Chapter 1096: 1096
Fangzheng smiled . “This Penniless Monk hasn’t done anything that eats at his conscience, nor does This Penniless Monk have anything embarrassing to see . They can watch all they like . ”
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Ong was stunned .
Fangzheng looked up at the ceiling right above him . “There seems to be an eye there . ”
Ong looked over and indeed, there was an eye hanging high above . It exuded extreme solemnity . With the various deities and sages, Ong felt as though he had been stripped naked, allowing everything to be seen . He felt even more uncomfortable as he hurriedly said, “Master, let’s go . It feels really odd . ”
Fangzheng chuckled and shook his head . He then chose an elevator with Ong .
After entering the elevator, the repressive feeling instantly vanished .
Ong let out a long sigh . “Master, what kind of place is this? Why did they make it feel so strange?”
Fangzheng shook his head . “There’s nothing strange about it . It’s just that you have guilt in you . This creeps you out when stared at by the sages, saints, and deities . As the saying goes, ‘a clear conscience sleeps unperturbed in thunder . ’ Notice that This Penniless Monk seems perfectly fine . ”
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“Master, what the hell is this place?” Salted Fish suddenly asked . “Why are they worshiping all kinds of random stuff?”
Fangzheng said, “This Penniless Monk has heard that Vietnam has a rising faith known as Caodaism . It combines Eastern and Western doctrines— Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity—into one . They worship Bodhisattva, Buddha, as well as Daoist deities, and God and angels . They believe that God reigns over the Universe at Cao Dai, or literally the High Tower .
“They say that at the beginning of the Universe, only God existed . Following that, the Holy Mother, representing the yin forces, was created by God, the Highest Lord . The Highest Lord imbues part of Him into each living being; thus, giving them life thanks to yin and yang . ”
“Isn’t that blasphemous?” Salted Fish murmured .
Fangzheng smiled . “How so? Their theology combines the essence of many religions . As long as it’s good overall, that’s sufficient . Every place has its own beliefs . As an outsider, respect is needed . We shouldn’t denigrate them for no reason . ”
Upon saying this, Fangzheng said, “It’s just like China’s Buddhism . Compared to India’s Buddhism, it’s completely different . Do you call that blasphemous? Buddha has thousands of Dharma Aspects . Buddha stays in the center of the universe, watching the thousands of worlds . Buddha has never wanted to change others into himself, but his wish is to let all people live like him . Becoming Buddha is about finding one’s true self and living one’s true life . Be it Caodaism or other religions, you can just interpret them as another aspect of Buddha . ”
Salted Fish smacked his lips . “Does seem to ring a bell . Buddha said something similar in the past . ”
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Fangzheng smiled . He had no idea what Buddha had said, but he knew one thing . Everyone had their own lives . No one had the right to use their standards to criticize others and to change their lives . As long as one didn’t commit any crimes, they were free to do anything . Concerning these matters, there was no right or wrong . What one needed to do was to show respect .
As for Salted Fish’s existence, Ong was already mentally prepared . Therefore, when Salted Fish suddenly asked a question, he was only curious . But to approach the fire-spewing salted fish? He didn’t have the guts for that .
As they chatted, the elevator reached the top . When they walked out, they saw shimmering gold everywhere . It was a resplendent temple!
This temple seemed to resemble Caodaism . It fused the traits of the three major religions with two gothic-like steeples . At the same time, there was a clear Chinese traditional style . The area outside had awnings with two rows of dragon sculptured columns inside the temple .
There were already many people gathered outside the temple . Fangzheng saw many familiar faces . After all, while he was waiting in the taxi, he had nothing to do other than look at these people who alighted from supercars .
Everyone was having casual conversations, so Fangzheng’s arrival attracted much attention . Especially with his kasaya, it was almost impossible not to notice him . However, no one looked at him with contempt, but they gave him a friendly smile .
Ong was originally afraid that Fangzheng would be discriminated against, but he was now relieved . He whispered . “As expected of accomplished monks, masters, and bishops . They are just different . ”
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Fangzheng smiled . Although he had never participated in such events, he had met accomplished monks from Baiyun Monastery and Hongyan Monastery . Truly accomplished monks wouldn’t mock someone just because of their appearance . Everyone knew better .
Fangzheng came in front of the hall and looked inside . On a high platform’s offering table, there were a few levels .
In the middle of the highest level was Shakyamuni Buddha . By his sides were the Daoism founder, Laozi, and Confucius . In the middle of the second level was Guan Yin . By her sides were famous poets Li Bai and Guan Yu . On the third level was Jesus . On the fourth level apart from Jiang Ziya1, there were also statues of Sun Zhongshan and other Eastern and Western sages .
These statues left not only Ong marveling, but Fangzheng as well . Due to the different faith, Fangzheng didn’t enter to offer any incense . All he did was circle around the periphery before retreating to a side .
By looking down at Hoàn Kiếm Lake from Mt . Dharma Characteristic, one could see the green waves as they undulated and made for a beautiful vista .
Before long, some staff came and began informing everyone about the program .
Different from what Fangzheng imagined, the summit wasn’t one that began discussing upon meeting . The first day was merely a gathering to ensure that everyone was present . Everyone would then return to their room to rest, and they would have their lodging prepared for them on Mt . Dharma Characteristic .
Only then did Fangzheng realize that the card which the attendant gave him upon entry wasn’t just a card for participating in the summit, it was also a room card .
As he went down the elevator with Ong, he arrived at the thirtieth floor which had a Buddhist-themed Western Paradise room . When he opened the door, Fangzheng was astonished . There was even green vegetation covering the room!
The bed was in the middle of the vegetation, and there was even flowing water on the floor .
Ong touched the real flowers as well as a chameleon that was on a tree, and he exclaimed . “Who is the one backing the Dharma Characteristics Monastery? Isn’t that person just far too rich?”
Fangzheng was puzzled as well . Could it be as those people guessed? Were the people behind this monastery the government and the king? But Caodaism wasn’t a national religion of Vietnam, so why would the government go this far?
As Fangzheng was lost in thought, he felt his back lighten . Salted Fish had jumped off his back, shaking his body before burping . It frightened Ong into scrambling away, afraid that the fire-spewing fish would burn him .
Salted Fish rolled his eyes at him and said in the tone of a senior, “Lad, what are you afraid of? I’m a Guardian Protector, not a professional fire-spewing fish . ”
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