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Chapter 65 Zen in Tea

In March, Lushan Mountain is picturesque, with beautiful mountains and steaming clouds and mist, making it look like a fairyland.

The azaleas are shining brightly in the sun, bright red like fire, pink like clouds, and lavender like dreams. They are embedded in the fresh green all over the mountain, which is so beautiful.

In the eleventh year of Taiyuan (386), Huan Yi, the governor of Jiangzhou, built Donglin Temple for the eminent monk Huiyuan at the northwest foot of Lushan Mountain. It complemented the Xilin Temple at the northern foot and became a holy place for southern Buddhism.

The main hall of Donglin Temple is not called the "Daxiong Hall" like other temples, but is called the "Shenyun Hall". The three gold characters on the large plaque were written by Huan Yi.

It is said that when Master Huiyuan built Donglin Temple, there was a lack of wood, sand, ash and other materials, and Master Huiyuan was deeply worried.

In the evening, I sat in meditation. It was windy and rainy, with thunder and lightning. When the wind and rain stopped the next day, everyone found that the open space at the construction site was filled with wood, sand, ash and other people. Everyone said that it was the gods and Buddhas who helped me.

Huan Yi learned that a large plaque inscribed "Shenyun Hall" was hung in the main hall of the temple.

There are several large camphor trees in front of the hall, with pavilions and pavilions like canopies. Master Huiyuan likes to sit under the trees and meditate, meet friends, and talk about sutras and mysteries.

Master Huiyuan and his disciples cultivated several acres of tea gardens in the wasteland at the mouth of the weir. This year's spring tea has been harvested.

Today, the scenery is peaceful and beautiful. Master Huiyuan invited his friends Liu Chengzhi (Liu Yimin, the word Yimin was later given by Liu Yu) and Zhang Quan to taste new tea and talk about Buddhism.

Several tables were placed under the shade of trees, and there was a gentle breeze. Huiyuan and others sat on the ground, leisurely and contented.

Disciple Huiguan poured boiling water into the crushed tea foam, stirred up the tea foam with a teaspoon, and then poured it into a cup. The fragrance immediately spread.

Liu Chengzhi said with a smile: "The master's tea-making skills have become more and more exquisite. This tea is fragrant, refreshing and refreshing, just like a speech."

Huiyuan put the tea cup under his nose, gently smelled the tea fragrance, and said: "This tea comes from the beautiful water and soil in the south, and is lighter. It is not as strong as the tea from Baiyan Temple, and is more suitable for Zen."

Before the cup of tea was finished, Monk Fajing came over with a greeting card, put his hands together in front of the master, and said: "Master, there is Yang Tanyue outside the temple who wants to see you, and brings a letter from Xi Tanyue, the governor of Yongzhou.

"

Huiyuan took the invitation and put it aside. He opened the letter and read it first.

Liu Chengzhi said impatiently: "Master, as a foreigner, don't care what the common people do. The wind and scenery are bright today, it's a good time to drink tea, as long as the common things are gone."

Huiyuan read the letter and said to Fajing: "Go and ask Yang Tanyue to come over and talk."

Zhang Quan asked curiously: "Master rarely sees foreign visitors on weekdays. Most of his visits are from Zen and Xuanzhong. Who is the visitor today?"

Huiyuan smiled and said: "Liu Tan came to the temple more than a month ago to find a poor monk to discuss the scriptures. He also mentioned this person, saying that he was destined to be with him."

Liu Chengzhi was a little confused and said: "Who is it?"

"That's Yang Anxuan and Yang Tanyue who wrote "Little Window Quiet Sentences"."

Liu Chengzhi said happily: "If he is this person, I might as well meet him. There are many Zen principles in "Xiao Chuang You Yu". Liu has been eager to see this person for a long time."

Yang Anxuan took Hu Yuan and Zhang Feng up the stone steps to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the mountains.

The rocks are clean, the pines are bursting, the water is flowing down, the white clouds are lingering, the birds are singing crisply, and the mountain temple is quiet.

When they arrived outside the mountain temple, even Zhang Feng, who was shouting all the way, stopped and stood still waiting.

There is a lotus pond outside the temple. It is said that Master Huiyuan and his disciples dug it with their own hands. The lotus leaves in the pond sway in the wind and are indescribably pure.

There is a spring gushing into the pool, which should be what later generations called the Smart Spring.

Yang Anxuan secretly lamented that a few years later, Master Huiyuan would invite 123 "people of sincere heart and sincerity" to establish the White Lotus Society, so later generations called the Pure Land Sect also the "Lian Sect".

Fajing stepped out of the temple, came forward and saluted, saying: "Master, please invite Tan Yue to come and talk."

