Chapter 332: 151 Vajra (Part 1, Updated)_2

Translator: 549690339

Jing Yun closed the door and stood guard outside.

As for the so-called abbot’s room, the layout was very simple. True practitioners who had transcended the mundane world had nothing to worry about – a bowl of porridge, a dish, a seat, a bed, a pot of tea, a game of chess, and a scroll of sutras were all they needed.

Master Jue Ming sat on a meditation cushion, holding a string of exquisite Buddhist beads in his hand and smiled gently.

Ming Jing quietly observed him. He appeared to be in his fifties, with a slender build, wearing a gray monk robe, and his face was round like a full moon. He had a full forehead, square-shaped cheekbones, divine and compassionate eyebrows and eyes, filled with the light of elegant power and wisdom.

His skin was fair, and his eyes and lips held a smile. He was a joy to look at.

As the Avatamsaka Sutra reads: ‘May all sentient beings be freed from the face of anger, attain the face of all dharma, attain the face of no obstacles, attain the face of good views, attain the face of purity, attain the face free of wrong, the face of perfect Buddha, reach all places, and the face of boundless goodness.”‘

Attaining the face of the Tathagata, the three karmas are purified.

Ming Jing put her palms together: “Apprentice Ming Jing pays her respects to Master Jue Ming.”

“You’re here.” Jue Ming nodded and smiled, as if he had been waiting for her all along.

He motioned to the seat across from him. “Sit.”

Ming Jing knelt on the cushion across from him, “I came today to seek an audience with Master Jue Ming, for…”

“Play a game of chess with me first,” Jue Ming said.

Ming Jing nodded.

On the chessboard was a game in progress. Ming Jing held white pieces, and the other party held black pieces. The battle was at a stalemate, with both sides evenly matched, the final outcome being mutual wound.

Judging from the chess moves, it should have been done by Master Jue Ming himself, displaying his incredible chess skills.

Ming Jing calmed her mind for a moment and then picked up a black piece.

Jue Ming looked at her, “Black moves first.”

Ming Jing smiled slightly, “I’m amused by the thought.”

The sunlight poured in through the window, casting it on the chessboard. Half an hour had passed, Ming Jing’s brows furrowed, and Master Jue Ming remained calm and serene, wearing a faint smile.

Ming Jing shook her head and laughed, “Master, I admit defeat.”

“There is still some fighting spirit, yet you abandon your general for the sake of protecting the soldiers. The heavens are full of good virtues. In the way of spiritual practice, you can see it in the way of the chess game, with great benevolence, yet difficult to bear its responsibilities.”

Jue Ming shook his head.

Ming Jing smiled and said, “The world is composed of millions of people, and without the people, where would the generals be?”

“The most powerful weapon in the world is a compassionate heart. Although you are young, you have already broken through the bonds of sentient beings. Misfortune and happiness depend on each other, and everything is a matter of consciousness. Some people cultivate in the deep mountains, while others cultivate in the bustling city. You are walking through the world of red dust, able to refine your mind and spirit, yet unknowingly by a single thought, you may become a demon.”

The eyes of Master Jue Ming were filled with the wisdom of Buddha’s light, seeing through all the forms of sentient beings.

“Today’s you is you, yesterday’s you is also you, so where does the you of your past life stand?”

Ming Jing was taken aback for a moment, then looked up at Master Jue Ming.

“The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind is the mirror-stand, diligently and constantly dusting it, do not allow it to gather dust. Your Master has already told you the answer. My Buddha is compassionate, relieving all suffering. The road of spiritual cultivation is a long one.”

Master Jue Ming put his palms together, “Amitofo.”

Ming Jing murmured, “Which one is the real me, the me from my past life and the me from this life…?”

Jue Ming smiled slightly, “Human life is hard to come by, and I have already obtained it. The Buddha’s teachings are hard to come by, and I have already heard them. If I do not use this body to attain enlightenment in this lifetime, when will I ever attain it? If I cannot attain it in this lifetime, when will I ever attain it? Today’s cause, the results of the next life …”

Ming Jing’s eyebrows were knitted together as she seemed to be trapped in a struggling dream.

Jue Ming watched her quietly, sighing deeply after a long while.

Suddenly awake, Ming Jing bowed her head and put her palms together, “Master, I am grateful for your teaching. From now on, I will diligently strive to attain the Dharma and enlighten the people in this world.”

“To save others is to save oneself; to save oneself is also to save others.”

Ming Jing said solemnly, “Master, there is currently someone who needs to be saved. With Buddha’s compassion, can you lend me the Vajra Bell?”

Jue Ming smiled slightly, “How do you know the Vajra Bell is in my temple?”

“During the Tang Dynasty, the whole country worshiped Buddha. The Tang imperial court offered Mandala of the Buddhist relics and countless artifacts to the Tang Dynasty, including the Vajra Bell, which was brought to Tibet by Princess Wencheng when she was married. Later, the artifact was passed down to Tantra Buddhism in Tibet. After a thousand years of circulation, it has not diminished in power. Three hundred years ago, the Tibetan master Yanwen fell out with his fellow apprentice due to a disagreement in their debate and left, taking the Vajra Bell with him. When he passed by here, Hanshan Temple was just a small temple. Yanwen stayed here to preach, meditate and enlighten, eventually turning Hanshan Temple into the number one ancient temple in the Southern Region.”

After Ming Jing finished speaking, Jue Ming looked at her, “What school and sect did your Master come from?”

It was a closely guarded secret, and few common people knew of it..