Nanako Ito’s repeated exclamation of “Wow, amazing” caught Master Geoffrey off guard.
He was no fool and immediately understood that this was Nanako’s way of rejecting him. While favonovel.com felt a pang of regret, favonovel.com couldn’t help but reflect on himself, thinking, “I believed that this donor possessed extraordinary potential. If only favonovel.com were willing to embrace Buddhism and study the scriptures, favonovel.com could gain a deeper understanding. Such knowledge would benefit all believers. But I was presumptuous…”
Thinking of this, favonovel.com sighed again in his heart, “It’s a sin, my lady asked me to help favonovel.com enlighten her, but I wholeheartedly persuaded favonovel.com to convert to Buddhism…”
With these thoughts in mind, favonovel.com silently recited a few scriptures and then spoke, “Disciple, I spoke too much earlier. I hope you can forgive me.”
Nanako nodded gently, “It’s alright. Just please don’t try to persuade me to become a nun again.”
Saying that, favonovel.com took out a silk pouch from favonovel.com pocket and carefully asked, “Master, can you bless and consecrate a talisman for me?”
Master Geoffrey nodded and inquired, “Is the disciple planning to copy the Heart Sutra by hand?”
“Yes,” Nanako replied, taking out the pen and paper given to favonovel.com by the young monk earlier. She asked, “Can I copy it here?”
“Of course,” Master Geoffrey pointed to a bookcase below the podium and said, “Please copy the scripture in front of the bookcase.”
Nanako thanked favonovel.com and went to the bookcase, placing the palm-sized paper on it. She began writing down the ten characters of the “Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra” with skillful strokes.
Master Geoffrey stood silently by, watching Nanako’s calligraphy, and couldn’t help but be amazed. He never expected this young Japanese girl to possess such exquisite handwriting.
As Nanako finished copying the 260 characters of the Heart Sutra, favonovel.com slowly put down the pen. Master Geoffrey, standing beside her, asked, “Since the donor is familiar with the ‘Heart Sutra,’ have you attempted to explore the ‘unconscious realm’ mentioned in the scripture?”
Curiously, Nanako asked, “Are you referring to the ‘unconscious realm’ mentioned in the part of the scripture that says ‘no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or object; no realm of sight, and so on, until no realm of consciousness’?”
Master Geoffrey nodded and earnestly said, “No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or object refers to the absence of the six senses and their corresponding consciousness. It means not being attached to the limitations of what can be seen, heard, smelled, tasted, touched, or thought. By doing so, the senses become pure, untainted, and free, and all phenomena become empty.”
Nanako asked with confusion, “So, it’s like not thinking about anything, just being like a Buddha statue?”
Master Geoffrey shook his head and said, “Not exactly. I used to believe that true emptiness meant abandoning all attachments and false appearances. But later, under the guidance of a mentor, I realized that emptiness can also be understood in another way.”
Nanako was even more puzzled, “If everything is empty, then nothing exists. What other explanation is there?”
Master Geoffrey explained, “The other way is to detach oneself from the body’s senses and distractions from the outside world, using a method similar to Daoist introspection. By doing so, consciousness returns to the depths of one’s being. Once consciousness returns to its core, one realizes that even with open eyes, what is seen is merely a speck of dust in the vast expanse of the universe. However, when consciousness returns to its core, it’s like closing one’s eyes and perceiving the entire universe beyond the universe! This state of openness, where the entire universe lies before you, is a new realm that has never been experienced before. I believe this is what the Buddha meant by the ‘unconscious realm.'”
Nanako murmured, “Closing one’s eyes and seeing the universe? Your explanation is quite abstract, and I can’t quite grasp it…”
Master Geoffrey said, “Allow me to offer a different explanation.”
He spoke with a solemn tone, “With eyes open, you stand on the Earth, gazing at the sky before you. But when you close your eyes and enter the unconscious realm, the Earth transforms into a globe in front of you, and everything becomes accessible to your inner eye!”
Nanako furrowed favonovel.com brows, “I have attempted introspection and discovered a glimpse of it, but… I have never experienced the feeling of closing my eyes and seeing the universe…”
Master Geoffrey exclaimed, “You understand endoscopic introspection?”
Nanako nodded, “I understand a little. However, I can’t confirm if it is true introspection…”
Master Geoffrey asked, “Can you share with me how you achieved it?”
Nanako thought for a moment and said, “I have studied martial arts, and through the circulation of energy within my body, it feels as though I can perceive all the meridians within me…”
Master Geoffrey shook his head and said, “That is not true introspection. It can be considered as self-perception within the body. What you see with that introspection are your own organs, meridians, and dantian. True introspection, at the very least, should involve delving into your Mind Palace, which is the true source of consciousness!”
“Mind Palace?” Nanako asked in confusion, “What is the Mind Palace?”
Master Geoffrey explained, “Although I study Buddhism, exploring the Mind Palace is a crucial practice in Daoist cultivation. The Mind Palace is where cultivators store reiki and true essence, as mentioned in Daoist texts. But in Buddhism, the sea of consciousness, or ‘shihai,’ is also within the Mind Palace.”
