Chapter 145, the altar of the main hall is left with a void seat, which monk is coming

The terrain of Jiulin Zen Temple is built on the "Feng Nod" according to Feng Shui. It is a high slope that extends outside the city to the end of the city. There are residential houses on the three sides ahead. There is also an open space around. The side courtyard and backyard of Jiulin Zen Temple have not been built yet, and only the main building of the mountain gate and the main hall has been built. It seems that the scale of the entire temple has not been fully built in half a year, and it will be slowly expanded and improved in the future.

When you walk into the temple, it feels strange. It is not like a modern temple a thousand years later. There are four great Vajras on both sides of the mountain gate hall, but in the middle is a straight passage without the statue of Maitreya and Weituo in front. Through the mountain gate, there is a bluestone patio, and the eaves on all sides extend to this well. Looking up, you can see that the sky is "square".

You can imagine that when it rains, water will flow along the eaves to this patio, and four water curtains will hang in the square sky. There is a large round bluestone on the ground in the middle of the patio. The center of the circle is slightly sunken, and there are two symmetrical small holes on it, with a diameter slightly thicker than the thumb. Mei Zhenyi knew that there was a well below, and the circular wellhead was very narrow and covered by a round stone. This is a Fengshui well.

Zen Master Zhishen reversed the image of the round and earth of heaven and earth, and made a round structure of heaven and earth in front of the main hall of the temple to inherit the heaven and earth energy. He was indeed a first-class Feng Shui master.

When you walk into the main hall, which is the so-called Main Hall of ordinary temples, you will find that the layout is completely different from that of ordinary halls. The left and right are narrower and the front and back are deep, and through clever design, they are naturally divided into two fronts and backs.

As soon as you enter the hall, you can only see a statue on the altar in the middle, but you cannot tell which Buddha or Bodhisattva it is. In the eyes of ordinary people, the various statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the altar are similar in length. You can only tell it based on the paintings behind, the statues of the attendant beside him, the decoration of the Bodhisattva himself, the hand-held earthly instruments, the brocade curtain hanging on the curtains, and the tablets on the incense table.

However, this statue has no references around it. It is just a lonely statue, covered with brocade, and even plum blossoms cannot tell which Bodhisattva is offering to it? It seems that it is a "universal and popular" Buddhist statue.

There is a row of walls on the left and right sides of the main hall, which is one step higher than the brick floor. It is obviously the base for the statues to be placed, but at this time it is still an open space, and I don’t know which arhats and Vajra statues will be shaped? Therefore, when you enter the main hall, you can only see the unknown statue in the middle.

Turning over this altar, there is no courtyard or steps. The second entry into the hall is directly in the second entrance. Compared with the empty space in front, the layout here is full of dazzling appearances. Eighteen golden arhats are shaped on both sides, nine on the left and right. In the middle is Sakyamuni Buddha, and in the corners of the wall are two Bodhisattvas, Manjushri and Samantabhadra, who are riding a green lion and a white elephant, are also on the left and right.

The second entrance to the main hall is a fake second floor. What is a fake second floor? Many classical buildings have different levels from the facade and from the internal structure. This hall is not a building, but the second entrance to the second entrance cannot tell whether it is one or two floors. Above the left and right Eighteen Arhat statues, there is also an attic-shaped corridor empty. There are no ladders in front and back, so this corridor cannot be reached. There are many portraits hanging on the railings of the corridor. You need to look up to see clearly.

There are seventeen portraits on each side. The first one on the left is the Buddha Shakyamuni's preaching mountain, and the second one is the first ancestor of Zen Buddhism, Mahakasyapa, with a smile on his face, and the last one is the sixteenth ancestor of Zen Buddhism, and the second one is the sixteenth ancestor of Zen Buddhism, and the fifth ancestor of the Chinese Zen Buddhism, was arranged backwards, and then the third one is the thirty-two ancestor of Zen Buddhism, which is the fifth ancestor of the Chinese Zen Buddhism.

At the front of the right hand, opposite to the first Sakyamuni Lingshan Preaching Picture of the left hand, there is only a framed white paper hanging, with no trace of ink on it. This white painting is next to the statue of Hongren, but I don’t know who it is left for.

