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Chapter 38 Chief Layman Disciple
After the catastrophe of Shaolin Temple, it has been nearly half a month, and the bandits have gradually receded around Shaolin Temple.

The nearby villages were all ransacked by thieves.Rogue crossing the border is far more harmful than locusts. Not only have food been emptied, houses have been burned, and many villagers have died under the butcher's knife of rogues.

Right now, people from several nearby villages are gathering in Shaolin Temple for refuge.

In the Purdue of Buddhism, although Abbot Pusheng has no ability, he is a truly merciful eminent monk. For the people who have lost their homes and fields in trouble, he arranges monks' rooms to take them in, and orders the monks to provide them with food and clothing, and takes good care of them. Give medicine.

But in Shaolin Temple, when there are more people, it feels more crowded. Although the monks are tired, everyone is glad that Shaolin Temple is still there, at least they still have a bite to eat.

Abbot Pu Sheng saw this scene, on the one hand he couldn't help feeling compassionate and compassionate, on the other hand he was glad that Shaolin Temple survived.

Abbot Pu Sheng and several elders were still discussing matters in the abbot's abode, discussing the matter of spring plowing next year after the bandits passed.

In fact, the bandits have been plundering in Chongyang County for nearly half a month. After the imperial court sent troops to suppress the bandits once, they left in a hurry. There were not many soldiers stationed in Chongyang County. Less thieves come and go.

So next year's spring plowing has become a big problem. How to smoothly plow the spring and how to keep the pure land of Shaoshi Mountain in the midst of the thieves' harassment has become a difficult problem for Pu Sheng and several elders.

After going through this difficulty, those elders also know how to be flexible, and no longer think that the practice of the monks is a delay in practice.Without life, there is no way to practice, and without the ability to protect the temple, how can we defend Buddhism and save all sentient beings.

"Our temple selected a hundred young and strong monks to practice sticks to resist the invasion of refugees."

Pu Sheng's words immediately received the approval of all the elders.

An elder said: "I think Tanzong is good, you can let him teach his disciples sticks. Of course, the unity of Zen and martial arts that you mentioned earlier, junior brother, is also indispensable."

Pu Sheng nodded, and said: "What brother said is very true, the integration of Zen and martial arts is also to let the disciples practice the stick without forgetting the heart of compassion."

Seeing what Pusheng said, all the monks nodded in agreement.

"It's just," Pu Sheng said with a frown, "it's just that if you want to fight against the bandits and fight on the battlefield, you must have dispatchers. We are lacking such talents now. You also know that night, when the bandits went up the mountain, the monks in this monastery were all together. They broke up, no one commanded and dispatched, it was my negligence of duty, my junior brother, I really don't have the ability to command!"

Hearing what Pusheng said, all the monks spoke out to comfort him.Suddenly a monk said: "Brother Abbot, if there is no such talent in this monastery, why don't you recruit them from outside? What do you think?"

Pu Sheng's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile, "Junior Brother, there must be a good candidate."

"That's right, this candidate is actually the abbot brother, and he has already known it in his heart." The monk smiled slightly.

Pu Sheng shook his head, and said: "Actually, I tried this man's manners, but he politely refused. I think this man is young, but he has a beautiful heart and ambitions. I think it's true. Something in the pool."

The monk at the side said: "Junior Brother, no matter whether he has the ambition to become a successful person or not, we can finally persuade him with words. This person has made great contributions to this temple. It would be the best if he can stay and take charge."

"That's right, that's right." Pu Sheng nodded, but showed a look of contemplation.

Not long after, Li Chongjiu heard that it was the abbot who had summoned him, and immediately came to the main hall of the temple.

Li Chongjiu originally thought that Pu Sheng was the one who invited him to meet him, but he didn't expect that this time it would be such a big battle. There were seven or eight monks sitting there.

Li Chongjiu knew something in his heart at the moment, but he was very respectful and polite on the surface. After bowing to all the monks with palms together, he sat down on the rug.When the monks saw Li Chongjiu being so polite, they all had a good impression of him.

