Chapter 169 I am Sick Vimalakirti
Each of them held a pot of orchids in their hands, even Gong Mengbi was no exception. The number of orchids corresponded to the number of girls, no more, no less.
Gong Mengbi and Yan Chixia were unsure if they would disturb this world of reality and illusion if they didn't take it, so they had no choice but to hold the orchid and follow the girls to worship the mountain.
The leader was undoubtedly Zhenniang, who presided over the flower-laying ceremony.
The girls followed Zhenniang up the mountain with great anticipation, not only because of their sincerity in worshipping Buddha, but also because the Sanming Zen Master of Lanyin Temple had a special relationship with the county magistrate. If the Sanming Zen Master could intercede for them, perhaps the heavy taxes and levies in Lanhua Township could be reduced.
The closer they got to the Buddhist temple, the more timid they became. They were seeking something, and therefore afraid. Zhenniang silenced them, lest they start talking nonsense and disturb the tranquility of the Buddhist temple.
When they arrived at the gate of Lanyin Temple, Gong Mengbi and Yan Chixia were surprised for a moment, because the temple mentioned was not Lanyin Temple, but Lanyin Temple.
The monk in charge of reception was originally prepared to receive these girls, but he accidentally glanced at Zhenniang and immediately ran away chanting "Amitabha".
The girls' originally nervous mood was relaxed because they realized that monks were not saints without desires, but were also mortals.
The one who appeared in front of everyone again was a very handsome monk.
He had gentle features, but his face was pale and looked sickly. However, he was courteous and polite when he received these girls, which made people feel good about him.
The young monk entertained them and, upon learning of Zhenniang's purpose, introduced her to Zen Master Sanming.
Only then did Zhenniang realize that this little monk was a disciple of Zen Master Sanming, and was regarded by Zen Master Sanming as the reincarnation of Buddha.
Young monk Zhenru had a deep wisdom and was born with a Zen mind. If it weren't for the illness he was born with, he would have surpassed Zen Master Sanming and become famous throughout the world.
Zen Master Sanming couldn't take his eyes off Zhenniang the first time he saw her. After he learned the purpose of Zhenniang's visit, he agreed to her request, but with one condition.
He hoped that Zhenniang would become the Flower-scattering Goddess of Lanyin Temple and offer incense and flowers to the Buddha.
Zhenniang initially disagreed, but Zen Master Sanming said, "Why not report back to your parents and then make a decision?"
Coming out of Master Sanming's meditation room, Zhenniang told the girls their expectant eyes and told them Master Sanming's conditions.
The girls said, "Serving the Buddha as the Flower-scattering Goddess is a great honor for our family."
"It can also reduce the taxes in the village. Promise him, Zhenniang."
Zhenniang looked at these girls and was speechless for a moment. She left Lanyin Temple in a daze.
Gong Mengbi and Yan Chixia followed, but when they stepped out of Lanyin Temple, the world spun before their eyes, and it was as if they had burst a bubble and appeared in another bubble.
The fifth world.
Gong Mengbi was calculating silently in his mind.
The light before their eyes became brighter, and Ning Caichen and Ma Junji followed the little monk to sweep the courtyard.
Gong Mengbi and Yan Chixia followed closely behind, one wiping the wall dust and the other picking up fallen leaves, blending in perfectly.
Listening to the little monks chatting while working, I knew that they were sweeping to welcome the Flower-Scattering Goddess.
In the end, Zhenniang became the Flower-scattering Fairy, left the Orchid Village, left her home, and began to practice Buddhism in Lanyin Temple.
Gong Mengbi sighed and glanced at Yan Chixia, who was also silent.
In order to avoid suspicion, Zen Master Sanming specially built the Tiannv Temple for Zhenniang not far from Lanyin Temple, so that Zhenniang would not have to be disturbed by pilgrims and avoid some unnecessary troubles.
