Zhang Shaofei added: "The subtle principles of Buddhism are not in words."
Liu Xiubin and his aunt looked at Zhang Shaofei as if they didn't recognize him.
But Zhang Shaofei sniffed inexplicably, and while looking around, he said: "I smell the fragrance of flowers, ah, where does this fragrance of flowers come from?"
Zhang Shaofei is not only "illiterate", but also truly blind, even turning a blind eye to the cluster of brilliant mountain flowers endlessly hidden in front of the Buddhist niche.
Wuwu Zang pointed to the vase on the altar and said, "The poor nun picks wild flowers to offer to the Buddha every morning. The faint fragrance in the room is emitted by the cluster of brilliant mountain flowers in front of the Buddhist niche."
Zhang Shaofei didn't speak, he just tilted his ears as if listening to something... Suddenly, he asked casually: "Where is there someone playing the piano?"
When Liu Xiubin heard Zhang Shaofei's question, he really couldn't laugh or cry. He explained in a toneless manner: "The reason why this temple is called Shanjian Temple is because there is a mountain stream nearby, and the water in the stream jingles like the sound of a piano. You see, It's over there." Liu Xiubin pointed towards the outside of the temple.
Zhang Shaofei's eyes did not follow the direction pointed by Liu Xiubin's fingers, but looked at his fingers carefully.
Liu Xiubin was angry and funny, and said: "Brother Xian, you are a very shrewd person. What happened today? What do you think my fingers are doing? They are neither water nor can they make a sound!"
At this time, Zhang Shaofei laughed and said: "Look, the true meaning of Buddhism is like the wonderful fragrance of flowers and the pleasant flowing water; and the words are like the fingers you pointed to me. Fingers can point out the fragrance of flowers and flowing water. But your fingers themselves are not fragrant mountain flowers, nor are they pleasant streams. Moreover, seeing beautiful flowers and listening to the flowing water of mountain streams does not necessarily have to be done through your fingers."
Finally, Zhang Shaofei suggested: "The wonderful principles of the Buddhas have nothing to do with words. Therefore, we cannot be attached to the scriptures."
Hearing Zhang Shaofei's wise words to awaken the world, Wuwu Zang was enlightened and realized: "Oh my God, you are simply a Bodhisattva in the flesh! Amitabha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, poor nuns are so virtuous and incompetent that they actually have the presence of a living Bodhisattva!"
Wuwu Zang stood up, straightened his cassock, unfolded his prayer utensils, and bowed down to Zhang Shaofei...
Zhang Shaofei, a man at home, would not accept the worship of Wuwu Zangni Master no matter what. But she was a bhikshuni, a man herself, and couldn't help her with his hands, so he quickly knelt down first.
…
During that period, Zhang Shaofei and Liu Xiubin participated in labor together during the day and listened to Wuwu Zang chanting sutras at night. After listening to and reciting the sutra, he turned around and explained the meaning of the sutra to the nun Wuwu Zang.
Although Zhang Shaofei had never come into contact with the "Nirvana Sutra", after hearing Zhang Daocheng recite the "Diamond Sutra", his mind was enlightened and he deeply understood the samadhi of "the mind should have no abode", so he was able to understand all things. Once you hear it, you will be enlightened.
Wuwu Zang even had a premonition that Zhang Shaofei was a strange person, so he told all the virtuous and famous elders in the village about the matter, saying: "Zhang Shaofei is an enlightened and virtuous person, and he should be invited to support him."
Soon, Liu Zhiyun, the great-great-grandson of the Lord of Shu, and nearby lay people came to pay their respects. Because Zhang Shaofei had not yet become a monk, people called him "Zhang Xingzhe".
When the elders in the village heard about this, they came to pay their respects. After talking to Zhang Shaofei and listening to him explain the meaning of the scriptures, they couldn't help but admire: "This Zhang Xingzhe has such brilliant insights and has reached the level of self-realization of heaven's secrets. It is not something that ordinary people can achieve. I am afraid that when the great Bodhisattva comes to this world, he can actually go to Huiguang Temple to become a master."
Therefore, at the suggestion of Wuwu Zangni Master, the believers in Liuxuan Village politely invited Zhang Shaofei to live in the famous local Huiguang Ancient Temple.
Zhang Shaofei lived in Huiguang Temple for a short time. He felt that without the guidance of a famous teacher, it would be difficult to achieve great things. He even forgot his original intention of seeking a teacher and planned to go to Huangmei to pay homage to the Fifth Patriarch.
On the day before leaving, Liu Xiubin held a grand farewell banquet for Zhang Shaofei and entertained all the folks in the village.
Zhang Shaofei said goodbye to the people in the village who came to the banquet one by one.
In the evening, he and his adopted brother Liu Xiubin had a long talk late at night in the guest room.
The slanting moonlight penetrated the room, floating on the ground like clear water waves. The branches outside the window were swaying, and the moonlight was like broken silver scattered on the ground. It seemed that you could hear the tinkling sound of it falling down.
Zhang Shaofei quietly packed his luggage. He slung his luggage on his shoulder, opened the door gently, and listened. The courtyard was silent, except for the crickets singing about the brightness of the moon.
Zhang Shaofei walked through the yard, opened the door gently, and just stepped out with one foot, a faint and sad song came from the direction of Xiuxi's boudoir:
The moon in the north of the Yangtze River is like a mirror or a hook. It is like a mirror that does not face the red surface, and like a hook that does not show the green curtains. It is empty and shines eastward.
…
Zhang Shaofei looked back helplessly and walked out of Liu's house.
He walked out of the village, and the singing was still faint. It is like the elf of moonlight, floating down from the depths of the ethereal universe, echoing in the human soul, wandering among the grass and trees of heaven and earth, a little light, a little beautiful, a little sad, a little misty.
He coughed lightly and chanted:
The heart is willing to plant seeds, and the rain of Dharma prompts the peanuts.
Self-enlightenment and seeding will lead to the fruition of Bodhi.
Zhang Shaofei said goodbye to Liu Xiubin and other villagers and continued heading north.