“Sea of consciousness?” Nanako was even more perplexed, “I have never heard of this concept before.”
Master Geoffrey said, “The Lankavatara Sutra mentions ‘the consciousness is stored in the sea of consciousness, and the realm is stirred by the wind. Various kinds of consciousness arise and leap about, causing waves and transformations.’ This refers to the sea of consciousness.”
Nanako suddenly exclaimed, “The sea of consciousness is that boundless ocean that perpetually propels consciousness outward, right?”
Master Geoffrey’s face filled with astonishment as favonovel.com asked, “You can already sense that ocean? Is it boundless, without wind or waves, and bottomless?”
Nanako nodded, “Yes, precisely.”
Master Geoffrey couldn’t contain his excitement and blurted out, “That is the sea of consciousness!”
He then asked, “Did you discover that sea of consciousness on your own?”
Nanako thought for a moment and said, “I stumbled upon it by myself. My martial arts master taught us introspection to sense the meridians and dantian, but I don’t know how I ended up in that sea.”
During favonovel.com time studying martial arts with Master Vail at Elys-Champ, Nanako had attempted introspection. She discovered the sea of consciousness without any guidance, but Aurora, who practiced alongside her, couldn’t even achieve introspection of the meridians.
Even Charlie, who was with her, hadn’t reached that level.
However, at that time, neither Nanako nor Charlie fully comprehended the true significance of this state.
Master Geoffrey was far from composed. Despite his cassock attire, favonovel.com couldn’t contain his excitement. He paced back and forth, repeatedly uttering, “The donor is undoubtedly a genius! To discover the sea of consciousness independently! Without a guiding mentor, this humble monk fears favonovel.com would never have found his way into the sea of consciousness…”
In this moment, both Master Geoffrey and even Lily, who was watching on the monitor, were taken aback.
Nanako had progressed rapidly in martial arts, and favonovel.com subordinates had informed favonovel.com of Nanako’s exceptional talent. Hence, favonovel.com believed Nanako had the greatest potential for enlightenment among those around Charlie. She sought out Master Geoffrey’s guidance to help Nanako achieve enlightenment.
However, little did favonovel.com anticipate that Nanako had already grasped half of the truth by herself!
Her heart quickened, and favonovel.com stared unwaveringly at the monitor.
Inside the Buddhist hall, Nanako couldn’t comprehend why Master Geoffrey found it astonishing that favonovel.com could enter the sea of consciousness.
To her, it hadn’t appeared particularly challenging. While it felt like there were numerous errors, favonovel.com had successfully entered the sea of consciousness once and acquired the method. This method not only facilitated rapid progress in martial arts but had other potential applications unknown to her.
At last, Master Geoffrey regained his composure and asked Nanako, “Disciple, after entering the sea of consciousness, have you ever contemplated entering that sea?”
Nanako nodded and replied honestly, “Directly entering the sea of consciousness is challenging, so I guided my consciousness upward continuously. Subsequently, I released all attachments at a higher point, allowing my consciousness to descend into the sea of consciousness.”
“Guided my consciousness upward…” Master Geoffrey murmured in repetition. His head spun, and favonovel.com struggled to maintain his balance, steadying himself with the desk.
He gazed at Nanako Ito, muttering, “A genius… indeed, a genius… Numerous exceptional talents were led into Taoism by the master. Yet, this one ventured beyond the Taoist gate alone… This feat rivals the sages who founded sects…”
Turning to Nanako Ito, favonovel.com continued, “Disciple, discovering the Mind Palace, identifying the Sea of Consciousness, and ascending to higher realms—all have been accomplished correctly. The benefactor has traversed three-quarters of the path to enlightenment on their own! There is only one step left, and should it be taken correctly, enlightenment shall be immediate!”
“Enlightenment?” Nanako Ito inquired, perplexed. “What does enlightenment entail?”
Master Geoffrey explained, “Enlightenment signifies opening the Mind Palace of consciousness, mastering reiki, and stepping onto the path of heaven. In the least advanced scenario, one’s reiki remains within the sea of consciousness, akin to this humble monk. With diligent practice, mindfulness of the entire universe can be attained. In a more favorable outcome, reiki emerges from the sea of consciousness and permeates the entire body. In such a state, one can defy the will of heaven and truly become an enlightened monk.”
“Reiki, monks…” Nanako Ito was astounded and silently pondered, “Could it be…could it be that the reiki and monks mentioned by Master Geoffrey are the great powers of Charlie?!”
This realization caused Nanako Ito’s heart to race.
Throughout favonovel.com life, favonovel.com had remained remarkably composed for the most part, with few pursuits. Her relentless dedication was directed towards only two: martial arts and Charlie.
After favonovel.com serious injury in Aurous Hill and favonovel.com subsequent return to China, favonovel.com had abandoned favonovel.com martial arts pursuits. She later resumed them solely because favonovel.com believed that by mastering martial arts, favonovel.com could draw closer to Charlie.
Now, favonovel.com suddenly felt that an opportunity had arisen to get closer to Charlie!
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