He pointed to the monk’s tonsure and said, "The first tonsure that Zen Master Ku gave you represents the gateway to heaven on your head, right?"
The young monk gave him a deep look, "Benefactor indeed knows the methods of Buddhist cultivation. Correct, my first tonsure is indeed the gateway to heaven. Master said this is where the Yin God and Yang God enter and exit. Benefactor, you are arrogant with your talent and belittle the true lineage of Buddhism. What you know, Buddhism also understands!"
He recited the Buddha’s name, resonating like a giant bell, and Zen Master Ku’s aura resonated with it. Suddenly, a swastika appeared on the top of Zen Master Ku’s head where his tonsure was.
Beneath Zen Master Ku’s patched robe, another swastika manifested at the position of his navel!
"Buddhist golden bodies command respect!"
Chen Shi pressed his palms together in respect towards Zen Master Ku and withdrew.
What he just mentioned about the tenth and eleventh apertures was what his grandfather told him. Now it seemed that Zen Master Ku’s cultivation and insight were also extremely high, no less than his grandfather’s.
Li Tianqing asked, "How may I address this monk?"
The young monk glanced at him but did not respond.
Li Tianqing said, "My name is Li Tianqing, from the Li Family of Quanzhou."
The young monk appeared slightly moved, "So you are the descendant of a loyal and good family. I am Monk Wu Chen; I’ve seen Benefactor Li. And who is this young benefactor?"
Chen Shi said, "I used to remember my name, but now I have forgotten it."
Monk Wu Chen replied indifferently, "The benefactor has actually achieved the state of namelessness. Fortunate to meet you indeed."
Seeing that Chen Shi was not from a noble family, he felt too lazy to pay him any attention.
Li Tianqing asked, "Monk Wu Chen, have you also come to participate in the examination?"
Monk Wu Chen nodded, "I’ve been cultivating under my master at Great Baoguo Temple. In the temple, if one is content being an ordinary monk, there is no need to take part in the civil service examinations. However, if one wishes to become an instructor, a fifth-level master, or further advance to be an overseer, it is necessary to have the scholarly title from the civil service examinations."
Chen Shi was unaware of these Buddhist rules and said in surprise, "Is that really the case?"
Monk Wu Chen, unwilling to indulge him further, gave an explanation only upon Li Tianqing’s inquiry: "Our monks participate in the military examination like you, but the literary examination is different. Ours tests the understanding and debate of scriptures such as the Vajra Sutra and the Dharma Flower Sutra. Without passing for Scholar, one cannot even be a novice monk in a temple. Even novices must be Scholars."
Li Tianqing understood these practices and explained to Chen Shi, "Without a scholarly title, when monks leave the temple to stay at other temples, they cannot receive lodging. Without it, no one will welcome you."
Monk Wu Chen said, "We monks make the most of our circumstances. Passing through Gongzhou, we take part in the local examination. My master has entered nirvana here, and I need to find a temple to place his golden body. Come daylight, I shall search for a temple and would be grateful if Benefactor Li could watch over my master’s golden body."
Soon, daylight broke, and Monk Wu Chen hurriedly left.
Chen Shi puzzled, "Aren’t the monks supposed to believe in the emptiness of the four elements? Why are they also driven by status?"
Li Tianqing laughed, "The temples have their own fields that pay no taxes and maintain private guards, so how can there be emptiness in the four elements?"
After some time, Monk Wu Chen returned with a few monks and an ox cart.
The monks, hearing he was from Great Baoguo Temple, fawned over him carefully.
Monk Wu Chen was accustomed to such treatment.
Chen Shi said, "Wu Chen, when you transport Zen Master Ku’s golden body to the temple, you must be extremely careful to not bump it, and avoid any roughness on the way. Once there, you must handle it gently, making sure that those with curious intentions do not lift Zen Master Ku’s eyelids or ears. Any disturbance could lead to trouble."
Monk Wu Chen smiled, "Benefactor, perhaps the Buddhist community understands no less than you."
Chen Shi replied, "I hope so."
The monks lifted Zen Master Ku’s body, exclaiming in unison, "So heavy!"
Chen Shi, seeing they intended to place Zen Master Ku directly onto the ox cart, quickly slipped a cushion onto the cart.
The monks placed Zen Master Ku’s golden body on the cushion, with Monk Wu Chen sitting in the cart, guiding the monks as they led the cart away.
Chen Shi frowned slightly, watching them depart.
Li Tianqing asked, "If someone with curious intentions were to lift Zen Master Ku’s eyelids, what would happen?"
Chen Shi’s expression grew solemn, "His sealed essence would leak out, and if he absorbed moonlight during his life, that essence would turn into evil energies, causing demon Qi pollution."
He exhaled a breath of tainted air, "The higher one’s cultivation, the more potent the demon Qi. If a body has been dead for a long time, the pollution becomes even worse! But, Zen Master Ku has just passed and was not exposed to the moon."
Li Tianqing hesitated, "I heard from the boat girl that Zen Master Ku should have died a long time ago, surviving only by sealing his life force within his golden body and using the Buddha’s light to evade the Yin God. By that account, he must’ve been exposed to the moonlight long ago... Little Ten, would this count as absorbing moonlight after death?"
The two exchanged a look.
The ox cart carrying Zen Master Ku’s golden body made its way toward Daxing Zen Temple in the city. As it passed a bump, it suddenly shook violently.
Monk Wu Chen quickly examined Zen Master Ku’s golden body and, finding no issues, felt relieved.
After a while, the ox cart arrived outside Daxing Zen Temple, and the monks carefully carried Zen Master Ku’s golden body into the temple. A monk laughed, "We must clean the temple well; surely high officials will come to pay respects to the Zen Master’s golden body and our temple’s incense offerings will flourish even more."
No sooner had he spoken, he felt an itch in his eyes and rubbed them.
The more he rubbed, the itchier they became, and suddenly, he sneezed.
His eyes popped out of their sockets and rolled onto the ground.
The monk laughed, "Now that feels much better."
And from his eye sockets, two mushrooms started to grow outward.
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