Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 359 Abbot Xuanci of the temple
The top of the mountain where Hanshan Temple is located is filled with smoke, and the entire temple is filled with the incense of smoke worshiping Buddha.

In the front yard of the main hall, there is a large cauldron, which is filled with incense from pilgrims and burned inside.

The smoke lingers and lingers.

Moreover, the green smoke always surrounds the main hall of the temple, shooting straight into the sky. Under the sunlight, the color of the rainbow flashes inside, which is a wonderful sight.

Zhang Jinyu followed behind, looking at the faint green smoke in the sky. He didn't say anything, and followed up with a salute. Although he didn't know if there were really gods and Buddhas in the sky, he had really come here after all, so he wanted to show some courtesy. It’s not an exaggeration.

"Then let's go and take a look,"

Zhang Jinyu took the lead and led the way into the gatehouse of the temple. Someone who had been watched by the monk for a long time ran back to the abbot's temple and reported to the abbot.
"Abbott, abbot, someone is coming down the mountain. He seems to be a high official. There is a general following behind him, and he has brought his female family members with him."

The abbot had not moved yet, but the expression of Zhike monk standing outside the door suddenly became excited.
"Abbott, do you want to inform the abbot of Bodhidharma Academy and bring the monks to stop us? The master is here."

As he was getting excited, he was suddenly scolded by the host;

"The Dharma has its origins. Everything in the world exists and is reasonable. Those who come here to offer incense are all pilgrims. To the Buddha, all living beings are equal."

Knowing the Dharma Yuan of the guest monk, his face flushed, as if he was ashamed.
"Amitabha, thank you, abbot, for waking me up. I understand the fate of the Dharma."

After saying the Buddha's name, the Dharma's fate returned to calm.

Abbot Xuanci nodded, put away the wooden fish, stood up, and walked out of the door. Fayuan followed closely behind him, and several young novices followed at the end, heading to the front hall.

On the way, Abbot Xuanci said to the disciples around him,

"Dharma fate, your earthly fate is not over yet, my teacher asked you to go to the front hall to hold incense in the temple, so that you can maintain your original intention in the face of the mortal world. You must not be confused by yellow and white things. All changes are the smoke of the past. Cultivating yourself is cultivating. Heart, only when you achieve great enlightenment will you be able to achieve the temple of Hanshan and be worthy of your master’s teachings, Amitabha.”

"Amitabha, my disciples are ashamed,"

Fayuan's face was calm, and he didn't have the angry look just now.

Everyone outside the mountain gate of Hanshan Temple naturally heard the abbot's words and couldn't help but admire the abbot's profound Dharma. However, Zhang Jinyu looked strange. Isn't this the sophistry of Buddhism and the cause and effect of saving all sentient beings?

Looking at the person coming, I saw an old monk wearing a priceless cassock and holding a Zen staff. It was shining with gold. I don’t know if it was made of gold. Behind him were all young monks. There was also a glamorous man with a fat head. The monk with a bad face, this combination is not only the head of the house, but also the servant. The way he manages things is like changing the soup without changing the medicine.

Mrs. Wang didn’t have so many ideas. The abbot of Hanshan Temple was a rare eminent monk in Buddhism in Dawu. He was widely believed by the people in the south of the Yangtze River. The White Lotus Sect was not able to turn around when it was the most powerful. This shows that it is not easy to spread Buddhism. .

"I have seen the abbot."

"Amitabha, I have met the layman, and I am very polite."

Abbot Xuanci walked over and nodded slightly, thinking that the sect might have the temperament of a generation of eminent monks. Zhang Jinyu smiled behind him and said nothing. However, knowing that the guest monk Dharma Yuan saw him not far away, he led someone to inspect the face of President Qian of the camp. He looked arrogant and domineering, and his heart suddenly became angry, with a look of dissatisfaction on his face.

"I have met all the lay people. I have something unclear. I would like to ask Lord Hou, why did you drive away all the other pilgrims when you came here to offer incense? Buddha said that all living beings are equal. Isn't it possible that Lord Hou is not afraid of Buddha's blame for his behavior?"

