"Yes, then, we will go to the southern ridge to collect beams and pillars to build the main hall." Zen Master Xiankuang's eager eyes passed over the monks one by one. However, everyone avoided and did not make eye contact with him.
Because it is easy to make rice but difficult to make money. Just imagine, just to rebuild the Main Hall, it would take two or three people to hold thick pillars and thirty-six beams. In addition to the Heavenly King Hall and Dabei Pavilion of similar size, more than a hundred big trees would be needed! Without thousands of taels of silver, it is impossible to buy it.
What's more, Fenghua is thousands of miles away from Wuyi Mountain, and it would cost ten times more to transport these large logs, each weighing ten thousand kilograms, back!
Oh my God, tens of thousands of taels of white money is simply an astronomical figure for a penniless monk who relies on alms to survive!
Zen Master Xiankuang said: "The power of the Bodhisattva's vows is incredible; the merits of building a Buddhist temple are immeasurable. Which Bodhisattva with great heart is willing to step forward and become the master of transformation (monk specializing in fundraising)?"
He repeated the question three times, and all the monks retreated in silence.
Helpless, Zen Master Xiankuang had no choice but to turn his attention to the Budai monk standing next to him with a big belly.
Budai said with a smile: "The old monk was trying to make a fool of himself, but the result was that the sour glutinous rice cake could not be sold, so he shot himself in the foot."
Zen Master Xiankuang said: "Being a Bodhisattva is the easiest. The key is to have your own intention. How big your heart is and how big your wishes are, how strong your power will be! As long as you are determined, there is nothing impossible in the world."
The Budai monk nodded and said: "Yes, yes, the Buddha's path is supreme and can be cultivated, not to mention a few beams and pillars, which can definitely be transformed."
Xian Kuang lost no time and said, "Then I'll help you."
The Budai monk laughed and said, "I have known for a long time that the old monk has set a trap for me to escape."
Zen Master Xiankuang said: "The vertical line is three feet long, and those who wish will take the bait."
In the afternoon of that day, Budai monk set foot on the road to Wuyi Mountain.
Zen Master Xiankuang was a little reluctant to leave. Master and apprentice had not seen each other for more than ten years, and they broke up immediately after getting together for a while, which left a lot of feeling in his heart.
"Let's stay here for one night. I don't care about half the day sooner or later." Xiankuang said.
"There is a man walking on the road. If he misses the opportunity, it will be in trouble." Budai monk said.
Budai monk passed through the vast Siming Mountains, passing through Wuzhou and Quzhou, heading southwest. Covering the stars and wearing the moon, he traveled day and night, and arrived at Xikou, a small riverside town in the upper reaches of Zhejiang Province.
This area is the junction of Zhejiang and Fujian, and Jiangxi. Along the Zhejiang waterway, it leads directly to Hangzhou. Land transportation is also accessible in all directions, and there are ancient post roads leading to Xinzhou, Chuzhou, and Shezhou. More importantly, this is the intersection of two roads from the Wuyishan area of Fujian Province to eastern Zhejiang.
Budai monk sat down at the crossroads in the middle of the town. One of his eyes was looking at the road from Changshan County to the west, and the other was staring at the thoroughfare from Jiangshan County to the south. From time to time, he would also look at the riverside. The waterway of the small dock...
Suddenly, he felt relieved, and a happy smile appeared on his face - because he saw a person, a young man coming in a hurry from the west.
When the man passed the intersection, Budai monk suddenly shouted from behind him: "Chen Daxu!"
The man who was walking hurriedly turned back. He looked at Budai monk in surprise and responded with great confusion: "Master, are you calling me?"
"The only person walking on this road named you is Chen Daxu. Of course I am calling you!"
"But," Chen Daxu was confused, "Master, I have never met you, how do you know me?"
Budai monk chuckled and said, "It's so necessary to know each other before we meet."
"We've never met each other, how do you know my name?"
Budai monk said enigmatically: "Not only do I know your name, I also know that you are from Wuyi in the mountains."
Chen Daxu was even more surprised. But what surprised him was yet to come: "Not only do I know where you come from, I also know where you are going!"
The Budai monk was like a seasoned fishing master, using fragrant bait to lure his fish to the bait.
However, Chen Daxu did not believe that the fat monk could guess where he was going, because his destination was a huge secret that even his dearest mother didn't know.
He looked at the pot-bellied monk and said: "Master, if you can tell me where I am going, I, Chen Daxu, will really obey you. From now on, I will agree to whatever you ask me to do."
The Budai monk deliberately teased him and said, "What if I want your head?"
