Chapter 354 – Shinian Sees Buddha! (1/2)

Chapter 354: s.h.i.+nian sees Buddha!

High mountains and flowing rivers, thick clouds and lively wind.

Thousand Buddha Temple is famous for its one thousand Buddha statues, with 999 statues of Buddha hidden between the mountainous forest and cliffs. There are some carved from strange rocks, some raised peaks, and some thousand year old trees——some similar in shape, and some similar in expression. It is different for each individual.

Sightseeing, and looking for Buddhism connection. It is Pilgrim's favourite thing to do after praying in the main hall.

Moreover, looking for the Buddha statues extremely tests one's intelligence and eyesight. Some people had exhausted themselves to only find dozens of statues, and some had taken several months to find a few hundreds. It is said that the famous monk Zhi Duhan had found 999 Buddha statues overnight, which caused a sensational in Tiandu. However, having been cultivating up on White Cloud mountain for so many years, he still had not found the 1000th Buddha.

Some people say that the 1000th Buddha statue is a cover, made up by the monks of Thousand Buddha Temple, in order to attract people to come and search out of curiosity.

However, several hundreds of years later, a talented Buddhist monk Chu Fayin came to pay a visit to Buddha, and it only took him half a day to find all 999 Buddha statues, and then another half a day to find the final 1000th Buddha statue. He at once abandoned his physical body and flew off as an immortal. Under the witness of countless people he ascended into an immortal, becoming a miracle of the divine continent.

It was at that time that the world believed that the monks of Thousand Buddha Temple did not lie, there are indeed 1000 Buddha statues on White cloud mountain.

“Sister Xiaoxin, that big rock must be Maitreya Buddha——look at that pudgy belly, and that little stone is his head——”

“Sister Xiaoxin, do you think this tree looks like a Buddha? What kind of Buddha is it? It looks familiar——”

“Sister Xiaoxin, that is Xianglong Luohan, he's so fierce——”

Li s.h.i.+nian and Cui Xiaoxin agreed to search for Buddha statues together. They took Liulu and Taohong and headed to the back of the mountain, while climbing the mountain, they were pointing and discussing the signs of Buddha statues.

Li s.h.i.+nian has an energetic personality, like a little pony, from time to time pointed to her discovery and shouted to Cui Xiaoxin.

Cui Xiaoxin was following after her and smiling at the beginning, and responded now and then.

But soon, she could not smile anymore.

Because Li s.h.i.+nian was too clever, and had such powerful perception.

It should be said that, on this mountain, every tree, every rock, every waterfall and every lake could be a Buddha statue. Some of the statues are quite obvious and anyone can discern them at a glance. But some statues are hidden deep, mysterious and subtle, not anyone can find them.

However, it was no obstacle to Li s.h.i.+nian. As she walked, she exclaimed, pointing out the Buddhas that she had seen one by one, without a single mistake or omission.

Cui Xiaoxin from a young age had begun to read extensively. She was familiar with the scriptures of both Buddhism and Taoism, and her knowledge far exceeded that of Li s.h.i.+nian.

However, she was not the first to notice Thousand Buddha Temple, she was not the first to find Buddhism connection——Many times it was because of Li s.h.i.+nian's reminder that she came to spot the hidden Buddha statues.

Cui Xiaoxin was a careful and intelligent girl, although she had no way to determine what this means, it was clear to her that the ability of Li s.h.i.+nian was extraordinary.

“What is this Buddha? Seems like I had seen it on a mural before, but I can't remember the name——”

“Wei tuo Bodhisattva.” Cui Xiaoxin answered. “

“Right, right. That's him. And do you see that side of the cliff? The cliff and the bottom of the cold lake are connected, doesn't it look like Manjusri Bodhisattva?”

“It is Manjusri Bodhisattva.” Cui Xiaoxin replied. In her mind she was calculating the number of Buddha statues that Li s.h.i.+nian had found, in such a short moment of time, she had found 167 statues already.

This was because she was walking too slowly, and held Li s.h.i.+nian back. If she had let her walk alone, and not had to support her up the mountain, then this number would have been even more impressive.

The famous Great master Fayin took half a day to find 999 Buddha statues, because he studied Buddhism and cultivates Buddhism, and a.s.sociates himself with Buddhism all day. He knows all the Buddhas like the back of his hand.

But, Li s.h.i.+nian?