Abbot Xuanci never thought that his disciple would dare to speak arrogant words. He suddenly felt a wave of emotion in his heart and wanted to save him, but Zhang Jinyu was not willing to give him a chance.

"Oh, do you dare to ask me my little master's Dharma name?"

"Amitabha, this little monk is the Dharma-bound monk who knows the guest."

There was no fear in Fayuan's heart, and he spoke his name. Only the abbot sighed in his heart. Hanshan Temple has endured for a long time and has many believers, which has caused many monks to have such arrogant characters. But how did they know that there are also monasteries and ancient temples? Those in power must not be offended by the crisis of annihilation many times.

"Well, what the young master said is right. I don't understand the so-called equality of all living beings. I am not talented. People are not equal at birth. What's more, there is an abbot in Hanshan Temple, and you. Your status is not low, right? Behind you I'm afraid the little novice monk is just a handyman, so how can he say that all living beings are equal?"

Zhang Jinyu didn't have the talent for sophistry, so she just asked the past question, which aroused the wait and curiosity of the girls and the young novice monks. They wanted to hear what Fa Yuan had to say. Fa Yuan smiled knowingly. This is the scripture coursework in the temple, and they have been familiar with it for a long time. Keep it in mind, "The Lotus Sutra of Wonderful Dharma" says: "If it is said that we are born everywhere, we are called sentient beings. This is based on the flow of karma in the five paths."

"Master Hou, the equality of all living beings is the beginning of all life in the world. Opportunities come to the world equally, not just for human beings."

Zhang Jinyu looked at Fayuan as if he were reciting a sutra, and started talking nonstop, but she didn't understand a word.

However, the big monk was very talkative, which was considered a skill, and the women reacted in the same way, not understanding, but the little novice monks looked at him with admiration.

"Master Hou, everything has a cause and effect, and it is determined, so it is better to do more good deeds."

"Well, what the young master said is good. I didn't understand a word of it. I think the cause and effect you mentioned is right. I came to offer incense because it was a cause. It was unlucky for them to come. Being driven away was the effect. It is very consistent with Buddha's cause and effect. So what's wrong? The young master is obsessed with his appearance." Zhang Jinyu looked at the fat monk in front of him, but he was not angry. Instead, he found this person quite interesting.

"I"

The people around them, especially Lan Yue'er and Lan Shu'er, couldn't help but laugh out loud when they saw Lord Hou's appearance. Even the young monks did not expect that the Buddha's words could be interpreted in this way.

Zhike Seng Dharma Yuan, how had I ever seen such an unreasonable person, and how he could still explain it like this, I was speechless for a moment.

Abbot Xuanci had no choice but to say the Buddha's name;

"Amitabha, Lord Marquis, all laymen, I am just a young disciple who doesn't know how high the sky is. Everything in the world has its destiny, and its existence is reasonable. I ask Lord Marquis to forgive me!"

As expected, he was the abbot of a large temple, and he still had a few brushes. Zhang Jinyu nodded. He came today to offer incense. As for the other things, Zhang Jinyu was quite cautious. There were many officials in the Dawu court who believed in Buddhism. , it is better to be cautious when it comes to faith. There have been many attempts to destroy Buddhism in the past dynasties, but the Buddhist school has become stronger and stronger, and it has its own reasons.

"The abbot has misunderstood. I have no other reason to come today. I just want to bring my family to offer incense. There is also another thing. I want to enshrine the spiritual tablets of the elders in the family in the temple. I need to trouble the abbot."

"Amitabha, Your Majesty, you are so polite. This is a matter of my responsibilities. Please come here, Your Majesty."

The abbot had a smile on his face and personally led the way. Behind the gate tower of Hanshan Temple, there is a mountain gate, and there is an ancient bridge made of bluestones on the road between them.It is called Jiangcun Bridge, and the yellow wall between the bridge and the mountain gate is called Zhaobi.

