teachings but also opens the door to convenience. It is true that all Buddhas have the same path and all Dharmas are in harmony.
"Father," Dawa said in a secret voice, "the practitioners in the third universe have realized the state of 'no hindrance in everything'. Please confirm this."
I sensed that state of enlightenment, and joy filled my heart: "So it is, so it is. But don't dwell on being unobstructed, then you will truly be unobstructed."
As the morning light appears, the three realms shine simultaneously.
In this light, I review my entire spiritual journey: from the scripture hall to the grassland, from the temple to the mundane world, from this shore to the other shore...
Each stage is a necessary journey, and each turn is a manifestation of compassion. As the Avatamsaka Sutra says: "Only by remembering your original aspiration can you achieve your goal."
Yan Fei's heart's voice echoed in the Dharma Realm: "I will not let down the Tathagata, I will not let you down..."
I continue this koan: "...So Tathagata is your name."
There is silence between us, this is the way it is.
The Three Realms are like an illusion, and spiritual practice is like a dream. Yet, within this illusion and dream, two heart lamps remain ever-burning. They are us—Zhaxi Phuntsok and Qidiao Yanfei.
Not as a special practitioner, but as proof of practice; not as a monk who has attained enlightenment, but as a practitioner seeking the truth.
In the source of the Dharma Realm, we are like a boat crossing a river, ferrying both sentient beings and ourselves. When we reach the other shore, we realize that the other shore is also this shore.
And this is it.
The Bodhi tree grows simultaneously in the three realms, the Prajna lamp shines constantly in the ten directions, and the heart that seeks the truth will be passed down forever in every corner of the Dharma Realm:
"I will not let down the Tathagata, nor will I let you down. It turns out that Bodhi is in the mortal world.
After going through the three realms of cultivation, one knows that nirvana is in this life.
Nirvana is not after death, it is right now; Bodhi is not far away, it is right here and now.
And this is the truth that I, Tashi Phuntsok, ultimately realized from being a reincarnated lama child to a cosmic ferryman.
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