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Li Xiaoxiao is not surprised that the other party can say her name in one mouthful. As the most famous and promising person in the world, her name is well-known in a large area around her.

So, she nodded and said, "It's me, are my grandparents still in there?"

Zhike monk clasped his hands together and said, "Today the Great Master came to our temple to teach the Dharma, and it was delayed for some time. Now all the old benefactors are still in the main hall."

Li Xiaoxiao was a little stunned when she saw the action of the Zhike monk clasping her hands together and saluting. Although it was the first time she saw it in reality, she remembered some literature and history books she had read in the Zhoucheng Library after spending many years in various libraries. Curiously asked: "Is this a temple? Are you monks?"

The Zhike monk saluted again, which seemed to have become his habit before each question and answer: "Yes."

Li Xiaoxiao suddenly showed a look of great interest in his eyes, and asked, "May I go and listen to the Great Master's lecture?"

The Zhike monk put his palms together again and saluted: "Of course, please come here, Layman, and I will show you the way."

Li Xiaoxiao followed him and walked up the mountain with him.

As she walked, she looked at the surrounding environment, combined with the records in those literary and historical classics, which gave her a more perceptual understanding of the temple and the monks.

In the end, her gaze stayed on Zhike Monk's cropped head, and she asked curiously, "Why didn't you shave your head bald, but got a cropped one? Is it because you haven't taken care of it for too long, and has your hair grown back?"

Speaking of this, she felt a little doubtful for no reason. In those historical books hundreds of years ago, it seemed that monks were bald by default, but she didn't see how they kept their scalps clean. Could it be? Do you shave every day or two?

Otherwise, some people are born with strong hair, and if they don't shave for two or three days, they will have stubble.

Or, did they use a special method to ensure that the hair does not regrow?

But he didn't think about it, but the Zhike monk said: "The little monk has not yet fully received the precepts, so he can't be fully ordained, and he is not considered a complete monk now."

Not fully ordained?Not fully shaved?Not fully a monk?

This is completely different from the impression I got from literature and history classics.

Li Xiaoxiao wondered, "What do you mean not being a monk completely?"

Zhike monk said:

"The little monk also has a home at the foot of the mountain, his wife, children and parents are all there, and because he admires Buddhism, he often goes to the temple to listen to the Dharma.

After obtaining the consent of his family, he passed the unified examination organized by the relevant departments of Heitan Prefecture and became a doctor of Buddhism, which can be used to practice in a temple with a certificate.

Because I have only officially entered the mountain gate not long ago, now I can only practice on the mountain for ten days a month, and the rest of the time I have to go down the mountain to spend time with my family and earnestly fulfill the various obligations of being a human being. "

Li Xiaoxiao was a little dumbfounded, and asked, "What obligation?"

"At home, I support my loved ones, while in society, I actively participate in productive labor, love my job and work, fulfill my duties, and actively participate in various spiritual and cultural activities of patriotism and love for my family."

Speaking of this, the Zhike monk's expression was fine, and he took it for granted.

But then, his expression became a little strange:

"The most important thing is to have children.

For ordinary people, the relevant departments do not have mandatory regulations. Some have more births and some have fewer births. But for people like us who want to enter the temple and become monks, the children must reach the average family birth rate.

According to statistics, the average number of children in a family in Heitan Prefecture is more than six and nearly seven. Therefore, monks who become monks in Heitan Prefecture must have more than seven children to be eligible. "

This is a field that Li Xiaoxiao has never been in contact with, but at this moment he suddenly felt extremely interesting. Seeing that his expression was not quite right, he asked, "You are... what are you hiding?"

When a fairy-like layman uttered the words "Unspeakable Concealment" in person, the Zhike monk who was not yet advanced in Buddhism immediately waved his hands and denied it: "Of course not, in fact I already have five children...but ,Can……"

Seeing the lay woman looking suspiciously at her again, the Zhike monk spoke out what was in his heart.

