However, I followed the local customs, twisted three sticks of incense with Mary, lit them and respectfully inserted them into the incense burner in front of the Buddha!

Smoke rises repeatedly, unspeakably sacred!

Different from Wang Zhong's casualness, Mary's expression was indescribably sacred, and her mouth was full of words, thinking that it was praying for peace and something like that!

Wang Zhong's eyes saw a little golden light rising from Mary's body, like a firefly, hovering in the air for a while, and suddenly shooting into the Jade Buddha!

Because of the perennial worship, the Jade Buddha and the Golden Buddha have a thick layer of golden light!

It looks like he's wearing a thick gold coat!

Wang Zhong couldn't help but think of a passage in "The Hidden World" that according to the different materials of the gods, the circumstances of the arrival of the gods are also different.

The Buddha statue made of gold and silver and other luxurious materials is made of the gods every day and gathers the incense. The bronze statue is once a week, the magnetic statue is once a month, and the paper statue comes irregularly!

According to this theory, the golden light in front of you is just a day's faith, so the prosperity of the incense in the Jade Buddha Temple can be seen!

The tour guide looked at the two with some envy, obviously he also wanted to step forward to offer incense to the Jade Buddha, but the monk resolutely refused!

Although Thailand believes in Buddhism throughout the country, there are really not many believers who can really incense the Jade Buddha!

Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that everyone has a surprising awe for the Jade Buddha!

"Several, please come to the apse for tea!"

When the yellow-clothed monk saw that the incense was finished, he smiled and asked with a blank hand.

Wang Zhong was not polite, and walked with Mary to the apse. The tour guide took a look and saw that the monk did not refuse him, so he followed with a smile.

The apse of the Jade Buddha Temple is the place where Long Po Kun entertains guests, and the people who can be personally received by Long Po Kun are either high-ranking officials and nobles, or rich and famous, and ordinary people rarely have the opportunity to set foot in!

Although the tour guide has been leading the group to visit the Jade Buddha Temple, he really hasn't entered the back hall!

It is different from the golden hall of the front hall. The apse was surprisingly simple, with only a few square tables and a few swarthy wooden stools, but when Wang Zhong walked to the chair and sat down, the idea suddenly disappeared!

Because both the square table and the wooden bench are made of good ebony wood, which is also called gloomy wood, gloomy wood is also known as oolong wood, ebony, sunken wood, carbonized wood, oriental sacred wood, etc., which is the wood that sank in the water and soil in ancient times. In ancient times, large areas of precious timber in primeval forests were affected by earthquakes, flash floods, mudslides and other natural disasters. It becomes a dead wood stump buried deep in rivers, lakes, and the bottom of the sea. With the passage of time, these dead wood stumps are soaked and ground in the sediment at the bottom of the water, which changes the original physical properties: the fats and sugars inherent in the wood are dissolved in the water, removing the living space of borers and bacteria. Some of them are corroded by the sediment at the bottom of the water, which enhances the texture and beauty of the material, while others become strong and upright, showing a majestic posture, forming a simple and dignified effect like copper and iron casting. Its color is also very different, there are brown, gray, purple, black, there are also red on the outside and black on the inside, or black skin and yellow heart.

Ancient sunken wood for a long time. It is obviously "carbonized", showing the black color of coal, strange and wonderful. According to the detection of scientific research institutions, the ancient sunken wood was hidden deep in the ground for 3,000 to 12,000 years. Some even reach tens of thousands of years; what is more commendable is that it is not deformed, the weight is heavy, the density is high, it will not be eaten by insects, some ancient sunken wood can be comparable to red sandalwood, it can be called the essence of the tree, the soul of the wood, so the people of the world regard the ancient sunken wood as the treasure of avoiding evil, blessing, and the town house. There is a saying that "even if there is a box full of gold, it is not as good as the ebony side". Ancient sunken wood is a treasure left by nature to human beings, and it is a scarce resource that cannot be renewed. Ancient sunken wood with better material is quite difficult to find.

The black wood in the apse of the Jade Buddha Temple is huge, and it is carved into tables and chairs, and its value is immeasurable, and it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a priceless treasure!

This also highlights the wealth of Buddhism in Thailand, after all, it is a country where all people believe in Buddhism.

Wang Zhong couldn't help but think of Tibet, China, which is also a country where Buddhism is prevalent, in feudal society, lamas are very wealthy, especially religious leaders, it is not an exaggeration to describe it as a rich country!

Mary and the tour guide didn't understand the value of this set of tables and chairs, so there was no look of surprise on their faces, maybe in their opinion, it was just an ordinary set of wooden furniture!

"Guys, tea, please!"

Just as a few people were looking around at the furnishings, a little novice came up with brewed tea.