Under the camphor tree, Huiyuan stood with a smile.

Liu Chengzhi looked at Yang Anxuan who was approaching and said in surprise: "Is Yang Xiaochuang not yet crowned? So young?"

Yang Anxuan quickly walked a few steps forward, bowed and said, "Hongnong Yang Anxuan has met the master."

Huiyuan smiled and clasped his hands, asked Yang Anxuan and others to sit down at the table, and signaled his disciple Hui Guan to pour tea, and even Zhang Feng got a cup.

Zhang Feng felt thirsty after leaving. When he saw the tea, he blew it and downed it in one gulp, which made Hui Guan frown.

Liu Chengzhi smiled and said: "When you are thirsty and want to drink, drinking tea is really interesting and it goes straight to your heart. It's wonderful."

Huiyuan said: "This tea is made by a poor monk himself. It stimulates body fluids and quenches thirst. Several Tan Yue have come all the way, so you might as well drink a few more cups."

Yang Anxuan smelled the aroma of tea and took a sip. The tea was slightly sweet, astringent but sweet, which was regarded as a treasure among teas.

After finishing the cup, Yang Anxuan said, "I also like tea, so I developed a new tea, which was named 'Bichun' by Governor Xi. I learned that the master likes tea, so I took the liberty to come and ask him to taste it."

Huiyuan said happily: "Xi Tanyue has already mentioned it in his letter, saying that the new tea is of excellent quality, and the poor monk is just thinking of trying it."

Yang Anxuan took the bamboo basket, opened the curtain covering it, and took out the tea sets one by one.

When Liu Chengzhi saw the celadon tea cup, he mocked with a hint of sarcasm: "My little friend is really a wealthy man. This set of celadon tea sets is so elegant and pleasing that it makes people forget to drink tea."

Yang Anxuan only did not listen, boiled water, washed utensils, divided tea, and took care of things.

Zhang Quan saw Yang Anxuan taking out tea leaves from the bamboo box and asked in surprise: "Loose tea?"

He opened his palm and signaled Yang Anxuan to spoon a few grains into his hand. Zhang Quan gently twisted the tea leaves and felt the crispness of the tea leaves. He put it under his nose. The aroma was light and elegant. He couldn't help but praise, "Good tea."

When the boiling water is poured into the cup, the tea leaves stretch out under the action of the water, and each one looks like a new bud blooming, which is really pleasing to the eye.

The color of the tea soup was like fresh green against the background of celadon. Liu Chengzhi picked up the tea cup, took a deep breath with a face full of intoxication, and said: "Just smelling this tea will make you intoxicated. It's such a good tea."

Huiyuan tasted the tea slowly. After finishing the cup, he said: "This tea has clear soup, rich taste, and elegant aroma. It can only get its true color without adding anything else (1). Amitabha, it is so good, so good."

Putting his palms together and bowing to Yang Anxuan, Huiyuan said: "This tea brings purity and freedom, and is destined to be associated with the Buddha."

"Refreshing and delicious, the aroma is overwhelming, and you will forget your worries after drinking it." Liu Chengzhi put down the tea cup and said, "Come again."

Yang Anxuan filled the pot with water and brewed again.

The breeze blew slowly, and everyone sat silently under the tree, intoxicated by the fragrance of tea.

After brewing it four times in a row, it became tasteless.

Huiyuan's eyes were filled with joy and he said, "The poor monk seems to have some enlightenment."

Yang Anxuan put his hands together and said, "Master, please give me some advice."

"The taste of tea changes from strong to light, until it is tasteless, just like what Buddhism says: everything is empty, everything is empty, and all appearances are exhausted." Huiyuan sat upright with a smile and recited the Buddha's name.

Liu Chengzhi and Zhang Quan congratulated in unison: "Congratulations to the great monk for drinking tea and realizing Zen, and for making great progress in Buddhism."

Huiyuan stood up, put his palms together in front of his chest, bowed his head to Yang Anxuan and said, "This tea is related to the Buddha. The poor monk would like to ask Yang Tanyue to teach him the method of making tea. The poor monk will not spread the method of making tea."

, I just made homemade tea to entertain my friends, so please forgive me for not being polite."

Yang Anxuan stood up and returned the courtesy, and said with a smile: "I am really lucky to be able to get associated with the Buddha. The method of making tea is simple, the master just listens to the servant..."

After describing the five steps of selecting tea, withering, greening, rolling, and drying in detail, Yang Anxuan did not avoid Liu Chengzhi and Zhang Quan who were watching. These two people can become the Eighteen White Lotus Talents, and their moral character is trustworthy.