So Gong Mengbi and others first worked with other monks to build the Tiannv Temple for Zhenniang, and then became the little monks who delivered meals to Zhenniang every day.
Young Master Zhenru replaced Zen Master Sanming as Zhenniang's teacher, teaching her Buddhist scriptures and principles.
But Master Zhenru has always been very stern, and even a woman like Zhenniang cannot make him have any worldly desires.
Zhenniang no longer planted orchids for her own family or for the Orchid Village, but began to plant orchids for Lanyin Temple and Buddha.
The orchids she grew were so beautiful that dignitaries and wealthy businessmen in the county town flocked to buy them.
But Zen Master Sanming never forced her to plant flowers. He would push her away if he could and refuse if he could. Instead, he let her concentrate on practicing Buddhism.
Zhenniang was very puzzled and asked Zen Master Sanming. The Zen Master only said that she had a connection with Buddha and had wisdom.
As Zhenniang's practice became more and more advanced, the orchids she grew became rarer and more beautiful. She began to understand that she might really have wisdom and a talent for Buddhist practice.
Zen Master Sanming had no requests for her, although Lanyin Temple objectively became famous because of her orchids. Her orchids were even tributed to the imperial capital and were deeply loved by the emperor. He bestowed a plaque with the words "Deep in the Shade of Orchids" on her, and changed the name of the temple to "Lanyin Temple" because of the orchids.
The young monk Zhenru became famous along with the orchid. He was an eloquent man and became a well-known Buddhist.
But the Buddha's disciple was good in every way except for one thing: although he was a gifted orator, he was ill and his cultivation was slow. After a debate, he was deeply disturbed and could only rest in seclusion from then on, unable to leave the mountain.
Zen Master Sanming asked Zhenniang to take care of Zhenru on the grounds that women are more sensitive.
Fuzi's illness was difficult to cure, but Zhenniang became more and more beautiful, and gradually, even Fuzi was fascinated by her.
The Buddha's son was moved, and the goddess was also moved. Seeing their feelings becoming more and more sticky day by day, Gong Mengbi and Yan Chixia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
During these days, they worked as reception monks, floor-sweeping monks, flower-planting monks, and cooking monks, and finally they saw the dawn.
They have seen many stories of Zen hearts being shaken and love turning into hate.
Until one night, Fozi confronted Zhenniang: "Zhenniang, you should go down the mountain and never come back."
Zhenniang was puzzled and asked him what he meant.
Zhenru said, "I am the Sick Vimalakirti, but you are not the Flower-Scattering Goddess. My master accepted you with ill intentions, and I cannot let you get hurt."
It is recorded in the Vimalakirti Sutra that when Vimalakirti fell ill, he preached the Dharma to the public. At that time, a celestial maiden scattered flowers to test the spiritual attainments of the bodhisattvas and the disciples of the voice-hearer. The flowers fell on the bodhisattvas but did not fall on the disciples.
If one’s cultivation is insufficient, one’s mind will discriminate, so the smallpox will not fall. If one’s cultivation is sufficient, the smallpox will not matter.
The Vimalakirti Sutra practiced at Lanyin Monastery is also known as the Pure Dharma. To cultivate the Pure Dharma, one must undergo the process of returning from existence to non-existence, that is, from impurity to purity. Impurities include physical illness and lust, both of which must be overcome.
Zen Master Sanming worshipped Zhenniang as the Flower-scattering Goddess in order to test her true nature and bring his pure Dharma to perfection.
Zhenru had known this for a long time, so she deliberately kept her distance from Zhenniang. Unfortunately, her true feelings were hard to resist, and she was eventually moved.
He is now physically ill and his condition is difficult to recover from, and his mind is dirty because he is in love with Zhenniang. It is time for him to break away from his knowledge and views and return to non-existence.
If he really couldn't help himself, Zen Master Sanming would not be so soft-hearted.
Zhenru couldn't imagine what Zen Master Sanming would do, but no matter what it was, it was not a good thing for Zhenniang.
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