Chapter 100: The Monk of Songyin Temple The monk was slightly plump and had a round face. He looked to be in his twenties or thirties, but his face was a little dark and he seemed very haggard. He was wearing a very simple monk's robe. There were some monks and pilgrims in the yard behind me. "Eh? What are you doing, Taoist priests..." The monk looked them up and down, then looked behind them. "Oh, Master, I am honored." The third brother said, "We are Taoists practicing in Yishan. We passed by here and would like to stay for one night. I wonder if it is convenient." "Why would several Taoist priests come to our temple to stay overnight?" The monk withdrew his gaze, obviously puzzled. Just as the third brother was about to speak, he heard the younger brother beside him say: "It's really getting late, and we are not familiar with the road, so we can't find any other place to stay. It's cold in the mountains in late autumn. An old farmer on the roadside said there is a temple here that is very effective, and the monks who live here are kind-hearted. We have no choice but to come here and hope you can help us." The third senior brother laughed and turned to look at Lin Jue.
"This……" The monk looked embarrassed. A pilgrim behind him heard Lin Jue's words and couldn't help but laugh and say, "It seems that the good reputation of Songyin Temple has spread beyond Buddhism and Taoism." The monk felt even more embarrassed when he heard this. He looked at them carefully, especially the fox behind him that looked unusual. He then looked back at the yard behind him and said, "But Taoism and Buddhism are two different families. There will always be inconveniences." "We are all practitioners, why should we distinguish so clearly?" "Yes!" The kind-hearted pilgrim behind him, who was originally pacing around bored, also spoke up after hearing what he said, "It's so late, it's almost dark, it's a bit too late even if we go to the mountain village below to ask for a place to stay. We know that the monks in the temple are all kind-hearted, so why create these grudges just because of the difference between Buddhism and Taoism? What's wrong with letting them stay for a night and have a bowl of hot rice?" Lin Jue and the other two heard the voice and looked towards him. The pilgrim was a middle-aged man with a big belly. He was wearing fine silk and looked very wealthy. There was a woman and a young girl beside him, who seemed to be his family. Apparently this pilgrim is also a big customer. The monk looked back at him, feeling even more embarrassed. After thinking for a while, he said, "But recently, many pilgrims have come to our temple to stay overnight. Now there is only one room left. There are three Taoist priests, both men and women..." "Ouch!" The third senior brother was now in trouble. Indeed, whether temples can accommodate female pilgrims overnight depends on the temple's regulations. However, almost all temples do not allow men and women to live together, not even couples. "It doesn't matter..." Another voice came from behind. It was from the female relatives of the middle-aged pilgrim: "Let this female Taoist priest sleep with us." The monk couldn't refuse. "You three, please come in." "Thank you." The three men thanked the monk first, and then thanked the middle-aged pilgrim and his family: "Thank you very much."
