The Strange Tales of Tokyo Monk

Is it definitely there?

I have never seen it with my own eyes.

This creates the possibility of falsification.

This is not a problem unique to Buddhism; it exists in almost every religion in the world.

For those who do not believe in gods and Buddhas, human power is limited, so they need to invent a god or Buddha whose existence is unknown, whose authenticity cannot be verified or falsified, to become the founder of a religion and spiritual leader.

To put it simply, only virtual stars will not have their reputations ruined.

“You see, it’s hard to answer.”

Yaezakura Jingu gently waved the golden fan in her hand, and a soft breeze blew on her face, dispelling the stuffiness of the summer night.

In the following conversation, the two of them tacitly discussed the topic.

When Hiramiya Chiye mentioned the colorless and almost transparent tail, Jingu Yaezakura opened her mouth slightly, her eyes slightly widened, and she did not hide the shock on her face.

She thought that Pinggong Qianye had failed in his attempt to find a nest last night and came back empty-handed.

I didn’t expect to actually catch a big fish?

He also cut off the tail of the big fish.

"You can only appear at night?" Pinggong Qianye guessed.

With Yaezakura Jingu's ability, she can observe what happens on the barren mountain. Logically, she should know clearly what happens on the barren mountain.

But it was very strange that she knew nothing about the big monster hiding in the void.

"That's it for now."

Jingu Yae Sakura nodded, turned sideways, her soft hair fell on her shoulders, her expression was a little gloomy, and her happy mood gradually disappeared.

Because she has not yet fully descended and has not yet fully recovered, the daytime sun is something she cannot naturally overcome. Appearing during the day would only waste her strength in vain.

Only when the bright moon rises at night can she come with the moon.

Pinggong Qianye didn't say anything else. He looked up at the moon and felt it was really magical.

He was sure that the Jingu Yaezakura in front of him was real and not a fictional figure. He originally thought that she should live in the Tsukimi Shrine during the daytime, but he didn't expect that she really lived in the Moon Palace.

Moon Goddess?

Luna?

She should not be a shrine maiden, nor the spokesperson of Tsukuyomi. She is the moon goddess worshipped by the Tsukimi Shrine.

Just like the Toad God of the Golden Light Religion, he is a being that holds the priesthood of the Moon God.

Hiramiya Chiye had some understanding in her mind. When she asked Jingu Yaezakura before, she replied that she had seen God.

Now that she thought about it, she had certainly seen God, because she herself was a god.

The Moon Goddess of Tsukimi Shrine!

The two were speechless for a moment, looking up at the moon in silence.

In the main hall, Daijoguji paid homage to the statue of Tsukuyomi-son, walked to the door, gently opened it, and looked towards the osmanthus tree not far away.

Unexpectedly, the little monk came again tonight. Not only did he get close to the osmanthus tree that the goddess loved, he also sat next to the goddess.

The key point is that the goddess' attitude towards him is a little unusual.

This is not possible.

The goddess has not yet fully descended and her mind is still a little immature. If she is seduced away by that little monk, their Tsukimi Shrine will have to change its name completely.

There are precedents for this kind of thing in history.

In the past, the natural god enthroned by the Kashima Shrine was originally an elk in the deep mountains and dense forests that cultivated into a spirit. It was innocent and ignorant of worldly affairs.

The Kashima Shrine has high hopes for this natural god. After all, he is a mountain elk spirit, which fits in perfectly with their Kashima Shrine.

But one year, a monk who was eloquent and good at debate came to Kashima Shrine. He was just 28 years old at that time, and by chance he met the natural god.

The two sides had a very pleasant conversation, developed a good impression of each other, and finally fell in love with each other.

Some unpleasant things happened during this period.

At the end of the story, the monk returned to secular life, and the goddess left the society, eloped and went into seclusion, and their whereabouts have been unknown to this day.

The lessons of the past are still fresh in our minds.

This little monk must not be allowed to have too much contact with the goddess.

But, can my old arms and legs help me defeat him?

He seemed to be very extraordinary, and even the terrible Moon Eater on the desolate mountain was killed by him.

The Grand Master fell into deep silence.

On the osmanthus tree, Jingu Yaezakura spoke to break the atmosphere, and her tone returned to its previous indifference.

"The half tail you fished for was most likely from a Void Dragon Salamander. It is very good at hiding in the void, appearing and disappearing mysteriously, and difficult to guard against."

"You were able to cut off one of its tails, which is already extremely extraordinary."

"As for wanting to kill its true form, it's very difficult because no one knows where it is hiding."

Pinggong Qianye listened quietly, finally sighed, stood up and jumped off the osmanthus tree.

Although the moonlight is beautiful tonight, the atmosphere of relaxed conversation has been lost.

Jingu Yaezakura sat on the osmanthus tree and watched Heimiya Chiya go to the main hall.

The mission to kill the toad was indeed issued by the Tsukimi Shrine, in order to use the power of Buddhism to eradicate the Moon Eater who intended to infringe on their authority.

Now that Pinggong Qianye has killed the Moon Eater, it is time for him to get the spoils he deserves.

When Omaeji saw Hiramiya Chiye walking towards him, he subconsciously straightened his old back, with a stern face and no expression.

In response to Pinggong Qianye's greeting, he just nodded slightly.

"Come with me."

Omaeji understood the purpose of Hiramiya Chiye's visit and led him to where he lived.

The mission to kill the Moon-Swallower was something he entrusted to his old friend after obtaining the goddess's consent, asking him to help him carry out the mission in the capacity of a Buddhist practitioner.

Only by using a knife to kill the god can you avoid leaving any handle for others to use.

Whether in the secular world or in the cultivation world, the legitimacy of superficial procedures is always maintained.

