White tea legend

Chapter 144 Returning to the secular world

The story about Junior Brother Ji Zhen's dream about the young lady soon spread in Longgai Temple, and all the senior fellow apprentices came to tease him for fun.

"Ji Zun, did you ever spend a good night with the young lady named Bai in your dream?"

"Ji Zan, the little lady named Bai in your dream is as beautiful as a flower?"

……

Soon, all the senior brothers were punished by their master to go to the Buddhist hall to copy scriptures, leaving only Ji Zan alone.

The master smiled and took out a pot of tea and two teacups and began to make tea. He first put the tea leaves into the pot, then poured in hot water. The tea leaves slowly unfolded in the water, emitting a fragrance. The master handed the first cup of tea to the young monk and said, "This cup of tea is like a child's personal relationship. Its beauty and temptation are irresistible."

Then, the master poured himself another cup of tea, then picked up the teacup and sipped it gently. He looked at the young monk, smiled and said, "This cup of tea is like the path of our spiritual practice. Although it is dull, it can purify our souls."

The young monk looked at the master doubtfully, not understanding what he meant. Master continued to explain: "The personal relationship between children is like this cup of tea. Its beauty is only short-lived, and it is easy for people to become addicted to it and unable to extricate themselves. Although the path of spiritual practice is dull, it allows us to find true happiness in the dullness. and contentment.”

Master added: "You must learn to taste life with a Zen mind, just like tasting tea. When you appreciate the taste of tea with your heart, you will find that its beauty does not come from the tea itself, but from you. State of mind. Similarly, when you face your children’s personal relationship with a Zen heart, you will find that its beauty is only temporary, and what can truly purify your mind is a Zen heart that is as calm as water.”

The old monk tried to use the tea ceremony to solve Ji's flaws, but he didn't know whether the young monk could understand some of the truth.

Ji Zhen got an explanation from the old monk, but his dream about the little lady named Bai got out of hand.

But he stopped telling the old monk, lest other brothers would find out and make fun of him.

Who is that little lady named Bai?

It actually troubled his dreams again and again.

Ji Zhan felt that she was not just a dream.

Ji Zan came to the tea garden alone with a bamboo basket on his back. He wanted to find the tea in his dream: white tea in the tea garden over the mountains.

In the tea garden on the mountain behind Longgai Temple, all catechu grows, with graceful postures, like the subtlety and tenderness of a boudoir woman.

Watching its young buds unfold, they look like green feathers caressing the spring water. What is revealed between the thin leaf veins is nature's most delicate craftsmanship. The leaf body is slightly curled, with a hint of dew, just like the round fan held lightly in the hands of an ancient lady, light but agile.

In the spring of March, the catechin trees reveal their fresh green, and their delicate leaves are like young willows blown by the spring breeze and moistened by the drizzle, so gentle and full of vitality.

The leaves are light green like jade and have a lustrous texture. It feels like you can feel the whisper and gentleness of the trickling stream when you touch it.

It is far away from the white tea covered with pekoe and erect tea buds in the dream.

Ji Zan shouted to the catechu in the garden: "White Lady, White Lady, are you here? If you are here, please come out and see us."

After calling for a long time, there was no sign of the white lady.

Tired, Ji Zan leaned on the catechu garden and fell asleep.

This time, he had another dream, not of the White Snake, but of a female Bodhisattva dressed in green.

The female Bodhisattva is wearing a green dress, the train of which sways gently in the wind, like willow catkins in spring, soft and elegant. The clothes were embroidered with golden lotus flowers, which shone like the brightest stars in the night sky, reflecting her compassionate inner world.

Her appearance is dignified, her face is like a full moon, her eyes are deep, like the glistening autumn water, revealing endless wisdom and compassion. There is a gentle arc between her eyebrows, just like the green mountains in the distance, which not only shows her perseverance but also her tenderness. The corners of his mouth were slightly opened, as if he was reciting the Buddha's name silently, and there was a slight smile on the corners of his lips, which made people feel warm and peaceful.

The female Bodhisattva wears a crown with dazzling gems inlaid in it. This gorgeous headdress does not make her look worldly, but highlights her otherworldly temperament. There were long tassel earrings hanging from her ears, which swayed gently as she moved, making a sweet tinkling sound, like a clear spring in the mountains, melodious to the ears.

She held a string of Buddhist beads in her hand, each one crystal clear. As she chanted, the beads slipped between her fingers and made a crisp sound. Her figure is elegant, and every move reveals an otherworldly temperament. Her voice is gentle and powerful, as if it can penetrate into the depths of people's hearts and bring them endless peace and strength: "Little monk, would you like me to help you clarify your doubts?"

Since the two were destined to meet in a dream, Ji Zun would not miss the opportunity to ask for advice.

"May I ask the female Bodhisattva's name?"

"Bixia Yuanjun."

"But that Bixia Yuanjun who is in charge of marriage?"

"Yes."

Ji Zun then asked: "I have been dreaming about a lady named Bai recently, but is there a marriage relationship between me and this lady named Bai?"

"Whether it's a marriage or not depends on the person. But young monk, you and this white lady do have an indissoluble bond."

"How to resolve the indissoluble bond?"

"In the chaos of the world, the indissoluble bond is like an incomprehensible mist, lingering in the heart. To resolve this bond, you should first clear your mind and calm down, sit in meditation and observe your mind, and ask yourself in the mirror with a peaceful heart. In the absence of time, In the exchange of words, you may be able to catch the glimmer of light deep in the soul and illuminate the true meaning deep in fate.

Just like the flowing clouds and flowing water, let it take its course without forcing it. One flower and one world, one leaf and one Tathagata, everything has intention, and all conditions have their causes. If you can look at the vast ocean in a drop of water and see the world in a grain of sand, you can inadvertently untie the knot in your heart.

If you are still confused, you might as well let go of your attachments and let them go. Destined to come thousands of miles to meet each other, but not destined to meet opposite each other. Only by being at ease with everything, calmly gaining and losing calmly can the freedom and detachment of the Zen mind be revealed..."

"Female Bodhisattva, what you said is like saying nothing!" the young monk pointed out without being polite at all.

Bixia Yuanjun laughed: "Then just follow your heart and do whatever you want."

These eight words, "Let one's heart and do what one wants" were very in line with the young monk's wishes. So he woke up from his dream happily and said to the catechu in the garden: "I want to bid farewell to Master and go to find my dream." The white tea is gone.”

……

"Master, I am not done with this world anymore. Please allow me to return to secular life."

Outside the tea house, Ji Zan knelt on the ground and begged the old monk.

Since the establishment of Longgai Temple, this has never happened before. The young monk who became a monk made a fuss about returning to secular life, which made the old monk very upset.

The old monk walked out of the tea-making room with a look of dismay on his face and a very unhappy heart. His brows were furrowed, like the steep peaks in the mountains, giving off a faint aura of inviolability. His eyes were slightly widened, like an ancient well without waves, deep and mysterious, as if he could see through all the illusions in the world.

He was wearing a cassock, which was pure and solemn. As he moved with his steps, the cassock swayed gently, just like the orchids in the valley swaying in the wind. He held a string of Buddhist beads in his hand, each one crystal clear. As he twisted his fingers, the beads slipped between his fingers and made a crisp sound, like Sanskrit music to the ears, which made people admire him.

However, at this moment, the old monk's eyes were sharp. He looked at the young monk kneeling on the ground and said, "Ji Zan, why do you want to return to secular life?"

"My disciple has moved his ordinary heart." The young monk replied sincerely.

"The little lady named Bai in the dream?"

"Yes."

"Master disagrees."

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