"No need to thank me, it's just a small favor." The middle-aged pilgrim smiled and said, "Wang has been to both Buddhist temples and Taoist temples. To put it bluntly, he just believes in good deeds." "Great kindness." The third brother said with a smile. Then he followed the monk inside. The middle-aged pilgrims also followed them out of boredom. The temple is not small, but a bit old, and the Buddha statues are very simple. There is a large courtyard inside, and both sides of the courtyard are almost all guest rooms. Although it is far away from the official road and hidden among the pine and cypress forests, many pilgrims come here to stay overnight. It seems that it is really famous. Most of these pilgrims were dressed in rich clothes and looked either wealthy or noble. They must have just finished their dinner and it was still light outside. They were walking around the courtyard, chatting in groups of three or four. Most of them were talking about Buddhism, while some spoke in low voices about things like the general situation in the world and the affairs of the government. The monk led them all the way to the innermost room, opened the second-to-last room, and said to them: "You two Taoist priests, please stay here. Remember, this is the second to last room inside. All the rooms outside are occupied. Don't go to the wrong one." "It just so happens that my wife and daughter live next door." The middle-aged pilgrim pointed to a room further out and said, "Wang lives in a room further out." Speaking of this, he felt strange. I couldn't help but look towards the innermost room. This room is locked. "Why is there still an unoccupied room here?" asked the pilgrim surnamed Wang. "Why is it locked? I remember it was not locked when I came here last month!" "Oh, this room is haunted." The monk said it very calmly, as if he completely ignored the fact that this was actually very scary. This was different from the idea of the monks in the Zhushan Temple on the side of the road. "Ah? A ghost?" As expected, the pilgrim surnamed Wang and his family were all shocked. Especially his wife and daughter. "How could there be a ghost?" the pilgrim surnamed Wang asked in surprise, "If that's the case, why doesn't the master in the temple get rid of it?" The two women around him were also frightened. "Perhaps the people nearby have deep obsessions after death and are unwilling to leave. They stay in the world and are attracted by Buddhism, so they come to us." The monk explained calmly, "Don't worry, donors, they are just residual souls who don't want to leave. They have never harmed anyone, and they can't harm anyone. Since they are deeply obsessed and have come to us, it must be a connection. How can we easily get rid of them?" "This……" The pilgrim named Wang was a surprise. Lin Jue and the other two couldn't help but look at each other, and then looked at the locked room at the innermost part. There is indeed a chilly air. "Of course, we let them live here, chanting sutras all day, and let the Dharma slowly convert them." The monk said with a smile, "And all we have given is just a room." "That's it!" "By the way, aren't these remnant souls and obsessions guests of our temple just like all of you donors?"
"I see……" The pilgrim surnamed Wang was startled and immediately moved. He put his hands together and said, "The masters are really experts!" "No, we are just ordinary monks." The slightly fat monk put his palms together in return. "Master, rest assured, I will never tell anyone." "It's okay. Just say it. If you're afraid, just don't come." The chubby monk shook his head. "Our temple is so remote, and the pilgrims are all nobles in the city. They come from far away and take the trouble to come to our shabby temple, and they donate so much every time. It's really unnecessary. It not only prevents us from having some free time, but also makes us feel guilty." Lin Jue and the other two understood after hearing this. No wonder this temple is so famous despite being so remote and attracts so many people. It seems that it really has Buddhist practices. Only Fuyao kept staring at the innermost room, turning her head to look everywhere. The three of them placed Senior Brother Donkey in the stable at the back, and placed the luggage in the rooms of Lin Jue and Third Senior Brother. Junior Sister lived in a room with the family of the pilgrim named Wang, and only took her beloved sword with her. When they came out of the room again, the lights in the temple had been lit, but only the one in the main hall was lit, and the monks had already brought a bowl of porridge to the three of them. "Thank you." The third senior brother and the younger junior sister were carrying porridge, but they had learned their lesson and looked at Lin Jue first. Lin Jue also understood and took a sip immediately. Smash it, smash it, and take a second sip. The two of them then lowered their heads and started drinking. A pilgrim named Wang and his female relatives stood beside them and asked them, "I heard you say that you are Taoists from Yishan. Where is Yishan? I have only heard of Yixian." "It's in Yi County." "That's not close! How did you get here?" "I came back from attending the grand ceremony in Yuanzhou." "But the Mingzhao Mountain Grand Ceremony?" "You are indeed a person who loves both Buddhism and Taoism." The three of them answered him while drinking porridge. "I just love to believe in these things." The middle-aged pilgrim said, "I originally wanted to go to Mingzhao Mountain. I went there during the Qiyun Mountain Grand Ceremony last year and learned a lot. Unfortunately, Mingzhao Mountain is too far away, and the world is not very peaceful now, so I had to give up." "For such a grand ceremony, you only need to watch it once." said the third brother. "oops……" "Oh, right! When we were at the foot of the mountain, we heard farmers working in the fields say that Bodhisattva appeared in this temple. Is it true?" The third brother asked him while holding the bowl. "Of course it's true. And most Bodhisattvas appear on the third day of the Lunar New Year, which is today." The middle-aged pilgrim said, "You Taoist priests are lucky to see this, but I don't know if you will worship the Bodhisattva when he appears. If you do, will the deity you worship blame you?" “Haha, we don’t worship gods.” "Don't Taoists worship gods?" "We have lived in the mountains for a long time, studying the Taoist scriptures and the Dao."
