A month passed quietly. During this month, Liuli often went to the tiger's den to watch over Bailing during the day. Bailing was a very well-behaved boy. Since Liuli found him, she had never seen him cry. If you looked closely at his eyes, you could see that there was not a single impurity in his bright black eyes. They were crystal clear, clean and pure, and they faintly revealed a wise and calm expression. Such an expression should not appear in the eyes of an infant.
At this moment, Liuli was holding Bailing, sitting on a tall tree trunk. Bailing was wrapped in a leopard skin. Sitting in Liuli's arms, she curiously looked up at the sky, then looked down at the ground, her small mouth slightly open, making cooing sounds.
Liuli's two small legs dangled in the air, and she said with a smile, "Bailing, do you think this forest is beautiful... It is beautiful, but I've been looking at it for over four hundred years, and I'm already tired of it..."
"I know exactly where a new tree has grown in this huge forest, and where an animal has given birth, as clearly as if I could see the palm of my hand... How boring."
“Grandma won’t let me play with humans or tease them.”
"Bailing, you must grow up quickly, so you can play with me when you're grown up, okay?"
Bailing raised her little face to look at Liuli and chuckled.
Liuli pressed her forehead against Bailing's and chuckled, "Little Bailing, why do you laugh so much? It's so funny..."
The lark's clear black eyes rolled around a few times, and its laughter grew louder and louder. Its childlike laughter was as melodious as a wind chime, capable of purifying one's soul.
--
Five more months passed quietly. Liuli had grown accustomed to Bailing's company. Bailing's clear laughter always softened her heart, and his gaze towards her held a hint of dependence.
These days, Bai Ling is learning to speak, and Liu Li sits with him under a big tree, patiently teaching him to speak, saying, "My name is Liu Li. Come on, say it with me, Liu... Li..."
Bai Ling sat opposite Liu Li with her chubby legs crossed, looking up at Liu Li and mumbling indistinctly, "Cow... eh..."
Liuli pouted and sighed, "You're so stupid! I've taught you so many times and you still can't learn. Come on, it's Liuli, Liu...li..."
Bai Ling began to read earnestly, "Liu... eh..."
Liuli shook her head helplessly and patiently began teaching him again. And so, for the entire afternoon, Liuli taught him to say her name over and over again.
As dusk approached, Bai Ling finally managed to speak more clearly, laboriously calling out, "Liu... Li... Liu Li."
“Yes!” Liuli clapped her hands and laughed, “It’s Liuli, remember my name, my name is Liuli.”
Bailing clapped and laughed, mimicking Liuli's movements, mumbling between laughs, "Liuli, Liuli, Liu...li..."
Liuli looked up at the sky, picked up Bailing, and said with a smile, "Let's go, I'll take you home, I'm going home too."
Bai Ling cried out in Liu Li's arms, "Home...home..."
The soft sound of footsteps echoed through the thick layer of fallen leaves, mingling with the babbling of children and spreading far into the forest, bringing a touch of life to the tranquil woods.
--
Bodhi Temple, located in the center of Ishigaki Province.
Bodhi Temple is built on the mountainside of the main peak of the Pure Land Mountain Range. The entire temple is magnificent and grand. After climbing the steps that started from the foot of the mountain and going up more than a thousand steps, you will arrive at the temple.
Looking up in front of the temple, one can see a black plaque with gold lacquer hanging above the main entrance of the main hall, bearing the three large characters "Bodhi Temple".
Upon entering the main hall, one sees a spacious hall paved with black stone bricks. Countless young monks dressed in gray robes are busy sweeping the floor, making the black stone bricks exceptionally clean. Many devout men and women are also busy offering incense and drawing lots in the hall, while an older monk sits behind a table, interpreting the lots drawn by the people.
Inside the innermost part of the hall, on a stone platform about the height of a person, sits a Buddha statue. The statue gleams with golden light, for it is cast in pure gold. On each side of the Buddha statue are two golden Arhat statues. The offering table in front of the stone platform is filled with fresh offerings, and incense sticks burning unevenly are inserted into the incense burner. Wisps of smoke fill the entire hall, emitting a pleasant sandalwood fragrance.
Passing through the front hall of the main hall and exiting through a small door in the back hall, one ascends another series of steps. At the end of the steps are courtyards built among lush trees, which are the meditation rooms where the disciples of Bodhi Temple live.
Bodhi Temple has thousands of disciples, but 60% of them are ordinary disciples who manage the temple's various affairs such as cleaning and receiving pilgrims. The other 40% are the true inner disciples of Bodhi Temple. They spend their days meditating in the meditation rooms, studying the Bodhi Temple's secret teachings, the "Prajnaparamita Sutra," cultivating their character and seeking enlightenment.
After passing through a large area of quiet meditation rooms, you'll almost reach the top of the mountain. There, nestled among lush trees, stands a simple wooden hut. The hut is so rudimentary that it's barely enough to provide shelter. It would definitely leak in the rain, and a strong gust of wind could probably blow it down.
Entering the wooden hut through the slightly ajar door, one finds it barely a meter and a half in length and width. Inside, there is a wooden bed, a wooden table, and a wooden chair—simply nothing else. On the wall beside the bed hangs a painting depicting the Buddha's ascetic practices.
On the bed sat a monk, his hands resting on his lower abdomen, right hand on top of left, thumbs touching, forming the meditation mudra. Nine ordination scars marked his bald head, his eyes were closed, his white eyebrows drooped down to his ears, and his half-foot-long, silver-white beard held a faint smile on his lips hidden among the beard.
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