The Zen room of the temple is located where trees are lush. Since the temple is on a mountain, most of the tall trees are pine and fir trees, so it is still full of greenery. Visit to download the txt novel
The weather has been fine these past few days, and all the snow that was accumulated some time ago has melted. The small yellow grass on the side of the road is soaked with snow and moist, and small buds are growing that take advantage of the fine weather.
Master Shanxiang pointed to the end of the path with his hand and said: "Donor, please look, the Zen room is over there."
Su Jin raised his eyes and took a closer look. He saw several simple houses scattered in the forest, and could not see the whole picture. He couldn't help but smile: "What a pure place. As the ancient poems said, 'The winding paths lead to secluded places, and the Zen rooms are deep with flowers and trees.'
If you are sincere, I will not deceive you."
Master Shanxiang smiled and said: "It's a bit appropriate. In spring and summer, the forest is full of flowers and trees. It's really as what the poem says."
Su Jin sighed: "It's really enviable that Master can practice here."
Master Shanxiang glanced at Su Jin and said: "It is good to have a clean place for practice, but if a person's practice is limited to external objects, he will fall into the inferior vehicle. No matter where he is, even if it is a place where dogs, arrows and horses drown, as long as he practices wholeheartedly
Not being moved by external objects is the superior practice."
Su Jin nodded and said: "What the master said is true, but I'm afraid not many people can reach that level."
Master Shanxiang said: "Yes, I am the abbot of this temple, but my practice is very different from that of my predecessors. I have to worry about too many things, cannot purify the six roots, and have committed many sins."
Su Jin was surprised and said: "Master, can't even the six sense organs be purified?"
Master Shanxiang pointed to the scattered temple buildings around him and said, "How does this temple look like in the eyes of the donor?"
Su Jin said: "The reputation of Guibao Temple is very great, the incense is flourishing, the temple is majestic, and it is famous far and wide. Isn't Master still satisfied?"
Shanxiang said with a smile: "What you see with your eyes can deceive you the most. The temples you see are majestic and glorious, but you don't know that several of the main halls have collapsed beams and roofs. It rains heavily every day. Even the Bodhisattva statues need to be covered with raincloths, otherwise they will be destroyed."
The golden body is soaked; you can see the incense is flourishing, but the ascetic monks in my temple only have food and clothing every day, and there is no charcoal for heating in winter; even the oil for the ever-burning lamp in front of the Buddha needs to be saved from between the teeth; so on
Given the situation, do you still think this is a blessed place on earth?"
Su Jin was surprised: "Is it so dilapidated?"
Master Shanxiang said: "Buddhism does not lie, so I am really grateful to the donor today for giving generously. Although Buddhism emphasizes poverty and asceticism and does not care about enjoyment, honor and disgrace outside the skin, Buddhists are also mortal bodies.
, also know hunger and cold, know cold and warmth, this is what I often worry about, and the six impure roots are caused by this."
Su Jin sighed: "Such a treasure temple is in such a situation. There is no one from the court or pilgrims to support the temple?"
Shanxiang smiled and said: "Yes, there are some, but they are just a drop in the bucket, just enough for repairs and maintenance."
Su Jin pointed to the two side halls on the hillside and said, "Isn't there a lot of construction work going on there? Where does the money come from?"
Shanxiang folded his hands and recited the Buddha's name and said: "That is a side hall sponsored by Lao Na's lay disciple Puji. It is the place where Manjushri Bodhisattva is worshiped. Manjushri Hall collapsed two years ago, and the Bodhisattva's golden body was exposed in the mountains for more than a year. Lao Na had no choice but to agree.
Puji funded the construction of Manjusri Hall, for which I often felt uneasy."
Su Jindao: "Why are you uneasy? If Buddhist disciples donate money, doesn't that mean they have a heart for Buddha?"
Master Shanxiang smiled, looked around and said, "The Zen room has arrived. Please come in and have some tea."
Su Jin bowed and saluted, stepped inside, and looked around. It was indeed very shabby, and the walls were in vain. The only thing that seemed rich was the wooden shelves on the south wall, which were filled with Buddhist scriptures, and were surrounded by several futons on the pine floor.
There is a small table with a wooden fish and a wooden mallet on the table, and that's it.
"Master's life was really poor. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it." Su Jin sat cross-legged on the futon at Master Shanxiang's instruction and said with a smile.
Master Shanxiang raised his eyebrows and said, "I already think it's great to have a person as kind and generous as the donor. The money and materials donated by the donor today have met my urgent need. I should personally serve tea as a thank you."
Su Jin laughed and said, "What is this? It seems that I have to come here more often and give more alms. If my mother finds out that the monks in the temple are so poor, I am afraid that she will have trouble sleeping and eating."
Shanxiang laughed, took out a few tea bowls, ordered the novice monk to get hot water, rolled up his sleeves and poured a bowl of tea for each of Su Jin and the others, and said with a smile: "I have nothing to thank you for, I can only use this for what I planted with my own hands."