It turned out that the first opportunity for him to come into contact with Buddhism was not entirely because of his admiration for Buddhism. Of course, this was only part of the reason. Another reason was that his family life was very distressing. His wife was a very strong person in everything. , Regardless of the big family's affairs, the small family's affairs, or even his personal affairs, all of them are strictly controlled.

This made him feel aggrieved and depressed in life. He had the feeling that he would only be in this woman's hand in this lifetime. Then, he unintentionally asked the old man from the same village to go to the temple a few times, and his depressed soul was healed to a large extent.

Then he embarked on the path of admiring Buddhism and only wanting to practice as a monk, but because of the strict restrictions on entering a temple to practice, in order to fulfill these restrictions, he really changed his mind and re-behaved, no matter in the family or in society. , all faced with a calm state of mind, willing to help others, and being kind to others, and no longer worrying about all kinds of unkind words from family members, and only earnestly fulfilled their responsibilities.

He only works hard to be a person and do things, and doesn't care about the rest.And many changes happened quietly.

Comparing before and after studying Buddhism, although there is no obvious dividing line, everything is getting better and better, and the state of mind is becoming more peaceful and joyful. The heart of Buddha.

"Whether it's family or friends, they all think that Buddhism has changed me, and they all support it. Only my wife has objections. After giving birth to my fifth child, she quit."

Obviously, without the cooperation of his wife, he would not be able to complete the pre-mission of "completely becoming a monk".

Listening to a monk talking about this kind of thing feels completely different. If an ordinary person talks about this kind of routine, Li Xiaoxiao would not even be interested in listening to it, but now she listens with great interest. Hearing this, she couldn't help but ask what happened: " Is she on good terms with you?"

The Zhike monk who led the way took a look at Li Jushi, clasped his hands together again, and said: "It's not for this reason, it was only after a long time that I found out that she was drinking a kind of medicine, which did not harm her body, and even had a certain amount of nourishment." However, its biggest side effect is that women cannot give birth while taking the medicine.”

Case solved.

Li Xiaoxiao couldn't help covering her sleeves and chuckled a few times, and found that Zhike Monk was getting more and more embarrassed in her laughter, so she barely held back and said: "It's because your wife is reluctant to bear you, and I'm afraid that you will ignore me after completing the task." her."

The Zhike monk shook his head and recited a passage in a low voice:

"A person who has parents at home cannot fully become a monk;

Those who have not obtained the consent of their wives and children cannot fully become monks;

Those with young children cannot fully become monks. "

"So, she is completely overwhelmed. She can't fully become a monk until her children grow up, or even before she and my children agree."

Li Xiaoxiao is quick-witted, and only from some incomplete narrations given by the Zhike monk just now, she has already glimpsed the current way of practicing in temples—well, their practice is not in the level of cultivation, but in the heart. An ordinary person with a cultivation base, but the change of mind has undoubtedly brought about earth-shaking changes in his life. For all living beings, this is the kind of practice that they can come into contact with and can change their lives the most.

Li Xiaoxiao speculates that the current monks cannot fully become monks until they have fulfilled their various obligations and responsibilities in this world, but there should be specific distinctions between this kind of incomplete monkhood.

For example, Zhike monk can only spend 20 days a month practicing on the mountain, and [-] days must go down the mountain to fulfill various obligations in the world, to be a son, a husband, a father, and even a person in Yanxia.

And when he fulfills more obligations, it means that he has fewer responsibilities in the world, and fewer and fewer entanglements. Then the time of practicing on the mountain will probably be longer, and the time to fulfill the mortal obligations at the foot of the mountain will be longer. few.

That is to say, today's monks are not cutting off everything in the world with a single knife as in the classics of literature and history. Once the hair is shaved, the relationship between the world and the relationship between the world will be closed, and everything in the world will be cut off. ", fulfill one item and break one item.

Therefore, if Zhike monk has fulfilled his obligation to bear children, it is very likely that he will spend more time practicing on the mountain.