This time, there were hundreds of people who received invitations to watch the ceremony, half of which were monks from all over the country. Zen Master Zhishen led the monks to thank him outside the gate of Jiulin Zen Temple, and he did not feel too enthusiastic about anyone, nor did he deliberately neglect anyone. So many people would definitely not be able to sit in the temple. There was a bamboo shed that had a bond in the open space outside the temple, and a stove to make tea was set up next to it. Guests first visited the temple and then went to the bamboo shed to have tea.

Mei Zhenyi followed the crowds of people into the Jiulin Zen Temple and entered the second entrance of the hall. Looking along the portrait hanging above, Wuzhou Governor Cheng Xuanhu accompanied him. Cheng Xuanhu is also a well-educated scholar, and guided and introduced the Buddhist venerables in the portrait. These are the genealogy of Zen inheritance. He focused on introducing the life stories of Master Nagarjuna and Bodhidharma.

Behind them, Zhang Guo and Master Xingyun walked side by side, and kept asking Master Xu for various allusions on the portrait. Master Xu answered patiently, and Zhang Guo listened very seriously.

After turning around, he walked to the portrait of Hongren on his right and found that a small incense table was specially placed under the portrait. Zen Master Zhishen and a middle-aged monk were worshiping. Mei Zhenyi was very tactful and did not approach, and stood aside from a distance. After the worship, the middle-aged monk stood up and said to Zhishen: "Senior brother, have you built this temple and plan to keep the inheritance of the robe and mantle here?"

Zhishen nodded and said, "It's the land."

The middle-aged monk said again: "You left behind Master Xuanzang's purple gold bowl, but the Zen Buddhist faith-written robe is not here. If you believe in the sect, the future, why don't you return to Shaolin, Songshan?"

Zen Master Zhishen: "Shaolin and Jiulin are all Zen forests."

Middle-aged monk: "I first entered Wuzhou and found out that this is an extraordinary place. The Jiulin Zen Temple where you built, and the main hall of the main hall is empty, must have a deep meaning, right?"

Zen Master Zhishen: "If you have the fate in the future, Xinyi will return here and you will also recruit an abbot to guard it. My junior brother travels around the world. Does anyone want to recommend it?"

Middle-aged monk: "Bodhi and Praiya are all Buddha's fate. They should come from it, so there is no need to recommend it."

The middle-aged monk who spoke to Zhishen was very ordinary and unattractive. His expression was also peaceful and compassionate. He stood there with a vague expression of a master's aura. Mei Zhenyi only glanced at it and stopped the idea of ​​using his spiritual sense to test. At this time, someone next to him walked over and said, "Little monk, are you here too?"

Seeing that Qingfeng had already walked over, he naturally greeted the middle-aged monk and actually called him the little monk. The middle-aged monk smiled slightly, and bowed together and said, "It turned out to be Qingfeng boy, long time no see."

Qingfeng: "The last time I saw you, I was talking about the robe and bowl. This time I saw you, I talked about the robe and bowl with monk Sha again. The robe and bowl are not one robe and one robe. What a pity, why are so many people entangled?"

Middle-aged monk: "If all the people in the world have fully realized it, why do you need to promote the true Dharma? If this is the case, the Bodhisattva will not make a great wish to save the world."

Zen Master Zhishen also smiled and said, "There are three treasures of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Those who say the Three Treasures are not the Three Treasures, but are called the Three Treasures. It is nothing more than using the temple to maximize the Dharma. The Dharma is true and the temple is empty, but without this emptiness, it is inconvenient to imitate the truth."

As soon as these two monks spoke about Buddhism, Qingfeng also smiled: "I won't tell you all this. Zhishen, I'm waiting for the altar here. Do you want to invite the little monk to be the abbot?"

The middle-aged monk shook his head and said, "If it's not me, there should be someone else."

Qingfeng stared at the middle-aged monk and looked carefully: "That's what, that visitor is amazing."

Middle-aged monk: "It's great. There is no difference between the empty sect, it's nothing more than Qingfeng boy, you have this discriminatory mind."

