I'm a monk!

Since childhood!

For as long as I can remember, all my life has been the scriptures and the Buddha!

There is nothing else in my life!

Like, from the very beginning, this is how my life is!

My whole world is the size of a temple!

In the morning, before dawn, I got up early to do morning classes, and even though the little monks were the same age as me, they were still sleeping!

When I finished my morning class and went to fetch water, the other monks were also sleeping!

When I finished picking water, chopping firewood, and preparing to eat, the other monks had already finished breakfast, and all I was left with was the leftovers!

And I, in the midst of these scraps, looked for food to swallow!

The scattered grains of rice on the table and the dirty vegetable leaves on the ground are my breakfast!

Maybe in the eyes of others, these are not eaten at all, but for me, for this, I am used to it!

During the day, I have to help other monks, big and small monks, wash clothes, wash smelly socks, and give my lunch to those monks!

Because, those meals were originally theirs, and I just brought them for them!

Of course, at least that's what they say!

In the evening, after the evening class, I had to clean up, because the cleaning monk couldn't get up in the morning!

So, I had to clean up, and in exchange, I was able to sleep in the utility room where the broom was stored!

That's right, I've always been eating people's leftovers and sleeping in the utility room!

In the eyes of others, I am just a little monk, a little beggar, a child that no one raises and no one loves!

But I don't feel sad, because, for as long as I can remember, I don't know what grief is!

All my purpose is to have a place to sleep, something to eat, and not to starve to death, not to freeze to death!

This is my life in the temple, not because I like this and choose this way, but because I am just a child that no one wants, and everyone else has a family and a family, a father and a mother, and those people all give the temple money for incense, and I, except for spoiling food, has no role at all!

For that, I admit it too!

So, from the very beginning, my clothes were in tatters, even unclothed!

As time went by, I grew up, and many young women would blush when they saw me!

Although I don't know why, those blushing female donors will give me some delicious pastries, and then rub them on me, and every time I pinch them, I feel uncomfortable!

However, I didn't know how to solve it!

Finally, one day, the master with big ears appeared in front of me and told me that I was not an ordinary monk, but the reincarnation of a very powerful monk!

The purpose of my existence in this life is to become a Buddha in the next life!

What happens when you become a Buddha?!

At that time, I only had one thought, if I became a Buddha, would I be able to eat enough?!

Perhaps!

Every temple has so much sesame oil money, according to the great monks in the temple, those sesame oil money is for the Buddha!

And I, in the next life, will be able to become a Buddha, so in this life, I can only be happy, not sad, and especially not afraid!

But what is fear?!

Can't eat, don't you have a place to sleep?!

If that's the case, then maybe I'm really scared, I'm afraid!

From that day on, though, my life changed completely, and I had a room of my own full of Buddhist scriptures!

Also, I have delicious food for all three meals, and most importantly, I don't have to do the laundry, I don't have to do the cleaning, I don't have to do anything!

In addition to eating and sleeping every day, I study Buddhism with that monk with big ears!

I remember the first scripture, called the Jizo Sutra, and what the great monk said was, let me remember this scripture, because this scripture can not only save others, but also save myself!

He also told me how much I have suffered in this life, and how many blessings I will have in the next life!

Anyway, that monk just gave me a lot of inexplicable things every day-

For example, no matter what, don't be afraid, don't be afraid!

For example, I am used to suffer in this life, because in the next life, I am destined to become a Buddha!

For example, as a Buddhist, you must always be ready to give everything you have for the Buddha!

Including your own life!

Every day, I study carefully, listen carefully, and convince myself seriously!

However, a thought came to me—

I, just me in this life, why should I suffer for the person who will replace me in the next life!

In order for that person to be happy and become a Buddha, I have to go through hardships and even give everything I have!

Soon, a year was about to pass, and just five days before my thirteenth birthday, the great monk appeared!

He told me that the Buddha needed me!

Need my body, need everything from me!

They need to eat me!

Because, only by eating me, can their lives be extended!

But why are you eating me?!

I'm just a mortal mortal with a physical body, and those Buddhas can prolong their lives if they eat the flesh of a mortal like me?!

I was scared, I refused, but I couldn't refuse!

In the end, in order to make me agree, the great monk actually dropped me under the tree, and in that cold winter, I was just dropped under the tree, with only a thin monk's robe on my body!

For five days and five nights, I was not allowed to eat a mouthful of food, and I was not allowed to drink a little water!

Just to make me say yes!

Finally, when the sixth day came, and it was my birthday, the great monk appeared, and he said, as long as I promised, I could have a good meal, and I could sleep well, and no one would wake me up! Don't even have to suffer anymore!

At that moment, I cried happily!

I can finally eat and sleep!

In the future, I will never have to suffer again!

So, when the monk put me in the jar and asked me to take a bath, I washed myself like that and then fell asleep against the wall of the jar!

However, when I woke up, I found myself a crumb!

Bone dregs!

That great monk, he boiled me and ate me with a group of so-called Buddhas!

Up and down, there are only seven bones left!

I'm the smallest one, only the size of a sesame seed, and the other six are bigger than me!

There are five about the same size, all the size of a peanut!

The largest one has half of my left foot bone! It is said that a certain monk with big ears fell to the ground carelessly, and then forgot to pick it up!

I'm the smallest, the last to wake up, and I've heard the bones who woke up early say that my name is Golden Cicada!

I am the second disciple of the Buddha!