Under the sunset.

The clear wind blows a faint wave of water, and young students and young monks stand side by side in front of the magnificent Buddha Protector Map.

This scene invisibly attracted the attention of many people.

Even in the Shwedagon Pagoda, such a scene is still rare.

Some stood quietly in the shade of the trees, looking curiously at the debate.

Some tourists have already taken out their mobile phones and tried to come to the side to record the video, but they were stopped by the monks of the monastery.

I don't know when.

The monks around the mural had retreated silently.

They stood around, stopping people who wanted to come over, and whispered apologetically that the area was inconvenient for visiting for the time being.

They sat in the shade of the tree, next to the Buddha statue, turned their heads sideways and looked curiously in the same direction, quietly gazing curiously at this scene of contrasting colors.

So what will the flames do to make him?

In Buddhism, attachment is the root cause of trouble.

He is so angry and persistent about the world, but he would rather live in the flames and not let his soul have a moment of rest, otherwise, he said, he feels that he is no longer alive.

"Sir, what do you want to gain by looking at this painting so burningly?" He asked softly.

Gu Weijing shrugged his shoulders.

"Remember what I said, there is no high or low, no matter the difference, Buddha nature is Buddha nature, and Zen mind is Zen mind."

The young monk paused.

He only waved his hand slightly at the curious traveler who wanted to disturb the two people, as if the river was separated by the water, and the incomparably smooth reef was washed away.

The great poet Dongpo monk said that when you think of it, the karma is blazing, and it is not people who burn you, but you burn yourself.

In the scenic area where people come and go, there is such a magical scene.

"Even if I don't believe in Buddhism? Is it also spiritual? You just laughed at me for being a beast, can a beast experience peace? ”

The monk folded his hands.

Theravada Buddhism emphasizes self-cultivation and does not focus on compassion for sentient beings and the breadth of compassion.

Within a radius of thirty meters in front of the mural, it became an empty field, with only two young people standing silently, as quiet as water.

"So, what are you here for?"

Thereupon.

The so-called word compassion is nothing more than the practice of persisting in the five mind-stopping contemplations of impurity, compassion, and karma in their homework, which focuses on the human weakness of one's hatred.

"I made an appointment with a friend to meet here, and from a utilitarian point of view, my goal should be to improve my Chinese painting skills and perceptions, and I have seen Mr. Cao Xuan's look when he paints with his brush, and I always think that if I can get away with it, it should be enough to benefit me for a lifetime. So, about this painting, I would appreciate it if you could teach me something. ”

He was clothed in flames, but his expression was modest and serene, as if he had fallen asleep.

The monk's red robe looks like a burning fire in the reflection of the setting sun.

"I don't know anything about Chinese painting, but painting is not limited to one type, and Buddhism is not limited to one place."

Gu Weijing pursed the corners of his mouth, "I know what I should see, but the key is precisely that I don't know what I should see. ”

"You may have a hard time appreciating the serene joy of inaction in my heart, though I know you don't need my sympathy."

But at this time, the monk still had endless compassion and pity for the young people around him.

The monk paused for a moment and asked again.

The pure black dress-style Dulwich school uniform on Gu Weijing's body was like a thick ink, but the monk saw a burning and eternal fire in this thick ink that could not be illuminated by the sun.

"Unlike many people, even different from some of the brothers in their own sect, many people have strong geographical differences between portals. But I think the real Buddha should be tolerant enough and broad enough. ”

A piece of steel?

Or twisted slag?

The monk suddenly wanted to shed tears.

But the monks don't drive away tourists too much.

Hundreds of tourists stand in the sunset after the rain.

"Mr. Gu, unfortunately, our practice is not the same, and I don't know much about Chinese painting. What can I teach you, you ask? But I can't use what I've seen to answer your questions. ”

"There is an unwilling beast in your heart that gnaws at you all the time, but I still wish you true peace and tranquility one day. As for the painting, you might as well take a look at it. Even if you don't want to let go, the peace is there. ”

The monk shook his head: "Tranquility has nothing to do with spiritual results, or even with what you believe, it only has to do with believing or not. Love, anger at injustice, yearning for justice, and even the courage to change the world...... You once asked me, since Zen is different, why can I see Zen in this painting? You're right. ”

"Mr. Cao Xuan and I have many differences in our worldview, including the fact that the content of this ancient mural is also different from the classics I have read. Theravada Buddhism believes in only Shakyamuni Buddha, the Bodhisattva on the lotus platform in this painting, the Four Heavenly Kings...... For me, it's not that connected, but when I really put it down, I still love it. ”

The monk gently stretched out his hand and stroked the top of Gu Weijing's head.

