046 CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A. GUANYIN HASN’T HIGH-QUALITY MONKS

So, their master and disciple rode their horses up to the mountain gate and took a look. It was indeed a temple.

What a sight to behold: Layers of halls connected corridors. Outside the triple-arched gate, vibrant rainbow clouds adorned the scene. Before the Hall of Five Blessings, a myriad of crimson mist danced around. The paths were lined with pine and bamboo, while a grove of cedar and cypress trees stood tall. The pine and bamboo pathways exuded an eternal tranquility, untouched by time. The cedar and cypress grove displayed a palette of colors, proudly magnificent. The bell and drum tower soared high, and the pagoda stood tall. Serene monks meditated with calm minds, accompanied by the songs of birds in the trees.

The stillness was pure and untouched by dust, and the clarity was genuinely profound.

A poem captures it:

Garden's solitude, cloaked in emerald hue,

Echoes Vulture Peak's beauty anew.

Yet scarce the Pure Land's presence here is shown,

Monks grace worldly peaks, widely known.

The elder dismounted from his horse, and the Monkey rested his burden. Just as they were about to enter the gate, a group of monks emerged from within. Take a look at their appearance:

Adorned with a maiden's cap, so neat,

In robes of purity, he's complete.

Copper earrings grace both ears,

Silken sash, his waist adheres.

Straw sandals carry him at ease,

Wooden fish in hand, as he please.

From his lips, mantras take flight,

In the Prajnaparamita's light.

Standing by the gate, Tripitaka offered a greeting.

The monk inside quickly returned the gesture with a smile, saying, "Greetings. Where do you come from? Please come inside the meditation hall, and I'll serve you tea."

Tripitaka replied, "I am a disciple sent from the East, on a mission to pay respects to the Thunderclap Monastery and seek Buddhist scriptures. As the evening approaches, I would like to request lodging for the night in this monastery."

The monk responded, "Please come in and have a seat in the hall."

Tripitaka then called for Monkey, who led the horse inside.

When the monk caught sight of Monkey's appearance, he felt a bit uneasy. "What kind of creature is leading the horse?"

Tripitaka whispered, "Keep it quiet, keep it quiet. He's rather quick-tempered. He'll get annoyed if he hears you saying anything about his nature. He's my disciple."

The monk shivered and nervously bit his finger. "Taking in such an odd-looking creature as a disciple? Are you sure?"

Tripitaka replied, "Appearances aside, his uniqueness has its uses."

The monk had no choice but to lead Tripitaka and Monkey into the temple.

Inside, they saw four large characters written on the main hall, which read "Guanyin Meditation Monastery."

Tripitaka was overjoyed and exclaimed, "As a disciple, I have repeatedly felt the blessings of the Bodhisattva, yet I haven't had the chance to express my gratitude. Now that we've encountered this meditation monastery, it's like encountering the Bodhisattva in person. It's wonderful to offer my thanks here."

The monk instructed his fellow monks to open the main hall doors and invited Tripitaka to approach and pay his respects.

Monkey tied up the horse and left the baggage behind, then ascended the hall along with Tripitaka. Tripitaka stretched out his back, straightened his body, and bowed down with his forehead touching the ground as he faced the golden statue. The monk signaled to start drumming, and Monkey began to ring the bell. Tripitaka prostrated himself before the altar, pouring his heart into prayers of gratitude. After completing the prayers, the monk stopped drumming, but Monkey continued ringing the bell, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, for quite a while.

The monk asked, "The prayers are done. Why keep ringing the bell?"

Monkey dropped the bell striker and chuckled, saying, "You wouldn't understand! This is what they call 'being a monk for a day and ringing the bell for a day.'"

At that moment, the loud bell sounds startled the monks of all ages in the temple, from the junior novices to the senior abbots. They rushed out, asking, "Who's this wild person causing chaos by banging the bell and drum?"

Monkey leaped forward and shouted, "It's your Grandpa Monkey playing around with bell ringing."

Seeing him, the monks were so frightened that they stumbled and fell to the ground, exclaiming, "Lord of Thunder!"

Monkey retorted, "The Lord of Thunder is my great-grandson. Get up, get up, don't be scared. We're the masters from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land."

The monks then stood up and paid their respects. Once they saw Tripitaka, they felt relieved and unafraid. The head monk of the temple invited them, saying, "Masters, please come to the abbot's quarters for tea." After untying the horse and shouldering their luggage, they walked around the main hall. Once they reached the back room, they were seated according to their rank.

The abbot offered them tea and arranged a vegetarian meal. With the day still young, Tripitaka was about to express his gratitude when they noticed two young boys coming from behind, assisting an elderly monk.

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Let's see how he was dressed: On his head, he wore a special Pi Luo square hat, and the gemstone on it sparkled like a cat's eye. He had a silk brocade kasaya with a dazzling golden border, and the fabric seemed as precious as jade fur. His monk shoes were embroidered with an eight-treasure pattern, and his staff was adorned with cloud and star designs. His face was full of wrinkles, resembling an ancient mountain goddess. His eyes were hazy, much like the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea. His mouth was always open as his teeth had fallen out, and his back was hunched due to muscle contractions.

The monks said, "The master has arrived."

Tripitaka respectfully bowed and greeted, "Elder abbot, I bow to you."

The old monk returned the greeting, and they all took their seats. The old monk said, "Just now, the young ones informed me that the Lord from the Tang Dynasty in the Eastern Land has arrived. I have come out to pay my respects."

Tripitaka replied, "I've recklessly crossed mountains and rivers, ignorant of proper etiquette. Please forgive me, forgive me."

"I dare not, I dare not." He then inquired, "Lord, how long was your journey from the East?"