Now, the focus of his life is still at the bottom of the mountain, but with the completion of one task after another, the focus of his life is on the mountain.

His wife obviously saw through this point and directly "interrupted".

Looking at the Zhike monk who was leading the way silently in front, Li Xiaoxiao actually wanted to ask him what he was thinking in his heart, but it seemed that he was not particularly resistant to his wife's actions, and seemed to go with nature.

It's like setting a goal and then burying your head in doing it, one by one, one by one, which step can be achieved in the end, whether it can be made, and which link is blocked, all are left to God's will, and he is not too entangled in this .

Thinking of this, a smile suddenly appeared on the corner of her mouth.

Because she thought of a word seen in classics of literature and history, "photographing".

Just now she was in a good mood, but this Zhike monk seemed to be a little ignorant.

She found that the temples and monks she saw seemed to be very different from the ones she read in the book, but there were still some thoughts in them that were the same, and her interest became stronger.

Couldn't help asking again: "I read in the book that in addition to the symbolic etiquette of Namaste, you seem to have an equally symbolic Buddha name, 'Amitabha'. Yingjing, we've been talking for so long, why haven't I heard you read it once?"

The Zhike monk said: "Layman Li should read the classics before the change of heaven, right?"

Li Xiaoxiao nodded.

The Zhike monk took out a book from his sleeve, handed it to Li Xiaoxiao and said, "To be honest, this involves the changes in Buddhism more than 200 years after the change of heaven. If Layman Li is interested, this book should be able to help you solve your doubts." .”

Although the sky was dark and there was only a dim yellow light on the steps up the mountain at a long distance, but for Li Xiaoxiao, it was naturally not difficult.

"Summary of the Three Symposiums and an Overview of the Changes in Buddhism"

Yes, very hot summer characteristics.

Just by looking at the name, Li Xiaoxiao knew where this booklet came from.

Sure enough, he saw a few familiar words under the cover, Yanxia Business Publishing House.

Li Xiaoxiao put the book into a storage bag, and asked again: "I don't seem to have seen any temples in Zhoucheng, and I haven't heard of it before here. Why does it feel like it popped up out of nowhere?"

The monk who knew the guest knew everything and said:

"It is true that this Jigongshan Temple was built only two years ago, and you were already studying in the state at that time, so naturally you didn't notice it.

As for whether you haven't seen it in Zhoucheng, the book I gave you can also get the answer.

I remember that in the first symposium, a leader said a very profound sentence, "Buddhism should serve the hot summer, not the hot summer for Buddhism. Buddhism that cannot serve the hot summer is not good Buddhism."

Therefore, the development of Buddhism, temples, and monks must be combined with the general development of Yanxia to find their own positioning. "

Listening to the last few sentences he said, Li Xiaoxiao had a sense of sight of listening to the speeches of the school leaders, and thought, maybe there are too many Buddhist conferences, so she naturally learned and used some of the leaders' quotations.

"From the overall situation of hot summer, there are various spiritual and cultural activities in big cities above prefectures and counties. People's spiritual needs can be met from many channels, such as cultural performances, group activities, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, poetry competitions, from young people From the elderly to the elderly, their spiritual life is rich and colorful and can be greatly satisfied.

Therefore, we are not needed there, at least for now, we don't need to spend our energy on those places.

The situation below the township level is different, especially for the elderly in the villages. Their children either work in the fields, or more often live in the city, or even migrate to distant places. They can get basic guarantees in life, but their spiritual life is very empty.

This is where our value lies. Similarly, to help the elderly in remote places to live a peaceful, joyful, fulfilling and regret-free old age, as Buddhist practitioners, this is our greatest pursuit and merit. "

Hearing this, Li Xiaoxiao suddenly froze.

One is that he was moved by the structure of the Zhike monk’s words. Of course, this is probably because he learned and used the leadership speech of a Buddhist conference again. pattern.