Qingfeng shook his head: "This has nothing to do with me. Since that's the case, you can let Monk Sha pull someone on the street. After shaving his head, he can be the abbot!"

Zhishen and the middle-aged monk couldn't help but smile when they heard this. Qingfeng looked up at the blank image next to Hongren's portrait, then looked down at the middle-aged monk, and said with a smile: "You can only hang up after you pass away. I also agree with this."

Zhishen and the middle-aged monk said together: "Goodness is to see the nature in the air."

Qingfeng asked again: "Who is the person who comes to the abbot?"

Zhishen replied with a smile: "Didn't I tell you as soon as I open my mouth?"

Qingfeng blinked and went out without saying anything. Mei Zhenyi also went forward to salute and said to the middle-aged monk: "Master, I have been looking forward to it for a long time! When I see you today, I really have the true style of ordinary things!"

Speaking of this, who is the middle-aged monk? Who is the blank portrait left for? If Jiulin Zen Temple can be preserved for a thousand years later, the portrait should be Huineng, the 33rd ancestor of Zen Buddhism and the Sixth Patriarch of China Zen. However, the portrait was empty at this time, and Huineng himself was standing under the portrait and talking to Zhishen. - Huineng was also invited by Zhishen this time. Qingfeng also knew him.

Mei Zhenyi walked out of Jiulin Zen Temple and came to the Phoenix Slope behind the temple. He rode his horse into the city. He secretly took out the finger needle and his spiritual sense locked the Jiulin Zen Temple to concentrate and cast the spell.

He found that the construction of this temple did not cut off the earth veins from Jiulian Mountain to Jushui River, nor did it occupy the earth qi of the heaven and earth. It stood very cleverly in the center of the earth veins, just like a small island built in a river, which could not only rely on the spirit qi, but also suppress the earth qi and rise.

He smiled and put away his finger needle, went to the bamboo shed to drink tea, and ordered his servants to worship thirty-six auspicious soft grass futons in the temple. He met his uncle Liu Zhi again at the tea shed, and said a few words in a low voice. Liu Zhi also ordered people to send the land deeds of the Jiulin Zen Temple. These were the gifts to visit the house, and the Liu family also donated the land.

Judging from the construction pattern of this temple, Zen Master Zhishen had no malicious intentions. He listened to his conversation with Huineng, both of them were enlightened monks. However, when such a temple was built in Wuzhou, listening to Qingfeng's tone, Zhishen would also attract an amazing abbot, which means that the situation in the Wuzhou practice world has become more complicated, and Buddhism has also made a move here.

Sure enough, at the ceremony held at noon, Zen Master Zhishen took out the purple gold bowl and praised the merits of Emperor Wu of Wu's edict to build the temple, and announced something in public - to keep the purple gold bowl in Jiulin Zen Temple and invite a monk to abbot of this temple in the world.

In the eyes of Buddhist disciples, the purple gold bowl held by Master Xuanzang when he was traveling west was a very sacred thing. Mei Zhenyi knew that the purple gold bowl was also a magical tool. Zhishen said that if he stayed, he would stay and he would also recruit an abbot to guard the temple. When monks in the world heard this, of course, they would gather here.

Of course there are many monks who are willing to come. How can Zhishen choose? He also announced the method in public. He will stay in Wuzhou for a while. Every day on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, he will hold a Dharma meeting in Jiulin Zen Temple to preach the Great Prajna Sutra. Monks from all directions can ask questions in public. If you have superb knowledge, Zen Master Zhishen will invite him to abbot of this temple.

It turns out that we want to debate the scriptures. Zhishen was Xuanzang's apprentice back then. Xuanzang was known as the best in history. He once made many monks speechless in India. Who could speak the Great Prajna Sutra better than Zhishen? If someone could sit in the position of the founding abbot of Jiulin Zen Temple, it would be really not simple!

After the "opening" ceremony of Jiulin Zen Temple, Zhishen asked Mei Zhenyi to stay and watch the seat in a small meditation hall. He thanked him first: "The thirty-six futons offered by the donor Mei are difficult to find in the world. They seem ordinary and have a profound meaning. Thank you for your thanks!"

