Daming Town Haiwang

Chapter 1961, the real monk is the one who stays

At the Faxiang Temple in the capital, thousands of monks gathered together, and everyone's face was very ugly, because according to the latest "Religious Belief Management Act" issued by the Ming Dynasty, most of the monks in the Faxiang Temple will be ordered to return to secular life.

Naturally, this is something that everyone is unwilling to do. It is so comfortable to live in the temple. It is almost the same as clocking in at work every day. It is enough to come here to read scriptures. The monthly income is amazingly high. You can get it for a month. To tens of taels of silver, more than ten times the income of ordinary people.

It's night, everyone changes clothes, eats meat, drinks wine and visits brothels without any delay, just do whatever you want.

Now I am ordered to return to vulgarity, which also means that everyone's good life is over, and they will no longer be able to live a comfortable life by sitting still.

"Let's go, let's go."

"As long as there is a Buddha in your heart, you can practice wherever you are."

The presiding Master Wu Nian looked at the many monks, waved his hand and said.

If you don't leave, you can't do it. Fahua Temple is now under the whole pot. The presiding officer, Wuchen, has been confiscated and exiled to Cold Winter City because he has seriously violated the precepts of monks and amassed money. The temple has been completely sealed off.

Although Faxiang Temple did not have the same experience as Fahua Temple, life is not easy now.

The imperial court's order has been communicated to rectify within a time limit and persuade redundant monks to retire.

According to the order issued by the government, Faxiang Temple can only retain 20 monks, and they have to take the exam regularly every year. Only those who pass the exam are considered real monks, and the others are fake monks.

Faxiang Temple is a big temple with more than a thousand monks, and all of a sudden it was cut down to only 20 places.

Except after the number of monks is greatly restricted, in this regular assessment, only those who have obtained the documents are regarded as monks, otherwise they are not considered monks at all. Wearing monk clothes without a document is a bluff and deceitful act, and it is illegal to be arrested by the government. .

How comfortable it was to be a monk before. Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha immediately. Now, to be a monk has to be assessed, and you must be proficient in Buddhist scriptures and classics to be considered a monk and obtain a certificate.

In addition, the temple will not be able to hold any pujas or temple fairs in the future, and it is not allowed to open to the outside world at ordinary times. Only a certain week of each month can be opened to the outside world, for believers and women to come to pray to the gods and Buddha.

The merit box in the temple, the donated sesame oil money, etc., all have to be taxed. For this reason, the people in the tax office are very active now, and they come to the temple to watch every day when they have nothing to do.

The merit box is specially made and locked by the people at the tax office, and it is considered a temple after paying the tax. In addition, the temple also needs to pay a certain amount of tax on a regular basis every month.

For this part of the tax, the tax office will determine the amount of tax collected by the temple according to the number of people entering and leaving the temple. The more people there are, the more taxes will be collected.

It can be said that the good times are really over.

This time, the decree issued by the imperial court was really too strict, and it was specifically aimed at various religions in the Ming Dynasty.

Numerous monks took their own burdens and reluctantly left one by one.

And if people in the government see it without a document, then you will be punished, and if you are not careful, you will be allocated to Huangjinzhou, Australia or something, who can bear it.

Think about it or forget it, since I can't make money anymore, I'd better go home and work honestly with my wife and children in my arms. Being a monk for a few years is enough.

Soon, there were only 20 people left in the originally bustling Faxiang Temple. These 20 people were all old monks in the temple, and each of them could be regarded as a true cultivator.

In fact, the reason why we are today is mainly because the people of Daming are too rich now, and those who come to pray to gods and Buddhas will throw in large amounts of money casually at every turn.

Over time, the money came so easily, and the monks in the temple naturally changed their taste.

One after another, they kept bringing in their lay relatives and nephews, and the number increased. In fact, there were not so many monks at all.

After all, true Buddhist monks are actually very bitter. Reciting scriptures and chanting Buddha, keeping fast and eating vegetarian food, abstaining from alcohol and sex, and purifying the six sense organs are not something ordinary people can do.

People have their own desires and hobbies, especially young people, who cannot persist. Only those who really see through the mundane world can calm down and practice.

"Ah~"

"It's gone, it's all gone, it's really quiet now."

Master Wu Nian looked at the suddenly deserted Faxiang Temple, feeling very disappointed in his heart.

Buddhism still has a strong obsession with expanding its influence. Developing believers, expanding monks, etc. are different from Taoism. There are too many, most people can't bear it.

"It's all the fault of that Huiming of Chu State, he is the one who harmed Buddhism."

Thinking of the days to come, Master Wu Nian couldn't help scolding Huiming.