The other is that she felt touched when she heard the word "merit". At the moment when luck is manifesting in the world, the word "merit" has unparalleled magical power for anyone, but she doesn't know the rules of merit and luck in his mouth. Is the merit in it a merit or not? However, on second thought, the two seem to be two in one in this case.

If it is true as what the Zhike monk said, helping a large number of mountain-dwelling, spiritually empty old people to have a peaceful and happy old age is the Buddhist merit of the temple monks, and the luck of humanity will also reward the merits of humanity.

That merit has also become this merit.

Before they knew it, the two had already walked up to the platform on the top of the mountain and arrived at the gate of the central hall.

A group of old people from the surrounding villages gathered in the main hall, each sitting cross-legged on a futon.

Sit quietly with your eyes closed and your mind calm.

As if asleep.

But Li Xiaoxiao knew that no one fell asleep, but her mind was extraordinarily clear and ethereal.

On the lecture platform in the main hall, there is an old monk sitting cross-legged, who should be the "Great Master" as the Zhike monk said.

He was wearing a yellow monk's robe and a cassock with red and gold threads. He had a serene face and a shiny head, as if reflecting light.

At this moment, he didn't speak either, just like all the old men sitting cross-legged on the futon in the hall, he closed his eyes slightly.

In the main hall, there is peace and tranquility.

There is only one voice.

That was the sound of the wooden fish knocking lightly in the hands of the old monk.

The wooden fish he knocked on had a very peculiar rhythm, not only did not make the space seem noisy and turned into noise, but it made the space more peaceful.

Every time it is knocked, it seems that the dust and dirt in everyone's hearts will be washed away by a stream of clear water, making it cleaner and more refreshing.

Li Xiaoxiao and Zhike Monk had already shut up before they got on the platform. At this moment, they all stood quietly outside the door, and did not disturb the practice in the hall.

Li Xiaoxiao also looked at the whole hall curiously.

The hall is huge and very tall.

But the hall is very empty, there is not a single Buddha statue enshrined.

In the literary and historical classics she has read, there are many gods in Buddhism. Well, they are not called gods, but all kinds of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats. If you really want to line them up, let alone such a hall, there are hundreds of them. It is impossible to hold the entire hall.

And looking back on the mountain journey, I didn't see a statue of Buddha, Bodhisattva, and Arhat along the way, which was also different from the records in the literature and history books she read.

The only two signs are, one Buddha character, various fonts, various sizes, and various shapes of Buddha characters, and the other is the Zen character, which appears as frequently as the Buddha character.

On the contrary, in this hall, there is no symbolic display.

It seems that it is really a place for everyone to gather and listen to scriptures, and there is no object for them to worship and pray to.

And because of Li Xiaoxiao's cultivation level and her own special features, she can still see a wonderful scene that Zhike monk can't see.

Among those old people whose minds have fallen into ethereal silence, a little smoke-like existence slowly drifts out from their heads, without any support, and it seems that they have no specific destination, and can only slowly dissipate into the void. .

The smoke seemed real but not real, even more ethereal than smoke. I really tried to look at it, but I couldn't see anything.

Feeling the nature of the smoke, it has some similarities with the incense smoke used by the descendants to worship and pray for the ancestors of the dead, but it is not exactly the same.

She thought that there were three true god camps besides Yanxia, ​​and all their power sources came from the belief in the power of sentient beings.

Thinking about the function of the temple, it is actually the same as the church temples of the Three True Gods.

The only and the biggest difference is that in the hot summer temple, all the statues of Buddha, Bodhisattva and Arhat have been removed. Except for the place itself, there are only one word "Buddha" and one "Zen". No specific receiving object could be found.

Wandering in the air for a long time, finally dissipated into the void because no one received it.

But, did it really disappear?

Li Xiaoxiao shook her head slowly in her heart.

Any kind of existence, a kind of power, will not be easily produced, but once produced, it will not disappear easily.

It may change into different appearances, different images, or even disappear from people's sight and perception, but it will not suddenly become "nothing".