Xuanyuan Jue

Chapter 152: Ksitigarbha Pagoda (2)
"Benefactor, please," Hong Zhidao said with a bitter face, "Although the officials have confirmed the innocence of our temple, that group of villagers still refuse to give up. Whenever they have the opportunity, they form gangs and gather people to make trouble. If they don't speculate with a few words, they It will smash people and destroy things...Isn't it? Because of this, the main hall of our temple has not been repaired... Alas, we have been harassed repeatedly. The mountain gate..."

"Why does everyone say the same thing?" Lu Ban scratched his head and said to himself, "Who should I believe?"

Feng Shen asked again: "Master Hongzhi, as far as I know, apart from Shaolin and other famous temples, other temples don't really advocate the use of martial arts to practice Zen. There are not many monks watching Moya temple. Why are there more than a dozen monks?" Serve as a guardian?"

"That's right!" Lu Ban slapped his head, "That group of dumb arhats alone accounted for almost half of the monks in your monastery. You have raised so many thugs for no reason, do you want to make trouble?"

"The leader's words are wrong," Hongzhi said, "The guardians of our temple are all helpless and deaf-mute poor people. The abbot is merciful. Seeing that they are really pitiful, he took them in the original temple. , granting food and clothing, imparting Kung Fu, and protecting the Dharma. Later, the original temple was destroyed by war, and we moved the temple until we found Yaji Mountain, where we finally found a place to stay. Now the world is not fair, and we have traveled all the way here , thanks to their protection. So the poor monk dared to ask Lu Bantou not to have another 'thug' on the left and a 'dog leg' on the right!"

Hearing this, Lu Bantou felt a little sorry, he hesitated for a while, and then said: "Well... don't blame the great monk, I didn't know it was so difficult for those dumb monks..."

"That's good," Hong Zhi folded his palms together in a salute, "It's really a blessing for them to be so considerate. The poor monk is here to thank the leader for his juniors."

Feng Shen cleared his throat, frowned and said, "According to this, the folk customs here are very aggressive."

"Hehe..." Hongzhi smiled bitterly, and then said with emotion, "There is a way that although the rain is wide, it does not moisten the grass without roots; although the Buddhism is wide, the difficulty is not good. However, the abbot once taught us: All practitioners You should always have a compassionate heart, and you must remember the stories of the great masters who gave up their lives to feed tigers, cut meat and traded pigeons, etc. Therefore, we will not forget the past, and we will take the risk to eliminate it. Doom."

"Great monk, you are a good person!" Lu Ban praised, "I, old Lu, misjudged you!"

Hongzhi hurriedly said: "It's his duty to help the world and save people. Besides, I have some selfishness in my actions..."

"Selfishness?" Lu Ban asked, "What kind of selfishness?"

Hongzhi said: "I thought that by taking this opportunity to avert the catastrophe, the people in the countryside would have a better view of our temple, so that my Buddha would be incensed in all directions...but who knows... oh... who knows that until now, they still have Still spreading rumors to hurt you..."

Feng Shen glanced at Hongzhi, and said: "I'm afraid Master Hongzhi doesn't know yet, the rumors and rumors are far more than that."

"Is there any other gossip?" Hongzhi asked anxiously, "Please tell me quickly, Master Ma!"

Feng Shendao: "According to the old man, just after Fengluotan's calamity, the monks of Baocha 'invited' all the villagers to go up the mountain on the pretext of fulfilling their vows."

"It's becoming more and more irrelevant!" Hongzhi said angrily, "Those villagers don't worship Buddha, so what's the use of our temple inviting them?"

Lu Ban nodded his head and said, "But Fengluo Beach is indeed empty, we saw it with our own eyes."

"This is strange..." Hong Zhi frowned, "The whole village is deserted?"

"The old lady is still there," Lu Ban said, "She said that you kidnapped the villagers into the temple and left her alone in the village to fend for herself."

"It's ridiculous," Hong Zhi said, "If our temple really has malicious intentions, why did we just leave the old lady behind? Let her live alone, wouldn't it be just giving people a clue and digging their own grave?"

"That's right," Lu Ban thought for a moment, and said, "Nurture the carbuncle to fix the damage, cut the weeds to get rid of the roots. If it were me, I would either capture her together or kill her. Although the old lady is old and blind, she can After all, she has legs and a mouth, as long as she runs out of the village and tells her, nothing will be covered... Brother, don't you think so?"

"There is some truth," Feng Shen said, "but it may be hard to convince the public based on the two sides' one-sided words. How about this, let me make a bold proposal, maybe it can avoid the suspicion of melons and plums for Baosha."

"Oh?" Hongzhi said happily, "Ma Shizhu has a good idea?"

"It's really a stupid way," Feng Shen said with a smile, "Just let me wait for a thorough investigation in the temple. I don't know what Master Hongzhi wants?"

Hongzhi froze, "Do you want to search temples?"

"Don't dare," Feng Shen said, "I just intend to act as a witness."

"It seems that Master Ma still doesn't fully believe in our temple," Hongzhi smiled helplessly, "Forget it, those who clean themselves will clean themselves, you two, please go about yourselves!"

"It's an arrogance," Feng Shen cupped his fists and said to Lu Ban, "Brother, let's investigate carefully so that we can justify the name of this Cliff Temple!"

"It's done." Lu Bantou agreed, and began to investigate with Feng Shen.

