Chapter 351 The Lord of Guangming Temple
Guangming Temple is located in the southeast of Shangfeng City, on the route to Maijiya Grottoes.
This area is also the area with the most religious buildings such as temples and nunneries in Tianshui County. The morning bell, which was so noisy that Li Tai barely had a good night's sleep since arriving in Tianshui, rang all the way from here until he arrived at Maiji Cliff. Come back.
After Li Tai and his party left the city, they walked eastward along the south bank of the Weishui River. Along the way, they could see temple buildings of varying sizes every few miles, and they were even more densely distributed than the dock walls of the manor houses of the rural tycoons in Guanzhong.
The surroundings of these temples are not uninhabited wilderness. They are all land properties belonging to the temples and villages where the temple slaves and monks live. The densely populated area can be said to be second only to the surrounding areas of the city.
After traveling for more than thirty miles, a large-scale temple with many buildings appeared in the field of vision. The temples seen along the way were all dwarfed by the one in front of me. This was the destination of this trip, Guangming Temple.
The monks of Guangming Temple also showed enough respect for Li Tai, the newly promoted No. 2 figure in Longyou and the prefect of the county. The abbot and the monks stood outside the temple gate early and waited. In order to ensure that Li Tai Temple is not disturbed during the tour, it even refused to receive visiting donors and believers from a day ago.
Welcomed by the monks, Li Tai strode into the temple.
The layout of this temple is similar to that of the Guanzhong temple. The first half is a place where guests are welcomed and offerings are received. Different areas are divided through pavilions and corridors. There are also various sutra paintings under the pavilions and corridors, which contain different Buddhist stories. Some People who are well versed in Buddhism can be fascinated by it, but for a layman like Li Tai, it is just dazzling and bizarre.
After finally patiently walking through the long corridor under the guidance of the monks, Li Taicai finally met Master Tanjing, the master of Guangming Temple, in the sutra hall next to the main hall of the temple.
However, Master Tanjing had no time to talk to Li Tai at the moment. Instead, he was sitting on the high platform of the sutra hall and giving a lecture.
He has a square head, a big face, and kind eyes. He looks a bit like a Buddha. His voice is mellow and magnetic. The scriptures he recites have an addictive charm. Therefore, there are hundreds of monks and laymen in the hall listening to the scriptures. The crowd was also fascinated by what they heard, and they were completely unaware of the arrival of Li Tai and his entourage.
When Li Tai saw this scene, he also raised his hand to signal the monk leading the way not to disturb the master's lecture. He found an empty seat near the door and sat down. While listening to the old monk's lecture, he secretly cursed this old man. He really knows how to put on airs.
More than half an hour passed quickly like this. Li Tai was already drowsy. The lecture on the high platform finally came to an end. He quickly cheered up and looked towards the stage. He saw other monks and lay believers listening to the sutra. They stood up one after another, came in and thanked the Master for his kindness in teaching the sutra, and then exited the sutra hall one by one.
Of course Li Tai would not do this, he just stood aside and waited for the crowd to leave.
Master Tanjing also walked down the high platform with the support of his disciples, came to Li Tai, nodded and smiled and said: "I have been waiting for you for a long time. When I fell into silence last night, I could see the miserable sight of people like evil ghosts, vying for flesh and blood." "I am really uneasy and deeply aware of the harm caused by war to the world, so I will teach a volume of the Golden Light Sutra today to pray to the Four Heavenly Kings to protect our people."
"Master is truly compassionate and radiant with his Buddha nature!"
Although Li Tai didn't take it seriously, he still bowed respectfully and said.
Master Tanjing looked at Li Tai again and then said: "You are not a monk who has received the ordination, and I don't think you are a believer in the city. Although the old monk is not talented, he is in charge of Buddhist rituals in this county. Donors outside the city listened to the "Golden Guangming" lecture. According to one volume of the Sutra, three liters of millet should be applied according to the regulations.
The old monk does not engage in production, but only teaches the people the meanings and principles of the sutras and Dharma based on what he sees and knows. If he receives alms, the sutras and Dharma will continue; if not, all human beings and Dharma will be destroyed. It’s not just for greed, it’s just for the perpetuation of Buddhism. "
Li Tai's eyes widened when he heard these words. What does this mean? Are you asking me for money? I haven't even...
He subconsciously lowered his head to look at his waist, and then remembered that he had taken off his sword and put it away when he entered the temple. Then he raised his head, laughed dryly, looked at the old monk and said, "I am very happy to visit a famous temple. It is really good to be so light. I have nothing to offer. I know that the benefits of listening to the scriptures and enlightening me are not in vain. I only have the authority to serve as an envoy in the county. I have no unfulfilled secular wishes. I can use my power to provide scriptures for this. ”
Frankly speaking, such a famous monk sat on the stage and lectured for an hour or two. Although Li Tai did not understand what he was talking about, he had to admit that the financial fee for a handful of millets was indeed quite affordable. Compared with some well-dressed beasts in later generations who deceive money and deceive people, they are a breath of fresh air.
But Li Tai was still very unhappy. This was not about Xiaomi! I'm not here to seek education. Forced buying and selling have all happened to me, the prefect of the county, so how unbridled can I be in dealing with others?
