…… Now, the Buddha is smiling as before, but the rows of orderly and silent standing in the main hall are his junior disciples. Accompanied by the melodious chime, the elegant Sanskrit singing of "Praise of Incense" echoed in the main hall:

The incense is hot, the Dharma realm is smoked, and the sea of Buddhas will be heard from afar. Everywhere auspicious clouds, sincerity is good, and the Buddhas appear all over the body. Nan no incense cloud cover Bodhisattva Mahasattva. Nan no incense cloud cover Bodhisattva Mahasattva. Nan no incense cloud cover Bodhisattva Mahasattva.

The Fifth Patriarch Hongren Master wore the kapok robe inherited by the Bodhidharma Patriarch, sat on the Buddhist altar, closed his eyes and meditated.

At this time, the Sanskrit chanting has stopped, the chime has stopped, and the master is still sitting silently. I don't know how long it took, but I saw his eyes open sharply, and his deep gaze slowly swept across the audience, so that every monk's attention was focused on his eyes.

The master's calm voice was sent to every corner of the main hall without hurry: "Listen, all of you, the laity of the world attach great importance to the pleasures of the flesh, and refuse to practice the Dharma, the most precious truth in the universe, and only seek to satisfy their desires. Some of you monks seem to be sitting in meditation and reciting sutras, but they are not dedicated to the Tao. Some people spend their days seeking blessings without thinking about how to get out of the suffering of the cycle of birth and death. In this way, if you lose yourself, how can the blessings of the world save you from the misery of life? ”

Master Hongren paused for a moment, saw that the monks were speechless, and repeatedly said, "You should know that if you lose your original Buddha nature, what if you cultivate merit? Can it help you get out of the cycle of life and death? Since all of you have become monks, you should redouble your efforts to manifest the awakened mind and Buddha nature that everyone has, so that your heart can be enlightened and you will achieve the Buddha's path! ”

Shenxiu, Faru, Xuanzhen and others felt something about Master's teachings, and they all bowed slightly.

Master Hongren took a break and continued, "You each go back, concentrate on your studies, and then, with your talents, use your original Prajna Buddha nature to compose a poem for me. If anyone can realize the essence of Buddhism, I will pass on the mantle of Zen Buddhism from generation to generation and make him the sixth patriarch of this sect. Remember, what you do has to flow out of your own nature, and it is useless to think about it. Because people who truly realize Buddha-nature can show it in their words. It is a natural manifestation, not a deliberate carving or seeking. Alright, let's go ahead and do it. ”

After Master Hongren left, the monks left the main hall in turn.

This matter was so sudden and important that the Zen monks consciously or unconsciously gathered in groups and discussed a lot.

Seven or eight monks with a certain status in the temple, such as Yingyin, Huiming, Faru and Xuanzhen, also gathered together, and of course they were talking about the fact that the Five Patriarchs were about to impart the mantle.

Ying Yin asked, "Senior brothers, have you thought about it?" ”

Hui Ming said, "Master said, it is useless to bother and think about it, and you must realize Buddha nature. I searched for a long time, but I couldn't find my Buddha nature. ”

Ying Yin said, "Then you don't want to be the Sixth Ancestor?" Wow, if you can inherit the mantle of the master, the more than 800 monks in the whole temple have to listen to the call, no, not only the whole temple, but also the whole Zen forest, all the Zen monks, all have to look at your horse, really majestic, really glorious! ”

Hui Ming pouted: "Just like you, a burning bear, you also want to become the sixth generation patriarch of Zen Buddhism?" Dream your big dreams! ”

Yingyin's infinite fascination and infinite longing were broken, and he said unconvinced: "What's wrong with me, isn't it just disfigured?" Second Ancestor Hui Ke only has one arm! ”

Faru said, "Yes, there is a distinction between north and south, but there is no difference in Buddha nature. Human nature has nothing to do with appearance. ”

"Yes." Shadow Hidden came to the end. However, it suddenly occurred to him that Faru's words were repeating what Hui Neng had just said when he came to Dongshan Temple. As a result, his face distorted by scars took on a grotesque look.

Hui Ming said: "Senior Brother Yingyin, you are also a figure with a face in the temple, so please read a poem for everyone to hear." ”

"I can't do it, can you? Listen to it! Shadow sneered.

