One day, a Brahmin beggar intentionally traveled from another region to receive gold
coins from Master Bavari. But Master Bavari had already given all his wealth to the
poor, leaving not a single coin. Master Bavari told the Brahmin beggar to return and
come back next year. But the Brahmin thought that Master Bavari refused him because
he didn’t come at the designated time and became dissatisfied. Because he had traveled
far, coming back again next year was very difficult. He believed that Master Bavari
should have helped him first. He was certain that Master Bavari had some gold coins
left. So, he pretended to perform a cursing ritual in front of Master Bavari’s hermitage.
He built a sand mound and scattered flower petals on it, while cursing Master Bavari,
wishing him a terrible fate, that his head would shatter into pieces within seven days.
When Master Bavari heard this, he became worried about the curse because he hadn’t
given alms as requested. He couldn’t eat or sleep, filled with dread of the curse.

“Lord Phoche, Master Bavari is a teacher, a spiritual leader, respected by many people,
known to be knowledgeable and well-learned. Why is he so swayed by these seemingly
absurd curses?” I asked Lord Phoche while journeying through Achita’s memory.

“Having a lot of knowledge doesn’t necessarily mean having mental freedom,” he
replied.

“Your answer makes me even more curious. Is what you’re saying related to my
question?”

“Yes, it is. But you need to understand the whole process first. To put it bluntly, the
more knowledge one has, the more attachments one has. The more attachments, the
less chance of being free,” he replied vaguely, in the style of higher-dimensional beings.

“…You speak so indirectly, I don’t understand. And how is it related to what Master
Bavari is going through now?” I asked.

“Master Bavari is a very educated person and remembers what he has learned
accurately. In fact, his knowledge is so profound that he understands the mechanisms
of the world’s creation, the creation of the universe, and even knows that higherdimensional beings like us exist. If you ask him if he knows me, he will answer that he
knows me well. He chants prayers to me constantly. But do you believe that he has
never communicated with me in the way you are doing now, not even once? Because he
knows me as knowledge, not as understanding,” he replied.

“This is even less related to my question,” I commented.

“Let me illustrate with an analogy. If you hold an apple in your hand, can you perceive
that there is no apple in your hand?” he asked.

“Hmm…” I hesitated to answer because I didn’t know what point Lord Phoche was
making.

“If you are a young child who has eaten an apple with this appearance before, the
memory of that past experience makes you believe that it definitely exists because you
have experienced its sweet and crunchy taste. You will never perceive that it doesn’t
exist. On the other hand, if someone tells you it doesn’t exist, you will argue that it’s not
true because it’s right there in your hand.”

“But if you are a PhD in chemistry, an expert in the field, you will see the apple in your
hand as merely a chemical compound formed by the combination of elements through
the genetic formation process of the apple tree as a fixed template. At this moment, the
apple is just a point of convergence of a process, only one process. You might not see
the apple anymore, but you will see the chemical compound instead, which is hard for
you not to believe exists because it has been scientifically proven to exist.”

“But if you are God, the creator of all things, the creator of the world, the creator of the
universe, and the creator of the entire process that resulted in this apple, you will see
that this apple is just a fleeting phenomenon, a fraction of a fraction of a second
compared to the entire timeline of the universe. Therefore, God will never hold on to
the belief that it exists because everything comes from emptiness, and it will quickly
return to emptiness. Since you know that all things are truly non-existent, and if you
don’t cling to anything, that thing will not exist.”

“Master, I think your answer is off-topic. It’s going very far,” I protested.

“It’s relevant because Master Bavari’s knowledge is the knowledge he clings to. He
clings to the belief that it exists. He believes that the curse is real, has the power to
make bad things happen to him. So, he is afraid that it will come true. The curse will
only be real for those who think it is real, and it will be non-existent for those who
don’t cling to its existence. And this level of attachment is the indicator of how much
mental freedom a person has. When I say ‘level of attachment,’ it doesn’t actually have
levels. But at this moment, Master Bavari has a level of attachment that is no different
from that of a chemistry expert. If he can let go of that attachment, can perceive the
non-existence of all things, or can perceive it as just a phenomenon, he will be free
from that attachment immediately. And to achieve this mental freedom, it’s not
necessary to pass through stage one, stage two, until all stages are completed. On the
contrary, if you use the method of ascending the ladder, by letting go of one attachment
to cling to another thing that is perceived as higher or more correct, it will create a new
attachment that is more difficult to release because clinging to the belief that your
knowledge is the most correct is even harder to free oneself from,” he explained.

“Can we tell him about this? Because I see his determination and desire to be
liberated,” I asked.

“Yes, we can. But how much he will understand what we say depends on him,” he
replied.

“Can we intervene in historical events that have already happened?” I asked.

“Actually, we are not just starting to intervene. This intervention has been happening
from the beginning. It’s just that what you will see from now on is the intervention
between us at this moment,” he replied.

“You mean the intervention we are about to make has already happened? That doesn’t
seem possible,” I commented.

“When you asked me if we can tell him about the attachment to the curse, that is your
intention at this moment. But it is also your intention in the past. And your intention at
this moment is the future intention of your spirit in the past,” he explained.

“How?” I asked, feeling confused.

“Never mind. You don’t have to understand everything. What I always emphasize is
that the nature of the mind is beyond the laws of space and time. Just be aware that the
concept of love and goodwill is the power of the spirit. And what we will do from now
on is the love and goodwill you have for Master Bavari,” he said.

“And how will we give him this goodwill?” I wondered about the method.

“Just watch the story unfold,” he suggested.

“Okay.”

The next morning, when Achita the ascetic carried the food that the villagers offered to
Master Bavari’s hermitage, he didn’t see Master Bavari sitting in his usual place. He
looked around the hermitage but saw no one. So, he called out softly with respect.

“Teacher, where are you?” Achita called as he stepped onto the porch of the hermitage.

“…Achita, is that you? I’m in the room,” Master Bavari’s weak voice came from the
bedroom.

“Are you unwell, teacher? I’ll get some medicine,” Achita asked.

“I’m fine. I just need to rest,” he replied.

When Achita entered the bedroom, he saw Master Bavari in an unusual state. He was
curled up like a fetus in the womb. His eyes were filled with fear, and his face looked
anxious.

“What happened to you, teacher?” Achita quickly knelt down and crawled closer to
Master Bavari.

“Uh uh uh,” Master Bavari stammered.