Xu Shang also recognized the elegant lady in front of him. She was the cute little girl from that year. The smile on his face became more sincere. "Amitabha, it turns out to be my friend. I am always nice. Thank you for your inquiry."
"Amitabha, I am sorry to bother you today. Please don't blame me." Jiang Changning said with a hint of apology.
The Buddhist temple was a quiet place, so she shouldn't have come here with a large crowd. But she wanted to see the sal tree that her father had asked her to plant.
The Sal tree is known as the sacred tree of Buddhism. According to legend, Sakyamuni passed away between the twin Sal trees.
"My dear, you are here to see the tree, right?" Xu Shang addressed her as "my dear", indicating that he did not blame her for disturbing the tranquility of the Buddhist temple.
“The small saplings back then should have grown into tall and majestic trees now, right?” Jiang Changning looked past the void and behind him, as if he could see the Sal tree.
Xu Shang smiled, "Please come in, my friend."
"Master, please." Jiang Changning smiled slightly.
The first hall of Lingyin Temple is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, which houses a statue of Maitreya Buddha.
Sitting cross-legged on a cushion with his chest and belly bare, in front of the smiling Amitabha Buddha, sandalwood is burning. Wisps of green smoke are lingering in the air, adding a sense of Zen to this compassionate Buddha.
"My friend, please burn some incense for the Buddha." Xu Shang personally pinched three sandalwood sticks and handed them to Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning took the incense, lit it, and inserted it into the incense burner. "Buddha, be merciful. I pray to you to protect the country of Qin and bring peace and prosperity to the people."
"That's very kind, my friend." Xu Shang praised with a smile.
Jiang Changning smiled and turned to the back of the Amitabha Buddha, where was enshrined a statue of the Buddhist guardian deity Skanda carved from camphor wood.
"Master, last time I saw Weituo in a temple, he held the pestle with both hands. Why is it Weituo holding the pestle here?" Jiang Changning had not noticed this detail before.
"Amitabha, there are two postures for Skanda Bodhisattva to hold the pestle. One is to put both hands together and place the pestle horizontally on the wrists, and the other is to hold the pestle with one hand and place it on the ground."
"Are there any particular rules for these two ways of holding it?" Jiang Changning asked curiously.
"The different ways of holding the pestle have different meanings. Holding the pestle with both hands means that this temple is a reception temple and monks can stay here. If Skanda holds the pestle on the ground, it means that this temple is not a reception temple."
Jiang Changning clasped his hands together and said, "Thank you, Master, for clearing up my confusion."
"Amitabha. Well done, well done." Xu Shang returned the greeting with a smile.
On both sides of the Hall of Heavenly Kings are the Four Great Vajras, who are not only the patron saints of Buddhism, but also bear the people’s good wishes for good weather and good harvests.
Jiang Changning burned incense for them one by one and walked out of the Heavenly King Hall.
She saw two pagodas in front of the main hall, eight-sided and nine-story, with Bodhisattva statues and Buddhist stories carved on both sides of the pot door.
Jiang Changning took a quick glance and walked straight into the main hall.
The Main Hall, formerly known as the Juehuang Hall, is a single-story building with three tiers of eaves and is majestic and imposing.
In the center of the hall is enshrined the Buddha Shakyamuni, who sits on a lotus platform with a heart-to-heart look, kind and amiable. Above him hangs a canopy with colorful flowers and tassels, making his appearance solemn and lively.
Standing on both sides of the hall are the twenty guardian gods of Buddhism, who are the gods in charge of the sun, moon, stars, earth, water, lightning, fire, rain, wind, thunder, etc.
Jiang Changning saw Monk Jigong who was holding a broken fan to cover his face. "This is the one who has wine and meat passing through his intestines, and the Buddha's heart. If people in the world want to imitate me, they will be like Master Jigong who has entered the devil's way!"
"Amitabha, that's right." Xu Shang said with a smile.