There are two ancient camphor trees on both sides in front of the mountain gate. The classical pavilions inside the yellow wall have upturned eaves. The Fengjiang Tower is on the right, the Shuangzhong Tower is on the left, and the main hall of the temple is on the front.
Zhang Jinyu led everyone into the hall. She thought they would all go to worship, but in the end, only Lin Daiyu lit incense and worshiped Buddha. The others were indifferent. Yang, who was walking at the end, took a careful look at Mrs. Wang and others, and immediately lowered her eyebrows. Nodding and hiding behind, he couldn't help but have some doubts in his heart. Even Abbot Xuanci couldn't help but feel surprised. It turned out that he was from a powerful family and only believed in himself.

After Lin Daiyu got up after paying her respects, she followed the abbot to the back hall. After leaving the Main Hall, she saw the Tongming Pagoda and the abbot's room on the left, and the famous Jushi Lin on the right. The three-story house in front was the Sutra Library. The abbot pointed to the left The tall tower ahead said;

"Master Marquis, the Mingbao Pagoda on the left is the merit pagoda for enshrining spiritual tablets. All tablets belonging to the male protagonist can be enshrined in it. Master Marquis, please."

Zhang Jinyu saw Lin Daiyu's eager face and did not dare to delay any longer. She followed the abbot and walked forward. Mrs. Wang and others followed at the end, looking around. There was no one in the temple, and it was quiet and relaxing. It was a good place for self-cultivation.

When we arrived under the pagoda, there were monks and abbots waiting outside the pagoda. When they saw the abbot coming, they all bowed to the abbot.
"Amitabha, I have met the abbot."

"Fahai, open the tower door,"

"Yes, Abbot."

Fa Hai, the host in front, walked over and opened the pagoda door. The aroma of fireworks wafted out from inside. I thought it was a little dark inside, but I didn't expect that the inside of the pagoda was brightly lit and the surrounding spiritual tablets were lined up. Zhang Jinyu asked doubtfully,

"Abbott, there are rules for how to make offerings."

"Wait a minute, Lord Marquis, the pagoda is dedicated to the residence of the Yin people. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. There are also levels of worship. This pagoda is called a nine-story merit pagoda. Each floor can be worshiped. It depends on the amount of merit. The higher you go, the more you gain. The more merit you have.”

The abbot pointed at the pagoda and explained. The girls behind him didn't know how the merits were calculated. Who knew who had more or less merits? Only the contempt in Mrs. Wang's eyes flashed across. A group of sanctimonious bald donkeys, the cashier As far as cash registers are concerned, the merits mentioned in a roundabout way are not as good as the talismans sold by the disciples of the White Lotus Sect.

Qin Keqing had never been to a temple or a Taoist temple. Everything seemed strange. He came over and asked softly;

"Mr. Lang, I don't understand what merit is. How can I divide the offerings so clearly?"

Hearing Qin Keqing's inquiry, Zhang Jinyu still didn't understand, but when he saw a big yellow box standing in front of the tower with the word "merit" written on it, he immediately understood what nonsense merit is. It's not just paying for money. Whoever has more will get it. Fly high,
"Then I dare to ask the abbot, how much silver is needed for the top floor?"

"Back to the Marquis, the ninth floor is the highest floor and receives the most offerings. According to the custom, it requires 1 taels of merit."

The abbot did not dare to speak loudly, but the traditional rules of the temple could not be broken. After saying a number, Qin Keqing's eyes opened slightly, and he realized that merit is money. He was originally curious about the good fortune of Buddhism, but at this moment it was gone like the wind.

Zhang Jinyu chuckled lightly and said,

"The abbot is really a good trick. I think that if the abbot became an imperial merchant in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he would have achieved a lot. Staying in a temple is a waste of talent. Enshrining two people is 2 taels of silver. I gave it to you. "

After saying that, he took out two banknotes from his arms and was about to put them in. However, as soon as he walked to the merit box and wanted to put the banknotes in, he was stopped by Fahai, the host of Mingbao Pagoda.

"slow,"

Host Dahai took a big step forward, stretched out his arm, grabbed Zhang Jinyu's wrist with his hand, and shouted.

The personal guards who were following him quickly drew their swords and surrounded him when they saw the monk being so rude.

(End of this chapter)