"Dear donor, have some tea," the elderly monk offered, handing over a cup of freshly brewed tea.
Mo Lin instinctively took a sip but quickly spit it out."It's too hot!" he exclaimed.
The old monk smiled gently, continuing to sip his tea unhurriedly."Doesn't it burn you?" Mo Lin asked, puzzled.
"A cup of tea at 150 degrees Fahrenheit may feel hot to some, cool to others, and just right to someone else," the monk said, smiling."The temperature remains constant, but what fluctuates is our perception." Mo Lin was taken aback by the wisdom in the monk's words.
The monk continued,"Young man, Buddha taught us that the age of decline will come regardless of our fear. The descent of Mara will happen irrespective of our judgment of good or bad."
"In life, we hope for good things to happen to us and bad things to happen to others. When we encounter evil people or bad events, we wish they would immediately be sent to hell, restoring peace to the world. However, Buddha taught that the decline is inevitable, and bad things will happen. In a forest, there are meat-eating wolves, lions, and tigers, as well as herbivorous rabbits, goats, and deer. Humanity is no different, a mix of good and bad. This is nature.
"Do you believe wolves are inherently bad and rabbits inherently good?"
Mo Lin wanted to nod but shook his head instead.
"Then, should we resign ourselves to fate and do nothing?" Mo Lin asked, confused.
"If practitioners give up and wait for Maitreya Buddha to save us, we may wait a thousand years with no result," the old monk said calmly."Every heart holds a Buddha, and only through diligent practice can we hope to meet him." The monk's words felt like a breeze, gently stirring Mo Lin's heart.
"No matter the tribulations faced by Buddhism, the true teachings will not be extinguished. Just as the Buddha's artifacts are passed down, they will endure trials." The old monk sipped his tea peacefully.
"What Buddha truly wanted to teach us is to find inner peace and balance. Finding our Buddha nature frees us from the grip of time, life, death, and emotional attachments. This is the ultimate heart, beyond distinctions of right, wrong, holy, or evil. I cannot find your Buddha nature for you. All things are transient, like dew or lightning. Your path must be found by you."
Mo Lin felt as if he were standing before an endless abyss, his thoughts chaotic yet enlightened. He knew this marked the beginning of an inner journey.
"Have I wasted these years?" Mo Lin asked.
"No, we are fortunate to have read Buddha's teachings, learning from the experiences of those who found their Buddha nature. We are already on the path," the monk reassured. Mo Lin felt a surge of humility, bowed, and slowly retreated.
The high monk closed his eyes, the scent of jasmine tea filling the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Suddenly, the abbot, usually surrounded by attendants, approached alone, squatting beside the monk as he did years ago.
"Master, the Buddha child is in danger. I've sent help. Will everything be alright?" the abbot asked anxiously.
The monk opened his eyes briefly before closing them again."Do your best and trust in fate. Buddha has his plans."
"Each Buddha child bears Buddha's mission, drawing Mara's attention. Where are the Buddha's artifacts hidden?" the abbot inquired.
"Only the Buddha child knows. When he awakens to his past and present, he will understand the secret," the monk replied.
"But what if something goes wrong again?" the abbot asked, concerned.
"We have the seed of his eighth consciousness. Using the soul bottle, we will find him again," the monk answered.
"That's reassuring," the abbot sighed with relief, then worried,"How many times can the artifact be used to find the reincarnated Buddha?"
"The artifact's spirit is nearly exhausted, and we, the elders, are aging. Any error could make it unusable. We may have only one chance left," the monk said, pouring tea for the abbot. The abbot held the warm cup, remaining crouched and silent.
After a moment, the monk spoke calmly,"Everything is arranged by Buddha. Do not lose your inner peace."
The abbot forced a smile."Master, that's my daily line. Don't steal it."
The monk shrugged, then regretfully added,"If another accident occurs, we may never recognize the Buddha child, even if he walks beside us."
"Master, the young Buddha child has drawn the attention of demons so early. They must already have ways to find him," the abbot said worriedly.
"If we have artifacts, Mara surely has ways to locate him too," the monk acknowledged.
"Master, can I secretly keep the seed of the eighth consciousness? I have a plan to hide him from Mara," the abbot suggested.
The monk's eyes opened wide."Are you worried...?"
"Yes, master. The heart's demon is the real enemy, the demon's specialty. We must be cautious. If the Buddha child finds the reincarnated Maitreya and restores his memories even a year early, it will benefit all beings," the abbot proposed cautiously.
The abbot was known for his quick wit, but the master often dismissed these small clevernesses as distractions from practice and spreading Dharma. This time, the monk pondered, then nodded slightly.
As the abbot left, he muttered,"I wonder, if an ordinary person discovers at life's end that they are supremely significant, how would they feel?"
The monk, eyes still closed, said,"Each of us has undergone one hundred thousand and eight kalpa disasters before coming into the world. Who says we are ordinary?"
The abbot bowed and retreated slowly, a faint smile on his lips. Inwardly, he thought, Master, I may not understand Dharma as deeply as you, but your wisdom isn't enough. No matter how we protect, the demons' influence over hearts surpasses ours. With the artifact's power dwindling, the Buddha child will inevitably fall into demonic hands. Perhaps, it is time to collaborate with the demons.
The abbot left, smiling, and glanced back at Mo Lin's departing figure.