After speaking, Yang Anxuan briefly mentioned water selection, utensil selection, etiquette and other matters. Liu Chengzhi and Zhang Quan asked questions and argued with each other from time to time.

Zhang Quan looked at the tea box on the table and said: "The name of this tea is 'Bichun'. The smell of the world is too strong. If the great monk follows this method to treat tea, he cannot use this name."

Liu Cheng said: "Drinking this tea can make you forget your worries, so it is called Forget-You Tea."

Zhang Quan shook his head and said, "That's not right. Emperor Wu of Wei said, 'How can we relieve worries only by Du Kang?'" Wine is called "relieving worries," while tea is called "Qingshen Tea".

Yang Anxuan smiled and said nothing, waiting for the "Five Pure Heart Tea" to appear.

Sure enough, Master Huiyuan said: "Worry and emotions are all born from the heart, and the five turbidities in the world cause us to fall into reincarnation. Our practice is to go to the Western Paradise. The five turbidities originate from the heart. This tea can purify the mind and realize

Zen, why not call it 'Five Pure Heart Tea', what do you think?"

Yang Anxuan was the first to applaud and praised: "The master's insights are profound and insightful, and he has learned the subtleties of Buddhism. Five Pure Heart Tea, a good name."

Zhang Quan was from Nanyang. When he heard that Yang Anxuan was going to Jiankang, he asked with a smile: "My little friend is planning to go to Beijing to study Chinese."

Yang Anxuan nodded in agreement.

Liu Chengzhi said: "The day before yesterday, a brother from the Yu clan came from Beijing and informed that the prince had moved to the East Palace. The emperor ordered Yin Wangya of Danyang (Jiankangnan) to be the prince's young tutor. I heard that the day when Wang Ya paid homage to his young tutor coincided with the left.

Pushe Wang Xun's son got married, and all the guests went to Wang Ya's home to congratulate her."

Zhang Quan shook his head and sighed: "Customs are decaying and the world is declining. Officials in the court take pride in flattery and are incorruptible and shameless."

Liu Chengzhi sang at the top of his lungs: "The phoenix and the phoenix are far away, the sun is far away. The sparrows and black magpies are nesting in the hall..."

Yang Anxuan did not understand Liu Chengzhi's emotion, thinking that Sima Dezong would enter the East Palace and would soon have a marriage proposal. He didn't know how the Yin family's plan was going, and that Miss Yin would enter the East Palace in a while.

Before I knew it, it was already noon. I had a fast meal at Donglin Temple and took a short rest. Yang Anxuan was about to get up and say goodbye.

The purpose of coming to Donglin Temple to meet the eminent monk Huiyuan has been achieved. As for the effect, it can only be left to chance. Yang Anxuan believes that with the spread of Wujingxin Tea, his reputation will naturally be widely known among Buddhists.

Huiyuan signaled Yang Anxuan to wait a moment with his hand, and said: "I have given you a generous gift from Tan Yue, but I can't repay you. The poor monk saw that Tan Yue's breath was long and seemed to have practiced the mental method. However, the poor monk saw that there were red lines in the donor's eyes and slight red spots behind the ears.

, I think it was too much haste.”

Yang Anxuan was shocked. His physical condition was greatly improved by practicing the Qingxuan Mental Technique. He became more aware when fighting with others. He relied on him as the most important means of establishing himself. If his internal strength went awry and he went crazy, then any king's hegemony would be nothing more than a mirror.

.

He quickly stood up and prostrated, and Yang Anxuan said respectfully: "Master, please give me some advice."

Huiyuan gently helped Yang Anxuan up and muttered for a moment: "The poor monk was taught the Dayan Kung Fu by my master Dao Yuan. This Kung Fu is based on Qi Guiding, imitating the shape of the Dayan, stimulating the meridians and acupuncture points, which can clear the eyes and wake up the mind.

Regulates the internal organs and prolongs life.”

Yang Anxuan begged: "Master, please don't hesitate to teach me."

Huiyuan said with some embarrassment: "This technique is passed down from generation to generation. My master only taught it to a poor monk, and he repeatedly told me not to teach it to anyone else."

Yang Anxuan was so clever that he immediately prostrated himself and said, "Anxuan would like to become a disciple of the master and become a lay disciple of Buddhism."

"Very good, An Xuan, you have deep wisdom. It is a blessing for me to accept you as my disciple. You are very good."

Witnessed by Liu Chengzhi and Zhang Quan, Huiyuan accepted Yang Anxuan as a lay disciple. In addition to teaching him the Dayan Kung Fu, he also gave him a string of Buddhist beads.

The Buddhist beads are the beads Huiyuan carries with him. Although they are ordinary things, he has been following the master for more than ten years.
Chapter completed!
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