Blue and white porcelain tea set, looks antique, think it is also the previous tribute, feudal dynasty period, Thailand and China often have trade, as well as tribute, the feudal dynasty of Middle-earth in order to show the style of the country, will reward a lot of exquisite utensils!

These tea sets should have been handed down from that era, and I am afraid that only the Thai royal family, the Emerald Buddha Temple, which has a long history and a special status, will really use this priceless antique to entertain guests!

"What kind of tea is this?"

Wang Zhong picked up the teacup, and before he drank it, he smelled a special fragrance, which Wang Zhong had never encountered!

"I've never smelled this tea before!"

"The tea soup is golden and translucent, and there is a faint fragrance in the mouth, and there is a sense of elegance and sweetness. Taste carefully, and there is a hint of sweetness!"

"Good tea!"

Wang Zhong took it in his mouth and tasted it slowly, so that every taste bud on his tongue worked!

"There's also a hint of licorice sweetness in it, licorice and honey in it!"

Wang Zhong said affirmatively.

Listening to the guide's translation, the yellow-clad monk had a look of admiration in his eyes and gave his thumbs up.

Wang Zhong knew that he was right!

But he couldn't taste the main ingredient of this tea!

"This is tea made from Bodhi leaves!"

The yellow-clothed monk muttered a few words in the tour guide's ear. The tour guide smiled and translated:

"The dried linden leaves are pale green and have a soothing effect, which is especially effective for people who are prone to nervousness or insomnia, and can make the body feel more comfortable if drunk after a cold or exercise. Bodhi also helps metabolism, so it is also suitable for dieting and weight loss. If you feel that the bodhi fragrance is not enough, you can add chamomile to brew together.

Bodhi leaves are calming, and the delicate scent with a hint of sweetness evokes distant memories. The flowers contain bioflavonoids, which can lower blood pressure and prevent arteriosclerosis. It helps to discharge waste products from the body, and can be used as slimming tea Bodhi leaf (flower): it is very effective for purification in the body, can lower blood pressure and remove blood lipids, prevent arteriosclerosis, eliminate toxins in the body, and can help eliminate dark spots and wrinkles. ”

"Bodhi leaves have such benefits, and it's really good if you use them to lose weight. No side effects yet!"

When Mary heard the benefits of Bodhi tea, her eyes glowed strangely, and she said with some excitement.

"Honey, you're not fat, just right!"

Wang Zhong glanced at Mary's graceful figure and comforted with a smile.

"You know how to comfort me!"

Mary doesn't eat Wang Zhong's set, no matter how graceful a woman is, she thinks she is overweight!

"The linden tree is not only rich in life, but also has a wide range of practical uses. It has a thick and majestic trunk and a slim canopy. It can be used as a street tree, and can be used for ornamentation; the leaf heart-shaped, the front end is slender like a tail, it is called "dripping leaf tip" in botany, it is very beautiful, if it is immersed in the cold spring for a long time, and the mesophyll is washed away, you can get a clear and transparent, thin as a light yarn of reticular leaf veins, called "Bodhi yarn". It is made into a bookmark to prevent insects, the branches are rich in white milk, and can be made into hard gum after being removed; gargling with bark sap can cure toothache; flowers are used to relieve fever and analgesia; the branches will grow air roots to form a "single tree into a forest" landscape, in some places in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. People cut down their aerial roots and used them as fodder for elephants. ”

It can be seen that the Thai people have a lot of research on the linden tree, and with the explanation of the yellow-clothed monk, Wang Zhong realized the value of this kind of street tree for the first time!

Maybe you can try to plant some in Xiangjiang!

Not only can beautify the environment. Improve the standard of living, and you can also make various crafts!

Wang Zhong drank three brews of tea in the apse, and Long Pokun also walked in from outside!

"Hello. Fellow Daoist, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

After the two sides greeted each other, Long Pokun was surprisingly enthusiastic, and after the two sat down, Long Pokun smiled and said with some envy.

As Long Po Kun's mouth opened and closed, Wang Zhong smelled a very peculiar aroma from his mouth, like sandalwood, but it was slightly different!

Wang Zhong knows that this is the incense of abstinence, and it is the natural incense emitted from the body when he has cultivated to a realm!

Buddhism says that the precepts can cleanse the dirt of the world, so it is a metaphor for "incense".

In the scriptures, this fragrance is also recorded, and it is called the best incense by the Buddha!