Chapter 82: Homa Practice, Fire Burning

“Everything I’ve collected over most of my life is here.”

Omasa no Miyabi found a large wooden box from under the bed in the room where he lived. Inside the box were many objects that were not Shinto.

There are not only Buddhist items such as vajra, prayer beads, Buddha lamps, scriptures, but also Onmyoji's talismans, Bagua, Yin-Yang mirrors, etc.

The Grand Priest took out a vajra, a rosary, and a sutra wrapped in brown paper from a wooden box.

This is a Buddhist artifact that was photographed and posted on the Pudu APP. It is also the trophy that Pinggong Qianye can obtain by killing the Moon-Swallowing Toad.

Pinggong Qianye's gaze lingered on each object for a brief moment, finally landing on the vajra.

In Tantric Buddhism, the vajra symbolizes invincible, indestructible wisdom and true Buddha nature.

It can eliminate all kinds of troubles and destroy all kinds of demons that hinder the practice of Buddhism. It is the holder of the Tantric Buddhas or the instrument of the yogis in their practice.

This vajra completely follows the ancient system and is forged from a combination of five metals: gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin.

It is twelve fingers long, with a handle in the middle and five-pronged blades on both ends. This is the classic five-pronged pestle.

The Five-pronged Vajra is also known as the Five-wisdom Vajra, the Five-peaked Vajra, the Five-peaked Light, and the Five-pronged Vajra.

Its five peaks represent the five wisdoms and five Buddhas. One peak symbolizes the Buddha's real wisdom, and the other four peaks are the symbols of the four Buddhas' provisional wisdom.

If he really had to choose one among the three, Pinggong Qianye would only choose this vajra because it really meets his needs.

This vajra can be used as a Homa instrument.

Seeing that Heimiya Chiye just picked up the vajra, Daijomiya smiled and said, "Don't you want the rosary and the Buddhist scriptures anymore?"

"Isn't it just one of three?"

"The goddess has ordered that these three items belong to you."

Speaking of this, Omiyasu looked a little unnatural.

Until now, he found it hard to believe that a young monk who was less than 20 years old could actually kill the big monster that intended to swallow the moon.

It’s incredible!

Seeing that Pinggong Qianye seemed to be hesitant, Daizheng Gongshi chuckled and said, "For adults, shouldn't they all be the best? It will also save you the trouble of choosing."

Pinggong Qianye nodded and accepted the good intention. He really wanted the rosary and Buddhist scriptures.

Moreover, if these things were left here with the Omiyaji, they would just lie in wooden boxes and rot without seeing the light of day. It was such a waste.

The Omae no Miyabi prepared three boxes in advance so that Hiramiya Chiye could put the three items into the boxes and take them back.

Before leaving, Pinggong Qianye came to the osmanthus tree again, raised his head slightly, and looked at the goddess who did not belong to this world.

The moon goddess, Jingu Yaezakura.

"This thing is for you, it should be useful."

Hiramiya Chiye threw the magic bead left by the Moon-Swallowing Toad to Jingu Yaezakura.

This thing is useless to him. Since Jingu Yaezakura is so generous, he will not be stingy. The value of this magic bead is enough to exchange for the rosary and Buddhist scriptures.

"You're at a disadvantage in this kind of deal."

Jingu Yaezakura held up the magic pearl with the fan in her hand, her eyes moving slightly.

This thing will be of great use to her. It can be said that no one is more suitable than her to be the new owner of this magic pearl.

"How can we calculate everything to be completely equal?" Pinggong Qianye smiled and said, "If I think it's worth it, then it's worth it."

"Wait a minute, do you want these three pictures?"

"I'll leave it for you to keep."

……

Late at night, in the main hall of Weilian Ancient Temple, in front of the statue of Vairocana Buddha, Pinggong Qianye placed the vajra he had just obtained tonight on the altar.

In addition to the vajra, he also has the goma stove and vajra bell collected by Akechi Mitsuhide, as well as the vajra stick, goma pot, and goma table that were already in his own temple.

Now you have collected 6 Homa instruments and can start the initial practice of Homa.

Before practicing, Pinggong Qianye first poured his magic power into the seldom-used Homa cauldron and Vajra stick to increase their power.

Then they began to set up the Homa altar, placed many offerings, lotus lamps, candles, and pulled up the altar string.

After finishing all this, Pinggong Qianye went back home to take a bath, changed into monk's robes, and then returned to the main hall.

First, pay homage to Mahavairocana, then close your eyes, hold the rosary, strike the wooden fish, and chant scriptures to completely relax your mind.

As the night gradually faded away, the first ray of sunlight spread from the entrance of the hall to Pinggong Qianye.

Whoosh, it seems like a gust of burning wind is blowing.

The candles on the Homa altar were lit one by one.

Pinggong Qianye's body seemed to be surrounded by a layer of light yellow light, which was hazy and, upon closer inspection, looked like wisps of burning flames.

Homa is a great practice of Tantric Buddhism.

With the meaning of burning, various offerings are blessed in sequence and thrown into the furnace to offer to the deity.

The seventh volume of the Shurangama Sutra states: "Take white cow milk, put it in sixteen containers, make pancakes with the milk, and add sugar, oil cakes, chyle, frankincense, honey ginger, pure butter, and pure honey.

Outside the lotus, there are sixteen of them, surrounding the flower to worship the Buddhas and great Bodhisattvas.

Every time you eat, if it is in the middle of the night, take half a liter of honey and three he of butter. Place a small stove in front of the altar, boil some douloupo incense to make perfume, bathe the charcoal in it, and make it burn fiercely. Throw the butter and honey into the stove, burn until the smoke is gone, and offer it to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Pinggong Qianye did not make such detailed preparations. He just took advantage of the fact that today was Sunday and he had some time to try to practice Goma.