Hui Ming didn't have so many fancy intestines, and said honestly: "I'm not like you, literate and hyphenated, proficient in the world." Before I became a monk, I was a four-rank general, and I only knew how to fight, kill, and kill, but fortunately, I was converted by my master and converted to Buddhism. I just want to get rid of my bad karma, and then I will be satisfied if I don't fall into the evil path in my next life. ”

The polite middle-aged Zen master Xuan Zhen said: "The Buddha said, put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the ground." Senior Brother Huiming, why do you want to be self-indulgent. ”

Hui Ming said: "Senior Brother Faru, you and Senior Brother Xuan Zhen are both proud protégés of the master, and among the top ten disciples, you are all qualified to inherit the mantle of the master, you should give it a try." ”

Faru said: "I thought of a song, but I don't know if it's good or not. ”

Xuan Zhen also said: "I have practiced for many years under the guidance of Master and his old man, and if I don't understand Zen at all, then I will really eat fasting in vain." Therefore, I also have a few words in my belly. ”

The monks said, "Don't cross the river with your beard in your hands—be modest!" Speak up and listen, and everyone will judge. ”

As soon as Fa Ru wanted to speak, a seven or eight-year-old little novice, the child who often followed Shenxiu, rushed to say: "I think you all don't waste your efforts, what you have done can surpass Shenxiu's seat?" ”

When the monks heard this, they fell silent.

Fa Ru sighed and said, "Yes, I'm really a ghost, how can I forget my senior brother!" Sins, sins, sins. ”

Hui Ming said: "Before Shenxiu became a monk, he read poetry and books, was erudite and well-informed, and was proficient in Confucianism and Taoism. After becoming a monk, he was even more diligent, and the master admired him very much, and once said that there were nearly 1,000 monks in the whole temple, but none of them could compare to Shenxiu in the study of Buddhism. ”

Xuan Xun also sighed, as if relieved, and said helplessly: "It's okay like this, it's logical, naturally, so that everyone doesn't accept each other, and it hurts the harmony for this." ”

Zhikeying said in a sour tone: "Yes, who can compare to him, he is the master's favorite disciple, and the first in the temple, besides the master, he is him." It's close to the water! ”

Faru Zhengse said: "Words can't be said like that. The elder brother's character, knowledge and Taoism can be called the first in the whole temple, and he is the only one who has the qualifications to become the sixth ancestor. Otherwise, if anyone is changed, including my Faru, some monks in the whole monastery will inevitably be dissatisfied. ”

After speaking, Faru's afterglow glanced at Xuan Zhen. At the same time, Xuan Zhen was also aiming at him.

Hui Ming said: "Yes, I think everyone should not do anything to themselves, let's die!" Shenxiu is our teacher, and most of the Dharma we know is taught by him. Who can compare to him except Master? ”

He glanced at Zhike Yingyin, and then said: "If someone uses other means to get the mantle, I Huiming will be the first to be unconvinced. Rob, I'm going to give Shenxiu a seat and snatch it back! ”

Fa Ru nodded: "The position of the future ancestor is none other than Master Shenxiu." In the future, I will follow him and continue to practice. ”

All the monks were convinced, and they all said yes.

The night was already deep, deep, and Shenxiu still had trouble sleeping, tossing and turning in bed. His long sigh woke up the little novice in the room. The little novice turned over, climbed on the pillow and said, "Take a seat, it's all three watches, and you haven't fallen asleep yet?" ”

Shenxiu sighed again and said depressedly, "Yes, I can't sleep anyway." ”

The little novice asked with concern, "Haven't you thought of the verse yet?" ”

"I didn't think about it."

Xiao Shami was full of childishness, and said easily: "You can write a few sentences casually, anyway, the monks of the whole temple will not hand over to the patriarch, only you, even if it is not good, because there is no comparison, it will not be able to identify." ”

Shenxiu said solemnly: "Just because everyone doesn't dare to offer their sons to the master, I can't make up my mind, and I don't know what to do." ”

The little novice slapped his head and exclaimed in frustration, "Oh my God, did I discourage everyone from presenting their sons, but did I hurt you?" ”

Shenxiu smiled bitterly: "Originally, the master asked everyone to make a poem in order to test the monks' cultivation experience over the years, so as to determine the successor of the mantle. Now that no one else is presenting it, if I present it to Master, won't I become a person who sells my reputation and reputation? Became an unscrupulous person who coveted the ancestral position? ”

"Then don't submit it. Anyway, everyone's hearts are bright, and they all think that the position of the sixth ancestor belongs to you, so please pass it on to you directly. ”

Shenxiu couldn't cry or laugh: "You, you, what a child!" If everyone doesn't do it, won't I take the lead in disobeying his old man's will? Besides, I'm your teacher, so if I don't even make a fool of myself, how can I verify that my views on the Dharma are correct or not? Without it, Master doesn't understand my cultivation realm, so he can't guide and judge my cultivation path, so how can I improve? Alas, the left is not either, and the right is not good, what do you say? ”

It's none of his business, the little novice won't worry about it, and he has already snored.

Shenxiu saw that Xiao Shami's body was outside, and he was afraid that he would catch a cold, so he turned over and got out of bed and covered him with a quilt.