All the flowers and fruits in the world, even the musk of the sunken dragon

If so, wait for incense not to smell all over the world, but to hear the incense all over the qiē

Zhan Tan Tulip and Su Heyou Bo Luo and Mo Lihua

If it is the best among the wonderful flowers, only the incense is the highest

All the world's sandalwood and so on, its fragrance is slight, not everywhere

If a person holds the Buddha's pure precepts and incense, all the heavens will love and respect it

If you have sufficient pure vows and even practice all good dharmas

It is man who can untie the world and keep all the demons away

The tour guide glanced at Wang Zhong in surprise, and finally translated truthfully:

"When I was meditating yesterday, I saw purple qi coming from the east! I knew that there must be a Taoist friend visiting today, but I didn't expect you to be so young!"

"You're so kind!"

Long Pokun's attitude was very friendly, and Wang Zhong also reciprocated the favor and said with a smile:

"I admire you very much in Buddhism!"

"You're welcome!"

"Our Thai Buddhism is only Hinayana Buddhism, not comparable to Mahayana Buddhism in Middle-earth, and even less comparable to Vajrayana above Mahayana!"

Long Pokun said modestly.

"China's Zen Buddhism and the Pure Land Buddhism are all amazing methods, they can see the nature of the mind, and the flowers can see the Buddha!"

Wang Zhong didn't answer, because his understanding of Buddhism is still very shallow, maybe it looks good to the layman, but in front of a master like Long Po Kun, it is still good to listen!

"However, many Buddhist masters in Middle-earth now talk a lot about Buddhism, not about supernatural powers, and many people even think that supernatural powers are foreign ways. This is very different from our view in Hinayana Buddhism, where we believe that supernatural powers are a kind of ability to protect the Dharma, and that the Buddha's disciples all have supernatural powers, and there are even more supernatural powers that are the first of all. In this regard, Thai Buddhism and Taoism are somewhat similar, and we do not reject supernatural powers, and even practice all kinds of supernatural powers!"

"Is Buddhism in Middle-earth more like a philosophy than a religion now?"

Wang Zhong said with feeling.

"The biggest difference between religion and philosophy is that religion has all kinds of magical powers!"

"Yes!"

Long Pokun immediately received it, and Wang Zhong's thoughts resonated with him, and suddenly made him feel like he had found a confidant!

"The reason why religion can continue is that it has all kinds of incredible abilities, and this ability makes people fear and admire!"

"Just ask the Buddha if he has no supernatural powers, how can he subdue a million demon armies and finally attain enlightenment!"

"Buddhism was able to be introduced to Middle-earth, and it also relied on supernatural powers!"

Long Pokun said with a smile.

Wang Zhong immediately understood the meaning of Long Pokun's words, Buddhism was transmitted to the east, and there is also a magical story, after the death of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu, his son Liu Zhuang ascended the throne, which is the Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty.

One night, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty had a very puzzling dream, he dreamed of a golden man, his whole body was shining with golden light, and there was a halo like sunlight around his neck, and he suddenly flew from the sky to the front of the Golden Palace, and the Emperor Ming of Han in the dream felt extremely happy in his heart, and he laughed out loud with joy. This smile woke him up from his dream, and he never slept again until dawn.

After going to court the next day, he couldn't wait to tell the ministers in detail about the dream of the previous night, and asked them to realize their dreams for themselves, and tell them who this golden man who could shine was.

At this time, a knowledgeable minister Fu Yi came out and said:

'Your Majesty, I have heard that there is a god called Buddha in Tianzhu, who is light and can fly in the sky, and what you see in your dream may be the Buddha. ‘

Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty asked, "Where is Tianzhu and how far is it from China?"

Fu Yi said: "Tiantianzhu is west of China, and it is said that it is thousands of miles away. ”

Fu Yi's explanation aroused the curiosity of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, and he wanted to send someone to the Tianzhu Kingdom that Fu Yi said to have a look, so he sent 12 people, including Cai, Qin Jing and Wang Zun, to visit Tian.

According to historical records, 12 people, including Cai, Qin Jing and Wang Zun, finally arrived in Tianzhu after a long journey and many hardships. They received many Buddhist scriptures in the local area and returned to their homeland, along with the two eminent monks of the heavens. In 67 A.D. (the 10th year of Yongping), a group of 12 people who took the scriptures returned to the capital city of Luoyang and brought back 42 chapters of Buddhist scriptures, which were packed in 14 elm scriptures. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty ordered the establishment of China's first temple, the White Horse Temple, in the style of the temple of Tian, and built a stupa to commemorate it. Since then, Buddhism has been introduced to Chinese mainland.

Wang Zhong didn't think that Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty had a relationship with the Buddha, or that his dream was just an accidental coincidence. I heard that Buddhism also has a way to enter dreams!

I think it must have been the Tianzhu monks who used supernatural powers at that time, which led to the later spread of Buddhism to the east!

Buddhism is like this, but Taoism is not? (To be continued......