Chapter 3558 The Real Living Bodhisattva

Kong Yin's identity is not as sensitive as Sun Zhidong's.

Therefore, in Lin Wan'er's view, going to the Golden Pavilion Temple to see Kong Yin was much simpler than going to Yanjing to see Sun Zhidong. (For details, see Chapter 2531, updated on December 30, 2022. In the past year or two, some short dramas have filmed plots very similar to Lin Wan'er's. I will not comment on them.)

When Lin Wan'er suggested that the monk at the door pass on the message, the other party was indeed not as vigilant and cautious as Sun Zhidong's guards in Yanjing.

When the other party heard that Lin Wan'er claimed to be a relative of Master Kongyin and was following the orders of an elder, he instinctively chose to believe Lin Wan'er's words.

Japanese Buddhism was introduced from China. Jianzhen brought Chinese Buddhist theories to Japan when he traveled east, and Japan learned them in their entirety. However, after the Meiji Restoration, Japanese Buddhism and the monks' precepts changed greatly.

Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan completely followed the Buddhist monastic precepts of India and China. Monks were not allowed to eat meat or get married. But after the Meiji Restoration, Japanese Buddhism gradually became secularized, and most monks were allowed to marry and have children.

Based on this general environment, it is common to visit the temple to see relatives, let alone to see father or grandfather.

Although Master Kongyin has never been married, he has lived for more than 120 years. Who knows if he has any relatives or friends in the mortal world? This girl of seventeen or eighteen years old, although wearing a mask, can be seen as pretty and cute through her big eyes. Although her two ponytails make her look a little weird, she gives people a very sincere and innocent feeling at first glance. I think she would not lie in the holy land of Buddhism.

So, the monk said, "Please wait a moment, young lady. Our abbot is meeting with a guest and has instructed not to disturb him. I will tell him as soon as he finishes his visit."

Master Kongyin has recently spent three hours every morning communicating with Master Jingqing about Buddhism. He has also instructed that no one should disturb them. The monks in the temple strictly abide by the rules and no one dares to interrupt at this time.

Lin Wan'er said, "This is an urgent matter. Please inform Master Kongyin as soon as possible. Master Kongyin will definitely not blame you if he finds out. But if you delay, Master Kongyin might really blame you."

"This..." The monk hesitated for a moment, then saw that Lin Wan'er didn't seem to be joking at all, so he nodded and said, "Then wait a moment, young lady. I'll go over and inform them."

Lin Wan'er nodded and instructed him, "Master, please make sure to convey what I just said in full."

The monk said, "Miss Zhengping is here, right? I understand."

As he spoke, he was still thinking, Zhengping is obviously a man's name, could this little girl be Miss Zhengping? It doesn't match her lovely temperament at all.

Lin Wan'er then warned him, "Also, please tell Master Kongyin that he is old and must not come to pick me up in person. I will go in and see him myself."

The monk was even more puzzled and thought, "Little girl, even if your family is related to Master Kongyin, Master Kongyin is over 120 years old, and it is impossible for him to come personally to greet a little girl like you! You must be dreaming..."

However, despite his surprise, he turned around and left very actively, running towards the main hall of the temple.

At this moment, in the main hall.

Venerable Jingqing had just finished reading the sutra. Venerable Kongyin, dragging his exhausted body, clapped his hands continuously, sighing, "The subtlety of Buddhism is that everyone who reads it will have different insights. The greater the perspective, the greater the world of discovery. I have read this sutra for decades, in Japanese, Chinese, and even Sanskrit, but I have never understood it as deeply as Venerable Jingqing. There are many details that I have never figured out in my life. Now that Venerable Jingqing has enlightened me, I suddenly feel enlightened. I am extremely grateful!"

Venerable Jingqing said very humbly: "Venerable Kongyin, studying Buddhism is sometimes related to one's state of mind, sometimes to one's environment, and sometimes to opportunities. I can have such insights, but it is not because I understand them deeply. I am mostly grateful for opportunities. If Venerable Kongyin can encounter opportunities of his own, he will definitely have deeper insights than me."

For ordinary people, Buddhism is scriptures; for monks, it is teachings; and for those who follow Buddhism, it becomes a guide for practice.

Some things cannot be interpreted unless you reach the corresponding level, just like the intelligence hidden in newspaper articles during wartime. To those who don’t understand it, it’s just an article. Only those who master specific communication codes can see the core of the article.

The same is true of Buddhism.

After Jing Qing attained enlightenment, he looked back at the scriptures and naturally gained a deeper understanding. Kong Yin had never attained enlightenment, so even if he read them for his entire life, he would not be able to see the same level of understanding as Jing Qing.

Master Kongyin couldn't help but sigh at this moment: "Although the word 'chance' sounds simple, many people find it difficult to encounter it in their entire lives. Especially a great opportunity like Master Jingqing's, it's hard to find one in a million people, how can I dare to hope for it."

Master Jingqing was stunned.

His description of his opportunity was a very vague concept.

Almost like luck.

However, Master Kongyin's words seemed to reveal a message, that is, he knew very well what his opportunity was.

While he was shocked, he suddenly thought that although Master Kongyin himself had not attained enlightenment, perhaps he had met someone who had attained enlightenment.

