Chapter 330: 150 Hang-ups (Second Update)
Translator: 549690339
The junior monk was stunned, he approached and made a bow, “Are you from the television program that dines three times a day?”
The guest-serving monk, Enlightened Uncle, mentioned at the puja yesterday that a television variety show crew would come to the temple for shooting today. This is a good opportunity to promote Hanshan Temple, and the monks in the temple should cooperate with the crew.
Ming Jing gently held a flower in one hand and smiled, “I am here to meet
Master Jue Ming.”
The junior monk looked at her somewhat blankly. The young woman had a face as bright as the moon, with eyebrows exuding compassion, extremely Buddha-like.
He bowed his head and shook his head with a chill in his heart, “I’m sorry,
Master Jue Ming has been in seclusion for several days.”
Master Jue Ming is a famous high monk known far and wide, countless people want to meet him in person, but really very few can.
This woman was blunt, so the junior monk refused her with his usual excuse.
l am Ming Jing from Silent Moon in Baitou Mountain, disciple of
Master Wu Xin. I came today to pay respects to Master Jue Ming.; Ming Jing said with a faint smile. The morning sun illuminated her face, making her appear like a blooming white lotus, born in mud, blooming in the clear sky, with its red sepals and white petals, pure and elegant.
The junior monk looked at her in shock. So it turned out she was a Dharma friend.
Although he didn’t know where Baitou Mountain and Silent Moon were, he had never heard of it before. Seeing how unusual this woman looks, he dared not neglect and put his hands together, saying, ‘Wait a moment, Sister. I will inform the senior brother.”
The junior monk turned and hurried away.
Ye Zhen caught up and looked at the plaque and murmured, “So this is
Hanshan Temple.”
Hanshan Temple occupied an entire mountain top. The temple was bustling with incense offerings, especially on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month. Ye Zhen had heard about the reputation of Hanshan Temple long ago, and only today did she finally get to see it.
Just looking at the grand entrance, according to the legend, there is a North Beixiang Nation and a South Hanshan, one to the north and the other to the south, two great mountains.
At this moment, Qu Feitai and Tian Long had also caught up. Qu Feitai walked up to Ye Zhen and said very seriously, “I am sorry, Miss Ye. My assistant has offended you. I will apologize on his behalf.”
Tian Long, looking aggrieved, followed behind Qu Feitai. If it hadn’t been for his help, Ye Zhen would have fallen down the mountain earlier. Instead of thanking him, she falsely accused him, what a sign of moral degeneration of the society!
Ms. Ming Jing is such a kind person, how could she have this kind of assistant?
Having been enlightened by Ming Jing, Ye Zhen was no longer angry. Qu Feitai probably still didn’t know. He is not like the rest of the entertainment industry who are blinded by their desires. He is a pure genius devoted to music.
“Whatever, in consideration of you, I won’t bother with him.” said Ye Zhen generously.
Qu Feitai smiled, “Thank you.”
Sure enough, everyone who comes into contact with Ming Jing will be transformed.
After Han Ying caught up, she lay down on the stone lion at the door, panting, “I’m exhausted. We finally arrived.”
At this time, the temple gate “creaked” open, and a strong scent of sandalwood rushed toward them. A middle-aged monk in a brown robe led a few young monks out of the temple.
This middle-aged monk was Enlightened, the guest-serving monk at Hanshan Temple, Master Jue Ming’s younger Dharma brother. The three young monks are Master Jue Ming’s disciples, Jing Yun and Jing Feng, and Enlightened’s disciple Jing Zhen. The junior monk Jing Yan, who was sweeping at the door earlier, is a regular disciple in the temple.
Enlightened first laid his eyes on Ming Jing, his brows furrowing slightly. Jing Yan whispered, “Master, that’s her.”
Enlightened snorted coldly, “These days, anyone dares to claim themselves as my disciple?”
Jing Yun glanced at Ming Jing and smiled, “Master, everyone is a guest from afar. Buddhism embraces all rivers. There are myriads of disciples, and as long as her master is well-known and she is sincere to Buddha, it is a blessing for Buddhism.”
Ming Jing stepped forward, “I am Ming Jing from Silent Moon in Baitou
Mountain, disciple of Master Wu Xin, greetings to master and all brothers.”
Enlightened said coldly, “Since you are Buddhism’s disciple, why do you dress like this?”
Ming Jing smiled innocently, “If the heart has no hindrances, Buddha-nature is free.”
The cultivation of Buddhism focuses on one character: cultivation. We cultivate the heart, not Buddha.
The monks being obsessed with upholding precepts is in itself a hindrance.
Enlightened was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly became furious,
“Are you trying to teach me a lesson?”
“If the master thinks so, then just think so.”
“You… a young girl dares to teach me, not knowing your place.” Enlightened pointed at Ming Jing’s nose and said.