Mei Zhenyi: "Master, you have to be polite. In fact, these things are just made by me borrowing weapons and practicing some time ago. Giving them to Guichan Temple is a relationship based on your own, so why do you have to keep me alone?"

Zhishen asked with a smile: "Today, Jiulin Zen Temple lacks abbot. Is Mr. Mei interested?"

Mei Zhenyi was stunned and quickly shook her head and said, "Become a monk? I don't have this plan, so please don't joke!"

Zen Master Zhishen: "I'm not kidding. As long as Mr. Mei is willing to convert to Buddhism, he is the best candidate for the abbot of Jiulin Zen Temple. The future achievements of practice will be limitless. I will not misjudgment from others. With your current level of practice, you will not be able to let go of your beautiful wife and concubines at home, right?"

Mei Zhenyi shook her head seriously: "Master, I am really grateful for your words. You can hear that you value me and want to transform me. But I really don't have this plan!"

Zhishen sighed: "I have no intention of forcing me. I knew that Mr. Mei had no intention of doing this, so I just asked a question."

After leaving Jiulin Zen Temple, Mei Zhenyi had already ordered others to accompany Princess Yuzhen back, but only Mei Liufa was waiting outside the door with two horses. This time he went out, he did not plan to be a monk, but wanted to handle other matters by the way, and went to Wanjia Hotel to inspect and dig a new wine cellar. Zhang Guo negotiated the cooperation between Meijia and Wanjia Hotel, and later he had been in charge of Mei Liufa, and the progress was very smooth.

Mei Liufa is smart and well-behaved, and among the six brothers, he is most like Mei Zhenyi himself. Therefore, Mei Zhenyi also likes him the most. Judging from the overall plan, it is quite a big private transaction to run Lao Chunhuang, so it is most reassuring to hand it over to him.

On the way, Mei Zhenyi asked, "I heard that the excavation of a new wine cellar has been completed, and the work is very easy. Now, you are raising the cellar with trash, and you are dealing with it very well. Think about it again. What else will happen in the future? Maybe you can't handle it, so you need my personal help?"

Mei Liufa thought about it and said only one word - Shui.

To brew old chamomile, you cannot use ordinary lake water, otherwise the taste of the wine will be a few points. In the past, the Ji family used the well water in the courtyard to make wine. Later, Zhongli Quan cast a spell to make the well dry. Mei Zhenyi instructed Jishancheng to use the snow stream spring water at the foot of Jingting Mountain to brew new wine, and said that this spring is the same as the earth veins of that well.

Wanjia Restaurant brews home, and goes to Xuexi Spring to get water. Although it is a little troublesome, it is not a big problem. However, if it is brewed on a large scale, it is always through the Ten Mile Peach Blossom Road to get Xuexi Spring Water at the foot of Jingting Mountain. It is too labor-intensive and time-consuming. Moreover, the flow rate of Xuexi Spring is very small, and it is not enough at all.

Mei Zhenyi nodded and said, "That well was sealed by my master Donghua Immortal. I was just about to try it to see if I could open it again now... I think this may be the way my master can test my practice."

While speaking, he came to Wanjia Hotel. The business here is very prosperous, even more than when Zhongli Quan was not sealed off the well four years ago. Mei Zhenyi walked through the hotel and went straight to the backyard. When the shopkeeper Ji got the news, he came to see him quickly. The mother of the Ji family also came out to thank him. Mei Zhenyi held the old man and said to the shopkeeper Ji: "Go and go there, don't hello, I just want to see this well."

Storekeeper Ji: "My husband, I later asked someone to clean up this well, but unfortunately it was useless and still couldn't come out of water."

Mei Liufa interrupted, "Immortals cast spells and fiefdom wells. What kind of tricks can ordinary people find? My young master is the descendant of the immortal Donghua. He is about to cast spells and open the well, and asks you to avoid it if you want to avoid it!"

Mei Zhenyi: "Liufa, don't talk like this!...Shopkeeper Ji, I want to try the means, please avoid it for the time being...Liufa, you should retreat aside and don't get close."
Chapter completed!