Chapter 897: You’d Make a Good Monk
The so-called meditation, also known as Zen meditation, is when the body and mind fully merge into a remarkably wondrous state, focusing on one thing.
The Mahaprajna Prajna Paramita Sutra states: Entering meditation, one is unharmed by water and fire, and does not face death.
For the person in meditation, the body becomes just a shell, already fused with the surrounding environment.
Unaffected by water, fire, and not corroded by time.
For him, it feels as if time has completely stood still.
"This is too much!"
Zhang Nianping muttered a curse, saying, "What’s wrong with the adults in this temple? Letting a child wear so little and get frozen here, look, he’s become an ice sculpture. Lin Tian, quickly take the child inside, I’ll go and find a doctor."
Bai Shishi watched the small body and its thin clothing, her heart twisting. She said to Zhang Nianping, "Aunty, Lin Tian is the best doctor we have, let him take a look."
"Huh?" Zhang Nianping then reacted, realizing her son is the renowned doctor on the Celestial Dragon Continent, and the contrast is so great it took her a moment to respond.
Yan Xinrou said, "Lin Tian, the child’s master once saved Qingcheng’s life, you must ensure to treat him well."
Liou Qingcheng didn’t say anything, quickly taking off her coat to drape it on Qiyi.
This child is truly pitiful, so young, forced to sit in the icy snow, wearing so little. Already frozen like a block of wood, not even blinking his eyes.
Apart from Lin Tian, everyone seemed flustered, unsure of what to do.
Lin Tian also smiled wryly, accepting the coat Liou Qingcheng wanted to drape on Qiyi, putting it back, saying, "Don’t rush, he’s fine, just let him sit there."
"What?" Zhang Nianping’s mouth dropped open, asking incredulously, "Why? Can’t you see the child is already freezing?"
Mei Ruyan’s eyes flashed with confusion but she didn’t ask. Somehow, Lin Tian seemed to have become the core, his puzzling actions always ending in surprise.
For Lin Tian, Mei Ruyan felt complete trust was enough.
Lin Tian smiled wryly, "Mom, he hasn’t frozen, he’s practicing."
"Practicing?"
Everyone appeared even more bewildered.
"Yes, you know Shaolin Temple, right? Training in summer’s harsh heat, winter’s bitter cold, this is normal for them," Lin Tian explained.
Yan Xinrou gave Lin Tian a look, then looked at Qiyi, expressing disbelief, "Is that true?"
"Of course it’s true."
"Then... what should we do now?"
Lin Tian said, "It’s cold outside, freezing, you all should head back, I’ll stay with him for a while."
"No way." Yan Xinrou firmly declared, "We’re here to repay kindness, we can’t just leave like that."
Lin Tian smiled, "You can roam around the temple, I’ll call you over when it’s time, the signal here is pretty good."
"This... isn’t really appropriate?" Yan Xinrou hesitantly said.
Lin Tian smiled wryly, "Mom, you can’t practice. Look at this kid wearing autumn clothes, without any issue, you might even disturb him by staying."
After Lin Tian’s explanation, Yan Xinrou and the others found logic in his words, but still felt uneasy watching Qiyi’s thin body.
So young, practicing such skills, it’s too cruel.
After escorting them out of the Scripture Pavilion, as Lin Tian was about to return, the old monk guarding the door suddenly called him.
"Patron, hold on."
Lin Tian turned his head to glance at the old monk.
Hmm? A different person? The one sitting there before wasn’t him.
Snug in the warm, spring-like pavilion, thoroughly dressed, upon seeing him, four words emerged in Lin Tian’s mind: kind brows and pleasant eyes.
This old monk if in the film industry, surely portrays righteous roles, just by standing and smiling, he embodies a good person.
Of course, it’s not just about his eyebrows and eyes, but also his cultivation and demeanor.
Shu Xuanyi, with an ethereal aura, seemed celestial.
The previous tea-offering old monk had an amiable character like a friend beyond age.
In contrast, this elder, resembled more of a ’Bodhisattva.’
Constantly amidst ancient candles and Buddha, cultivating such an aura, truly challenging.
"Master, what’s the matter?" Lin Tian asked gently.
"Haha, nothing really, I just find you agreeable," the old monk smiled, saying, "Buddha tea, sweet as honey when boiling, bitter as snake gall when cool. This must be your first visit to the Five Pure Ones Temple, perceiving universal suffering isn’t easy."
Lin Tian smiled wryly, "It’s just luck, mere luck."
"Well, your luck is quite good, indeed finding the Bodhi Platform," the old monk squinted and smiled.
This smile felt extremely close, like a relative.
"Bodhi Platform?" Lin Tian paused, then realized, "You mean, the pavilion just now?"
The old monk nodded, saying, "Aside from my Buddhist sect, you are the first outsider to find the Bodhi Platform on your own. I’m curious how you found it."
Lin Tian awkwardly smiled, "Didn’t you say? Pure luck, pure luck."
"Haha, no worries if you choose not to say," the old monk maintained his smile, "Do you know what ’Bodhi’ means?"
Lin Tian thought, "It seems, wisdom, enlightenment?"
"Yes, Bodhi is profound enlightenment, realizing one’s nature, reaching a transcendental state."
Lin Tian blinked, unsure of the purpose behind these words.
"The Bodhi Platform is where profound enlightenment, supernal transcendence occurs," the old monk chuckled, "I think you’re quite suitable for that place."
Lin Tian grew perplexed, "Master, can you speak more plainly? My comprehension is poor."
"Haha, you’re too modest. Poor comprehension, yet achieving the Golden Core before twenty? Such figures haven’t appeared in our Buddhist sect for hundreds of years. Qiyi might have a chance, but... difficult."
Lin Tian’s pupils contracted abruptly, how did this monk discern his Golden Core status?
The old monk assuaged Lin Tian’s thoughts, smiling, "No need for such surprise, this old monk has observed over a century, discerning ordinary people and Golden Core masters, I presume you’re the latter, recently acquired."
Lin Tian chuckled, indeed this old monk’s gaze is astute, well-honed.
The old monk laughed again, "I see, you’d make a fine monk."