No taboos in the world

Chapter 85: Lay disciple Xuan Chen, the birth of inner strength

"Amitabha!"

Xuan Ku walked out of the meditation room, chanting Buddhist mantras, with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

He asked the novice monk to prepare food for Hong Chen, then lowered his head and walked out.

I arrived at the back mountain of Shaolin without knowing it.

The Pagoda Forest is home to many pagodas of different shapes, types and styles, which are the burial places of many Shaolin monks since the founding of the temple.

Outsiders say that the Sutra Repository is the most important place in Shaolin Temple, but to Shaolin monks, the Pagoda Forest is even more important.

After all, Zen Buddhism is deeply influenced by local culture. The monks' tombs and their remembrance of their ancestors are no less than the so-called practice of afterlife or Western Paradise in Buddhism.

"Master." Xuan Ku knelt down facing Tallin.

Suddenly, as if a gust of wind blew, a pair of hands came and helped him up.

An old voice sounded in front of him: "Silly child, you now look just like when you missed home and wanted to cry but didn't dare to."

Xuan Ku smiled helplessly, and the little tangle in his heart seemed to be suddenly washed away. He stood up, looked at the old monk in front of him, and said respectfully: "Master, I am very frightened. I almost did something wrong today."

The old monk smiled in surprise, then sat down on the ground and said, "Come, talk to the master."

Xuan Ku told the old monk everything about Hong Chen, and he listened with a smile.

After a long time, Xuan Ku said, "Alas, I cut off other people's thoughts for my own selfishness. I only cared about satisfying my own thoughts of saving all living beings, but I forgot that all living beings have desires. Confucius said: Do not impose on others what you do not want others to do to you. I am a compassionate Buddha, so I should do the same. My disciple's practice is not good enough, it is a sin, a sin!"

Xuan Ku lowered his head, and the old monk reached out and gently stroked his bald head.

Boom!
Suddenly, Xuan Ku put on a mask of pain, covered his head and looked up in shock.

The old monk rolled his eyes and said, "Fool! Who doesn't want a good disciple? I want one too, your master! How can this be considered wrong?"

Xuan Ku was naturally puzzled, rubbed his head, and said, "Please teach me, Master."

The old monk patted his butt and stood up.

"You wanted to accept a disciple, it was right that he rejected you, it was right that you didn't accept a disciple, it was right that you were reflecting on it, it was right that you were reluctant to let go. It was all right. You came to me to make fun of me?"

Xuan Ku opened his mouth but remained speechless.

The old monk said: "Shaolin is big, but the martial arts world is bigger. Not everyone with good aptitude has to become a Shaolin disciple. If everyone in the world becomes a monk, then wouldn't the descendants of Yan and Huang be extinct?"

"Master...be careful with your words."

"I'm almost dead, what's there to be cautious about? Listen, if you really can't let him go, then accept him as a lay disciple and teach him kindly. I don't ask him to promote the essence of our Buddhism, but as long as you can guide him to be good, you will naturally have a share of merit, and it will be a life practice for you and him. What else do you want to ask for?"

Xuan Ku was suddenly stunned.

"Xuan Ci has committed sins this time, and he may have to go through a reckoning in the future. I will definitely die by then, but as his junior brother, you may be able to help him. At the very least, making more good friends from now on can also prevent Shaolin from being too unstable. This child came at the right time, perhaps it is a fate bestowed by God to Shaolin."

"Master, we should say it is the gift of Buddha."

"Shut up. I didn't want to say these words, but since you're here today, I don't mind telling you. But what you want to do is up to you. When I die, I'll either go to see the Buddha or reincarnate. If there's an afterlife, I'd rather die than be a monk! How many years have I not eaten meat or drunk wine?"

Looking at his master with his hands behind his back, looking sad and depressed, Xuan Ku seemed to see again the monk who used to be unrestrained and act without restraint in the temple.

Suddenly, the old monk waved his hand and said, "Go back, don't force the child. If the world is peaceful and the people live in peace, how many people would be willing to be a monk?" As he said that, he walked into the depths of the pagoda forest and disappeared.

Xuan Ku stood silently for a long time, his master's words circling in his mind.

It was not until late at night when everyone was asleep that he suddenly smiled, then walked back, shaking his head.

Silent all night.

The next day.

Hong Chen changed his original beggar's clothes for a gray monk's robe.

On the table, eating pickles and slurping porridge has a unique flavor.

After he finished eating, he wiped his mouth and said, "Master, do you want to accept me as your lay disciple?"

Xuan Ku nodded first, then shook his head: "I do hope that you can become a lay disciple of Shaolin, but I am not accepting you as a disciple, but I am accepting you on behalf of the master."

Hong Chen was shocked.

Is there something wrong with this monk?
Seeing his confusion, Xuan Ku sighed and said bluntly: "Yesterday you rejected me and left me speechless. I was confused and went to meet Master. Although Master did not tell me many Buddhist principles, just a few words made me suddenly enlightened."

Hong Chen immediately became interested: "Master, what did your master say?"

Xuan smiled bitterly and said, "He said, since I can't bear to give up your talent, and you don't want to become a monk, why don't I become your lay disciple?"

"Oh, but your master asked you to accept a disciple, why do you want to accept a disciple on his behalf?" Hong Chen didn't understand why Xuan Ku wanted to add a generation to himself.

However, Xuan Ku just smiled and did not answer.

Hong Chen raised his eyebrows.

Xuan Ku asked: "Little donor, what do you think?"

Hong Chen's eyes rolled around and he said, "I have a few questions."

"please say."

