The Monk That Wanted To Renounce Asceticism - Chapter 225

Chapter 225: 225


Fangzheng nodded . "Of course . Sharing happy matters with one's ancestors makes them happy too . Remember, when you come here to honor our ancestors, cut the grumbling and talk more about the good things . If the ancestor is happy, you will be happy . Ancestors will protect you and your days will only change for the better . "

"For real?" Monkey asked in surprise .

"In a way, it is laying your heart bare . Happiness is contagious . Thinking of happy things daily will make a person feel happy . Thinking of depressing matters daily will only make a person feel worse . This form of repression and even delirium makes it easy for something bad to happen to a person . Therefore, a person's happiness depends on one's state of mind . The rich have their own happiness but similarly, the poor have their own form of happiness . And honoring our ancestors is a ways of sharing the happiness with our ancestors . You will be happy if the ancestors are happy as well . If you are happy deep down, you will naturally turn ill fortune into good . "

Monkey scratched his ass but stopped midway and changed to scratching his head . "Although I don't understand, it sounds like it makes sense . "

Squirrel cocked his head . "I never expected that a few actions and a few words could have such deep meaning and knowledge behind it . "

"This is a cultural heritage that has been spread for thousands of years in China . It's just that many people have already forgotten, thrown away as dregs . But in recent years, some people have picked up these practices again . It's a good thing . "

Fangzheng made way . "A monastery is unlike a normal house . A monastery will go according to the age at which one enters the monastery . Lone Wolf came the earliest, Squirrel second, and Monkey last . According to this order, come over and offer the incense and kowtow . This Penniless Monk will place the incense for Lone Wolf . This Penniless Monk will also help Squirrel . Monkey, you can do it yourself . "

The three animals did not object it . Lone Wolf was yearning to try . He bit on the incense sticks and stood upright . He imitated Fangzheng by pressing his paws together and bowed . But the moment he bent his back, he fell forward .

Fangzheng said, "Old Dad One Finger, this wolf is not human after all . This is already the most he can do . Please accept his sincerity and do not blame him .

Indeed, after Lone Wolf kowtowed thrice, the smoke rose up and reached the heavens . Zen Master One Finger had received it and was satisfied .

Fangzheng helped Lone Wolf insert the incense sticks before he gestured for Squirrel to come forward .

It was difficult for Squirrel . Was it still possible for him to stand while holding up that huge bunch of incense sticks but to kowtow? Squirrel looked at Fangzheng in despair .

Fangzheng took over the incense . "This Penniless Monk will help you kowtow . "

Squirrel nodded and bowed together with Fangzheng . Fangzheng said, "Old Dad One Finger, this guy is a little small . Please don't blame him for me kowtowing for him . "

Smoke swirled up into the sky again . Squirrel heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that .

Then Fangzheng helped insert the incense sticks for Squirrel . Squirrel obediently kowtowed and did it quite well .

It was much easier for Monkey . Monkey did the bows, insertion of the incense sticks, and kowtows all by himself . He did it perfectly well and the incense similarly rose into the heavens . Monkey also heaved a sigh of relief .

Fangzheng nodded in silence when he saw that . "Old Dad One Finger, this is an intelligent Monkey . He sought Buddha by traveling a great distance and has a heart inclined towards Buddhism . However, it is difficult for him to change his monkey disposition . But This Penniless Monk believes that there will come a day when he becomes a standard monk . "

After everyone showed their respects, Fangzheng took out the fruits and laid them out in front of the grave . "This was solicited by This Penniless Monk from the foot of the mountain . It is This Penniless Monk's kind intentions as well as the villagers' kind intentions . Old Dad One Finger, have a taste . They should be pretty good .



Then, Fangzheng picked up the paper money and said to the trio . "Fold them piece by piece . Remember, do not damage them . Damaged money cannot be spent . "

Lone Wolf wallowed in misery once again . He truly could not do it for his paws were inadequate . . .

Fangzheng did not make things difficult for him and instructed him to watch by the side .

Fangzheng, Squirrel, and Monkey split the paper money and folded them one by one . Then, Fangzheng lit them all up . At the same time, he knelt and constantly recited, "Amitabha . " He recalled how well Zen Master One Finger had treated him . It was a form of remembrance and was also his way to cultivate generosity .

The fire burned but there was quite a lot of paper money . From the looks of it, it would take a while to finish burning . However, Fangzheng was in no rush . He knelt there and watched .

Monkey was a little impatient . He picked up a stick and tried to stir the fire pile, allowing it to burn faster .

Fangzheng cast a stern look at Monkey, scaring him into throwing the stick away . "This honoring of ancestors only happens once a year . Be patient . Besides, by striking down like that, who knows how much paper money is destroyed . With them destroyed, it will be damaged when it reaches the other side . How can damaged money be spent?"

Monkey nodded, expressing his realization . He obediently squatted in a corner to wait .

Fangzheng did not tell the monkey everything . There was a reason why he did not let Monkey poke the fire pile . Due to strong winds, once the fire pile was disturbed, sparks would fly and easily be blown by the wind . It could easily cause a fire catastrophe . As for waiting by the side, by watching the paper money burn completely, it was a way of watching the fire . It also prevented a fire catastrophe from happening . This not only allowed one to accompany the ancestors, it was also a sign of respect . It also included many pragmatic matters when it came daily life .



The human and three animals waited silently until all the paper money and incense finished burning . Only then did Fangzheng get up . He bowed at the grave once again, "Old Dad One Finger, we are leaving . If there is a chance, I'll try to come more often . Amitabha . . . "

With that said, Fangzheng cleared away the ashes in front of the grave . The remaining plastic bags were all removed, including the offerings .

He looked at the three animals with yearning looks and asked, "You guys want to eat?"

The trio nodded immediately .

"Sure you can . Bow to Zen Master One Finger with me . Inform him of your intentions and he will agree to it . "

The three animals hurriedly bowed at Zen Master One Finger with Fangzheng . "Old Dad One Finger, the offerings would be a waste placed here . Since you have finished eating, share it with all of us . Here, I thank you on the three little guys' behalf . "

After bowing, Fangzheng handed the apples, bananas and other fruits to the three animals . The three carried them in excitement but none of them dared to eat it . Nor did they dare smile . They held taut faces and looked miserable holding their joy . It was truly hard on them .

After leaving Zen Master One Finger's grave and returning to the monastery, Fangzheng said, "Alright, all of you can relax . The time of solemnity is over . . . "

"Squeak!"

"Yi! Yi!"



"Ah woo . . . "

The three animals were clearly stifled from the solemnity . All of them began crying out randomly and as a result—

Dong dong dong!

Fangzheng raised his hand and struck each of them . "Silence is to be maintained in the monastery!"

The three animals looked at Fangzheng with eyes welling in tears . They felt really aggrieved . It was you who let us relax . . .

Fangzheng smiled . "Alright, time to eat . This Penniless Monk has not eaten fruits in a long time . . . Let's try something fresh . "

Fangzheng wasn't lying . He had already forgotten when he had eaten fruit for the last time . He washed an apple and with a flick of his sleeve, closed the door . Now that he finished the consecration ceremony, there were many people waiting for him at the foot of the mountain .

It was seven in the morning and the time was perfect . He was neither late nor early .

When Fangzheng descended the mountain, Monkey followed . Lone Wolf and Squirrel stayed home to keep watch .