Chen Daxu thought that he could never guess where he was going, so he said very firmly: "Then I will chop it down for you too!"
"What's the use of your head? It can't be used as an alms bowl to eat!" Immediately, the Budai monk became serious and said seriously: "The destination of your trip is Meicen Island in the East Zhejiang Sea!"
"Oh my God!" Chen Daxu was so shocked that he sat down on the ground. He shook his head, rubbed his eyes, looked at Budai monk and said, "You, you, are you a god? Or a monster?"
"What do you think?" Budai monk tilted his head and looked at him.
Chen Daxu fell into deep thinking.
Chen Daxu is a squire from Wuyi Town, Chong'an County, Fujian Province. Since his family has worshiped Buddhism for generations, he has been a devout layman since he was a child.
A few days ago, he dreamed of a fairy mountain on the sea every night, with misty clouds and lush green bamboos.
On the coast of the southeastern side of Fairy Island, there is a magical cave that emits colorful light; and there is the sound of the sea waves flowing out of the cave, like a murmur of Buddhist chants...
Immediately, Master Guanyin appeared slowly, touched his head and preached the sermon...
This vivid dream repeated itself for seven nights in a row.
So, Chen Daxu began to search and inquire about the location of this fairy island on the sea. However, he asked all the knowledgeable people and inquired from many merchants, but he found nothing.
One day, after reciting sutras, he was strolling by the Chongyang River when he suddenly saw a Sanskrit monk over sixty years old with deep eyes, a high nose, and a red beard walking on the official road from Chong'an to Nanping.
Chen Daxu has studied Buddhism for many years. Looking at his bare feet and his right shoulder, you can tell that he is a monk from Tianzhu (ancient India).
The Sanskrit monks from the Buddha's hometown traveled thousands of miles to travel to Cathay (the name of China in ancient India). There must be great karma!
Chen Daxu had an idea, stepped forward and saluted with his hands together, and asked: "Where is Master going?"
The Buddhist monk said that he came from eastern Zhejiang and wanted to go along this ancient post road via Meizhou to Guangzhou, where he would take a sea ship back to his hometown of South Tianzhu.
Chen Daxu asked him: "Tianzhu is the hometown of Buddha and the birthplace of Buddhism. Why did you abandon the near and seek the far away and risk nine deaths to come to the Tang Dynasty?"
The Buddhist monk said: "Since Bodhidharma brought Mahayana Zen to China 360 years ago, the true meaning of Buddhism and the bloodline of Buddha have come to the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, I came here more than 30 years ago. I went to the Middle Earth to seek Dharma. But this year has reached a climax, the fallen leaves have returned to their roots, and I have to return to my homeland to pass away."
Chen Daxu asked very curiously: "Master has traveled in the Tang Dynasty for more than thirty years. What adventures have you had?"
The Buddhist monk smiled and said: "There are so many adventures, where to start?"
So Chen Daxu described the fairy island on the sea in his dream. The Buddhist monks repeatedly exclaimed: "How lucky is China! How lucky is China! Even Guanshiyin Bodhisattva has shown his dojo in China!"
Chen Daxu quickly asked him where the fairy island on the sea was?
The Buddhist monk said mysteriously: "It's true that the Bodhisattva appeared and asked you to ask me. Apart from me, no one else in the world knows where the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's dojo is. The fairy island you dreamed of is Zhejiang Province." Dongmeicen Island (today’s Putuo Mountain).”
Chen Daxu was quite puzzled and asked: "According to the Avatamsaka Sutra, how did Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's monastery in Putuo Luojia Mountain on the coast of South Tianzhu be moved to our country?"
The Brahma Monk said: "Businessman, you are too persistent! You have to know that Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva responds to hundreds of requests, and appears in every situation. Wherever there is devout faith and a spirit of compassion, there is the Avalokitesvara Dojo. Purity The heart is full of Putuo, and the compassion that helps the world is Guanyin."
Chen Daxu was still puzzled: "But how do you, a foreign Buddhist monk, know about Mecen Island? How do you know where Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is manifesting?"
The Buddhist monk recalled: "More than thirty years ago, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, I took a boat to Guangzhou. At that time, we Tianzhu monks all knew that Qingliang World in Mount Wutai was the dojo of the great wisdom Manjushri, so I came from Guangzhou Continue north by boat to worship Manjusri Bodhisattva in Mount Wutai. Unexpectedly, when we arrived at the Zhoushan Islands in eastern Zhejiang, the boat was trapped by wind and waves and stranded on the coast of Meicen Island. After I landed, I found that although it was deserted, the scenery was very similar to that of Mount Putuo in my hometown. It’s similar, like a cool glass world. I walked through a purple bamboo forest and came to the Chaoyin Cave that appeared in your dream.”
