Chapter 22 The long-term mind needed to learn Buddhism is longer than planting ivy (20)

I heard that it takes a long time to plant a pot of ivy with swaying branches and leaves dancing in the wind. The little ivy I planted has been growing for several months, and it still looks like a mustache. I don’t know when I will see its long hair.I'm losing patience with plants that grow slower than a snail can crawl.One day, I couldn't help but bought a pot of elegant and elegant "long" ivy.I hung it by the window to admire it, and saw that every leaf was green and full, welcoming the sunlight that slanted into the house. When the wind blows, the long waist swings like a diving dance; when the wind stops, the still green vines cascade down like a waterfall, which is really beautiful!The most wonderful thing is that the leaves rolled up at the end of each branch are not only like the hair tips of a girl, but also like the splashing water of a waterfall. I call it "green waterfall".

Unexpectedly, as a result of several trips and entrusting someone to take care of it, the "Green Waterfall" gradually lost its charm and eventually dried up completely.As its long branches and leaves withered one by one, my patience was almost withered as I reluctantly plucked them off and couldn't help them. Maybe I am happy to see the vigorous and thriving side of plants, but I can't accept the bleak, desolate, decadent side!For the two, I did not maintain an equidistant concern; it was like looking at practice, and I did not always remind myself to maintain a long-term mind of equality and diligence.

I remember when I first became a monk, with lofty ideals in mind, I left my loved ones and stepped into the Buddhist gate. As a young and vigorous person, I had infinite longing for becoming a monk and practicing.Once you put yourself into practice, you contradict your own habits everywhere, often leaving you with scars.The most frustrating thing is, I worked so hard, why didn't I make any progress? Once, I told my troubles to Master, and Master asked, "Where do you think you haven't made progress?" I babbled about it, and Master replied, "Cultivation requires a steady flow of water, so don't try to drink the water from the West River in one gulp."

is not that right?The Buddhist scriptures say that cultivation requires "three great monks' kalpas". Converted into modern calculations, it is simply too long to calculate.How important is the long-term mind in the long journey of cultivation!Can the so-called "practice" be achieved overnight? "Brave mind is easy to develop, but long-term mind is hard to hold." I don't know how many practitioners have practiced in ancient times. How many people have really achieved something?Isn't it because of the long-term Bodhisattva path, forgetting the long-term heart?

I encourage myself: in every drink and peck, I am chewing on the profound meaning of practice; in my gestures, I am gathering the merits of merit and wisdom.In the pursuit of "the eternal sky", we must not forget the "one morning wind and moon", and pay attention to every moment that passes by. (This picture is provided by Wu Xiaodan)