Sun Qiancheng was taken aback . He never knew that the offering of incense had so much to it . He could not help but give Fangzheng a big thumbs up . "I learned something new today!"
Sun Qiancheng did everything according to Fangzheng's instructions . He offered one incense stick after another and silently said the words .
Fangzheng stood by the side to help in reciting the sutras .
By the time the entire process was done, the sky had gradually darkened . Sun Qiancheng invited Fangzheng to join his family for dinner but Fangzheng declined . Although Fangzheng was starving, he wished to return home for his meal .
After bidding Sun Qiancheng farewell, he heard firecrackers set off in the village . Fangzheng returned to One Finger Monastery and cooked a pot of rice . An uneventful night passed .
The next day, a drizzle ushered in the new dawn . Following that, there was lightning . Fangzheng knew that with the Tomb-Sweeping Day over, the weather would quickly become warmer . Similarly, the construction of One Finger Monastery was brought forward .
After Tomb-Sweeping Day, it became idyllic in April . However, the month also had some special Buddhist festivals . The twelfth of the fourth month and sixteenth of the third month on the lunar calendar were claimed to be the birthdays of Cundi Bodhisattva . This was a major Buddhist festival . Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Guan Yin Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Manjusri Bodhisattva were the four most famous Bodhisattvas . Fangzheng's monastery consecrated two Guan Yin Bodhisattva's but Fangzheng did not hold a Dharma Assembly during Guan Yin Bodhisattva's birthday . All he did was his customary scripture recital and paid homage to just her .
He could not do anything else . Although if he forcibly held a Dharma Assembly, the System could help him . Fangzheng truly lacked the experience of running one . If he did one without proper planning it would bring more issues than benefits . Besides, the Dharma Assembly was only one of the ways to spread the Buddhist Dharma .
After Guan Yin Bodhisattva's birthday was Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's birthday . Fangzheng did not consecrate her, so he nothing other than recite and honor the Bodhisattva inwardly .
Seeing the days pass and the birthday of another Bodhisattva approach, Fangzheng wanted to plan a Dharma Assembly . However, Dharma Assemblies needed preparation . What did he need to do? Fangzheng realized that despite participating in a large-scale Dharma Assembly at Baiyun Monastery, he had no way of experiencing the entire process due to its massive scale . The things he learned was pitiful . If he wanted to organize a Dharma Assembly, to be honest he had no idea how to even begin .
He heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from outside the monastery . Fangzheng looked up and saw it was someone familiar—Speedy Delivery's delivery man, Hu Tan . Hu Tan ran in while gasping for his breath . Before he even came to a stop, he pulled out an envelope and said, "Venerable Fangzheng, your delivery . I'll place it here . Take a look yourself . I have something to tend to . I'll be leaving first . . . " After putting down the envelope, Hu Tan ran off once again .
Fangzheng frowned when the young man made to leave . "What happens if the item inside is damaged? Are you just leaving it like that? Aren't you going to take a look? This Penniless Monk hasn't even signed the acknowledgment slip?"
"There's no need to sign it . I believe in you Master . I'll shoulder the responsibility if anything happens . " Hu Tan had already run off quite a bit as he spoke .
Fangzheng rubbed his nose and chuckled, "If there were a gold bar inside, This Penniless Monk would hide it . When the time comes, you will be crying your eyes out . Hehe . . . "
It was just mindless talk . It was only a large envelope . Even an idiot would know that there were no gold bars inside . Fangzheng opened it and was surprised .
It was an invitation! Fangzheng sighed when he read the contents . Indeed, it was regarding the upcoming festival . Fangzheng did not plan on organizing any celebrations on One Finger Monastery . Although the System would provide for him, no one would come! After the eighth of the April, the weather turned increasingly warm . The villagers who had been lazing about the entire winter had to begin their agriculture preparations .
They had to test the motor pumps, build large tents to nurture the seedlings, plow the fields . . . The entire village became busy in an instant . If he held a Dharma Assembly during this period, it might work if he was near a large city . City folk did not need to farm . Be it to 'walk on green grass' so as to enjoy the energy of life, join in the bustle, or have thoughts about consecrating Buddha, they would attend it, making it a grand event .
But in a place like One Finger Monastery, the devotees were mainly villagers . They were also people that only came to pray when they needed help . Under such circumstances, who would give up the chores they had at home to participate in the Dharma Assembly?
It was not only One Finger Monastery . It was likely that Hongyan Monastery would not have many people participating . at best, people from the Songwu County would come to join in the bustle . This was also only because Hongyan Monastery was rather famous and Zen Master Hongyan was rather influential . As for One Finger Monastery, it was likely that few would turn up if it was organized .
What's more, One Finger Monastery did not have Cundi Bodhisattva consecrated . Organizing such a Dharma Assembly felt like a sham .
Furthermore, with Fangzheng lacking the experience, he did not dare to organize a Dharma Assembly of a larger scale . If Hongyan Monastery organized it, he could watch and learn . Coming to this conclusion, Fangzheng happily put away the invitation and prepared to participate in Hongyan Monastery's Dharma Assembly .
With everything decided, Fangzheng carried the huge wooden fish to the back of the monastery . He then recited the scriptures to his Crystal Rice sprouts . Seeing Fangzheng about to recite the scriptures, Lone Wolf, Squirrel and Monkey followed . They sat at the side of the field as the three animals listened attentively while Fangzheng struck the wooden fish and recited the scriptures .
A few days passed quickly . Fangzheng woke up early . After tending to the monastery's matters, he ate breakfast and left the monastery with Monkey . His destination was Hongyan Monastery which was still pretty from One Finger Monastery . If he rode on a motorbike, it would take more than an hour to reach . It would take quite a while if he walked .
Therefore, Fangzheng did not plan on walking . After descending the mountain, he went straight for Wang Yougui's house . He had already contacted him yesterday . Wang Yougui happened to have a village meeting at Hongyan Village, so Fangzheng could get a lift .
Wang Yougui had already made preparations . He was waiting for Fangzheng . Seeing Fangzheng arrive, he patted the motorbike and chuckled, "Venerable Fangzheng, I've been waiting . "
"No, you aren't . He's just impatient . Ignore him!" Wang Yougui's wife walked over . She was carrying a basin of leftover rice, mashed corn . Before she did anything, a huge brood of chickens ran over and raised their heads, waiting to be fed .
Wang Yougui smiled . "Can you not drag me down out of nowhere? I'm chief of a village after all . Can't you give me a little face?"
"Does giving you a little face line one's shoe? If possible, you can walk barefooted in the future . I don't care," she retorted with a small grin .
Wang Yougui immediately capitulated and said to Fangzheng, "Alright . We'll leave once you are ready . Oh yeah, about your monkey . . . "
"Don't worry . He's smart . He knows what to do . "
"Alright . I'll drive slow . If it doesn't work out, we'll think of another solution . " As Wang Yougui spoke, he got on the motorbike . Fangzheng sat in the middle and patted the backseat and said to Monkey, "Sit behind me . The bike is fast . Hug This Penniless Monk tightly or you might fall off . Don't blame This Penniless Monk if you fall off, you have been warned!"
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