Complete!
[Key appeal: Theravada Buddhism and the authentic spiritual cultivation of monks]
[Levels of cultivation: Based on actual scriptures, this novel uses the stages of meditative absorption to define its levels. Follow the protagonist as he cultivates meditation and attains the state of an Arhat.
Six Heavens of the Desire Realm | Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings, Trayastrimsa Heaven, Yama Heaven, Tusita Heaven, Nirmanarati Heaven, Paranirmita-Vasavartin Heaven
Four Heavens of the Form Realm | Great Brahma Heaven (First Jhana), Heaven of Radiant Sound (Second Jhana), Heaven of Universal Purity (Third Jhana), Akanishtha Heaven (Fourth Jhana)
Four Heavens of the Formless Realm | Infinite Space, Infinite Consciousness, Nothingness, Neither Perception nor Non-Perception (Attainment of Arhatship)
Six Stages of Arhatship | Falling Back, Progress Through Reflection, Protection, Abiding, Progress, Immovability]
[Story synopsis: In the Land Federation, Longpudo, one of the Nine Great Holy Monks, entrusted Wat Lantohai, the temple where he had practiced in his youth, to his last disciple, Ren Zhen, on his deathbed. He also urged him to practice diligently. After taking over the temple, Ren Zhen subdued a yaksha and made it the temple's guardian, outwitted a rishi, and delivered hungry ghosts from suffering. His fame gradually spread. He later traveled across the country, visiting eminent monks and learning magic. Along the way, he encountered all kinds of demons and monsters, and through a series of strange tales, Ren Zhen eventually became the Tenth Great Holy Monk.]