A person who chooses to live in flames...... So how many hardships will he face in his life?

The thought came to the monk's mind.

And at a distance of thirty meters, the dust and smoke remained.

"Just like the foreign tourists here, there are many people like you who don't believe in Buddhism, and maybe don't understand Buddhism at all. or even other religious beliefs. Maybe to them, the Buddha is not real. But they saluted the Buddha with flowers in front of the Buddha statue, and even in front of the souvenir shop, they picked up enough amulets and wrote postcards to tell their families that they could prevent vampires......"

"Even if you don't believe in Buddhism, there is still peace."

"You see, that's another good question I can't answer."

Of course, this sounds ridiculous, but these kindnesses, these thoughts, are all true. This is the meaning of the existence of temples and monks. ”

The monk said lightly.

"Life is already too hard, and when everyone doesn't have enough to eat, even if there is very little money to worship the Buddha, I prefer to turn it into a lunch for my family, even if it's just an orange. The gold on this pagoda is worth a billion dollars, which may be enough for every family in Myanmar to have a lunch. ”

Gu Weijing said softly.

"No, like you said, life is already too hard, so ...... Maybe hope, even if it's just a small hope. For many people, maybe it's more important than a lunch, right? ”

The monk smiled.

He patted Gu Weijing on the back.

"Finally, I would like to explain to you that I am not laughing at you when I say that you are a beast. A person with a fire burning in his heart should, of course, be like a wild beast, staring in all directions and hearing the suffering of all beings. ”

"It's just that I want to say, choose what to believe...... Even a wild beast needs the power of tranquility, and man can be a rooster that crows under the bite of desire, or he can choose to be a beast of peace and compassion. ”

"Thousands of people, thousands of laws, thousands of Buddhas and thousands of faces, but a thousand faces and one heart. Observe the heart with the heart, and then the heart reflects each other, and then touch the bypass. ”

Let's talk about it.

The young monk turned and left.

The "enchantment" formed by the surrounding monks was also dissolved in an instant.

The monks disappeared into the sea of people.

When Gu Weijing turned his head to look.

I only saw that in the evening breeze, in the gap of the crowd, the orange-red monk's robe, the corners of the robe were flying.

Myanmar and Thailand are both Buddhist countries, from ordinary monks to monks, and then to monks and kings in the mouths of the people who are comparable to the status of the king of Thailand.

Although they are generally dressed in the same way, there is a very clear hierarchy inside.

Only then did Gu Weijing realize that maybe the great monk he had just caught casually might have a very unusual identity.

Two people have different attitudes towards life.

The conversation between the two of them failed to convince anyone after all.

But it is true that the monks also gave Gu Weijing a new artistic thinking based on the local religion.

"Thousands of people, thousands of laws, thousands of Buddhas and thousands of faces, but a thousand faces and one heart. Observe the heart with the heart, and then the heart reflects each other, and then touch the bypass. ”

Zen Mind –

Gu Wei stared at the "Buddha Protector Map" in front of him for a long time, and looked at it over and over again.

See nature in the clear heart, and do something in inaction.

He looked at this painting for a long time, but he did not use the perspective of Buddhist statue art appreciation to interpret the shaping of the artistic atmosphere of this painting.

I didn't even bother to think about the details of Chinese painting.

Since it is clear.

He didn't have enough knowledge to figure it out, like a schoolboy holding a magnifying glass and looking at the cement cracks on the surface of a cooling tower trying to figure out how a nuclear power plant's reactor works.

Gu Weijing was fortunate and no longer forced.

He let go of the strokes, the interpretation of the shape of the figure, jumped out of the technique, quieted himself, and emptied his head.

For a long time.

For a long time.

The world hasn't changed much.

The world seems to have changed again.

In the distance, there was a burst of Sanskrit singing, as if a monk had already started his evening work.

The sound of chanting, prayers, the wind, the sound of footsteps stepping on the stagnant water on the stone slabs, the chirping of birds, the faint sound of traffic on the street from far away.

Gu Weijing's mind seemed to become more and more empty, and it became more and more wide.

