The Bell in the Silent Night

The night breeze rustled softly through the ancient trees of Long Thành Garden, creating a mysterious, rustling sound under the crescent moon. The cool, damp air seeped into every gap of his thin meditation robe. Minh, a Buddhist who had recently taken refuge in the Three Jewels, sat cross-legged on a canvas sheet laid upon the grass. His eyes were half-closed, but his eyelids twitched incessantly, his body tense as a taut string about to snap.

He tried to focus on his breath, but with every inhale, he heard a faint "rustling" behind him. His heart constricted, blood rushing to his head, making his ears ring. He immediately pictured a shiny black cobra, its head raised, tongue flickering, crawling slowly towards him. Overcome with fear, he sprang up, jumped back, hit a tree root, and fell sprawling.

*Something's there! A snake!* he screamed in his mind, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He looked around, seeing only darkness and grass swaying in the wind. There was no snake, but the haunting fear lingered, preventing him from sitting again. He recalled his request to his Master: "I suffer, I invite the Buddha to Long Thành Garden. At night, while meditating, I hear snakes ringing bells. I'm afraid a snake will crawl in and dare not meditate."

The next morning, with dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, Minh sought out a senior practitioner in the assembly. The senior brother smiled, poured him a cup of hot tea, and spoke in a warm, deep voice:

"Dear brother, fear is a natural reaction for a beginner. But if you keep fearing, you will never be able to sit and meditate. Our Master has taught this clearly: 'If you're afraid of snakes, find a place without snakes to sit.'"

Minh frowned: "But the garden is so vast, how do I know which place is free of snakes?"

The senior brother pointed to a clean, paved corner of the yard, near the restroom and under a light:

"Choose places that are open, clean, well-lit, or near communal areas. Don't stubbornly insist on sitting in dense, overgrown thickets just because you think it's 'close to nature.' Practice is to train the mind, not to test yourself against unreasonable fears caused by the environment. When your mind is not yet steady, protect it by choosing the right place to sit."

Minh fell silent in thought. He realized he had been too perfectionist, wanting to sit in the most secluded spot to prove his diligence, while forgetting the core purpose: to keep the mind peaceful. The senior brother continued:

"And more importantly, when you have practiced long enough and your mind becomes stable, you will no longer have fear. Then, even if a snake crawls over your body, you will remain unperturbed. But now, as you are new to practice, carefully avoid places that are unsafe. If you sit while still afraid, how can you achieve meditative concentration?"

That evening, Minh cleaned a paved corner of the yard, laid a thick straw mat, and placed a small oil lamp beside it. The flickering flame dispelled the darkness, creating a feeling of warmth and safety. He sat down and took a deep breath. The wind still blew, leaves still fell, but this time, he no longer heard that terrifying "bell-ringing" sound. His mind gradually settled, turning towards the compassionate image of the Buddha. He understood that wisdom in practice is not about confronting fear before having enough strength, but about knowing how to create a favorable environment to nurture a wholesome mind.

**Meaning of the Story**

This story conveys the practical advice given by Venerable Thích Chân Quang to new practitioners: one must know how to choose suitable circumstances and locations to avoid factors that disturb the mind (such as fear of insects or wild animals). Initial fear is normal, but a practitioner needs to be intelligent in protecting their mind by choosing a safe place. Only when one's practice has deepened and the mind is stable can a practitioner face all external circumstances without being shaken. Forcing oneself to endure fear before having sufficient inner strength will hinder the process of meditative concentration.

*Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang.*