When we returned to that high-end inn, the prince had to contract the inn for two days and listened to me explaining the Dharma to him.

I asked the prince: "What is the donor's incomprehensible?"

The prince said: "At that time, when he was an official in the previous dynasty, he had a colleague who was extremely arrogant and obscene, and he excluded and attacked me everywhere. He used all kinds of despicable means to spread rumors and slander them out of nothing. Every time I said something, he would slander them; every time I did something, he would attack me, which led to my fault and fear."

I asked, "Where is this person now?"

The prince said: "The previous dynasty was destroyed. This man wandered everywhere and attacked me in front of all the people I knew, spread rumors and slandered me, and used all kinds of despicable means. He would slander and attack me throughout his life as his only purpose."

I said I told the prince a story about Buddhist scriptures:

There is a temple famous for offering a string of Buddhist beads. There are endless pilgrims from far and wide. This Buddhist bead is the Buddha's belonging. In the temple, there is an abbot and seven disciples who eat vegetarian food and chant Buddha's name every day, and everyone is in peace.

Suddenly one day, the Buddhist beads disappeared and the pilgrims no longer came to the door. The abbot said to the seven disciples: "Who of you took the Buddhist beads and put them secretly outside the door at night, I will not pursue it." But seven days passed and the Buddhist beads did not appear.

The abbot said again: "Who of you took away the Buddhist beads and kept them secretly outside the door at night, I will not pursue it."

The seven disciples looked at each other, all guessing who stole the Buddhist beads. Those who complained, cursed, angry, and sad were all in one go.

Seven days later, the abbot asked, "Who took away the Buddhist beads?"

The sweeping monk in the temple stood up.

The abbot asked him, "Did you take away the Buddhist beads?" The sweeping monk nodded.

The abbot said to the other six disciples: "The Buddhist beads were stolen and the incense was not allowed to continue. You go down the mountain and find another way."

After the six disciples left, the abbot asked the sweeping monk: "Did you really steal Buddhist beads?"

The sweeping monk said, "I didn't steal."

The abbot asked: "Since you haven't stolen, why should you stand up and admit it?"

The monk sweeping the floor said: "The Buddhist beads were stolen, and people were panicked and suspicious. If I said I was stealing myself, the suspicion would disappear invisible and life would return to peace."

The abbot said, "I understand." He took out the string of Buddhist beads from his body, put them on the neck of the sweeping monk and said, "I will go to Yunyou tomorrow, and you will take over as the abbot of the temple."

After hearing this story, the prince seemed to have some insights. He said, "The monk who sweeping the floor is good for being brave enough to take responsibility."

I said, "The monk sweeping the floor has no responsibility. He does not argue or argue, and does not hear or see. He is a master; he does not hear or see, and he is a saint. If he does not fight, he is compassionate, and does not distinguish is wisdom. If he does not hear or see, he is purity. If he does not see, he is freedom. Forgiveness is liberation, and contentment is letting go."

The prince pondered for a long time, and he said happily: "I understand. He turned a blind eye to the person who persisted in slandering and attacking me, ignored him, forgave his ignorance, let go of his hatred and resentment, and did whatever he should do."

I said, "Yes."

The prince asked again: "I talked to others about Buddhism, and no one believed it when it comes to heaven and hell. You are a monk who has attained enlightenment. Do you believe there is heaven and hell?"

I said, "Some."

The prince asked: "Where is heaven and hell? Who can tell me?"

I said, "Heaven is everywhere, and anyone can see it."

The prince asked: "How do you say this?"

I told him another story:

A warrior met with Zen Master Baiyin and asked about the difference between heaven and hell. Zen Master Baiyin asked, "What are you doing?"

The warrior said: "I am a martial artist and walk around the world."

Zen Master Bai Yin said: "How can you ask me about Buddhism as rough as you!"

The warrior was insulted and furious. He drew out his long sword and was about to chop at Zen Master Baiyin.

Zen Master Bai Yin said: "Hell has arrived."

The warrior was shocked and hurriedly took back his sword and the sword sheath.

Zen Master Baiyin said: "Heaven is coming."

The warrior suddenly realized, fell to the ground and said, "Thank you, Master, I understand the meaning of heaven and hell."

The prince thought for a while and said, "I understand too."

In fact, these stories were told by the short and fat man in Xiangyong Temple before, and the short and fat man was told by the abbot of the temple where he lived. The short and fat man liked to tell stories, and although he was talking in a long and long way, he could still tell the story clearly. I like to listen to stories. Although I just finished listening to them, I could still slowly understand the Zen meaning contained in the story.

When the prince heard me telling two Buddhist stories, he became more and more impressed by me. He said: "If the monk does not dislike him, he is willing to eat and sleep with the monks and listen to the monks day and night."

I was secretly happy and wished this was the case.

