My Understanding of the “Thorn Ridge” Trial in Journey to the West

(Minghui.org) “Thorn Ridge” appears in Journey to the West. On their quest for the scriptures, the Tang monk and his disciples faced a total of 81 trials; “Thorn Ridge” was the 52nd.

Many readers do not recall this trial vividly, for in “Thorn Ridge” there are neither demon kings with overwhelming power nor cruel, torturous tribulations. Instead, it appears to be a place of peace and harmony, where the spirits of plants and trees treat the Tang monk with the utmost respect. Using discussions of poetry and philosophy as a pretext, they set a trap for him.

The four tree spirits transformed into elderly immortals, and their speech was filled with refined, elegant words as they discussed Zen philosophy and poetry with the Tang monk. There was not a trace of demonic energy in their every gesture. On the contrary, they appeared to be more enlightened than scholars of the mortal world.

As for the Tang monk’s poetry and discourse on Zen, the spirits all praised him, saying, “The Holy Monk possesses extraordinary talent and a profound grasp of Zen! He is truly an Ancient Buddha of the Zen lineage!” Immersed in the mist-shrouded Wood Spirit Hermitage, listening to the refined conversations and surrounded by flattery, the Tang monk momentarily forgot the perils of his journey westward and let down his guard.

Yet, this very atmosphere of “reverence” and “serenity” constituted the most lethal aspect of this trial—a subtle trap designed to slowly erode his resolve to complete the pilgrimage through the guise of a seemingly benign environment.

When the Apricot fairy appeared and confessed her love with her peerless beauty, and the four elders chimed in from the sidelines, this trap of tenderness was fully exposed. Tang monk remained steadfast in his Buddhist precepts and refused to yield.

Only after his disciples found him, was he able to free himself from the entanglement of beauty and affection. It was precisely during this ordeal that the Tang monk uttered those memorable words: “A human form is hard to obtain, birth in the Central Kingdom is rare, and the true Dharma is difficult to encounter: to possess all three is a blessing beyond compare.”

In my cultivation of Falun Dafa, as the environment has become more relaxed, I’ve noticed that the fellow practitioners around me and I have, to varying degrees, fallen into a state of complacency. We’ve gone from diligently doing the three things at the outset, to eagerly awaiting the end of the Fa-rectification, and settling into ordinary life—putting cultivation on the back burner. Some practitioners have even begun to enjoy ordinary life, spending their days thinking about how to improve their quality of life.

Ordinary days are like a gentle trap, slowly eroding a practitioner's will. It is easy to live an ordinary life—as long as one does not study the Fa, communicate with fellow practitioners, stop visiting Minghui, the world keeps moving forward, and life goes on as usual.

Through studying the Fa, we have come to understand that every minute of time we have been granted today has been secured through Master’s endurance of immeasurable suffering.

In places we cannot see, prisons, detention centers, and brainwashing camps, many fellow practitioners are still being persecuted, while Dafa continues to be slandered and defamed. Once the rectification of the Fa comes to an end, countless ignorant people, along with the vast groups of lives behind them, will lose their lives forever.

Unable to fulfill the vows we made upon coming into this world, what kind of outcome will we face? How can we not seize the time and strive ahead diligently?

Reflecting on my own cultivation journey, I have identified many deeply rooted attachments within myself—all of which arose after I became lax in my practice. I am bringing these attachments and shortcomings to light, working to eliminate them, and sharing this experience with fellow practitioners to encourage each other.

Use Fixed “Talking Points” to Share the Truth

When I shared the facts about Dafa in the past, I didn’t dare speak up, nor did I know how. Later, I came across fellow practitioners’ experience-sharing articles on Minghui, where some shared effective ways for sharing the truth—how to build rapport, where to start the conversation, and how to encourage people to withdraw from the CCP.

After reading them, I felt as if I had found a treasure; I memorized them and, with a few minor adjustments, developed my own ways for sharing the truth. Later, when I used them, they indeed proved very effective. When fellow practitioners praised me, I even shared pointers with them.

Gradually, I realized that when I used that same set of talking points indiscriminately with different groups of people, some would unexpectedly raise objections, and I would feel stuck, finding it hard to continue, or some simply wouldn’t agree with me.

I realized that my heart had moved; I had let the praise go to my head. I had turned saving people into a routine task, treating myself like a worker on an assembly line. No matter who I encountered, I tried to apply a set of theories to them, and I became increasingly fixated on past experiences, constantly reinforcing them.

But saving people isn’t something you can follow a template for, it’s not that easy. Only by truly acting out of compassion, truly wanting what’s best for them, can we effectively share the truth, dispel their confusion, and truly save them.

The wisdom that Dafa has opened up for us surely encompasses far more than just a single, solitary method for clarifying the truth. We possess the wisdom and ability to handle myriad changes. The key lies in whether we put our hearts into it—we must not become fixated on our own past experiences.

Show Off Mentality

I once had a strong desire to show off. As soon as I submitted an article to Minghui, I would eagerly await its publication, checking the site every day. If it hadn’t been published, I would feel dejected; once it was, I would feel smug, thinking how profound my insights were and how well I understood things.

For a long time, I remained trapped within the narrow confines of my previous understanding—so much so that even years later, I would revisit those old writings and once again indulge in self-admiration.

I was also surrounded by a group of people who would praise me, telling me I was “talented,” that my “Celestial Eye was opened to a high level,” and that my “xinxing was high and my enlightenment excellent”—I also took pleasure in these compliments.

Validate Self

While exchanging experiences with a practitioner, I once heard someone recount the persecution he had previously endured. However, during our discussion, he spoke at great length about his own actions—as if fondly reminiscing about how he had conducted himself within that harsh environment. Yet, I perceived that what he was actually validating was himself, rather than Dafa.

Conversely, I have also witnessed a practitioner calmly and serenely recount how she broke through the persecution by relying on righteous thoughts. While speaking in a steady, unwavering voice, she described the torment she had suffered and how she had survived it through her righteous faith in Dafa. My Celestial Eye perceived that Master’s Law Body standing beside her was shedding tears. At that moment, I, too, was filled with boundless gratitude toward Master and an unshakable confidence in Dafa.

Minghui previously published a special feature titled “Cultivation as in the Beginning,” which deeply moved and inspired me when I read it. I felt a strong inner urge to finish my sharing, even if only as a record of my own cultivation journey and a warning to myself not to continue sinking into complacency.

Fellow practitioners, let us not sink into complacency in our lives; let us strive forward together!