The more you believe me, the more true I am. Chapter 085

Character name suggestions: Du Yuan

Immediately, a guest monk abandoned the temple gate and came forward. After glancing at Du Yuan’s head, he asked,

“Brother, are you here to stay overnight or to offer incense?”

Du Yuan quickly shook his head and said,

“You’ve got it wrong, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not a monk, Little Master.”

But these words made the guest monk even more eager.

According to experience, the stranger the incense guest, the more generous they tend to be!

Although his clothes didn’t look luxurious, such people often couldn’t be judged by their attire.

For example, he heard that last year or the year before, a beggar donated a thousand taels of silver to the Prajna Temple in Shanning County!

A thousand taels!

This one today was also strange, and he had a premonition just now.

It couldn’t be wrong, he must also be a hidden wealthy patron!

Thinking of this, the guest monk, whose heart was growing hotter, put his palms together and smiled,

“That’s fine too. Sincerity is all that matters. So, what exactly is the benefactor here for?”

“I heard that your temple’s Buddha has manifested, so I wanted to come and pay my respects!”

Oh, even better! Now, aren’t you going to take out more silver?!

The guest monk enthusiastically invited Du Yuan further inside.

“Benefactor, you may not know, but just after noon today, the only thousand-year-old Bodhi tree in our temple actually bloomed on its own, facing east!”

“The abbot even personally declared that this is a ‘flower blooming to welcome the Buddha’!”

Just after noon, wasn’t that when I said Amitabha?

But it shouldn’t be, after all, it was facing east, but I came from the west.

Thinking of this, Du Yuan felt a great sense of relief.

He thought to himself that he shouldn’t be that ridiculous.

Thinking of this, Du Yuan also looked back at the direction he came from; it was indeed west!

“That certainly is an auspicious sign!”

“Indeed, indeed. Come, I will lead you to have a look.”

Even though the guest monk deliberately chose a secluded path where there shouldn’t be many people, due to the excessive number of devotees coming to worship the Buddha, this place was no different from elsewhere.

But the guest monk seemed completely oblivious. No matter how crowded the path ahead was, once he led Du Yuan forward, the path would always quietly part for various reasons, allowing him to pass unhindered.

He was only concerned with how to tell Du Yuan, both overtly and covertly, how ancient and profound their temple was, and how many devotees, pitying their hard work, generously donated incense money.

By the time he led Du Yuan not far from the Mahavira Hall.

Du Yuan could already see the flourishing Bodhi fruit tree from afar.

“Benefactor, this is that spiritual Bodhi tree. Look, the flowers are in full bloom!”

Indeed, the flowers were in full bloom, a sight of pure silver-white.

But, wasn’t it supposed to face east?

How is it directly facing me?

“Little Master, isn’t this Bodhi fruit tree supposed to face east?”

The guest monk smiled:

“Because there are so many devotees, I deliberately led you from the east. This side is quieter, with fewer devotees. See, isn’t it clear all the way through?”

Du Yuan was momentarily stunned.

Chance encounters are truly like this.

“Come, Benefactor, I will lead you closer to have a look.”

Du Yuan didn’t speak, merely nodded and followed.

It was strange to say, upon arrival, he clearly saw streams of incense guests under the Bodhi tree, all devoutly prostrating, pressing their palms against the tree trunk, hoping to receive a trace of blessing. Yet, as soon as Du Yuan arrived, the incense guests ahead had already dispersed, and those who came after were slow to arrive.

In this jam-packed temple, a pure land was uniquely carved out for this spot.

The guest monk stopped at the stone steps and bowed to Du Yuan, saying, “Benefactor, please make yourself at home.”

Du Yuan returned the bow with clasped hands and ascended the steps alone.

In an instant, the entire tree, covered in silver-white, swayed with the wind, rustling like falling snow, offering a silent greeting to the newcomer.

There was no mistake; this entire tree of silver-white was clearly welcoming him.

