With the sun high in the sky, Maitreya led a group of people facing the gentle breeze to pay homage to the Buddha and request to become a monk.
Buddha agreed on the spot. Under the blessing of the Buddha's boundless supernatural power, their hair and beards fell off on their own, and their cassocks were automatically put on their bodies - officially becoming the Buddha's monk disciples.
Maitreya, who became a monk, has a more delicate image and a fresher temperament. His body seems to exude a cool breath, which can make people feel harmonious, peaceful and happy from a distance.
So, one day later, there was the scene seen by the Five Hundred Brahmazhi mentioned above.
Besides, Zen Master Xiankuang, who had already finished his hair to commemorate this, said this verse with a smile but not a smile:
Sangha today,
Tomorrow's Buddha.
dreamy water moon,
The harmony of causes and conditions.
I am ignorant and don't know what the master said. However, he seemed to feel something vaguely again, like a long-lost dream, the plot had long been forgotten, only some dream threads were like gentle clouds, like light smoke, vaguely present or not, vaguely visible.
However, what is it? He couldn't tell. As a result, he seemed dumbfounded and froze on the spot.
Xiankuang gently slapped his shiny bald head and chanted: "It happened in a dream, why bother to pursue it? It is as clear as the heart, and you suddenly understand the cause."
Suddenly, like a flash of lightning in the depths of Qi's soul, in a daze, he seemed to see a majestic heavenly palace, where there were fragrant flowers, fairy music, and flying sky...
The voice of the master, Zen Master Xiankuang, seemed to come from outside the world: "Mother Qiwu is born, and this nature is original. Therefore, your Dharma name should still be called Qi this."
After he returned from heaven to the human world, he respectfully bowed to Zen Master Xiankuang three times and thanked him for his ordination.
Zen Master Xiankuang said: "In agreement, tonight when your parents returned home, they found that you had not gone back. They will definitely come to the temple to look for you tomorrow. Especially your sister Qiuxia, who seems to love you deeply, she will definitely come back." Involuntarily and uncontrollably, I often come to the temple to visit you for various reasons. If things go on like this, there will inevitably be gossip. On the one hand, it is not conducive to your own practice, and on the other hand, it will pollute the reputation of a quiet place for Buddhism. Therefore, you cannot live in Yuelin Temple permanently. There’s no place for you here.”
Hearing this, Qi Shi couldn't help but feel anxious: "Master, I have just been ordained. I know nothing about other temples except Yuelin Temple. Where can I settle down?"
Zen Master Xiankuang smiled and comforted him and said: "Don't worry, I have already planned a way out for you. Eighty miles away from Fenghua County, there is a Tianhua Temple on the seaside. The environment there is quiet and it is a good place for practice. Tianhua Temple Monk Yunqing, the abbot of Hua Temple, is my fellow Taoist monk. I have already written a letter to him, recommending you to go to Tianhua Temple to register."
With that said, Xiankuang took out a letter and handed it to Qi Jin. Qi couldn't help but feel a little strange: "Master, when did you write this letter?"
Xiankuang nodded: "I wrote it just now while I was waiting for you here."
This made Qi even stranger: "How do you know I will definitely come back?"
"When you have to come, you will definitely come; when you have to leave, you have to leave. Just like you have to leave Yuelin Temple overnight."
With this, I once again experienced the incredible power of Buddhism.
Zen Master Xiankuang took the time to tell Qi Ji some common sense about Buddhism and the basic rules for monks to hang orders, but he did not mention a word about the crucial practice methods.
At dawn, the mountain gate of Yuelin Temple, shrouded in morning mist, quietly opened a gap. Wearing a bamboo hat, a bag on his back, a Zen staff in his hand, and dressed like a wandering monk, Qi Zhi and the old monk quietly squeezed out from the crack in the door one after the other. Zen Master Xiankuang stood outside the mountain gate, watching his disciples walk down the long steps.
Qi turned around and saw Master standing high on the steps like a statue, motionless. His nose felt sore, and two lines of hot tears rolled down his face. He put down his bag, knelt down, and kowtowed to his master three times.
Zen Master Xiankuang waved his hand, urging Qi Cheng to get on his way quickly. Qi Zhi gradually went further and further into the thick morning mist. Like ice melting into the sea, he completely merged into the world...
