The Great Vow Shines Like a Lamp, and the Journey of Vows Never Ends

The Beginning: Overcoming All Obstacles to Set Off for Mount Jiuhua

 

During the time of Er Yue Er Long Tai Tou (the day the dragon raises its head in the lunar calendar), I once again embarked on a five-day pilgrimage to Mount Jiuhua, following the call of fate.

 

When deciding whether to participate in this year's event, I hesitated as usual, weighed by concerns and uncertainties. It wasn't until the Chinese New Year, under the influence of both internal and external forces, that I finally made up my mind. Reflecting on my past decision-making experiences in critical matters, I must admit that I often struggled with attachments and distractions, unable to see the right path clearly. This led me to make misguided choices, gradually drifting into mediocrity, disorder, and confusion.

 

Looking Back: The Unspoken Transformation

 

Thinking back to my previous journeys to Mount Jiuhua over the past two years, the memories remain vivid. Initially, my mind was occupied with thoughts of the arduous journey, the considerable expenses, the physical pain, and the simple accommodations. However, upon quiet reflection on the changes that occurred in myself, my family, and my business after each pilgrimage, I had to acknowledge that every visit to Mount Jiuhua brought about subtle yet profound internal transformations—ones that were undeniably real and overwhelmingly positive. My family relationships became more harmonious, negativity within the company diminished, and over the past two years, more benefactors have appeared in my life.

 

Each return from Mount Jiuhua meant both a loss and a gain. The key realization was that what I lost were things I had long wanted to let go of, while what I gained were truly essential, life-changing treasures.

 

Being able to visit Mount Jiuhua three times is no doubt a testament to my deep karmic connection with this sacred place. I am grateful for the blessings of Mount Jiuhua and the compassionate protection of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. His guidance not only helps me dissolve my karmic obstacles but also continuously grants me the power of the Great Vow, strengthening my resolve to progress on the path of cultivation.

 

The First Journey: Letting Go, Karmic Dissolution, and the Practice of Compassion and Generosity

 

Keywords: Letting Go, Compassion, The Mind of Giving

 

My first journey to Mount Jiuhua gave me a newfound understanding of letting go. In just one week, I performed more prostrations than I had in my entire life. Following the group, I ascended from the foot of the mountain to the peak, taking three steps and bowing each time. Every step deepened my sense of inner peace and strength. In the early hours of the morning, around two or three o'clock, I participated in Buddhist rituals alongside the monks. Though physically exhausted, my mind became increasingly clear.

 

 

At the beginning of the three-step, one-bow journey, my knees ached, my mind was restless, and I was easily distracted. But as I continued bowing, my thoughts gradually settled. It felt as if the entire world had faded away, leaving only myself and the path beneath me, along with the sincere prayers in my heart—hoping to receive the blessings of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. From physical surrender to spiritual release, I truly experienced a state of body and mind in harmony.

 

Throughout the pilgrimage, our teacher and fellow practitioners repeatedly performed acts of offering—offering to monks, providing food, making donations, and dedicating merits to all sentient beings. Through the teacher’s teachings and the Dharma assemblies, I came to realize that the compassion taught by the Buddha differs significantly from what we commonly understand as compassion.

 

My perception of wealth also transformed through these offerings. Initially, I gave out of obligation, following the crowd. Then, I found myself competing in giving, sometimes giving reluctantly. Gradually, I transitioned to offering with ease and eventually with joy. The mind of giving was magnified and elevated through continuous acts of generosity.

 

Through this pilgrimage, I gradually understood: to give is not to lose, but to be freed and transformed. Only by giving can we make space for what is truly needed. Only through continuous acts of generosity can we evolve from quantity to quality, enabling ourselves to hold even greater blessings. The worldly concerns over fame and fortune that once preoccupied me now seemed insignificant in the spiritual atmosphere of Mount Jiuhua.

 

This experience profoundly taught me that true wisdom is not measured by how much we possess, but by how much we can let go. Mount Jiuhua helped me break free from mental shackles, allowing me to find peace, wisdom, and strength through compassion and the mind of giving.

 

The Second Journey: The Integration of Business and Zen, and the Power of Faith

 

Keywords: Business and Zen, Faith, Cultural Confidence

 

On my second trip to Mount Jiuhua, my teacher casually gifted me four words—"Business and Zen". These words became a guiding light, illuminating my future path.

 

Having been in business for nearly two decades, I realized that business principles form the foundation of an entrepreneur, while a Zen mindset is the source of true happiness. Commerce and spiritual practice are not opposing forces; rather, they complement each other—"Business sustains the Way, and the Way enhances business." Integrating Zen into business allows me to remain clear-minded and composed amid fierce market competition while making decisions and forging partnerships with compassion and wisdom.

 

When I beheld the towering, solemn, and magnificently radiant statues of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on Mount Jiuhua, I was deeply moved. These statues are not just artistic masterpieces—they are profound symbols of Chinese faith. They have stood for millennia, bearing witness to countless prayers and vows. At that moment, I realized with newfound clarity: The Chinese people have faith. This faith is profound and enduring, no less significant than that of any other civilization in the world.

 

This realization shattered my previous perceptions. In the past, after visiting dozens of Western cathedrals—admiring their grandeur, splendor, and the generations of dedication poured into them—I once thought that faith was stronger in the West. However, standing before these Buddhist statues, I understood that our own spiritual heritage is equally, if not more, powerful.

 

The Third Journey: Complete Surrender and the Fulfillment of the Great Vow

 

Keywords: The Great Vow, Conviction, Manifestation of Wishes

 

This time, I experienced an even deeper level of surrender—letting go of arrogance, grievances, and inner suffering. Only by letting go could I make space within my heart to connect with Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva's Great Vow, which, in turn, fulfilled my own. My vow was no longer an abstract idea; it became clear and concrete, like a lighthouse guiding my future.

 

 

This third pilgrimage was the most complete and fulfilling. I visited nearly all of Mount Jiuhua's renowned temples, performed hundreds of prostrations, and astonishingly, every small wish I made was swiftly realized, as if directly blessed by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Everything seemed perfectly arranged, allowing me to experience an unprecedented sense of all wishes fulfilled, deep spiritual abundance, and profound gratitude.

 

 

I truly felt that when our aspirations are not rooted in self-interest—when we act with selflessness and without attachment—the universe conspires to assist us.

 

Gratitude and Moving Forward

 

I am deeply grateful to Mount Jiuhua, to Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, and to all the benefactors who have supported my three pilgrimages.

 

These journeys have strengthened my Great Vow and deepened my understanding of the invisible power of faith. In the great vow of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva—"If the hells are not empty, I vow not to attain Buddhahood"—I have come to grasp the true meaning of the endless journey of vows.

 

True spiritual practice is not just about pilgrimages—it lies in the continuous application of faith in daily life, until the very end of our existence, where the power of our vows never ceases.

 

Leo, March 6, 2025, Shenzhen