Tripitaka explained, "From the outskirts of Chang'an, it's over five thousand li. After crossing two border mountains and gathering a group of disciples, we've been on the road for two months. Passing through the Western Haripu country, traveling another five or six thousand li, we finally arrived here."

The old monk said, "It's indeed a journey of tens of thousands of miles. I, your humble disciple, have spent my whole life within the mountain gate, never venturing out. Truly, I've been like 'a frog at the bottom of a well,' narrow-minded and ignorant."

Tripitaka asked, "Elder abbot, how old are you?"

The old monk replied, "This foolish one is two hundred and seventy years old."

Hearing this, Monkey murmured, "He's still my great-great-great-grandson."

Tripitaka gave him a warning look and said, "Be careful not to disrespect others due to your status."

The monk then asked, "Lord, how old are you?"

Monkey replied, "I dare not say."

The old monk simply treated Monkey's words as nonsense and didn't take offense. He didn't inquire any further, and instead, he called for tea to be served.

A young attendant brought out a plate made of creamy-white jade, with three tea cups adorned with blue enamel and gold. Another young one carried a white copper teapot and poured three cups of fragrant tea. Truly, the color was as alluring as pomegranate blossoms, and the taste surpassed the fragrance of osmanthus flowers.

Tripitaka, enchanted, couldn't help but exclaim, "What exquisite items, what exquisite items! They are truly beautiful utensils."

The old monk said, "You flatter me, you flatter me. The Lord is from the celestial kingdom, with extensive experience of rare treasures. Compared to such items, how can these utensils be deserving of praise? Since the Lord has come from the faraway realm, might you have any precious objects to show this humble disciple?"

Tripitaka replied, "Alas, I have very few treasures from the Eastern Land. And even when there are, the long journey makes it hard to carry them."

Monkey Pilgrim chimed in, "Master, I saw that patched cassock a few days ago in our baggage. Isn't that considered a precious item? Why not show it to him?"

Upon hearing about the cassock, the monks responded with amused laughter.

Monkey Pilgrim asked, "Why are you all laughing?"

The temple's master replied, "The Lord just mentioned that the cassock is a precious item, which is quite funny indeed. Speaking of cassocks, people like us have not just two or three, but dozens. And if we talk about our master, who's been a monk here for two hundred and fifty-six years, he must have seven or eight hundred of them." Then he shouted, "Bring them out for display."

The old monk, also caught up in the moment, instructed the attendants to unlock the storage room and bring out twelve chests. They placed them in the courtyard and set up racks with ropes to hang the cassocks. One by one, they unfolded and hung the cassocks for Tripitaka to inspect. Truly, the whole place was a riot of brocade and silk, with colorful fabrics adorning every wall.

Monkey Pilgrim scrutinized each one, finding intricate patterns, embroidered silk, and gold-thread designs. He grinned and exclaimed, "Great, great, great! These are impressive. Put them away, put them away. Let's see our own ones."

Tripitaka grabbed Monkey's arm and whispered, "Disciple, let's not compete over riches. We're travelers on our own, and I'm afraid of misunderstandings. "

Monkey retorted, "What's wrong with showing off our cassocks? Are they really that different?"

Tripitaka explained, "You're not considering the consequences. There's an old saying: 'Precious and extraordinary things should not be shown to greedy and unscrupulous people.' If these garments catch someone's eye, it will surely stir their heart. Once their heart is stirred, they will start plotting. You're cautious by nature, and if they ask for it, you'll surely give in. But if not, it could lead to disaster, and this matter isn't trivial."

Monkey reassured, "Don't worry, don't worry. I've got it under control." Without hesitation, he rushed over, unfastened his bag, and uncovered layers of glowing light. After removing the protective paper, he revealed the cassock. As he unfurled it, the room was filled with a red radiance and colorful aura.

The monks were all amazed and praised it with genuine admiration—it was indeed a fine cassock. It was adorned with:

Countless pearls in artful design,

Buddhist treasures rare, they shine.

Dragons' whiskers above and below,

Brocade and silk in vibrant flow.

Banishing spirits, their power wanes,

Wearing their forms, none remains.

Crafted by celestial hands so fair,

Only true monks its essence bear.

Upon seeing these valuable items, the old monk was indeed tempted by ill intentions. He approached Tripitaka, knelt down, and with teary eyes. "This disciple truly has no luck."

Tripitaka helped him up and asked, "What do you have to say, Elder Monk?"

He replied, "When these treasures were unfurled, it was already getting late. Unfortunately, I couldn't see them clearly due to my failing eyesight. Isn't it a sign of my misfortune?"

Tripitaka suggested, "Bring a handheld lamp, and you can have another look."

The old monk responded, "The treasures were already quite bright in your hands. Adding more light will only dazzle my eyes, making it even harder to examine closely."

Monkey asked, "How would you prefer to inspect them?"

The old monk explained, "If you're willing to grant me the honor and trust, I'd take them to the back room, study them carefully throughout the night, and return them to you tomorrow morning. I wonder if you'd be agreeable to this?"

Upon hearing this, Tripitaka was taken aback and reproached Monkey, "It's all because of you, all because of you."

Monkey chuckled and said, "Why stress about him? I'll wrap them, and he can stare all he wants. If anything's wrong, I'll deal with it.

Unable to stop him, Tripitaka handed the kasaya to the old monk, saying, "You may examine it. Just remember to return it to me tomorrow morning as it is, without any damage."

The old monk was delighted and instructed a young acolyte to take the robe inside. He then ordered the other monks to clean the meditation hall, prepare two rattan beds, and set up bedding for the two honored guests to rest. They were also to arrange a morning meal for their departure. Afterward, everyone dispersed.

The master and disciples entered the meditation hall, closed its doors, and went to sleep for the night, setting aside other matters.