There is an old monk with very noble character in Changqing, Shandong, who is still very strong in his eighties.
One day, the old monk suddenly fell to the ground and could not get up. The other monks in the temple rushed to rescue him, but he saw that the old monk had passed away.
But the old monk didn't know that he was no longer alive, and his soul drifted to Henan.
On this day, a late gentry's son in Henan brought more than a dozen servants riding horses to beat rabbits with an eagle. Suddenly, the young master was frightened and started running wildly, throwing the young master off his back and falling to death.
At this time, the old monk's soul just floated onto the young master's body. In an instant, the two matched each other and the young master actually woke up.
The servant quickly surrounded him and asked him how it was. The young master said in a daze, "Why are you here?"
everyone hurriedly helped the young master home. As soon as he entered the door, he saw the concubines wearing heavy makeup at home running to inquire.
The young master was shocked: "I am a monk, why did I come here!"
The family was very surprised and came to enlighten him. He thought he was confused, but he didn't defend himself, but just closed his eyes and didn't speak. He doesn't eat wine and meat, he only eats simple food, and does not live with his wives and concubines at night, but only sleeps by himself.
A few days later, the young master suddenly wanted to move, and his family was very happy to hear about it.
But as soon as the young master left the room and just stood outside, several servants took the money and grain account books to ask him to check the income and expenditure situation. As a result, he refused to let it go by with his illness and fatigue. After
, the young master asked, "Do you know where Changqing County, Shandong is?"
. All servants said they knew.
The young master said, "I am bored and want to go there to play. Hurry up and buy my luggage for me."
But everyone in his family felt that he had just recovered from a serious illness and was not suitable for a long journey, but he was very persistent and set off the road the next day.
to Changqing . He looked at the local scene just like yesterday. He found the entrance of the Buddhist temple without asking for directions. When the old monk's former disciples saw a distinguished guest visiting, they saluted very respectfully.
The young master asked, "Where did the old monk go?"
The disciples replied, "Master passed away a few days ago."
The young master asked the old monk's cemetery again. Although he didn't know what the purpose of this young master was, the disciples also took him there.
The young master looked at the three-foot lonely grave that was not yet covered with weeds and felt lost. Soon he prepared to leave.
Before leaving, he told his disciples: "Your master is a monk who abides by the precepts. The handwriting he left behind in those days must be properly preserved and not damaged." The disciples agreed respectfully.
After returning home, the young master stayed at home every day and didn't ask about any matters.
A few months later, the young master went out to the temple in Changqing again.
He said to his disciples, "I am your master."
All the disciples felt that he was talking nonsense and laughed.
So the young master with the soul of the old monk told everyone about his resurrection, and also talked about what he did before as an old monk.
The disciples finally believed him and returned to his original place of residence and respected and served him as before.
Later, the young master's family sent carriages and horses to pick him up many times, and he ignored him at all.
More than a year later, the young master's wife sent the housekeeper to the temple to deliver things. Among the many gold, silver, treasures, silks and satin, he only picked one piece of cloth and left it.
The young master's friend went to the temple in Changqing to find him. Seeing him solemn and silent, his heart was firm. Although he was only in his thirties, he always talked about his 80s.
Yishishi's theory (commented by Mr. Pu Songling ): As the saying goes, the body dies and the soul disappears, but the soul of the monk in Changqing travels thousands of miles without dissipating because he has reached the cultivation level of firm mind and nature. I am not surprised by the rebirth of this old monk, but I am just surprised by the rebirth of his rebirth in a gorgeous and luxurious place, but he is able to abandon the common sayings and break away from the world. Some people occasionally see beauty and wealth, but they are unwilling to die, let alone this old monk!
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Some people may not become arrogant and extravagant because the environment in which they live does not give him such conditions, but the old monk is truly greedy for this kind of life.
He has become another person completely, and can enjoy it completely, not caring about his previous reputation and status.
But his current life makes him feel painful. As a monk, he does not kill, eats alcohol, or is not close to women. As a result, he encounters it all within a day.
After he knew that he was dead, he was greatly impacted.
Only he knows that he is an old monk himself. He could have let go of the precepts he had been following for eighty years and chose to indulge him.
But he did not do so. He resolutely abandoned the free and easy life in the eyes of the world and returned to the practice of the ancient Buddha with simple food and light rice.
Between matter and spirit, the old monk chose spiritual peace without hesitation.