Ming Jing calmly looked at him. Her eyes, for some unknown reason, were as dark as vortexes, as if they could suck people’s souls in.
The guest-serving monk is responsible for the temple’s external exchanges, mixed with worldly dust, long lost in cultivation, impatient, filled with anger. This Enlightened person is unworthy of his Dharma name.
Jing Yun interjected to mediate, “Uncle Master, watch your words.”
This Enlightened One seemed rather fearful of Jing Yun. At his words, he fell silent, his face twisted in anger.
Jing Yun offered a salutation to Ming Jing. The young man had fair skin and refined features; when he smiled, he projected a sense of gentility, like a refreshing spring breeze.
“Apologies, Junior, our Master is in seclusion. I don’t know when he’ll emerge, but I will pass on your request as soon as he does. Are you here today with the program crew?” Jing Yun shifted his gaze onto Qu Feitai and his group.
Han Ying was utterly confused. What’s this about brothers and sisters? Is Ming Jing a lay disciple?
Oh no, this is a bolt out of the blue.
Why on earth would a beautiful woman like her choose to renounce the world? Doesn’t she find the secular world appealing?
Qu Feitai had kept his gaze fixed on Ming Jing. This was a side of her he had never seen before.
His hand, hanging by his side, clenched into a tight fist.
He didn’t like seeing Ming Jing like this, standing right in front of him yet seeming millions of miles away.
“I’m a guest on the ‘Three Meals a Day’ program,” Ming Jing stated.
Jing Zhen and Jing Yan, both quite young, looked shocked. The Enlightened One snorted in disdain, “Shamelessly seeking attention. You’re unworthy of entering the realm of Buddhism.”
Jing Yun only smiled, “Ah, so that’s it.”
At that moment, the director and his crew finally arrived. Xiao Wenwen collapsed on the spot, beyond caring about her image.
This was without doubt the most heartbreaking show she’s ever participated in.
Everyone was panting from exhaustion. Zhao Xinrong waved his hand, “Damn my old bones. Being young is great. Look at Ming Jing, Xiao Qu, and Xiaoying.
They run so fast. Not like us old folks, we just can’t keep up.”
Xiao Wenwen’s expression stiffened as she felt like the subject of mockery.
Enlightened One arranged for Jing Feng and Jing Zhen to lead the group to visit the temple, while he was called away by his disciple.
One of the female staff members pointed at Jing Yun and exclaimed, “This Master is so handsome! I just want to kidnap him home. He looks so well-behaved and gentle…”
Someone asked Jing Feng, “Junior Monk, what’s that Master’s name? How old is he this year?”
Jing Feng coughed lightly and replied, “He’s our Senior Brother Jing Yun, and he’s eighteen.”
“Only eighteen? Oh my god, such a waste of a heavenly creature!”
“He has a different kind of good looks from Qu Feitai. Qu Feitai is cool and aloof, a distant icy mountain peak, but this Master is like an orchid or a jade tree, gentle, refined, and he has a certain restrained sexiness in his monk’s robe. I can’t help wanting to strip his robe off…”
“I have the same thought.”
“Junior Monk, you’re quite good yourself. When you grow up, you’ll definitely be a handsome guy. Why do the good guys all choose to become monks? Isn’t the secular world pleasing to you?”
Jing Feng blushed a bit when he heard someone praising his good looks,
“Patron, please behave yourself.”
“He’s blushing! Haha, our Junior Monk is really cute.”
“Whoever manages to woo Master Jing Yun, that would surely be an act of merit. The Buddha won’t blame you.”
“Aren’t you being immoral? He swore off worldly affairs… Are you tempting him to break his precepts?”
“Handsome guys are a shared resource for all mankind. How can they be permitted to renounce the world? This is a great loss for humanity…”
A group of women giggled and laughed, their minds full of handsome men, completely devoid of reverence for Buddhism.
Jing Yun heard them from a distance and shook his head.
His gaze involuntarily fell on Ming Jing in the crowd. She was touring the temple with the TV crew, moving casually but respectfully, a stark contrast against the rest of the noisy and disrespectful crowd. She maintained a gentle reverence and piety towards everything in the temple.
At that moment, Jing Yan approached him, “Senior Brother, Master has ended his seclusion.
Jing Yun was surprised, “Isn’t it supposed to be two more days?”
Jing Yan shook his head, “I don’t know, but Master said we have guests. He asked you to take her to see him.”
Jing Yun’s eyes landed on the woman in white amidst the crowd. He looked up at the Chinese parasol tree in the courtyard.
The ancient tree was adorned with red silk ribbons tied for blessings, fluttering in the wind.
Underneath the tree stood a young woman in a white gown. Her sleeves flapped in the breeze, leaving an impression of a transcendent, ethereal beauty..