We agreed to walk along the county river towards the county seat. After arriving at the county seat, turn onto the road leading to the seaside.
On the other side of the river is Changting Village, his hometown where he has lived for sixteen years.
The morning mist, as lingering as nostalgia and as sentimental as nostalgia, lingered around Qi Ji, making his steps seem a bit heavy.
The fog on the river became thicker, and the outline of my hometown village could not be seen. Only my aching heart could clearly feel that I was getting farther and farther away from my hometown...
Suddenly, like a hallucination, a string of ethereal singing voices came from the direction of the village:
The flow of the Yanjiang River, the flow of the County River, flows to the sea without looking back, and the water waves are clear and sad. The love is long, the longing is long, and I can't stop thinking about the ends of the world. When will I return to the boat?
This song is like a lonely soul floating in the air, helplessly pouring out its sorrow, sadness and confusion to the earth and mountains and rivers.
For some reason, Qi felt that the song sounded familiar to her, as if her sister Qiuxia was singing by the window: Salty tears flow, bitter tears flow, flow into the chest and soak in the heart, sick trees face frost in autumn. Hate lingers, resentment lingers, Jiuzhou is full of sorrow and sorrow, and the cold moon shines on the empty building.
…
Unknowingly, Qi Ji burst into tears. The steps under his feet became heavier and heavier, and he almost stopped completely...
At this time, a crisp bird call passed through the stagnant and gloomy air, awakening Qi Ji's hallucination. He shook his head and listened carefully. Where was the singing? Only the rolling river water made a low moan!
He couldn't help but shudder - that confusing singing was just the manifestation of inner demons!
He remembered a verse that his master, Zen Master Xiankuang, once read and recited:
If people want to know,
All Buddhas in the Three Worlds.
We should observe the nature of the Dharma Realm,
Everything is made from the heart.
So, he cheered up, raised his head, faced the fiery red glow of the eastern sky, and strode forward...
After a whole day of arduous trekking, he finally approached the seaside as the sun set over the mountains. The wind was passionate, bringing the warm affection of the sea. He could already smell the fresh and slightly salty scent. .
At this moment, he suddenly heard a clear sound of bells:
When... when... when...
The breeze pushes away the fog at the bottom of the stream, and the mountains are bright and the water is bright, everything is bright; the Buddhist bell strikes the clouds on the peak, empty, empty, empty, empty, empty, always empty.
The bells of the Buddhist Kingdom are carried by the wind; troubles are cleared away, and Bodhi is greatly increased.
Qi's spirit was lifted, and all the fatigue in his body was swept away.
He quickly climbed up a mountain peak, and suddenly he saw a large-scale temple with majestic temples, which naturally existed between the mountains and the sea: it was adjacent to a row of undulating green mountains in the north, like a beautiful painted screen, blocking the violent storm. ; It is adjacent to the bay where the tide ebbs and flows, and the water and sky are the same color. It is like a clear mirror, illuminating the true face...
The bright sun rises from the East China Sea, and the morning glow fills the sky, just like the light of Buddha shining everywhere;
Tomorrow I will hang on the west peak, the aura will clear the sky, just like my mind is clear.
This is the famous Tianhua Temple.
I couldn't help but exclaim from the bottom of my heart: No wonder Zen Master Xiankuang wants to practice by himself. It is really a paradise! Isn't it? Facing the mighty sea, the undulating waves wash away the mind; backed by towering mountains, the jagged peaks are majestic... The environment is so magical and full of natural enlightenment, which will definitely promote the early success of humanistic practice.
Qi couldn't help but whistle and ran towards the gate of Tianhua Temple.
Monk Qing, the abbot of Tianhua Temple, read Zen Master Xiankuang's letter and couldn't help but take a few more glances at Qi: This slightly obese young man has an average appearance and even looks a little clumsy. What kind of special talent does this young man have that is worthy of Xiankuang? Zen Master Kuang praised him highly?
Monk Yunqing really couldn't see the uniqueness of this contract, but because of the recommendation of his old friend Xiankuang Zen Master, he handed it over to the supervisor (responsible for the daily management of the temple, commonly known as the "head") and placed him in Yunshuitang - ——The wandering monk stayed at the place where he had made his orders.