She couldn't even name the Buddha statues, yet she could spot them at a glance.

Perhaps, this is what people call Buddhism connection?

Because of this connection she has a second sight, a power to perceive things.

“Sister Xiaoxin, quickly look, which two Buddhas are they? It feels so strange——” Li s.h.i.+nian asked with a puzzled face, pointing to the roots of two thousand year old trees intertwined together.

Cui Xiaoxin took a look and immediately blushed. She shook her head and said: “I do not know. There are so many G.o.ds and Buddhas in the world that we don't know their names.”

“If they can become a Buddha, how would they not have a name?” Li s.h.i.+nian still wouldn't let Cui Xiaoxin off. “Sister Xiaoxin, your knowledge is so profound, there is nothing you don't know——think again. I think these two Buddha statues are really strange. You see them cuddling together, they look like a couple——but is there a couple in Buddhas?”

“s.h.i.+nian——” Cui Xiaoxin's face grew more red, not knowing how to answer Li s.h.i.+nian's question.

“That is the joyful Buddha.” A man's voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Cui Xiaoxin and Li s.h.i.+nian turned around to see Li s.h.i.+nian's cart driver Li Mu and Cui family's cart driver Cui Meng coming toward them.

Li Mu's face was without expression, his head held high. While Cui Meng, who was bigger in size, was cowering and evasive, and wished to cover his head with a large leaf.

“Li Mu——Li Mu——don't go over. Do not disturb the two Young Miss——” Cui Meng hid behind Li Muyang, constantly persuading him not to go any closer.

After they put down the luggage in the room, they had nothing to do and since that the Thousand Buddha Temple is so famous, Li Muyang suggested to go Buddha statue searching up the mountain. Cui Meng was not interested in looking for Buddha, but he was interested in Li Muyang the 'upstart' who the Young Miss valued.

So, Li Muyang, carrying s...o...b..ll, took Cui Meng to find Buddha.

They explored the mountains and river while looking for the Buddha statues, and when they saw Cui Xiaoxin and Li s.h.i.+nian also in the search for Buddha statues, they did not go any closer, but carefully followed behind.

Cui Meng was constantly dragging Li Muyang back, in case the Young Miss would not be pleased seeing them. But Li Muyang, with a fearless expression, when he heard Cui Xiaoxin was stumped by Li s.h.i.+nian's question, he stepped out to answer, and even walked over to the two Young Miss with s...o...b..ll.

“What if Miss misunderstands that we're following them?”

“What if Miss thinks us two rough fellows are disturbing their search for Buddha?”

Their Masters only need to say one word and they will be beaten till their skin torn and the flesh gapes open, and won't be able to get up for 10 days to half a month. At that time, it will be too late to regret.

Cui Meng was filled with worries, but it did not affect Li Muyang's decision.

Li Muyang walked directly over to Cui Xiaoxin and Li s.h.i.+nian, looked at Li s.h.i.+nian and explained: “Miss, this Buddha is called Joy Buddha. That is 'Heavens of desire' and 'G.o.d of love' in Buddhism. The male body represents Buddhist teachings, the female body represents wisdom, the male body and the female body are tightly hugging together, indicating that Buddhist teachings and wisdom form pairs, become one person, and that wisdom of Buddhism is infinite.”

After listening to Li Muyang's explanation, a blush rose to Li s.h.i.+nian's pale cheeks.

Although Li Muyang did not explain too clearly, but the word 'joy' was enough to represent a lot of things.

Furtively glancing over at Cui Xiaoxin, she found that her face was also slightly red, staring at Li Muyang with bright eyes.

Li s.h.i.+nian then understood that Sister Xiaoxin must have known the name of these two Buddhas, and was just too embarra.s.sed to say it.

So, Li s.h.i.+nian deliberately pretended to be angry, pointing at Li Muyang and yelling, “How dare you make things up, utterly vulgar. There is no such Buddha? You must have made that up, right? How dare you tarnish the name of Buddha.”

“s.h.i.+nian——” Cui Xiaoxin interrupted. “He is right.”

“What is right? How could there be such a Buddha?”

“The teachings of the Buddha contain myriad, because the heart sees Buddha, there are no boundaries.”

Li s.h.i.+nian deliberately pretended to look at Cui Xiaoxin puzzledly: “Sister Xiaoxin, you just said you don't know what that Buddha is? How do you know that now?”