"I see……" The middle-aged pilgrims seemed to understand but did not delve into it further. There is no need to talk too much with people you are not familiar with. The key to having a pleasant conversation with unfamiliar people is to find the right measure. The middle-aged pilgrim is obviously well aware of this. "You are really lucky. Normally, Songyin Temple does not allow overnight stays for the public, let alone when it happens to be the third day of the Chinese New Year." "No overnight guests?" Lin Jue looked at the middle-aged pilgrim in surprise, then at the people outside who were gradually returning to their rooms: "Then these..." "We are all believers in Buddhism, and our hearts are sincere." The middle-aged pilgrim laughed, "Just to entertain us, the monks in the temple are exhausted, and they all look haggard." "Oh!" Looking at these people who were either rich or noble, Lin Jue roughly understood what the so-called "sincerity of heart" meant. But then there was another doubt. "With so many distinguished and sincere pilgrims coming, why is the temple still so old and the Buddha statues not gilded?" "This is where the monks in the temple have achieved great spiritual attainments." The middle-aged pilgrim laughed, "These monks have always been frugal. They don't want us to come, nor do they want us to give them money for incense. It's enough for monks to have food and clothes to wear. Buddha statues don't need to be gilded, as long as they are sincere." "No wonder the masters dress so simply." "Yes, I come here once a month for several years, and I have never seen them spend their money on food and clothing." The middle-aged pilgrim shook his head, "It's really admirable." "That's true." Where did the money go? What's the point of saving so much money? If you don't want the money, why not just refuse? Lin Jue didn't understand and shook his head, thinking that his own Fuqiu Temple's financial philosophy was better - Spend the money you have on food and clothing. When you have enough money, you won't worry about it anymore. Free and easy, leisurely and comfortable. However, it may also be that the temple is well-known and these pilgrims come here because of its reputation. After all, although this place is also remote, it is not as remote as Yishan and the roads are difficult to travel. "Donor Wang, what are you talking about with the Taoist priests?" The slightly fat monk came over, collected the leftover bowls and chopsticks, and said to them, "Don't listen to Donor Wang's lies. We are not great monks, and we don't understand any cultivation or profound Buddhist teachings. We are just a group of ordinary monks who chant scriptures and meditate here." “Perhaps this is the meaning of the great monks and the profound Buddhist teachings?” Lin Jue handed the bowl over and complimented him. The third senior brother looked over with a smile on his face, and that smile seemed to be teasing him for being able to speak. "That's ridiculous." The slightly plump monk smiled immediately. But when he bent down, with the light coming from the hall next to him, the monk's facial features were already shrouded in dim light, but the area between his eyebrows was even darker, and there was some luster in the dark area. He didn't look haggard like someone who was tired from overwork, but rather looked like someone who had taken an overdose of elixirs or was poisoned by metal or stone.
Lin Jue couldn't help but take a deep breath and smell it—— It does seem to smell a bit like medicine. It was not the smell of ordinary medicine in a pharmacy, but more like the smell of gold, stone and cinnabar used by alchemists to make elixirs. These metal stones originally had no smell, and only those who had learned the method of alchemy could smell it. In fact, what was smelled was the spiritual charm of these elixirs. "It's getting dark, Taoist priests, please go to bed early." The slightly fat monk said with a smile while holding the bowl, "As for what they said about the Bodhisattva appearing, don't take it seriously, it may just be some strange things. Even if it is true that the Bodhisattva has descended to our small temple for some reason, there is really nothing to see. Taoist priests, just have a good rest. I will come to call you tomorrow morning." "Thank you." The three of them bowed to him and thanked him. They each went back to their rooms. (End of this chapter)