"Wow, there really is that cave!" Chen Daxu was very surprised and couldn't help but interject.
The Buddhist monk nodded and said, "Not only is there Chaoyin Cave, but Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva also appeared there."
The Buddhist monk stretched out his hands. Chen Daxu was shocked: he saw that all ten fingers of the Buddhist monk were missing!
The Buddhist monk didn't wait for him to ask, and took the initiative to say: "At that time, I saw that this Mecen Island was quite similar to the Guanyin Dojo in Putuo, South China Sea. In order to save our boatload of people from the desperate situation, I burned my fingers in front of Chaoyin Cave. I worshiped Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Then Avalokitesvara appeared and gave me a sermon and gave me a seven-color gemstone."
With that said, the Buddhist monk took out a precious, brilliant and crystal clear gem.
After listening to the story of the Buddhist monk and seeing the colorful gems with his own eyes, Chen Daxu was extremely excited when he thought of his wonderful dream. He knew in his heart that this was Guanyin Bodhisattva's message to him: If he went to worship on that small island in the east of Zhejiang Province, he would definitely see Guanyin Bodhisattva appear and witness the great master's true appearance...
So, he hurriedly embarked on the pilgrimage.
Unexpectedly, Chen Daxu left his hometown and walked more than a hundred miles. As soon as he arrived at the small town of Xikou on the coast of Zhejiang, he encountered something even more incredible. He looked at the mysterious pot-bellied monk in front of him as if in a dream. He asked tentatively: "Master, how do you call me?"
The cloth bag monk showed him the cloth bag on his shoulder.
Chen Daxu said "Oh" and said, "Your Buddhist name is Budai."
The Budai monk said with a smile: "The Budai is my property, but people call me Budai. I don't know whether the Budai is me or I am the Budai."
Chen Daxu doesn't care whether you are a cloth bag or not. What he cares about is the magical island - the place where Guanyin Bodhisattva appears.
He asked eagerly: "Master Butai, since you know everything, do you know whether Meicen Island is the ashram of Guanyin Bodhisattva? Does Guanyin Bodhisattva often appear there to preach?"
Budai monk nodded and said: "In another twenty years or so, in the year when I will be enthroned, another foreign monk will experience the adventure of the Indian Buddhist monk you saw on Mecen Island. From that time on, , Meicen Island was renamed Putuo Mountain, and it officially became the recognized Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva dojo."
Oh my god, this pot-bellied monk not only knows everything about the past, but he also knows about the future! Chen Daxu couldn't help admiring him and asked respectfully: "Master, tell me, can I see Guanyin Bodhisattva appear during my pilgrimage to eastern Zhejiang this time?"
To everyone's surprise, Budai monk actually said: "I am the one sent by Guanyin Bodhisattva to welcome you!"
"My mother!" Chen Daxu exclaimed in his heart, "No wonder he knows everything. Ganqing is the envoy sent by Guanyin Bodhisattva!"
Budai monk continued: "Guanyin Bodhisattva asked me to wait for you halfway, just to ask you, do you really want to see the living Bodhisattva?"
"Of course, I have traveled thousands of miles to make a pilgrimage to the fairy island on the sea in eastern Zhejiang, just because I want to see the true form of the Bodhisattva!"
Budai monk said: "Guanyin Bodhisattva was afraid that you would have to travel thousands of miles and your saddle and horse would be tired, so I went to your home first."
"What? Guanyin Bodhisattva came to my home? Is this true?" Chen Daxu was a little unbelievable. "
Budai monk said very seriously: "Of course it's true. Go back. Go back quickly. When you get home, you can see the living Guanyin."
As a layman, Chen Daxu knew that monks strictly abide by the precepts and do not lie, so he firmly believed in what Budai monk said.
Moreover, the series of unusual miracles performed by Budai monk also made him believe it.
Before leaving, he asked again: "Master Budai, Guanyin Bodhisattva is ever-changing and has thirty-two corresponding bodies. It is difficult for disciples to identify it with the naked eye. What does the Guanyin look like when he comes to my house?"
Budai monk said: "When you go back and see someone who is wearing clothes backwards and kicking his shoes upside down, he is the living Guanyin."
Lay Buddhist Chen Daxu was both excited and a little confused: "How virtuous and capable am I, Chen, and what meritorious deeds have I done that I actually inspired Guanyin Bodhisattva to come to my home?"
He hurriedly bid farewell to Budai Monk, turned around, and ran back along the road he came from, day and night...
