In the past three lives, he had not made progress on the Ti Dao, but in this life, he finally began to advance. Although he hadn’t captured a thread of that Spiritual Light from the Ti Dao, as long as it had once flashed by, there would co a day when he would grasp it.
After all, he had endless ti.
Chen Mu looked down again, gazing at the scriptures beside him.
Ti flew by.
In the blink of an eye, seventeen years passed.
The twenty-four-year-old Chen Mu, with the dharma na ’Zhending,’ represented Fatan Temple, debating scriptures with a group of visiting monks from Lingtan Temple. He stood alone against many, leaving the leading monk of Lingtan Temple and the rising talents overshadowed, gaining sudden fa.
Another three years passed, and at the age of twenty-seven, Chen Mu, following the tradition of all monks of Fatan Temple throughout history, descended the mountain to cultivate. He spent ten years traversing every land of the country, visiting various temples. By the ti he returned to Fatan Temple, he was already a renowned great monk, with many young monks following him out of admiration.
Four more years passed, and at forty-one, Chen Mu took over as the abbot of Fatan Temple. He then spread the Buddhist teachings and scriptures, becoming recognized as a great monk of his generation. Even the Royal Court invited Chen Mu multiple tis to preach, influencing the contemporary Emperor to revere the Buddhas, and elevating Fatan Temple to the status of National Temple during its pri.
The following forty years.
Chen Mu descended the mountain countless tis, either to enlighten the ignorant in the barbaric land or to assist in tis of calamity, gaining ever more veneration. His influence reduced the disasters’ impact significantly in tis that should have destabilized the Imperial Court.
Successive generations of Emperors repeatedly granted Chen Mu honorary titles, elevating him to ’The Great Upper Soldier of the Responsive Benevolent Dharma King.’
Thus, another ten years passed.
At ninety-one, Chen Mu’s white eyebrows were long and his hair flowed like a waterfall. His body was frail but his face remained rosy. He still moved swiftly through the temple, with every visitor deeming Chen Mu a ’Living Buddha.’
One day.
Chen Mu donned a robe, looked out the window at Taiyin rising in the east, took a gentle breath, then stood up and walked outside the hall.
Despite his light movents and the early sunrise, monks were already serving outside the hall. They imdiately approached, bowing respectfully to ask, "Abbot, what are your orders?"
Though the two previous generations of Emperors believed in the Buddhist Way, causing it to flourish, the third generation Emperor was not as devout but was not dismissive either. The Buddhist Way remained prosperous, and no matter the temple or the monk, all knew Chen Mu as the foremost great monk of the ti, a Living Buddha, and considered serving around Chen Mu a supre honor.
Especially since Chen Mu was over ninety years old.
Outside the hall where he usually rested, it was natural for monks to keep watch day and night.
"Relay my decree, let all monks gather in the main hall, I have an announcent."
"Yes."
The attending monk respectfully responded and hurried off.
A short while later.
Within the grand hall of Fatan Temple, adorned in gold and jade, all the elder monks with white hair took their seats, followed by a group of middle-aged monks kneeling, while the younger and lower-ranked monks respectfully stood outside the hall.
At this mont, Chen Mu walked in slowly, arriving at the center of the hall.
"Abbot."
Whether high-ranked elder monks or ordinary monks, all respectfully saluted Chen Mu.
Chen Mu recited a Buddhist na, stepped to the central abbot seat, and sat cross-legged. His white long eyebrows draped to his knees, his complexion still rosy, his breathing normal, but his first words shocked everyone present.
"Tonight, I will enter Nirvana and attain Nirvana."
Chen Mu spoke in his usual tone.
The temple fell completely silent in an instant, and countless monks showed expressions of shock. So elder monks with white hair were also surprised. After a mont of silence, one couldn’t help but say, "Buddha is compassionate... Senior Brother has already attained the true fruit, is a Living Buddha, why would he still enter Nirvana? Is it because we are too dull, and Senior Brother no longer wishes to guide us?"
In everyone’s eyes, Chen Mu was almost no different from a true Buddha. Putting everything else aside, just the fact that he was past ninety yet still rosy and healthy was beyond ordinary people. How many today could live to such an age?
Let alone being as fit as an ordinary person at ninety.
But now,
Chen Mu, who seed perfectly fine, said he would enter Nirvana tonight; this news was undoubtedly like a thunderclap.
With a serene expression, Chen Mu said, "All things in the world have their destined end. Though my physical body may enter stillness, I have achieved the Immortal Dharma Body. Entering Reincarnation is solely to comprehend the marvels of all dharmas. After entering stillness, I will manifest again in the world, and you may continue to honor my dharma na."
Upon these words.
All the monks present looked at each other.
So young monks, besides being shocked, couldn’t help but beco excited.
Although those who believe in Buddhism all trust in the existence of Buddha and that cultivation allows one to transcend Reincarnation, no one had ever witnessed supernatural power in this world.
They all claid Chen Mu was a Living Buddha with supre Buddhist virtues, but none had ever seen it firsthand.
And this ti.
According to Chen Mu’s words, his Nirvana was rely shedding this mortal form, and he would appear in the world again.
The concept of Reincarnation, although a branch of Buddhism and familiar to many believers, had never been witnessed. But now it seed... they were about to witness the true essence of Reincarnation.
That night.
With a peaceful deanor, Chen Mu sat on the dharma altar, amidst the chanting of the masses, calmly entered stillness.
After entering stillness this ti, although Chen Mu’s vision gradually elevated, his consciousness wasn’t swept away by the power of Ti but swiftly spanned through decades or a century. Instead, he caught a thread of Ti’s weave from the void, anchoring himself.
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