After sitting down, Pu Sheng greeted Li Chongjiu first, first asked Li Chongjiu if he had such a habit of living in the temple in the past half month, and finally cut to the point.

Pu Sheng said: "Li Layman, I think you have a lot of wisdom about Buddhism, how about getting ordained to become a monk?" Sure enough, although he had expected it, Li Chongjiu had no plan to bald his head and become a monk.

At that moment Li Chongjiu said: "Thank you, Master Abbot, for your kind words, but I am the only son in my family, and my father has a strict order that I must marry a wife and have children within a few years, so I am afraid that I will not be born in Buddhism."

Hearing Li Chongjiu's refusal, Pu Sheng and others were greatly disappointed.

However, at this time, there were three unfilial acts, and the greatest thing was to have no descendants. Li Chongjiu was the only son in the family and had not yet married a wife. It would be unreasonable to let him become a monk.

But there are always a few monks who are still not reconciled, and now they argue with Li Chongjiu again, but Li Chongjiu is very determined.The monks were unwilling to let Li Chongjiu go down the mountain, but it was a pity that Li Chongjiu was unwilling to become a monk. This was a dilemma.

It was still Pu Sheng who knew how to be flexible, he said: "So, Layman Li is willing to stay with me in Shaoshi Mountain for a while, but he is not willing to be ordained to become a monk."

Li Chongjiu nodded immediately, and said: "Master Abbot, I also have a heart to be close to Buddhism, but my father's life is like heaven."

Pu Sheng nodded and said: "That's it, the old monk has a compromise."

"Master Abbot, please tell me." Li Chongjiu said.

Abbot Pusheng smiled and said: "Layman Li can still be my disciple of Shaolin Temple, but he doesn't need to accept the ten precepts of novice monks, and he doesn't need to accept the precepts of monks in the future, and he can keep his hair. He only needs to accept the five precepts at home (Note [-]). Can."

An old monk with white eyebrows on the side frowned and said: "Brother abbot, if you don't take the novice precepts, if you don't have the full precepts, you don't count as a monk. There is no such thing as a lay disciple in my Shaolin Temple."

Pu Sheng smiled and said: "Buddha saves sentient beings, why is it said that you become a monk at home? As long as you have the heart to get close, you can be regarded as a good disciple of my Buddhism. Brothers and sisters, what do you think?"

The monks wanted to keep Li Chongjiu, and they all nodded in agreement regardless of the talk of becoming a monk at home.

Seeing that no one objected, Pu Sheng looked at Li Chongjiu with a slight smile, and said, "What does Jushi Li think? Would you like to become my disciple of Shaolin Temple?"

A lay disciple, that is, a lay disciple as the saying goes, did not expect that he was the first great disciple in history.

In an instant, Li Chongjiu had a feeling of interlacing time and space. In an instant, he seemed to see Wu Song, Yue Wumu, Zhang Sanfeng, Fang Shiyu, and a certain founding general waving to him.

Li Chongjiu was a bit unbelievable at the moment. Did history change him, or did he change history.

Hearing Pu Sheng's question again, Li Chongjiu immediately said: "Thank you, Master Abbot."

Hearing what Li Chongjiu said, all the monks nodded in satisfaction.

At present, Pusheng recited the five precepts with Li Chongjiu himself.

This is also quite an honor. Although he is not a formal disciple of Buddhism, Li Chongjiu does not need to summon the Sangha, nor does he need to be ordained monks and acharya, and he does not need to be shaved or given a dharma name.

However, it is also unprecedented in Shaolin Temple that the abbot and the monk personally recite the Five Precepts for Li Chongjiu.

The abbot and the monk finished reciting the five precepts. The five virtues, six thoughts, and ten counting all depended on self-awareness.

Note [-]: The five precepts are one not to kill, two not to steal, three not to commit adultery, four not to tell lies, and fifth not to drink alcohol, also known as the five precepts for laymen.

(End of this chapter)