When he arrived home, it was already midnight. He was anxious to see the living Guanyin, so he banged the courtyard door loudly and shouted: "Open the door quickly."
Soon, the mother opened the door, as if she was waiting for her son to return. Chen Daxu hurriedly ran into his home, looking for Guanyin in every room. However, he was disappointed. Where was the shadow of Guanyin!
Could it be that the Budai monk deceived him?
When he turned around listlessly, he suddenly discovered that his mother's clothes were facing out and were clearly worn backwards. Looking at her shoes, her left and right feet were also upside down, and she was kicking them without putting them on -
How can a mother sleep peacefully when she is worried about her son who is out in the middle of the night? As soon as he heard his son's knock on the door, the old man was overjoyed and got up immediately. The weather was cold at night. In order to let her son return to a warm home earlier, she was in a hurry. She put on her clothes inside and outside, and her shoes on the left and right sides, and she was so anxious that she didn't even pick up her shoes...
Master Chen Daxu suddenly woke up and understood that the living Guanyin mentioned by Budai monk is a mother who always cares about herself and is willing to go through all kinds of hardships for her children!
The Buddhist scriptures say that Guanshiyin Bodhisattva always responds to requests and has hundreds of billions of incarnations, appearing at all times and everywhere.
Aren’t mothers in the world like this?
The growth of children requires all the mother's love.
Almost all mothers are willing to dedicate everything, even their lives, to their children. Therefore, mother is one of the incarnations of Buddha and Bodhisattva’s great compassion and kindness, and she is the living Avalokitesvara!
Chen Daxu has read many scriptures and has a deep understanding of Buddhism. From this, he further realized that although Monk Budai's ability to understand the past and predict the future is miraculous, what is even more admirable is that he used this to enlighten himself: to practice sincerely, There is no need to make pilgrimages or offer incense and seek outside; that is, the heart is the Buddha, and the Dharma is by your side.
After Chen Daxu walked first, Budai monk also followed his footsteps and came to Dawuyi Mountain.
This is a tall mountain range running from northeast to southwest, connected to Xianxia Ridge in the north and Jiulian Mountain in the south. It is a vast and winding mountain with towering peaks. It separates Jiangxi and Fujian, and divides water between Ganjiang River and Minjiang River.
If the Dawuyi Mountains are so tall and majestic that they are breathtaking, then the Xiaowuyi Mountains are heart-thumping because of their beauty. This is the most famous mountain in Fujian, with its forty-nine peaks, vying for wonder and elegance; the Eighty-Seven Rocks, wonderful and natural; the nine-curved stream, breathtakingly beautiful... Taoyuan Cave, with two heavens inside and outside, is unknown to Han, Wei and Jin, heaven and earth; The fragrance flows in the stream, and the fragrance floats ten miles away. The drink is intoxicating even without wine. Wolong Pond - The dragon is a spiritual creature. It sprays clouds and mist, flies and spreads rain. Why does it lie in the deep pond for so long? Tiger Roaring Rock - The tiger is the king of beasts, roaring in the forest, galloping across the wilderness, because it often sits on the top of the mountain? When a dragon reaches water, it becomes more energetic; when a tiger enters the mountain, it becomes more majestic.
Jiuqu River merges into Chongyang River. The Budai monk went down the river and naturally came to the bank of the stream. In an open valley, he met Chen Daxu unexpectedly.
Chen Daxu was very happy, put his hands together and bowed, and after some pleasantries, asked: "Master Butai, why did you come to Wuyi Mountain?"
Butai did not answer and asked instead: "What is Master Chen doing in the mountains?"
Chen Daxu pointed to the tall cedar forest in the valley and said, "I hired help to cut down a few large cedar trees."
Budai asked him again what he was doing cutting down trees. Chen Daxu actually said: "I want to build a Buddhist temple to worship the living Buddha."
The Budai monk laughed and said, "Okay, great! I know that the Living Buddha you want to enshrine is your mother."
Chen Daxu nodded: "Yes. I want to build a beautiful, comfortable house for my mother to live in and let her enjoy her old age in peace. Speaking of which, it was you who made me understand this truth."
Budai monk said: "What a coincidence. I came from eastern Zhejiang to raise some wood to build the Buddhist hall of Yuelinshan Temple."
Chen Daxu thought for a while and said: "The master helped me enter the right path of learning Buddhism. The disciples can't repay me. If you don't need too much wood, please pick some from my fir forest."
The cloth bag monk said: "Not much, not much, just fill my cloth bag."
Chen Daxu looked at his cloth bag. It was only two feet thick and six feet long. It couldn't even fit a big tree. He smiled and said, "If it's this bag, Master Ren can just put it in it."