"As a lay disciple of Shaolin, do I need to clear the Wooden Man Alley and the Eighteen Bronze Man Formation before I can go down the mountain?"

"No, that was the rule during the Tang Dynasty. Nowadays, martial arts are prevalent, and Shaolin will not stick to the rules."

“Then can I eat meat?”

"Yes, but not in the temple."

"Can I get married?"

"can."

"Then can I join another sect in the future?"

"That's fine. But you can't teach Shaolin martial arts privately, and you can't do anything that harms Shaolin."

"Then can I learn Yi Jin Jing?"

Xuan Ku burst out laughing and shook his head, saying: "If you are a lay disciple, you cannot practice the advanced martial arts of our sect. Among the seventy-two unique skills, only three can be taught at most." After a pause, he continued: "With your aptitude, if you become a monk, I believe you will be able to come into contact with the Yi Jin Jing soon. What do you think, do you want to change your mind?" At this point, Xuan Ku's smile was more genuine than yesterday, and his expression was more free and easy.

It can be seen that he has really let go of yesterday's obsession. For a moment, Hong Chen became quite interested in Xuan Ku's master.

"Master, if you accept a disciple on my behalf, wouldn't that make me your junior fellow apprentice?"

Xuan Ku nodded: "Of course it is so."

"But is your master willing?"

Xuan Ku's eyebrows moved, and he continued to nod: "Of course my master is willing, otherwise how could I ask you for it?"

Having said this, both of them fell silent.

moment.

Hong Chen met Xuan Ku's gaze and nodded slowly: "I do."

Xuan Ku smiled unchanged and nodded gently: "If that's the case, then from now on you will be a lay disciple of Shaolin, learning from Master Lingjing, and your Dharma name will be Xuanchen."

Hong Chen readily followed suit, stood up, and bowed with his hands clasped.

"Xuan Chen, meet Senior Brother."

Xuan Ku helped him up and said, "Please wait a moment, brother. I will go get you a sign." After saying that, he turned and left.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold, the corners of Xuan Ku's mouth, which had been suppressed tightly, suddenly lifted up.

Hong Chen looked at his back, and his expression couldn't help but become a little strange.

This monk is really a nice person.

As to whether he had any plans, Hong Chen really didn't think there was anything about him that was worth his calculations.

If this is really just an angel investment based on their physique and talent, then Hong Chen will give them due rewards in the future.

How do you develop inner strength? What does it feel like to develop inner strength? What is it like to fly over eaves and walls, walk on water, and walk on snow without leaving any trace?
Hong Chen was very curious. Since the fate had come, it was not impossible to take advantage of Shaolin. After all, this was a win-win deal that everyone was happy with.

After a while, Xuan Ku came back with a wooden sign and handed it to Hong Chen.

It is made of willow wood and brushed with tung oil. It has a smooth surface and is engraved on both sides: one side has "Ling Jing" and the other side has "Xuan Chen".

"Take it and you can read Buddhist scriptures in the Daozang Sutra Pavilion."

Hong Chen's eyes suddenly lit up.

When Xuan Ku saw it, he added, “But you can’t see the martial arts.”

"Why?" Hong Chen was surprised and puzzled.

Xuan Ku rubbed his head: "Because you are still young, practicing martial arts will hurt your body."

Hong Chen took a step back and insisted, "I think I can practice."

Xuan Ku shook his head: "No matter if they are monks or lay disciples of Shaolin Temple, they should carry water for three years and chop wood for three years before learning martial arts."

Hong Chen blinked, held the sign in both hands and handed it back, saying: "Master, I think I'd better go down the mountain!"

Immediately, Xuan Ku's mouth twitched.

After that, the two of them negotiated for several rounds but could not reach an agreement until Hong Chen slapped the table to pieces and crushed the cup into powder with one hand. Xuan Ku was dumbfounded and finally gave in.

It is better to choose a day than to hit it.

Xuan Ku immediately began to teach the basic Shaolin internal skills.

It is not some peerless magical skill. It is at most second-rate in the martial arts world. However, Hong Chen is very enthusiastic in learning it.

Are you kidding? This is something that can help you develop internal strength.

Two hours later.

Hong Chen finished his meditation, and when he opened his eyes, the light in his eyes was captivatingly bright.

"Have it!"

Xuan Ku was shocked: "Yes?!"

"Have it!"

Hong Chen nodded again with a bright smile.

Xuan Ku hurriedly grabbed his wrist.

After a while, the monk took a deep breath and then stared at Hong Chen's hair.

Hong Chen had to remind him: "Brother, your eyes are not very polite."

Xuan Ku's eyes twitched, he turned around and stood up, walking out while saying, "You continue to practice, I'll go find the master!"

Hong Chen closed his eyes and continued to meditate.

In the Dantian, a breath of air emerged out of thin air and moved as the heart wished.

It circulates along the meridians, passes through the acupoints throughout the body, and coordinates with the breathing frequency.

After a big cycle is completed, it will grow.

Wherever the inner force reaches, it is indeed warm and comfortable as I had experienced before.

The only problem is that when the internal force flows through the Yintang point, the eyeball will also become restless.

Hong Chen stood up, but failed to find a bronze mirror in the Zen room, so he could only go out and lie on the water tank with his eyes open.

[The Eye of the Unknown (4.17%): It allows you to see more information that ordinary eyes cannot see, but unfortunately you are not yet able to activate its full picture. ]

Mobilize your internal strength and gather it at your forehead.

The ink-black pupils were indeed trembling slightly.

Hong Chen injected the internal energy that had just increased into it, and the numbers changed instantly.

4.18%.

(End of this chapter)