After hearing Li Tai's answer, the old monk's face suddenly froze. After a while, it returned to normal, and he said with emotion: "Looking at the envoy's expression, I can't help but think back to the time when we were studying Fa Luoxia in the past years. The nobles are fortunate to have good relations with each other and have benefited a lot. The meeting with the envoy in Longshang is also a sign of repayment. Volume, let’s express our congratulations.”
Since he heard that this handsome young man was hiding his anger in his words and was not like a kind person, he stopped mentioning the handful of millet and turned to take all the scriptures that were placed on the table for the case. , holding it flat with both hands and passing it to Li Tai.
This scripture is not an ordinary scripture, but is written with exquisite silk as the backing, flexible material, fine and smooth surface, and the font is also dignified and beautiful, and is soaked with spices. It is a good work of art in itself. . If coupled with the special significance of being the hand of Master Salmon, let alone a handful of millet, it will be sold even if it costs hundreds of kilo.
Li Tai didn't care about the fact that his parents had a wide range of friends and had friendships with all kinds of monsters and monsters. Whenever someone used this to start a conversation, he always felt that he was putting others down by half.
However, he did not come here today just to get angry with the old monk. He put aside the little emotions in his heart for the time being. When the old monk turned around to receive him in the main hall, he briefly explained the purpose of his visit: "Except Master Zhanang, who is here to visit today. In addition to the Buddha-nature and dignity, I also asked for something else. Last year, there was a disaster in Heyin, and my father was lucky enough to be rescued by Tianshui Yanxin, which I will never forget.
Now I am working in this village and visit the village frequently, only to find out that this man has passed away, leaving only one grandson who is unable to survive in the secular world, and has also escaped to the Samana and lives in this temple to practice. I am indebted to the Buddha-nature and wisdom, and it is difficult for me to realize the honor of serving the Buddha. However, I have a burning heart to repay my kindness. I hope to bring my benefactor’s descendants back to the world. I sincerely ask the Master to help fulfill this long-cherished wish! "
After Master Tanjing heard this, he was not in a hurry to answer. He pondered for a while before speaking again: "The Yan family in this hometown has indeed been the enshrinement master in the temple for a long time. If any descendants grieve for the evil fate of the world and come here to seek refuge, it is also It's normal. But the old monk has ignored the affairs of the temple for several years, and he doesn't dare to answer the envoy rashly for a while. He still needs to ask the deacon to investigate. "
After hearing the words, Li Tai nodded, thanked him again, and then said: "This time I came to seek help from the Master, not only for old friendship, but also for praying for my father. Father and son have been separated for several years, and to this day There is still no news. If my father knew that I had this opportunity to repay my kindness but did not do my best, I would be heartbroken. Therefore, I beg you, Master, not to bear the name of unfilial piety!"
When Master Tan Jing heard this, his expression couldn't help but change again. He soon realized that the matter was probably not simple. Otherwise, Li Tai wouldn't have made a request in the name of a request but actually a threat. There must be something tricky and unusual in it. .
He did not connect Li Tai's visit to the dispute between the temple and the Tianshui Yan family. After all, this matter had been suppressed for several years, and he had almost forgotten it for so long.
After hearing what Li Tai said, he immediately paid attention to it, summoned two deacon monks, and solemnly ordered them to go to the temple to find a young man named Yan Zheng in front of Li Tai. If he found him, he would be summoned immediately. Come here.
The two deacon monks took the order and left, while Master Tanjing waited with Li Tai in the hall. However, Li Tai himself was not interested in Buddhism. He was interested in the history of Guangming Temple, and Master Tan Jing was unwilling to talk more about these past philistine tactics, so the scene became a bit cold.
After a while, Master Tanjing became concerned again about the separation of father and son that Li Tai just mentioned. Li Tai did not hide this and talked about it casually.
After listening to this, Master Tan Jing first lamented the destruction of family ties caused by war, and then said with great interest: "Although we are dearly related to each other, you still remember this old kindness and vow to repay it." The love for the father and the heart of filial piety are really touching.
I would like to ask, have you ever arranged Buddhist rituals for your father to pray for blessings and prevent misfortune? Many people in Longbian were separated due to the war, but they reunited safely with the protection of Buddha. Such happy events in the world are reported from time to time. If you have this intention, the old monk is willing to personally witness it! "
When Li Tai heard this, he immediately wanted to scold his mother. No wonder this old monk was able to live so freely in Longyou. He really loved what he did!
I have told many people about my experience, but this old monk was the only one who immediately thought of persuading him to use the power of gods and Buddhas to find his father. If you want to know where your father is, it's obviously not something you can do with a handful of millets. You've tried to buy and sell by force before, so now you're trying to sell yourself the Xiaoyi package!
Li Tai didn't believe that he could find his father by doing a ritual, but just now he was glaring at the old monk and threatening him not to be blamed for being unfilial. Now that he was given a chance, he couldn't refuse it.
He was thinking about how to respond when the abbot monk who had been greeted outside the temple hurriedly walked in and whispered a few words to the old monk. After hearing this, Master Tan Jing apologized to Li Tai, then stood up and walked out of the room together with the abbot.