The tea leaves collected are given to the donor as a token of gratitude."
Su Jin let out a sigh and thought to himself: Tea is grown and made by oneself. The old monk's life was indeed hard enough. He looked down at the green and lovely tea leaves floating in the boiling water. He picked it up and took a sip. The fragrance entered his lungs and was refreshing.
Unspeakable.
"What a wonderful tea. It's rare to be able to drink such good tea in winter. The tea made by the master himself is really extraordinary. It doesn't have a trace of earthly taste. I'm flattered."
Master Shanxiang smiled and said: "The little donor is very good at talking. I have talked to you a lot today. I haven't talked freely with anyone for a long time."
Su Jin smiled and said: "Doesn't the master have several lay disciples? Wouldn't it be nice to invite them to chat and play chess in their free time?"
Shanxiang looked embarrassed and said: "You can't talk about secular things with them. If it weren't for the financial difficulties of this temple, how could I accept them as disciples? I have ruined the Qingming Festival for a lifetime in exchange for the prosperity of the temple. If I can spread the incense of the temple in my hands, it is considered a right thing."
Buddha."
Su Jin said in astonishment: "It seems that the master is not very satisfied with them. Having said that, the person who can spend huge sums of money to build the temple must be a wealthy person in Yangzhou, but I don't know who it is?"
Shanxiang waved his hand and said: "Don't talk about them, it won't spoil my mood."
Su Jin thought in his mind that it seemed that Master Shanxiang was helpless. He must also know that Feng Laohu and others were not good people, but they were forced by life and did not want the temple to be ruined in his own hands. In exchange for their charity,
He accepted them as his disciples, but felt it was a great shame and humiliation in his heart.
Master Shanxiang didn't want to talk about it, but how could Su Jin let him go? He smiled and said, "Master, you don't have to be like this. Buddhism accepts all living beings. As long as they are not extremely sinful people, once you convert to Buddhism, Master has the responsibility of teaching. Don't be shy."
The slow enlightenment is that one day you will be satisfied with everything."
Master Shanxiang lowered his eyes and sighed: "My incompetence has tarnished Buddhism. I don't know whether this is right or wrong. When it comes to teaching, I am powerless. These two people are just two stubborn stones. Although I come here every month to listen to me
They teach Buddhist scriptures, but as soon as they leave the mountain, they are still the same person, and I have given up on them long ago."
Su Jin asked curiously: "Who are they? Why doesn't Master want to tell their names?"
Master Shanxiang picked up the mallet and banged the wooden fish wildly, and then said: "It's okay not to tell, why should the donor know?"
Su Jin drank the tea in one gulp and cupped his hands and said, "Sorry to bother you, Master. It's a real honor to come to Master's Zen room to drink tea today. However, the sun is heading west, so I'm leaving for the city."
Master Shanxiang said: "Amitabha, it's just a bowl of bitter tea. There's no need to be polite. It's very pleasant to talk to the little benefactor. The little benefactor can often come to the temple to hang out. You and I are destined to become friends who have never forgotten each other."
Su Jin thought: I understand what you are thinking, don't you just want me to bring more money to donate?
"I am flattered. I am very touched after hearing what the master said today. I am also interested in Buddhism and will definitely come here often. However, I am a little disappointed to see that the temple is so poor. So I will stay in Yangzhou for a few days.
Purchase supplies and come back the next day to donate, showing your kindness."
Shan Xiang was overjoyed and shouted the Buddha's name loudly and saluted continuously.
Su Jin smiled and said: "When is the right day for me to come? I heard that tomorrow is a big day for Buddhism. Will Master have time to see me tomorrow?"
Master Shanxiang said: "Tomorrow? I'm afraid it won't be possible in the morning. There will definitely be a lot of people in the morning. I will sit in the Main Hall to thank all the pilgrims."
Su Jin said: "How about the afternoon?"
Master Shanxiang thought about it and said: "I am free after Shen Shi in the afternoon, but it is getting dark by then, and the donor will not be able to go down the mountain if he delays again."
Su Jin said: "Can't you do it before Shen Shi?"
Master Shanxiang said: "Before Shen Shi, I have to give lectures to my disciples in the Zen room, but I'm afraid I won't be able to leave."
Su Jin's heart brightened, and he nodded and said: "Then I'll see you later. It's dark, so what are you afraid of? There are no jackals, tigers or leopards on this mountain. Just hold a lantern and walk."
Master Shanxiang put his hands together and said: "Amitabha, thank you for your hard work. I will have a lot of free time after tomorrow. There is nothing better than..."
"No need, I'm out of town. The New Year is approaching and I'm in a hurry to get back. I'll take my leave tomorrow." Su Jin stood up, bowed, and walked away with the dynasty mahan.
Master Shanxiang leaned against the door to see him off. He sighed and said to himself: "It's my fault that I have fallen like this. How can I be worthy of the many people who believe in the Buddha, Amitabha?"