In Datong City, we lingered for two days, and for two days, I explained the stories of Buddhist scriptures to the prince every day. In fact, some stories were made up by me, but the protagonist must be a certain character in the Buddhist scriptures. Anyway, the Buddhist scriptures are vast and voluminous, profound and difficult to understand. How can he, a Mongolian prince, understand them?

Later, when there was really no story to tell, I told him my experience and replaced me with a little monk. During the process of telling, I gave him a few more verses: "There are countless Buddha kingdoms in the east, and the Bodhisattvas in that land go to see countless enlightenment." Or "If you are in trouble, you should wish that sentient beings will be free and free in their actions without any obstacles." These are the most commonly used verses in the scriptures, but as a person in the world, how can you understand these?

The prince used to be an official in the court, and his power was strong for a while, and everyone was respectful; the previous dynasty overturned and returned to the grassland, and was still a rich man. Whether he was a high-ranking official or a rich man, he was in a high position and was in a cold place. No one could talk to him. Suddenly, he met me in Datong City, which led me to my lifelong confidant.

On the morning of the third day, a brand new carriage was completed. The prince was about to sit back to the northern grassland. He invited me to continue explaining the "Buddhist scriptures" in the carriage.

At dusk that day, the group came to a place called Yanggao. Yanggao is a county town and the last county town leading to the grassland outside the border in northern Shanxi. There was only one inn in the county town, and the inn was short of rooms, so the prince contracted the inn again.

That night, I also slept with the prince in the same room. It was time for the middle of the night when the prince fell asleep in the snoring sound like thunder. The prince wore a golden collar around his neck, which shone brightly and seemed to have words engraved on it.

On the morning of the fourth day, after washing up, I continued to go on the road. The more I walked north, the more I felt the scenery was different, the sky was high and the earth was wide, the trees were sparse and grass was withered, and the broken geese were called the west wind, which made people feel desolate. In the distance, the ancient Great Wall was like a thin line, which separated the sky and the earth, the grassland and the inland. Beyond the grassland, there was another world.

That night, we stayed in a place called Luo Wenzao. Luo Wenzao is an ancient village with about a thousand families in the village. The architectural style is the same as that of the Central Plains, with brick and stone structures and tiles. When we cross the Great Wall, we are yurts.

On the east side of Luo Wenzao are rich families, and tall houses are neatly connected in a row; on the west side of Luo Wenzao are poor families, with high and low houses and uneven houses. The thatch on the roof shaking in the wind, making people feel chilled.

We live in a family in the east. From the north of the Seitou to northern Shanxi, there is only this road, and we must pass through Luo Wenyu. This family has made their own home into an inn, and they live by themselves when there are no guests; when there are no guests, they let guests stay.

After settling down, I walked out and wanted to do something tonight and steal the golden collar around the prince's neck.

I walked out of this courtyard and saw a swallow carved on the wall at the door. I knew it was a swallow's mark. She kept following us behind and waiting for an opportunity to help me.

When the prince saw me standing at the gate of the courtyard, he asked me where I wanted to go. I said, "I want to go out alone."

The prince said: "Don't go far. It's close to the outer border. There will be dangers when wolves appear outside the border."

I thanked me and walked out of Luo Wenyu.

Outside Luo Wenyu Village, there is a saline-alkali land, with stones of all sizes scattered everywhere, stretching to the foot of the Great Wall. The stars are bleak and the night wind is swaying. As expected, the cry of wolves is heard in the distance.

I planned tonight's action, thinking that I needed someone to help, but where is Yan Zi? She left a mark at the door of the courtyard, indicating that she was in Luo Wenzao, but did he know that I was outside the village at this moment, waiting for her?

I waited for half an hour and was about to leave when I suddenly saw swallows appear. She was wearing a tight black dress and looked very slim under the starlight. I suddenly saw her and felt very friendly and couldn't help but grab her hand. She also rushed up to grab my hand. She said, "The prince's entourage is very tight and blocked the road. I was anxious to leave the village."

I said, "Tonight, you go to the roof of the house, unload the tiles and dig holes, and make a sound. The prince and I live in the house. When you see someone rushing out of the yard, you turn around and leave, and I will chase you later."

Swallow said, "Be careful."

The breath of swallows speaking sprayed on my face, with a faint fragrance, which really blew like orchids. I mustered up the courage to stretch out my arms and hugged the swallow in my arms, but the swallow did not refuse.

I don’t know how long I hugged it, but I was in a daze and wandered outside the sky. The swallow patted my shoulder and said, “I’m leaving. Be careful. If you can succeed, you can succeed. If you can’t, don’t act rashly.”

I said, "I will."

Looking at the long and strong figure of the swallow, disappearing into the night, there were still two soft pieces on my chest.
Chapter completed!