His eyes were fixed on the mural, but his thoughts expanded infinitely along the sound of the outside world, infinitely larger.

Those old people are chattering about the Buddha statues, praying for their children's success in their studies and prosperous careers.

The young people were looking at the Buddha statue and praying to the joints of Abba and Auntie to reduce some of the bitter and itchy prayers during the upcoming rainy season in Myanmar.

……

Gu Weijing knew that it was impossible for him to hear the wishes of those who were chattering at the Buddha statue, it was just his imagination.

But he seemed to hear it again—he heard the wishes of the little ones.

In the chanting of the evening breeze, the cage is like a sea.

So.

What should the Buddha in Cao Lao's heart be?

Gu Weijing happened to look at each other with the Bodhisattva on the lotus throne.

The Bodhisattva's eyes carry compassion and deep essence from time immemorial, and seem to have immeasurable meaning.

This moment.

Gu Weijing blessed his soul, and almost subconsciously used the calligraphy and painting appraisal technique.

"Bell!"

A distant bell came from afar, and it seemed to ring in Gu Weijing's heart.

The world shattered at the sound of this bell.

The sea breeze of nearly a century ago blew into his heart.

……

In addition, Japan sent additional warships to Shanghai, and Kure Port sent the cruiser "Oi" and four destroyers of the 15th Destroyer Brigade, carrying the 1st Special Marine Corps and a large number of munitions, and arrived at the port on the 23rd. General Chen Mingshu issued the "Letter to All Officers and Soldiers of the Nineteenth Route Army"——"

A newsboy dressed in a shabby robe and carrying a beige cloth bag.

While running vigorously through the streets and alleys, he threw the piece of paper printed with the word "Declaration" in his hand from the small bag of foreign cloth to the sky.

The "Declaration" of the old magic capital, the Shanghai edition of a newspaper charges 4 cents, and the annual subscription can be discounted by 20%, and 3 cents and 2 cents.

In the complicated newspaper system sold in Shanghai in the Republic of China, it is considered to be moderately expensive, and not every family is willing to pay for subscribing to newspapers such as "Declaration", "Ta Kung Pao", and "News".

But today is different.

In this era of great change, the clouds of war have hung over everyone's heads.

A year ago.

Guanwai has fallen, and the compatriots of the three eastern provinces have fallen into the ravages of the Kwantung Army.

Today, in order to divert international attention from the September 18 incident, the Japanese army has once again brazenly stretched out its claws to the rich southeastern region.

Almost all newspapers and periodicals hurriedly issued special issues to inform the residents of Shanghai of this important news free of charge.

Flying one-page newspapers and periodicals were thrown into the air by the newsboys, and the sky was blown by the sea breeze.

It's like a long-lost heavy snow suddenly fell in the magic capital.

Even the days are crying.

A man's hand grasped the flying newspaper, the man was wearing a suit and leather shoes, wearing Sven's gold-wire glasses, a pen stuck in his neckline, and the nameplate of the briefcase in his hand was engraved with the words "French merchant Roland" in French and Chinese, which seemed to be a small opening.

"What was written? Nong Bang help pronounce good wow. ”

An illiterate uncle next to him asked urgingly.

"The Japanese side demands that the so-called Chinese murderers of the 'Burning Sanyou Industrial Society' be handed over and all anti-Japanese organizations banned, and at the same time, all our troops must be withdrawn from Zhabei and demilitarization of Shanghai must be achieved. In response to the Japanese provocation, General Chen Mingshu strongly advocated holding out to the end, and Nanjing issued a "Telegram from the Executive Yuan to the City Government to Avoid Conflict with Japan," which demanded that the Japanese side only adopt a conciliatory attitude. We should immediately convene people from all walks of life to explain the situation, and there must be no conflict that could lead to the violent seizure of the Shanghai market......"

The man pushed his glasses.

Holding up the thin newspaper in front of his eyes, he read out the contents of the pencil mimeograph printed on it one by one.

"Nong's words are not suitable, Nong's attitude is relaxed, the three eastern provinces are not all-"

Immediately, there was a young man next to him who spoke authentic Shanghainese and shouted.

"This is not what I said, I won't say it, this is an urgent announcement issued by the Jinling Executive Yuan."

"What are you doing here, you don't listen to it, and I don't like it. If you have an opinion, it's better to go to President Wang and shout! ”

(End of chapter)