With Hongzhi's permission, the two no longer have any taboos, and searched from room to room through corridors and rooms.Not only the main hall of the Buddhist hall, but even the squatter houses and monk's houses were not spared.But in the end, I searched all the places where people could hide, and didn't see anything unusual.

"Amitabha," Hongzhi stepped forward and said, "What clues can the two of you find?"

"Great monk, are you so interesting?" Lu Ban mopped his head and complained, "When we were looking for it, you followed behind. Don't you ask this knowingly?"

"Hehe," Hongzhi smiled, "The poor monk can rest assured only if the head of the squad tells it himself. Since the missing villagers have not been found, should the temple be cleared of suspicion?"

Head Lu Ban waited for approval, but Feng Shen said, "Don't be in a hurry to make a conclusion. Master Hongzhi, there is another place that we haven't searched yet."

Hongzhi asked, "Where is it?"

Feng Shenyao pointed with his hand, "The back tower courtyard!"

"There's no need to check there," Hongzhi said, "there is only one Ksitigarbha pagoda in the pagoda courtyard, and our abbot is still in seclusion in it..."

"Listen to me, Great Monk." Lu Ban patted Hongzhi's shoulder with his head, "I've found this, what's the difference? When we finish looking at the pagoda courtyard, the suspicion in your temple will be completely dismissed." It's clean. Whoever dares to chew their tongues at that time, I will be the first to refuse!"

Hongzhi hesitated, "But...but our abbot..."

Feng Shen said with a smile: "Zen cloud is free from movement and stillness, and you can practice both inside and outside. As long as you understand your mind and see your nature, how can you separate yourself from retreat? There is no need to stick to the transformation of all things. The abbot master is an eminent monk, and he will not fail to realize this truth." .”

Hearing this, Hong Zhi suddenly looked respectful, he recited the sound of the Buddha, and bowed to Feng Shen with palms together. "After listening to Ma Shizhu's words, the poor monk is like enlightenment and nectar. It is true that there is no way to realize emptiness in Zen. The abbot has studied Zen for many years, and I think he has already understood this truth. What the poor monk did before is really amazing. It’s too much to do.”

Feng Shen said: "Master Hongzhi, don't be humble, lead us to the pagoda courtyard to have a look!"

Hongzhi nodded, and waved Haiqing with his wide sleeves, "Then please go ahead!"

Having said that, the three of them crossed over the pavilions in the back hall and walked straight towards the pagoda courtyard.

The pagoda courtyard is surrounded by high walls, and there is a path paved with blue bricks connecting with the temple.At the end of the brick road is a moon gate, behind the corner of the gate, a small bamboo forest is planted, and a few broken stone tablets are randomly piled up in it.

Lu Ban pushed aside a bamboo branch blocking the way, and said, "It's quite secluded here."

Hongzhi said: "Because it is the abbot's retreat place, so the monks in the temple don't come here often."

Feng Shen said with emotion: "It's really 'being in the mountains, I don't know the real face'. Separated by the bamboo forest, the pagoda of the Buddha is completely invisible."

"Don't worry, Master Ma," Hongzhi said, "To see that pagoda, we still need to go a few steps forward."

Just as Hongzhi said, the three of them walked another ten feet, and the situation suddenly became clear.On the open slope, a high platform was built, and the majestic Ksitigarbha Pagoda stood solemnly on the high platform.

"My dear, this tower is really not small!" Lu Ban sighed in admiration, and climbed onto the high platform in two or three steps.

Feng Shen and Hongzhi also went up the stairs and came to the Ksitigarbha Pagoda.

The end of this Ksitigarbha Pagoda is majestic, with a wide surface and a deep depth, with layers upon layers. Roughly estimated, it is no less than several hundred feet high and short.Looking up from the bottom of the tower, it is faintly daunting.

The pagoda is covered with iron tiles, with top beams and pillars erected; it is divided into eight layers, each of which is carved with a niche.Under the flying overhanging eaves, each hangs a huge copper bell, and the breeze blows slowly, which is a burst of jingling and melodious sounds.

Due to the age, the walls of the pagoda are inevitably mottled under the erosion of wind and rain, but the white stone pads at the base of the pagoda are as brand new as porcelain.

"Master Hongzhi," Feng Shen asked, "has the foundation of this pagoda been repaired?"

"Exactly," Hongzhi said, "this pagoda has been around for too long, and it is on the verge of collapse. In order to be safe, the foundation has been re-reinforced."

"No wonder," Feng Shen nodded, and said again, "Why don't you see the entrance?"

Hongzhi said: "I'm at the back of the pagoda now, we can go around to the entrance. Please wait a moment, let the poor monk go to the entrance first..."

"What's the wait? Let's go!" Lu Bantou was a little impatient, and before Hongzhi could finish speaking, he turned to the front of the pagoda.

"Boss! Boss!" Hongzhi took a look, and hurriedly chased him out.

Seeing Hongzhi's appearance, Feng Shen was rather perplexed, and was about to ask, when Lu Bantou yelled loudly.

Feng Shen didn't have time to think, and rushed to the front of the pagoda.I saw several gray-robed monks guarding the entrance.Looking at his facial features, he is clearly the group of dumb arhats he met outside the mountain gate.

"Great monk," Lu Ban turned his head and asked Hongzhi, "what's the matter with them? Hiding here without saying a word, I'm shocked."

Hongzhi gasped and said: "The poor monks said to let the team leader wait... They are the guardians of our temple, and it is also their duty to guard the pagoda of the temple."

(End of this chapter)