This Huiming founded the Unique School, developed and expanded in the Chu State, and in the end, he even wanted to build a Dazizai Buddha Emperor, and claimed to be a Dazizai Buddha Emperor, directly pushing Buddhism into the abyss of hell, so that Buddhism has the present retribution.

The originally prosperous Buddhist sect is now very deserted all of a sudden, and it will be put on many shackles in the future, and it will no longer be able to develop and expand wantonly.

From now on, the ones left behind will be real monks, eating fast and reciting Buddha's name, far away from the mundane world.

But Master Wu Nian is also clear that Buddhism and Buddhism, after all, rely on the offerings of believers to develop and grow. This is the case with almost all religions in ancient and modern China and abroad, relying on a set of deceptive tricks to enjoy their success.

The congestion of the temple, the food and clothing of the monks, and the construction of new temples, etc., all of these expenses actually fall on the believers in the end.

Religions in Europe even tax believers directly, sell indulgences, etc., the purpose is to make money, because only those who have money can enjoy, build churches, temples, etc., and support a large group of people who have nothing to do. People promote their own religious teachings.

Now Daming directly starts from various aspects, restricting the number of people, restricting the economy, restricting the number of temples, etc. After that, it will be really difficult to develop and grow. It is almost like Taoism.

At the Cathedral of the Assumption in Meau, the provincial capital of the Black Soil Province, Bishop Popoev is presiding over an interview with Antonio, the envoy from the Holy See, to discuss expanding the influence of Christ in the Black Soil Province.

"Bishop Popoev~ His Majesty's will is to promote our God to the Ming people as much as possible, and to attract more Ming people to believe in God."

"The Ming Empire is now the most powerful empire. It has a vast territory, a population of more than 2 million, and is extremely rich. However, the Ming Dynasty has always strictly prohibited foreign missionaries from entering the Ming Dynasty to preach."

"Your place is now the land of Daming, and it is also our opportunity to spread the glory of the Lord to the people of Daming."

Antonio conveyed the will of the Holy See to Popoev.

The Holy See has always been committed to preaching to the Ming Empire, and for this reason it has sent envoys and missionaries to the Ming Empire many times.

However, as long as these people set foot on the land of the Ming Empire, they will be expelled. If they preach in private, they will be directly executed.

This made the Holy See grit its teeth in hatred, but it was helpless, so it has been trying to find a way.

Among them was preaching to the vassal states, vassal states, and colonies of the Ming Dynasty. For this reason, a lot of achievements were made. Some churches were built in some vassal states and colonies, and certain believers were developed.

On the side of Heitu Province, they often send people over, hoping to use Heitu Province to spread the glory of God to the people of Ming Dynasty.

"It's really hard."

"Ming people look down on us Europeans and think we are barbarians. They also look down on our gods. They prefer to believe in their own gods."

Bishop Popoev shook his head helplessly. Compared with the past, the days are much sadder now. The land and property of the church have been confiscated by the government, and the tithe tax is not allowed, nor is it allowed to sell indulgences. Category.

And now many people have converted to believe in the gods and Buddhas of the Ming people. The temple built by the Ming people in Mocheng is very prosperous. Not only a large number of Ming people go to offer incense, but also many local Slavs. .

Because the gods of the Xin Daming people don't need anything, you can believe it if you like it, and you don't have to believe it if you don't like it, and you can give some sesame oil money if you are willing, and you can not give a penny if you are not willing.

Moreover, Ming people believe in religion with utilitarianism in it. I beg you to do things, and I will fulfill my wish when I succeed. As for paying taxes and so on, why does your church collect my taxes?
While the two were discussing the matter, a team of officials rushed in and arrested Bishop Antonio and the missionaries who followed him at once.

"Poboyev, the imperial court has already issued a strict order to strictly prohibit any contact and collusion with foreign religious forces. You even colluded with people from the Holy See."

"Catch them together!"

The leading arrester and guard looked at Popoyev, and immediately said sternly. With a wave of his hand, Popoyev was also arrested, and at the same time, he began to publicize the court's latest religious management bill.

In the church, after listening to the other missionaries, priests, etc., they all couldn't help but feel sad. After that, they were more controlled and it was even more difficult to develop. Participate in the assessment, and still use Daming's language and writing to assess, and accept the appointment from Daming.

The Holy See has nothing to say, it will completely cut off the connection with the Holy See,

"You can't do this, you can't do this!"

"Almighty Lord, please bless your child!"

Bishop Antonio is struggling constantly, the Holy See is still thinking about preaching in Daming, this Daming man directly cut off your hands.

(End of this chapter)