Chapter 592 One-Finger Zen [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]
early morning.
Chengtian Temple, Lecture Hall.
The monks sat in the hall, reciting their morning prayers.
In the back row, a short, chubby little novice monk closed his eyes, muttering to himself, his head drooping like a chick pecking at rice, dozing off.
clang--!
The bell rang, signaling the end of morning prayers, and the hall was filled with the chaotic footsteps of the monks as they stood up.
The chubby little novice monk suddenly woke up, looked around groggily, wiped his mouth, got up, and ran out of the hall.
The chubby little novice monk had a Dharma name he didn't quite like, given to him by his master, who was always silent, reciting the morning and evening bells. His master had only spoken this once, and it was one of those rare occasions.
“Juzhi”.
The chubby little novice monk couldn't actually write the last character; he could only pronounce it, and the pronunciation was similar to "Gou Di" in Chinese.
"Kuji" is the largest number in Sanskrit, meaning ten million.
Anyway, that's how the abbot and other high-ranking monks in the temple always introduced him to outsiders.
But only the young novice monk Juzhi knew that his master gave him this Dharma name because the character "胝" (ji) could be used with "胼" (jian) to represent the calluses that form on a person's hands and feet due to friction...
In short, it means that the young novice monk's meditation skills are not yet up to par and he is unable to sit and meditate for long periods of time.
So the other young novices in the temple all laughed at him, saying he was greedy, couldn't sit still, was chubby, and didn't look like a proper monk at all; they even said he might be greedy for money and lustful...
Juzhi hesitated, wanting to say that the abbot was even fatter than him. Could it be that the abbot was also greedy... Well, greed for money is still uncertain. The temple does have quite a few courtyards that it has carefully rented out to scholars. The abbot is good at making money. But could it be that the abbot is also lustful?
Juzhi shook his head.
After finishing his morning prayers, he ran headlong towards the morning dining hall. His chubby little legs made him run faster than the senior monks, senior brothers, and senior disciples who had already left the hall, naturally attracting sidelong glances.
However, when the monks of Chengtian Temple saw that it was Juzhi's figure, their stereotypes were correct, and the monks looked on with satisfaction...
Zaozhaiyuan.
Juzhi, panting heavily, was the first to run inside. However, there were already about a dozen pilgrims and benefactors sitting on stools, quietly drinking porridge.
Because the porridge and vegetable serving windows are separate, it's impossible to queue at the same time.
After Ju Zhi ran in, he nervously glanced at the door behind him, and without saying a word, picked up a stool and placed it in front of the main dish window to reserve a spot.
Then he rushed to the porridge window and filled three large bowls with porridge.
Two bowls for Juzhi, one bowl for the master.
Then he arrived at the food serving window. Under the dissatisfied gazes of the two or three friends who were already in line, he quietly pulled back his stool and took their place.
He took the two bowls of food handed to him through the window, placed them on a tray, and finally ran off with the dishes.
Juzhi sighed. He was the one who fetched food for his master, who hadn't left the hall for eight hundred years, so he had to come. He couldn't understand what was wrong with respecting one's master...
"Huh."
Just as Juzhi stepped out of Zaozhaiyuan, he suddenly spotted a familiar, slender figure in the main hall of Zaozhaiyuan.
She was silently drinking her porridge with her head down.
She was a little mute girl called "Embroiderer".
Back then, a gentle, barefoot woman in white brought her here to find her master.
That day, the master made an exception and went out to see the abbot. After returning, he instructed Juzhi to arrange for the mute girl named Xiu Niang to live in the Beitian Aid Home...
Juzhi and Xiu Niang didn't actually have much interaction; he just followed his master's instructions and took care of her on a daily basis.
Although the master only mentioned her briefly when she first arrived at Chengtian Temple, he didn't inquire about her again afterward and went back to guarding the temple and chanting sutras.
Ju Zhi would check on her from time to time to prevent her from being bullied by the other patients and beggars at the Beitian Almshouse. There's always a reason why someone is pitiful.
Sometimes, the bullying among these poor people goes too far. I've heard many examples from my fellow students at the Beitian Charity Home when I was working.
This embroiderer was blind and mute; she was quite pitiful, and Ju Zhi felt a pang of sympathy for her.
However, after experiencing the collapse of the Xingzi Lake Buddha two months ago; after spending several days and nights in the temple chanting sutras and praying with his fellow disciples; and after finally enduring the harsh search by the indifferent female official and the black-armored soldiers... Ju Zhi no longer thought that way.
These days, wanted notices are posted all over the city. After reading the descriptions and sketches of the rebel leaders in the southern Jianghu by the imperial government, Ju Zhi shuddered on the spot.
In particular, the Wu-style skirts worn by the Yue women of Yunmeng Sword Marsh mentioned in the text.
To this day, Juzhi prays every day that the gentle, barefoot, white-clad female benefactor will stop coming to visit him and his master, and of course, it would be best if she were not caught.
As for the blind and mute girl Xiu Niang who stayed at the Beitian Aid Home until the eve of the Lantern Festival, Ju Zhi's attitude was even more complicated.
However, what happened next left the club dumbfounded.
The embroiderer was actually taken a liking to by a young official, who then took her away!
When Juzhi had nightmares, he actually thought that the embroiderer would be taken away by the government, but it turned out that the government had laid a trap and finally put her in shackles and took her to prison.
He truly never expected things to turn out this way; he was taking her to live a life of luxury.
