(Colorless, no anger, no madness)
As the New Year approaches, Jinshan Temple is getting busier and busier. Although this temple is originally a pure place for Buddhism, due to its far-reaching reputation, there is an endless stream of pilgrims who come to offer incense.
At the age of thirty, Lan Feng also received a reply from Wan Xi, telling him that everything was well at home and hoping that he could live in peace.
Just after New Year's Eve, Lanfeng saw that his two senior brothers, Jingguo and Jingyan, had not returned to the house, so he went out to look for them. Seeing that they were waiting with a group of monks in front of the Main Hall, he stepped forward and asked, "Two senior brothers, what are you doing here?"
When Jingguo saw Lan Feng coming, she said, "Hey, junior brother, you're here. Just in time, you should also take a look at the scene in Chuyi Temple."
It turns out that the people attach great importance to the first day of the Lunar New Year. Wherever there is a temple nearby, they will go to burn incense, which means to burn the first stick of incense in the coming year to bless their family's prosperity every year. However, in many other temples, dignitaries and powerful people stole the first incense stick, but this Jinshan Temple was different.
There are many eminent monks in Jinshan Temple, and Master Tripitaka left scriptures to save people here, so they established a rule that the incense sticks should be lit by the common people, and no force could monopolize it. Therefore, most of the surrounding people gathered here, waiting to grab this stick of incense on New Year's Eve.
"Boom -" The New Year's bell rang, and as soon as the gate of the mountain gate opened, countless believers and pilgrims poured in at once. The originally peaceful New Year's Eve suddenly became bustling with people.
All the pilgrims tried their best to push among the crowd. If the mountain path of Jinshan Temple was not wide, these people would have been trampled under their feet.
This Jinshan Temple is built on top of each other. In order to prevent crowds from causing trouble, incense burners are placed on each floor and in front of each hall. Even so, those incense burners were not enough for these pilgrims to offer incense. Within a quarter of an hour after opening the door, all the incense burners were filled with incense.
The sounds of prayers and kneeling came one after another. Lanfeng had never seen so many crazy believers, and he was stunned for a while.
"How about it, our Jinshan Temple is okay!" Jingguo looked at these pilgrims and said proudly.
When Lan Feng saw these Bai Xin kneeling down crazily, a hint of sadness flashed in his heart. I remember when I was on the bank of the Tongtian River, and everyone in the village believed in the Fish Basket Guanyin, but in the end no Guanyin came to save me, and my parents died as a result. He was murmuring in his heart, why did this Buddha refuse to save him even if he faced death...
After an hour, these pilgrims calmed down the madness in their hearts, and they gathered outside the Main Hall one after another.
At this time, Abbot Kongxiang stepped forward and took the rosary in the Buddha's hand. The rosary shone slightly and amplified his voice: "Amitabha, dear donors. After the incense is put on your head, please go back early. I will be there tomorrow at this time." The water and land monastery in front of this hall is open for lectures. I hope all the donors will come to listen. It is very good..."
All the pilgrims also bowed in return and then dispersed.
At six o'clock the next day, the disciples of the mountain temple were sitting in front of the altar of the ashram. The pilgrims all around had already blocked the ashram. I saw purple clouds lingering over the ashram, Sanskrit sounds resounding, and monks chanting sutras, creating a solemn scene.
After a while, two groups of monks held Buddhist flags to clear the way, and saw Abbot Na Kongxiang walking from the Mahavira Hall. When he arrived at the ashram, two monks put on his brocade cassock and held a nine-ring tin staff. Then they sat down in the center of the ashram with lotus flowers growing on them.
"Dong -" the bell rang, and the Buddhist ceremony officially began.
Abbot Nakong Xiang said: "Today is the day of fasting at the beginning of the year. I will teach Zen in this water and land ashram. I will bring Buddhist disciples from all directions and Tan Yue from all directions to spread this Mahayana Dharma. I hope that all the donors will participate in this grand event and bless the grace of the Buddha."
"Amitabha..." the monks from all over the world chanted.
Kong Xiang began to say again: "I, Buddha Tathagata, and the Mahayana Buddha Dharma, can transcend the dead and ascend to heaven, can save people from suffering and escape from suffering, can resolve hundreds of injustices, and can eliminate unreasonable disasters..."