So, he thought again and again, and asked, "Master Kongyin seems to know what this poor monk is talking about, what exactly does it mean?"

"Of course." Kong Yin smiled slightly, waved to the senior disciples around him, and said tiredly: "You guys go down, I want to talk to Master Jing Qing alone for a few words."

Several disciples immediately put their hands together and said in unison: "Disciples obey your command!"

After saying that, several people stood up together and quickly left the main hall.

In the main hall, only two mages, Kongyin and Jingqing, were left.

Kong Yin then said with a look of longing, "For the first few decades of my life, I was like a demon, madly pursuing enlightenment. However, I could never find such an opportunity, and could never open the door to a new world. Over time, I realized that I was destined to never reach that lofty ultimate opportunity in this lifetime."

After saying this, he smiled and said, "However, I am already very satisfied with my life and dare not ask for any more opportunities. If the Buddha comes to take me to the Western Paradise and asks me if I have any regrets in this life, I will tell him that I should have died in my infancy. I am grateful to the world for being able to live to this day. I dare not talk about regrets..."

"But I think the Buddha must know that for nearly a hundred years, I have never spoken nonsense, let alone had false thoughts. I have always integrated knowledge and action, and have devoted myself to Buddhism. So, I hope that he will remember my sincere heart and allow me to see her again. Then my life will be complete."

Jing Qing asked in surprise, "Who is this person that Master Kongyin is talking about? Is she the same as me?"

Jing Qing's words were still vague, but he believed Kong Yin could understand.

Kong Yin naturally understood. What emerged in his mind was the girl who was as loving as a mother, as strict as a teacher, yet as innocent as a young girl. It was the girl who had remained unchanged from the time he could remember until he left her.

He knew that Lin Wan'er would never age, and he also knew that Lin Wan'er was not someone who had attained enlightenment. So, with a smile that hid tears in his eyes, he said, "She is different from Master Jingqing. She is the best mother, the best teacher, the best playmate, and the best friend. She is... a true living Bodhisattva."

Jing Qing was confused, but thinking that Master Kongyin was over 120 years old, he subconsciously guessed that he must be missing an elder who had passed away long ago, or a noble person in his life.

In this regard, he was quite envious of Kong Yin.

Because Kongyin practiced in the more secular Japanese Buddhist community.

Here, he can honestly express what he thinks and feels in his heart, and no one will accuse him of still having attachment to the secular world as a Buddhist.

However, in the Chinese Buddhist community, there seems to be more emphasis on cutting off worldly desires and becoming a monk. Even if one cannot cut off ties in one's heart, one dares not let others know.

So, he smiled and comforted her: "If even Master Kongyin praised this person so highly, then I think she must have been reborn in the Western Paradise. If the day comes when you pass away, you will definitely meet her again in the Buddha's place."

Upon hearing this, Kong Yin just shook his head and smiled without saying anything more.

Lin Wan'er's appearance back then appeared in his mind again.

He murmured in his heart, "How could the young lady be with the Buddha? The Buddha would surely protect her and let her live to be five hundred years old, or even grant her immortality."

At this moment, someone outside the door suddenly shouted, "Asshole! The abbot is debating with Master Jingqing, and you, a mere novice monk, are not guarding the gate properly, but are running here without permission?!"

Then, someone else said, "Brother Yuancheng, I'm here to tell the abbot that there's a relative's child outside asking to see him!"

The man just now scolded, "Asshole, you believe everything others say. This kind of talk is obviously a crude lie, and you actually took it seriously! Go and chase that mischievous child away!"

After saying this, the man wanted to drive the little monk out.

The novice monk didn't dare to force his way in, so he could only shout loudly towards the main hall: "Abbot! The little girl outside the door said that Miss Zhengping is here! It's Miss Zhengping!"

The quarrel between the two men, as well as the monk's shouting, were all in Japanese.

Master Jingqing knew very little Japanese, so he couldn't understand what was being argued outside.

Master Kongyin did not take the quarrel outside to heart at first. He had been communicating with Jingqing for the whole morning and was already exhausted, so he thought it was time to take a rest and continue in the afternoon.

However, when he suddenly heard the words "Miss Zhengping is here", his body shuddered as if he had been electrocuted, his pupils shrank sharply, and his whole body trembled with excitement.

At this moment, he had forgotten all about his tiredness. He stood up from the mat in an instant and was about to go out, staggering.

However, after sitting cross-legged for a long time and being too old, his legs were too weak when he stood up, and he almost fell. Seeing this, Master Jingqing, who was standing opposite him, immediately stood up and supported him. Then he asked with concern: "Master Kongyin, has something happened? Why are you so panicked?"

Kong Yin felt that his legs were completely out of control, as if they were broken at the hips, but he was extremely excited at this moment and just wanted to crawl out the door as fast as possible, even if he had to crawl.

Because he knew that in this world, except for Lin Wan'er, all the other people who could say the name Zhengping to him had already been buried!

Lin Wan'er, who has been so kind to him, must be at the gate of Kinkakuji Temple right now!

So, he said to Jingqing with tears in his eyes: "Master Jingqing, please take me to the temple gate, please!"