activa-t Chapter 71 Ōrōji Temple
Chapter 71 Ōrōji Temple
East of the Jinghu Mountains and south of the Sihua River lies a place called Huaicheng.
It's strange that Huaicheng, such a large county town, is located at the border between Fumo County and Mixian County.
With a little more effort, once you leave the city and climb the mountain, you will find the Great Temple.
This Damuo Temple is also a famous sacred site of Sakyamuni in the three surrounding counties, because of its supreme power that almost grants all requests.
Whether you're seeking a child, wealth, or peace and tranquility, it's incredibly effective.
The temple is located at the foot of Jinding Mountain, between Jinghu Mountain Range and Huaicheng. The houses and buildings are all decorated with beautiful glazed tiles.
Even the main deity enshrined, Shakyamuni Buddha of the Saha World, has his body covered in gold leaf, and the courtyard is filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and the sound of Buddhist chanting.
His solemn and benevolent appearance almost compels people to kneel and worship in reverence, offering incense and oil money for protection.
Logically speaking, with countless devout believers and a constant stream of worshippers, the renowned Daruo Temple should have long since become a complex of temples, magnificent buildings, and vast tracts of fertile land.
What's strange is that, despite decades of weathering the storms, Daruo Temple has never been tainted by any signs of human activity; instead, it has gained an air of solemnity and grandeur.
The only drawback is that there are rumors around the temple that worshippers frequently disappear in the middle of the night.
However, few people paid attention to it. Instead, every winter month, there would be pilgrims who came from far and wide, wanting to convert to Buddhism.
The already bustling city of Huai has become even more crowded in recent days, with people thronging the streets.
The sun shines brightly, and a gentle breeze blows.
A dozen or so monks sat cross-legged on a high platform erected in the center of Huaicheng.
The most famous among them was an old monk who wore a kasaya and a Vairocana hat, with a face full of deep wrinkles, yet appeared extremely ruddy.
The world calls this old monk Master Huiming. Eighteen warrior monks, adorned with gold powder and dressed in monks' robes, sit cross-legged around Huiming.
They sit or stand, lie down or sleep, or hold flowers... all these actions fully demonstrate the true meaning of the Arhats.
The crowd below the stage was deafening, and the streets were packed with people.
"Have you heard? This year, Da Ruo Temple is looking for eighteen people who are destined to be connected with Buddhism."
I wonder if I possess this extraordinary opportunity. If I were to truly take refuge in the Great Monastery, I imagine I would never have to worry about taxes and livelihood again.
"That's right. Things haven't been peaceful these past few years. Taxes have increased by half a percent compared to last year. I'm all alone and I'm finding it hard to make a living, let alone those with families to support."
...
The incense sticks, about the thickness of a thumb, in the censer had burned down to half their original length without anyone noticing.
"Thump...thump..."
The heavy tolling of bells resounded all around, and the solemn and elaborate chanting of Buddhist hymns rose and fell.
The whispering crowd immediately fell silent, and the people all looked up to look at the monks on the platform.
"Amitabha Buddha... This year, there are thirty-six people who have a karmic connection with the Buddha..."
To the left of Master Huiming, there is a blind monk sitting cross-legged.
He was also wearing a kasaya and a Vairocana hat. Unlike Master Huiming, he had a nearly decayed leather scroll placed in front of him.
Whether viewed up close or from a distance, the material of the leather book cannot be discerned; it can only be determined that it is not made from the hides of livestock such as sheep, cattle, horses, or pigs.
"Are you sure...?"
The blind monk did not answer, nor did he nod; he simply opened his mouth, revealing the remaining half of his tongue.
This person was an innocent being who could neither see, speak, nor hear...
What is purity?
It simply means being undisturbed by evil thoughts from the outside world and not seeing the various hellish scenes in the outside world.
...
He pointed to the people in the crowd according to some pattern, and those who were chosen all showed expressions of ecstasy.
It's as if being chosen means escaping from the sea of suffering and heading to a pure land.
The martial monks responsible for maintaining order stepped into the crowd, and the people spontaneously made way for them.
Thirty-six people who were about to be converted to Buddhism at Daruo Temple were taken to the back of the platform.
Huiming on the stage stopped his soft chanting, and slowly rose up, his loud voice filling the entire venue.
"Tomorrow is the day of almsgiving at Da Ruo Temple. The kitchen will be serving vegetarian food. All donors are welcome to go and take a bowl to share in this blessing..."
This almsgiving day is a rare feature of Huaicheng. As long as you have something in your stomach, you can take as much as you want.
Therefore, many people who were struggling to make ends meet would go hungry for several days in advance so that they could enjoy a good meal.
...
Monks, Confucian scholars, and Taoists all love famous mountains and rivers, but there are slight differences among the three.
The presence of numerous Taoist temples at the summit is simply to facilitate the Taoists' connection with the heavens and earth, enabling them to practice their magical arts.
The academy is situated halfway up the mountain, allowing students to focus solely on their studies without being distracted by the outside world. It also avoids being too far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The temples are nestled at the foot of the mountain, where pilgrims who come from afar can quickly see the majestic and dignified Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Offering three sticks of incense is said to liberate one from suffering and allow one to let go of all worldly concerns.
However, the Great Temple here is different.
The entire mountain is occupied by the endless monasteries, even in the Mirror Lake mountain range which is in the shade.
Furthermore, these thirty-six people who were destined to be connected with Buddhism left the city under the escort of monks and headed towards the Golden Summit Mountain.
"Master, how much longer until we can enter the temple... It's not that I'm unwilling to walk, but all the other people who are destined to enter are teetering on the brink of collapse and have no strength left."
Huiming smiled calmly, and couldn't help but move the beads in his hand a little faster.
"If you lack even this basic sincerity, then even if Shakyamuni Buddha wanted to save you from the sea of suffering, he would be powerless to do so..."
"Very well, we will reach the fasting room a few more miles ahead. Please bear with us for a little longer. A vegetarian meal has been prepared inside, just waiting for you to enjoy it."
The thirty-six men, their clothes patched and tattered, all shuddered. Their already exhausted bodies were forced to exert even more strength in their legs.
The eighteen warrior monks, their faces smeared with gold powder, all looked at the thirty-six commoners with smiles on their faces.
The dimly lit mountain path was paved with broken stones and blue bricks, and torches along the way dispelled the thin veil of night. But for some reason, the hunchbacked, lame middle-aged man who had spoken earlier felt a chill.
The man spoke up again to ask.
"Venerable Master, what should I do if I do not wish to continue my karmic connection with Buddhism?"
He had already begun to consider giving up; the vegetarian diet and chanting of Buddhist scriptures that he had originally envisioned did not seem as enjoyable as being all alone.
Upon hearing this, Huiming, who was pacing back and forth, stopped in his tracks. He slowly turned around and looked directly at the man.
"Although such behavior is blasphemous to Buddha, Buddha is compassionate and will naturally not hold it against you."
"It was freezing cold, and the mountain path must have been difficult to traverse at night. We could already see the fasting quarters ahead."
"You may wish to have a bowl of hot soup and a bowl of vegetarian food. Rest at Daruo Temple for the night, and then make your plans to descend the mountain."
As if speaking into the man's heart, his uncooperative, empty stomach began to rumble. He could only try to soothe it to cover it up.
"Then I will trouble you, Venerable Master. After I descend the mountain, I will recite scriptures day and night and pray for the Great Monastery at all times."
"hehe.."
The monks all looked at the man with frosty expressions, but when he turned around, they reverted to their compassionate demeanor...