Chapter 1, Tangshan

As I strolled down the mountain, I saw an elderly man herding cattle under a large Paulownia tree. I approached him to inquire and learned that this place is called Hejia Mountain, with a pool of clear water known as Talientang. The village at the foot of the mountain is Dengqiao Village, which is under the jurisdiction of Gutang Town in Lushan District

Thirteen years," Ze Wangren carefully replied

A year ago, he finally entered the highest practice of Tibetan Buddhism—"Zhongyin Silent Meditation Yoga"

Zewang Renzeng is twenty years old this year. Originally of Han ethnicity, he hails from Tangshan, Hebei. Thirteen years ago, when he wandered alone to the Meili Snow Mountain, he was in rags, emaciated, and on the verge of death. At that time, he encountered the Dongbao Lama, who rescued him and brought him back to Cheng'en Temple for care, naming him Zewang Renzeng, and imparting teachings to him. As for the child's origins and background, the living Buddha has never mentioned it, and other lamas and disciples are also unaware.

On this day, in the early morning. The rain from last night has ceased, the sky is clear and vast, and the air is exceptionally fresh. A middle-aged man walks leisurely along the mountain road of Weijia Town, holding the hand of a little girl. This man is in his thirties, hailing from Chengde, Hebei, and is a renowned geomancer in the Yanshan area. He has been commissioned to find a burial site for a public cemetery at the foot of Mount Lu, by the shores of Poyang Lake. At this moment, he squints his eyes, surveying the distant mountains and rivers. His name is Feng Shengcun, commonly known as "Feng Buyi." He stops in his tracks, directing his gaze towards a distant hill. He observes that the terrain here is gentle, with the Qian (Heaven) high and the Xun (Wind) low, and a purple aura envelops the area, which makes him marvel inwardly. Upon reaching the mountain, looking northwest, he sees the Wulao Peak of Mount Lu shrouded in white clouds, and to the southeast, he gazes at the affectionate embrace of Poyang Lake, where a solitary mountain rises from the azure waters, crowned by the Wenfeng Pagoda. ... The Azure Dragon encircles, the White Tiger bows its head, and a pool of Vermilion Bird water is exceptionally clear ... ... Upon reaching the mountain, looking northwest, he sees the Wulao Peak of Mount Lu shrouded in white clouds, and to the southeast, he gazes at the affectionate embrace of Poyang Lake, where a solitary mountain rises from the azure waters, crowned by the Wenfeng Pagoda. ... The Azure Dragon encircles, the White Tiger bows its head, and a pool of Vermilion Bird water is exceptionally clear ... ... Feng Buyi lets out a long laugh: "This is it!"

Jiujiang, known as Chaisang during the Three Kingdoms period, was called Jiangzhou during the Tang and Song dynasties, and has been referred to as Jiujiang since the Ming dynasty. More than ten miles east of the city lies Weijia Town, which is a necessary route for ascending Mount Lu. Continuing east for another ten miles leads to the shores of Poyang Lake. Poyang Lake, with its vast and misty waters, spans several hundred kilometers and is renowned as the largest freshwater lake in China

"Starting today, you will restore your Han name, Tang Shan," said the Living Buddha

In April, Shangri-La is adorned with an endless expanse of purple wildflowers blooming on the alpine meadows, while the snow-capped Yulong Snow Mountain looms in the distance. Occasionally, the melodious and soaring songs of Tibetan girls herding yaks drift through the air. Located over ten miles southeast of the county town, amidst the mountains, lies an unbroken stretch of primitive forest, rarely visited by humans. Deep within the dense woods hides a high-altitude lake, its azure waters remarkably clear, surrounded by towering ancient trees. This lake is known as "Bita Lake." Countless large crows inhabit the tall pine forests; these black birds are highly aggressive, serving as faithful guardians of this pristine land for generations. The lake is home to a species of fish known as double-lipped fish, which is exceptionally delicious and unique in the world. In the misty center of the lake, there is a small island, where a simple stone house stands amidst dense woods. It is said that the second Karmapa, the Great Treasure King, once practiced here. On the front wall of the room hangs a portrait of Guru Padmasambhava, and beside the altar stands a thin middle-aged living Buddha, dressed in monastic robes and wearing a crown; he is Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, the seventeenth Dongba King of the White Sect.

In the eighth year of entering the monastery, Zewang Renzeng began practicing Fire Yoga. Fire Yoga, also known as "Blazing Fire Concentration," involves the focused meditation on the channels, winds, and luminous points (with the male representing essence and the female representing endocrine) to generate intense heat in the navel chakra (located at the navel) that rises along the central channel, reaching the pores and culminating at the crown chakra (located slightly above the space between the eyebrows, also known as the Supreme Lotus Point), where the navel fire transforms into the wisdom of enlightenment. Upon mastering Blazing Fire Concentration, one sequentially enters the practices of "Great Illusory Yoga," "Dream Yoga," and "Light Yoga."