As for the saying “flowers blooming to welcome the Buddha,” Du Yuan understood in his heart that it was merely an exaggerated embellishment by worldly people.

After all, his own Buddhist dharma had yet to truly grasp its essence.

Thinking of this, Du Yuan’s worries dissipated, leaving only tranquility.

He didn’t speak much, didn’t think much, but simply stood peacefully, allowing this rare silence and fragrance to permeate his body and mind.

Though in a cage, he found freedom.

Perhaps, the great freedom spoken of in Buddhism is this very taste?

After a long while, Du Yuan’s mind gradually settled, and he slowly withdrew his thoughts from that clear state.

Facing the ancient Bodhi tree, which swayed with brilliant light, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

Thanking it for blooming to welcome him, and for granting this moment of peace.

Then he turned around and, facing the distant, majestic, and solemn Mahavira Hall, he bowed from afar with a solemn.

Thanking it for lending its sacred ground to a guest, allowing this body to be at ease.

When Du Yuan stood up, a gentle breeze swept by, and a leaf or two from the Bodhi tree also floated down.

Revealing a dark, black fruit.

This piqued Du Yuan’s curiosity, and upon closer inspection, he found it was a Bodhi fruit that seemed to have been buried in the soil for many years.

As soon as he picked it up, the decayed outer shell instantly peeled away, leaving only a white jade Bodhi lying peacefully.

Such a wondrous sight filled Du Yuan with astonishment, and an inexpressible joy welled up in his heart.

He never expected to encounter such a karmic connection today.

After repeatedly playing with it, Du Yuan had already turned and walked to the guest monk’s side.

Just at this moment, the devotees who had been observing from around finally came forward.

Not a single person noticed the strangeness before, and naturally, no one knew that the guest welcomed by the blooming flowers was right beside them.

They simply walked past Du Yuan and headed towards the Bodhi fruit tree.

Du Yuan showed the white jade Bodhi to the guest monk and said,

“Today, I am fortunate to have obtained this karmic connection.”

The guest monk also exclaimed,

“We have many Bodhi fruits blooming every year, but we haven’t seen a naturally formed white jade Bodhi in many years. And yours is…”

The guest monk, after observing for a long time, always felt that this was not just a rare white jade Bodhi.

Because it was even more warm and pleasant than real jade.

But after a moment, he returned to his original intention and said,

“Even among white jade Bodhi, yours is absolutely extremely rare. Normally, if you wanted to take one of these home, it would take quite a bit of effort!”

How could Du Yuan not understand the guest monk’s meaning?

So he smiled, then put his hands behind his back and began to choose from his small pouch.

He naturally skipped over the Yin Virtue Coins; they wouldn’t recognize the value of such an item and would only say he was being unreasonable.

Du Yuan hesitated slightly over the few strings of copper coins he had saved from storytelling, then also skipped them; they wouldn’t agree to take such a rare white jade Bodhi for so little copper.

Finally, Du Yuan chose the bag of silver that Qian Youcai had given him.

After taking it out, he handed it to the guest monk and said,

“Having received this karmic connection, I should naturally repay it. Please accept this, consider it a donation of incense money!”

Seeing the full bag of silver, the guest monk was exceptionally pleased.

Clutching the silver, he continuously recited Buddhist names to Du Yuan.

Du Yuan smiled and said,

“Then I shall take my leave!”

The guest monk was surprised and said,

“Benefactor, aren’t you going to offer incense?”

Du Yuan glanced at the Mahavira Hall and said,

“My intention has been conveyed; no need for elaborate rituals.”

“Farewell.”

After a respectful bow with clasped hands, Du Yuan turned and left.

The guest monk did not see him off, but merely stood in place, gazing at Du Yuan’s retreating figure. For some reason, he recalled that crazed old monk.

Neither of them offered incense, both could be said to be unattached to appearances.

But that old monk’s unattachment was clearly the extreme of arrogance, utterly wrong.

Perhaps this one was the correct interpretation?