"I remember that the statue didn't exist when I came here last time."
"This was donated by the Li clan ten years ago." Xu Shang replied.
Jiang Changning smiled knowingly. Monk Jigong's secular name was Li Xiuyuan, and he was from the Li family.
It is reasonable for the Li family to sculpt a statue for this famous monk who punishes evil and promotes good, so that he can enjoy the incense and worship of the world.
The three Eastern saints are enshrined in the hall: Medicine Buddha, Sunlight King and Moonlight King.
Seated cross-legged on the lotus pedestal is Medicine Buddha, the leader of the Eastern Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, known as the "Great Physician Buddha."
It is said that he can free all living beings from suffering and bring them happiness, and relieve illness and disasters. He is also known as the "Medicine Buddha who eliminates disasters and prolongs life."
On the left stands the Sunlight Bodhisattva, holding the sun in his hands, symbolizing light.
On the right stands the Moonlight Bodhisattva, holding the moon in his hand, symbolizing coolness.
The sal tree in the yard behind the Medicine Buddha Temple was planted by Jiang Changning's father when Jiang Changning was seven years old.
At that time, it was just a small sapling, but now, it has grown into a big tree.
The sal tree has a large round crown, luxuriant branches and leaves, and is covered with flowers. It is magnificent and amazing.
Jiang Changning stroked the trunk of the tree and chanted in a low voice: "Its leaves are lush and luxuriant, its flowers are like wheels, its fruits are as big as bottles, its sweetness is like honey, and its color, aroma and taste are all wonderful."
Among the palm-shaped green leaves are clusters of white flowers with inflorescences as strong as towers and as white as snowflakes.
"My dear, do you still remember what your father said when he planted this tree?" Xu Shang asked.
"My father once said, this Sal tree, in spring you can see its seven leaves, in summer you can admire its flower tower, in autumn you can pick its fruits, in winter you can taste its fallen leaves, it has four beautiful sights a year, from sprouting to withering, it tells the story of reincarnation and impermanence, and carries awe." Jiang Changning was not a real seven-year-old child, so he remembered his father's words clearly.
"I am too old to walk the streets, so I sleep under a Sal tree."
"This is the poem the master chanted at that time. Unfortunately, my father did not live to see the sal tree grow up, and he was already asleep in the ground." Jiang Changning said with a sad expression.
"Amitabha, Mr. Jiang is a kind and generous person. I, the Buddha, have definitely led him to the paradise. We will surely meet again in the future."
Jiang Changning smiled and didn't respond.
The Western Paradise is too illusory and ethereal.
She came from the modern era, did not walk on the legendary Naihe Bridge, nor did she drink Mengpo soup. She brought the memories of her past life to this dynasty that did not exist in history books.
At the beginning, she was ambitious to change the dynasty, but later she found that it was too difficult and what she could do was very limited. The most she could do was to donate money for charity.
Fortunately, she has no shortage of money.
"Young man, please pour a spoonful of water on the Sala tree." Xu Shang said to the little monk who came over with a bucket of water.
"Okay." Jiang Changning picked up a long-handled wooden spoon, scooped a spoonful of water, and slowly poured it under the tree.
After looking at the sal tree, Jiang Changning politely asked Master Xushang to give a lecture to everyone.
Xu Shang did not refuse. As a high-level monk like him, preaching Buddhist scriptures and saving all living beings were what he should do.
"The Buddha said: All sentient beings have the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata, but they cannot realize it because of delusion and attachment. If you want to be a human in the next life, you must keep the Five Precepts."
Master Xu did not talk about those obscure Buddhist teachings that were difficult to understand. Instead, he used simple words to guide everyone to believe in, chant, and worship Buddha.
After listening to the lecture, Jiang Changning was invited by Xu Shang to the dining hall.
Jiang Changning had been dreaming about the vegetarian food at Lingyin Temple for a long time, so he happily went there.
(End of this chapter)