The origin is quite good, after more than ten years of diligent practice, you have fully grasped the true teachings of the Kagyu lineage. Nevertheless, I am concerned that you have never stepped outside the mountains and know nothing of the contemporary society. Alas, let everything unfold as it should. " The Living Buddha extended his hand, placing his palm on the head of Zewang Renzeng, his mind slightly stirred, and continued: "Today, I will impart to you the killing mantra; you must remember it well, as you will certainly need it in the future. In the past, before the revered Milarepa received the teachings from the supreme translator Marpa, he had used it. However, for nearly a thousand years, no one has used it again, as this mantra carries a heavy karmic burden, so be cautious!" He reiterated: "Today, I will impart to you the killing mantra; you must remember it well, as you will certainly need it in the future. In the past, before the revered Milarepa received the teachings from the supreme translator Marpa, he had used it. However, for nearly a thousand years, no one has used it again, as this mantra carries a heavy karmic burden, so be cautious!"

In the depths of darkness, there was no light, no sound, no scent, and no concept of time. It was unclear how long it had been, but he felt a faint glimmer of light in the void, gradually intensifying. This was the manifestation of the luminous body, and at that moment, Zewang Renzeng experienced a sensation akin to returning to the womb, as if passing through a black hole into a warm and bright realm. Amidst the flashes of blue light, he beheld the face of Vairocana Buddha, while simultaneously witnessing the yellow light of the Ratnasambhava Buddha and the torch of the Amitabha Buddha. He endured the temptations and intimidations of the realms of hell, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras, and celestial beings, confronting the anger, fear, and pleasure of his tranquil thoughts. Ultimately, the original luminous body merged with the five lights of the five Buddhas, transcending the six realms, and he became completely integrated into a beautiful and colorful luminous entity

"Bardo" refers to the state of interruption or cessation, indicating the transitional phase between death and rebirth. According to the requirements of the Tibetan Buddhist practice of "Bardo Meditation Yoga," Zewang Renzeng chose a cave within the monastery, sealing the entrance from the outside. He remained in complete darkness, abstaining from food and drink, and entered into deep meditation for a continuous period of forty-nine days. During this time, apart from the external connection allowed with his master, the Dongbao Rinpoche, no person or object was permitted to disturb him. In fact, the forty-nine days represent the transitional period after death, and the practitioner visualizes himself as a deceased person during this practice. Thus, he begins to gradually experience various illusions and their essence in the Bardo state.

According to the regulations of Tibetan Vajrayana, each type of mantra should be practiced between 108 and 1080 times, with 108 beads counting as 100 times, and each mantra should be completed 100,000 times. King Dongbao did not misjudge the person; generally, a lama with good roots requires more than two years to complete this, while Zewang Renzeng finished it in just two months and entered the practice of the main deity. In the following years, Zewang Renzeng made remarkable progress, continuously practicing the "Five Supreme Vajra Teachings," which is already a form of supreme yoga. Indian classical yoga focuses on external practices, while supreme yoga emphasizes internal cultivation, concentration, and meditation, ultimately leading to the cessation of consciousness. Human wisdom is divided into four levels—consciousness, unconsciousness, subconsciousness, and deep consciousness; ordinary people possess at most the first three. The deep consciousness, referred to in Vajrayana as the "Fountain of Desire," can only be directly stimulated by practitioners using special techniques to activate the deep consciousness (deep memory) of the brain's limbic system, thoroughly integrating it with the Fountain of Desire. This allows the abilities and experiences accumulated before the "individual" transcends to be excavated, leading to the elevation of wisdom. This is also the mystery of reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism.

The next day, Zewang Renzeng set off from the temple. Before his departure, the Living Buddha dressed him in Han Chinese attire, and he carried a canvas backpack. Zewang Renzeng had a tall and slender figure, dark skin, thick black hair, and deep-set eyes that carried a hint of melancholy

The Living Buddha silently gazed at Zewang Renzeng, who was kneeling on the ground, and slowly said: "How long has it been since I met you at Meili Snow Mountain all those years ago?"

***

On the forty-ninth day, Zewang Renzeng broke through the cave door and emerged. After thirteen years of arduous practice, he has now become a great yogi of the White Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, a rare occurrence in a century.

Esoteric Buddhism, known in Tibetan as "Sang Nga," means secret mantra and refers to teachings that are not to be disclosed to outsiders. The fundamental principle of the transmission of Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism is that it is "secretly imparted only to a very small number of individuals with the right 'root capacity.'" Esoteric Buddhism possesses unique insights and methods in explaining the mysteries of the human body and exploring its potential. The practices of mantras, hand seals, and visualizations are referred to as the "Three Secrets." In particular, the mantra has been recognized by Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism for its remarkable energy derived from sound in the material world, and this natural power is skillfully utilized. Modern science has proven that sound originates from the vibrations of the source, characterized by its penetrating ability to traverse solids, liquids, and gases. The mantra employs the vibrations and penetrating power of sound, resonating within the body at unique frequencies with various "meridian points," facilitating the flow of internal energy. This leads to the realization of intention, sound, and energy, which can strengthen the body and heal ailments. Highly accomplished practitioners can emit certain powerful infrasound frequencies that penetrate objects and exert effects on others from a distance.

Located in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in Southwest China, near the border of Yunnan and Tibet at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, Zhongdian is the earthly paradise depicted by British writer James Hilton in his book "Lost Horizon" in the early 20th century—Shangri-La. The legend of Shangri-La has attracted explorers from various countries to search for it in regions such as Tibet and Nepal on both sides of the Himalayas for nearly a century, until in 1999, the United Nations recognized Shangri-La as Zhongdian County in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province.