Lan Feng listened with fascination, every word was sonorous and hit his heart. I don't know why, although these words are bitter and difficult to read, they feel like a mirror in Lan Feng's heart, as if these principles are rooted in his bones.
The Zen lecture lasted for two hours, and by the time it ended, it was already noon.
The monks finished cleaning up the monastery and sent away the pilgrims one after another, and then gathered in the dining hall to have a meal.
Lan Feng also sat down to eat with Jingguo Jingyan. Lan Feng asked, "Two senior brothers, what else is going on next?"
Jingyan put the bun into her mouth and said, "In the afternoon, the Tibetan Scripture Pavilion will be opened."
Lanfeng was happy that he could finally take a look inside the Sutra Pavilion. He wondered if Master Tripitaka had any other records about the journey to the West besides the sutras.
After dinner, a group of monks came to the Sutra Pavilion. Kong Xiang and Dakini said in front: "This year, as in previous years, the two floors of Sutra Pavilion will be open for one month. After studying the sutras, they are not allowed to take them away from the sutras." Pavilion, once the thief is found, the temple rules will be followed!"
After saying that, Kong Xiang and Kong Xing turned around and took off the rosary beads on their bodies, inserted the pair of red beads on them into the lock, and then pulled hard, and the door of the Sutra Pavilion opened. A musty smell of dust hit their nostrils. The monks entered the scripture pavilion, lit lamps, and then dispersed to read the scriptures.
Lan Feng also followed the two senior brothers around and saw that the Sutra Storage Pavilion was quite large. This floor was almost as big as a dining hall. Even though there were layers of sutras, the hundreds of monks didn't look like they were inside. Crowded.
When Lan Feng became more interested, he also looked around here and there. Jingguo saw him flipping through the scriptures randomly and said, "Junior brother, what are you looking for?!"
Lan Feng said: "Senior brother, do you think there will be any experiences left by Master Sanzang on his journey to the west, stories about how to conquer demons, etc.?"
Jingguo smiled and said: "Junior brother, if you want to listen to stories, just go to the market and listen to the storyteller on weekdays. How can there be such things in this Sutra Pavilion? Besides, these first two floors are for Hinayana Buddhism and Mahayana. The Dharma is up there, you can’t see it.”
"Why not let me see it?" Lan Feng asked.
Jingguo said: "Mahayana Buddhism is profound, but our current cultivation level is in vain. Look, how many people understand the master's Zen lecture today? They all come here to bask in the Buddha's light for good luck. .”
Jingyan suddenly said: "Hey, actually it doesn't matter whether you go to the back or not. There have been rubbings of Mahayana Buddhism for a long time. But the only difference here is that they are authentic. We disciples have not even understood Hinayana Buddhism, so what else are we thinking about? What about Mahayana Buddhism?”
Lan Feng sighed and flipped through the scriptures in front of him. He thought he could find something interesting here, but he didn't want to find out anything.
While the monks were reading the scriptures, Elder Xuanzhi also came in to take a look. I saw him walking up to Kong Xiang and Kong Xing and muttering something. Kong Xiang and Kong Xing nodded with a smile, walked to the middle of the monks and said, "Disciples, I have a good thing to tell you today."
After hearing this, all the monks became interested and put down their scriptures and gathered around.
Kong Xiang said again: "Just now, Elder Xuanzhi proposed to me and Master Dakini that he should give a Zen question. If you answer it well, you can go to the third floor to see Master Tripitaka every year when the Sutra Pavilion is open. The authentic relics of Mahayana Buddhism obtained.”
The monks were in an uproar. They had seen many rubbings like this, but few people had seen this original work. Not to mention whether they understand or not, as long as they can go up and touch the scriptures, it is a supreme honor for Buddhist disciples like them.
"Please ask Elder Xuanchai to give you a question!" the monks said.
Elder Xuanzhi stepped forward, leaning on a wooden crutch. He looked at the Sutra Pavilion and then at the monks. He said, "What does the Buddha look like?"
As soon as this question came up, the monks started discussing it one after another. Don’t you all know what this Buddha looks like? Besides, the monks worship in front of the Buddha every day. How can they not know what this Buddha looks like?
After a while, someone shouted: "Buddha was born with kind eyebrows and kind eyes, a bun on the top of his head, and ears hanging down from his shoulders!"
After hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. After all, the Buddha statue looked like this where it was placed.
After hearing this, Xuanzhi shook his head and said with a smile, "Is there anything more?"
Another person said: "Buddha was born with narrow eyes!"
"Buddha's heaven is full and his jaws are square..."
Xuanzhi smiled and shook his head after hearing this.
At this time, Jingguo said: "When the Buddha saves all living beings, he should see one person, which is the same phase. When he sees a man, he has a male phase, and when he sees a woman, he has a female phase."
Xuanzhi nodded and said, "It's interesting... Where are the others?"
After listening to Jingguo's explanation, the monk Jingsi stepped forward and said: "Since it is to save all living beings, it is the appearance of all living beings. Why not stick to men and women? The appearance comes from the heart, and it moves according to the heart."
Xuanzhi said with a smile: "Not bad, not bad. Being able to understand the three cocoons shows that your understanding is pretty good..."
Monk Jingsi suddenly became arrogant when he was praised, and glanced at Jingguo lightly.
"Is there anything else?" Xuanzhi asked again. But after these two people spoke, all the disciples looked at each other and became speechless. When Xuanzhi saw the five people responding, he looked at Lanfeng and said, "Lanfeng, please tell me..."
Lanfeng was suddenly asked by the Xuanzhai elder and was immediately at a loss. He said: "Elder Xuanzhi, I am still young and cannot understand such profound Buddhist principles. I am afraid that if I say something wrong, I will be disrespectful to the Buddha, so let's forget it..."
Elder Xuanzhi smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, child. These are the most unbridled words of a child and the most true and kind words. Let's just say it."
Lanfeng frowned and glanced at Jingguo, who whispered: "Don't worry, little junior brother. Just say whatever you think, Buddha will not blame you."
Lan frowned and thought for a while and said: "Master Buchan this morning, I heard the saying 'No color, no form, no anger, no madness.' I think..."
"It's okay to just say it." Xuanzhi said.
"I wonder...Buddha has no facial features or face..."
As soon as he said this, Xuanzhi's expression immediately changed, and all the monks around him also criticized him. The Jingsi monk even scolded: "How presumptuous! You child, you actually said that the Buddha has no face! You, you, you, you, you, you said such disrespectful words to the Buddha in this holy place of Buddhism!"
When Lan Feng heard Monk Jingsi's stern reprimand, he was so frightened that his eyes turned red and he apologized repeatedly: "I'm sorry, I was talking nonsense."
"Okay! Be quiet!" Kong Xiang shouted, "Tong Yan Wuji, what's the point between you adults and this kid?!"
Kong Xiang turned around and said to Xuan Chi again: "Elder, this child just said something carelessly..."
Xuanzhi raised his hand to interrupt Kong Xiang. He looked at the crowd and said, "Do you...all think Lan Feng is wrong?"
"Elder, he said that Buddha has no face. Doesn't this mean that we Buddhists have no face?" someone in the crowd shouted.
Xuanzhi said: "It is true that all the Buddha's dharma and all appearances are the appearance of all living beings. But these appearances of all living beings belong to all living beings, not to the Buddha. Have any of you seen the true form of the Buddha?"
The monks all shook their heads when Xuanzai said this.
"Since that appearance belongs to all sentient beings, and none of you have seen the true nature of the Buddha, then why is it wrong for Lan Feng to say that he has no face?" Xuan Chi said.
After hearing this, the monks seemed to have some enlightenment. Xuanzhi stepped forward and touched Lanfeng's head and said: "My child, the Buddha's fate is like a cocoon. We don't know whether it will turn into a butterfly or a moth, but at this age, can you make a special suggestion?" Ordinary people's opinions and this relationship with Buddha cannot be compared to yours, and you don't need to blame yourself, you are not wrong."
After hearing this, Lan Feng calmed down and thanked Xuan Chi.
Xuanzhi said: "Today's question has been solved, and these three people all have Zen ideas in their answers. From now on, every year when the Sutra Pavilion is open, Jingguo, Jingsi, and Lanfeng can go to the third floor to read the scriptures. It’s an authentic work, just this last level, don’t go up there. Remember, remember.”
"Amitabha..." the monks saluted.
The day ended quickly. Lanfeng experienced this Zen discussion, which also made him understand a lot about Buddhism. But when will he understand Mahayana Buddhism...
