Chapter 60: The Living Buddha (1 / 2)

I felt puzzled—why was that lama smiling at me like that? As I took another step forward, the lama spoke:

"Benefactor, you carry a heavy aura of malice. Have you come here to dispel calamity?"

That really stunned me. In today's world, monks who truly understand Buddhist teachings are becoming increasingly rare. Old Zhang once told me about a high monk from Mount Wutai—that was no exaggeration. If you know the right people, you can verify it. I hadn't expected to meet a true master here in Shenyang, one who could sense my situation before I even opened my mouth.

"Master, you must be a living Buddha," I said, palms pressed together respectfully.

Taking a closer look, the lama seemed only a bit over thirty. He had the tall, sturdy build typical of northern Chinese men. If not for his shaved, gleaming head, he'd be considered rather handsome.

"Amitabha," he responded, also pressing his palms together. "Ashamed I am, but my master, Venerable Miaoyin, told me just yesterday that a destined guest would arrive today. He asked me to be here early to welcome you."

Shenyang, as the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty, is home to many Tibetan Buddhist monks wearing red robes. Shisheng Temple, originally an imperial temple, had gradually adopted Han customs over time. Nowadays, it's rare to see red-robed monks in northern China. I asked respectfully:

"Master, I have two cursed objects. Is there any way to purify them?"

The two evil items I brought were—first, a jade piece from a zombie's mouth, tainted with foul resentment; and second, a willow leaf possessed by the ghost of an unborn spirit. Anyone who touched them would be cursed. I'd considered burning or burying them, but with all the construction going on these days, what if someone dug them up one day?

"No rush," the lama replied. "My Dharma name is Yi Cheng. My master specifically instructed me to prepare a vegetarian meal for you. You've traveled far—why not rest inside the temple for a while?"

I hadn't eaten breakfast anyway, so a free meal sounded perfect. I followed Yi Cheng into the temple. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt the awe-inspiring presence of this imperial temple.

Upon entering, there were two courtyards aligned along a north-south central axis. The temple layout included a bell tower and drum tower flanking the gate, and the main hall stood at the center—a five-room, double-eaved structure with yellow glazed tiles and intricate eaves. Inside the hall were statues of Shakyamuni, Maitreya, and Amitayus Buddha.

Shisheng Temple's fame wasn't solely because it was built by emperors. More importantly, it once housed a revered golden statue of Mahākāla. According to legend, this statue was taken by Emperor Huang Taiji after conquering Lindan Khan of the Mongols in 1634. The statue was said to have been cast using thousands of gold pieces donated by Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. As such, it held enormous significance within the Buddhist community.

Mahākāla is the most powerful dharmapala (protector deity) in Tibetan Buddhism. Every Qing emperor who visited this temple would first worship this golden statue. Unfortunately, it was stolen in 1946, and its whereabouts remain unknown. The current statue is a clay replica made in 1990.

Now, talking too much about temple feng shui might bore some readers—it's not very relatable to everyday life. But one classic feng shui text, The Compilation of the Nine Canons, has a line:

"Let dead water flow to the shrine, and divine law shall always deliver all beings;Let evil water come and go, the spirit temple shall suppress it and shine with divine power."

The idea is: only when a temple can suppress evil energies can it truly manifest divine power. If temples couldn't handle curses and calamities, who would believe in them? Why would people still offer incense?

Back to the main story—after finishing the vegetarian meal, I went to the main hall to wait for the master (the abbot). Honestly, I was a bit nervous. This man hadn't even met me yet but already knew my purpose for coming. That level of attainment likely meant he'd reached the golden body of Dharma appearance. The next stage beyond that was an incorruptible corpse—a true living Buddha. Wouldn't you be nervous too?

After about ten minutes, a middle-aged monk wearing glasses entered the hall. But the person who came in behind him shouted in surprise:

"Zhang Dabao? What are you doing here?!"

I looked over—it was my high school classmate Jiang Shiyu! What on earth was she doing in a Buddhist temple?

Then again, I gave myself a little slap on the forehead. Come on, it's the 21st century. Why was I so old-fashioned? Nowadays, lots of women are lay disciples. Nothing strange about it.

"Hey," I greeted her casually.

Today, Jiang Shiyu wore a simple tracksuit. Her tall and slender figure was striking, and with her hair pulled into a ponytail, her already pretty face radiated energy and charm. She walked up cheerfully and asked with a grin:

"Aren't you a Taoist? What are you doing here, worshipping Buddha now?"

The middle-aged monk quickly intervened:

"Please, no nonsense. In the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Buddha said: 'All beings possess the wisdom and virtues of the Tathāgata, but fail to realize it due to false thinking and attachment.'"

Then he turned to me and bowed:

"This humble monk is named Miaoyin. All living beings—whether they follow the Dao or the Buddha—are born from the mind."

"Greetings, Master." I returned the bow.

I understood exactly what he meant. That line from the Avatamsaka Sutra was intended to encourage those who wish to attain enlightenment but struggle to do so.

As I gazed at Miaoyin with spiritual sight, he suddenly looked back. In that instant, I felt as if Buddha's radiance burst from his crown, and a lotus throne floated above his head.

I quickly pressed my palms together and said:

"Forgive me!"

Fortunately, Miaoyin took no offense.

Meanwhile, Jiang Shiyu struck up a conversation. After chatting a bit, I learned that she was a benefactor of Shisheng Temple, often donating and asking questions about Buddhism. She'd grown close to the monks and would come by whenever she had doubts. That day, Miaoyin had told her a special guest was arriving, and though he didn't continue the Dharma discussion with her, her curiosity got the better of her, so she came to take a look.

"Wait... the important guest he mentioned—is that you?" Jiang Shiyu asked, eyes wide.