Ju Zhi was confused about officialdom, but when he heard that this young official was some kind of Sima, the title didn't sound impressive, but he was still an official. Even if he didn't bully men and women, he was sure he would be well-off. Could an official be anything but good? Did you think the title "official" was just for show?
Wait, maybe not. For example, there's that Yuan-surname official who lives permanently in the temple, but he's probably a stupid one...
Moreover, this person is so young and handsome; he might just be a second-generation official holding a sinecure.
In any case, Ju Zhi felt that even if this young official was bullying men and women, the one who would necessarily suffer wasn't the embroiderer. Although the embroiderer was pretty and pitiful, it was probably this endearing style that appealed to the young official's taste...
Anyway, things have taken a strange and unexpected turn. The situation is weird now, and Ju Zhi is confused and doesn't know how to advise her.
The young official took the embroiderer to a courtyard not far away. Sometimes in the morning, Juzhi would see the thin, mute girl come to the morning meal courtyard alone, quietly eating her simple vegetarian meal, just like he was doing now.
At the entrance of Zaozhaiyuan.
Ju Zhi thought for a moment, then looked away from the thin, mute woman's figure without greeting her.
He first carried the plate out of the courtyard and jogged to a secluded Zen monastery within the temple grounds.
Chengtian Temple practices Chan Buddhism. There are many such Chan monasteries, and patrons often come to ask questions and seek answers.
Juzhi's master's Dharma name was Zhenkong.
His ranking among the many eminent monks of the "Zhen" generation at Chengtian Temple is not considered high.
Master Zhenkong had only one disciple, Juzhi, who was chosen by all the other disciples, including Heshan, to mentor him. Otherwise, the temple would have been deserted. This shows that Master Zhenkong's lineage did not hold a prominent position in the temple.
The fundamental reason is that Zen Master Zhenkong was actually from out of town, and he had been lecturing on Zen at Chengtian Temple for over twenty years.
It is said that monks from other places are better at chanting scriptures, but Juzhi found that his own master did not chant scriptures properly.
They don't pronounce the literal meaning correctly.
Actually, the fact that he "didn't study properly" made him quite famous as a teacher, but whether his fame was good or bad is unknown.
As a branch of the Chan (Zen) school, Chengtian Temple is frequently visited by fellow practitioners and pilgrims who come to study Buddhism and inquire about Zen.
Especially those Confucian scholars who seem like a pain in the ass, instead of properly studying Confucianism and transcending worldly affairs, they come to Buddhism seeking some kind of spiritual solace.
If you're feeling down or frustrated with your career, why don't you just turn left and go to a brothel? Why are you constantly coming to the Buddhist temple to be all lovey-dovey with those white-bearded masters in their fifties or sixties? Are you looking for a soulmate?
In this respect, we should really learn from that Mr. Yuan in the temple. He used to come back from banquets every day drunk, and one night he even climbed over the wrong wall and almost slept in the old abbot's bed...
That being said, all the other Zen masters of the "Zhen" generation in the temple, even if they were not talkative, would still have to say a few words to these benefactors.
But his master, Zen Master Zhenkong, was different.
Whenever someone asked the master about Buddhism or Zen, he would simply point to one finger and offer no other suggestions.
That's right, it's about raising one finger in front of all those who have finished their long rants, without saying a word.
Hmm...
Juzhi suddenly realized that he had extremely high comprehension. He didn't need to learn the Zen method that was the main focus of his lineage at all; he had already comprehended it.
Perhaps it was because his disciple was learning too quickly that Zen Master Zhenkong usually didn't pay attention to his only disciple, nor did he force Juzhi to meditate.
The other young monks of the same age were all taught by their respective masters through oral instruction and personal example.
However, Juzhi felt that even if he took the initiative to ask his master, his master's teachings would only be given in a single instruction.
So, over time, the monks and pilgrims gave his master, Zhenkong, a nickname:
Zen Master Yizhi.
On ordinary days, there are not many pilgrims who come to see Zen Master Zhenkong. Unlike other Zen masters, whose courtyard thresholds are worn smooth by pilgrims, every few days one or two pilgrims will come. Ju Zhi found that most of them came from afar, which can be considered a different kind of visit because of his reputation.
Juzhi carried his breakfast tray and ran back to the Zen temple.
There were several tall, unfamiliar servants in blue robes at the entrance of the courtyard, with round swords at their waists. Judging from their clothing, they seemed to be from the northern desert.
Juzhi slowed his pace, peeked out, and sure enough, in the courtyard, a sickly middle-aged man was sitting upright, asking his master for advice.
After hearing this, the master drooped his eyelids and raised a finger.
The sickly middle-aged man, who had traveled a long way, turned around and looked at the man. In an instant, his pale face suddenly realized what was going on. He bowed deeply and immediately reached into his pocket to offer his thanks...
The servants in blue robes at the door, hearing the commotion, were slightly taken aback and turned to look inside.
Juzhi seemed to take it for granted, walked to the side, sat down, and ate alone.
After finishing his own portion, he secretly took two more bites of his master's food, then called out to his master, who was reluctantly accepting the money inside the door, "Don't wait for the food to get cold," before taking off on his chubby little legs and running out the door.
Before long, Juzhi returned to Zaozhaiyuan and looked around curiously, but could not see the thin, mute girl.
"Hey, where did the embroiderer go again in such a short time..."
(End of this chapter)
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