A normal person would feel nervous being pointed at by a Bald Monk, especially when the Bald Monk was so aggressive, and the person being pointed at was just a child.
Generally speaking, little brats either ignore it or start crying.
Simon didn't cry, of course he couldn't cry.
He didn't try to be clever, nor did he speak; he simply turned away, not looking at the Monk.
The Monk smiled slightly, "Indeed, he has great wisdom!"
The other Zen masters also nodded simultaneously.
The adults looked at Simon with astonished eyes, as if he were a rare treasure, this child who had received the approval of seven Zen masters simultaneously. But Simon himself actually had no thoughts about it; after feeling a little sleepy, he curled up in his quilt to sleep, not taking their gazes to heart at all.
He now enjoyed every full night's sleep.
Time flowed by in his semi-conscious state.
By the Spring Equinox of the following year, the last child had been weaned, and the oldest one had just learned to speak a few simple words.
Simon remained silent. He suddenly understood perfectly what Mr. Lu Xun said: "When I am silent, I feel very fulfilled; when I open my mouth to speak, I feel empty."
He couldn't find a second person to communicate with. He could speak, but there was no need.
He now slept by the window, falling asleep every night with the moonlight.
In early April, on a new moon night, Jueguang suddenly appeared outside the window. He gently picked up Simon, then, under the bright starlight, ran all the way to the forest.
Simon woke up, opening his eyes to look at this old Bald Donkey.
Jueguang looked down, smiled kindly at him, and softly said, "You, little fellow, still have a trace of innate energy from your mother's womb that hasn't dissipated. We can't waste it. Later, I will transfer energy to you to circulate through your meridians. If you truly have the capacity, you will surely remember the internal energy's flow path, and then, with innate perception, internal energy will generate itself. If you can't remember, then I'll have to bother myself to transfer more energy to you…"
He spoke to himself, and Simon listened to himself. Soon, they arrived at a peculiar peak, standing on a protruding rock, overlooking the beautiful scenery of Mount Song, which filled one's heart with joy.
"Let's do it here!"
He placed Simon on the ground and sat cross-legged opposite him.
Simon also imitated him, doing a double-cross-legged sit. Jueguang watched and nodded vigorously.
"The cultivation of internal energy, due to its five-element categories, emphasizes the time of practice. Within a day and a year, there are different periods corresponding to different five elements. Our Shaolin internal energy is mostly of the Diamond type, belonging to the Metal element. Within a day, the Metal energy begins at Shen (3-5 PM), flourishes at You (5-7 PM), and connects with earth energy at Xu (7-9 PM). Within a year, the Metal energy begins at the Start of Autumn, flourishes at the Autumn Equinox, and connects with earth energy at Hanlu (Cold Dew). Each sect has its own specific practices for cultivating internal energy, which I won't elaborate on one by one."
He paused, "There are six types of internal energy attributes. Besides the five elements, there is also the Primal Chaos type, which is all-encompassing and unaffected by the time of practice. The rotation of the five elements is the most enduring and suitable for laying a foundation. After all, too much rigidity breaks easily. Without a Primal Chaos foundation, solely cultivating the Diamond type would be too sharp and not conducive to longevity." At this point, he pursed his lips, as if recalling something disdainful.
"Today I will teach you the Serene Meditation technique, as the saying goes, 'unhindered pure wisdom all arises from meditative concentration.' The unity of Chan and martial arts, though it is a basic skill of our Shaolin, also deeply embodies the profound truths of Buddhist teachings… You are still too young, but you are naturally precocious. By practicing this Serene Meditation, you might even achieve enlightenment."
Jueguang placed his right palm on Simon's head, and a warm current surged into his cranial cavity, spreading like ripples.
Drowsiness surged, and gradually, Simon closed his eyes. He could neither see things nor was he aware that he couldn't see. He could neither smell scents nor did he care whether he smelled them. All five senses were sealed, and his mind completely sank into a state of meditative concentration.
Simon only felt himself to be a barren land, with roots extending in the silent, dark soil. But the hard mud and stones were instead the weaker ones, retreating step by step before the bursting vitality. Simon was the earth; he felt pain, but it was not pain; he felt new life, but it was not new life.
The earth was deep and endless, the roots could not penetrate it, so the roots retracted. What remained, the traces of the root stems, shone brightly in the darkness, leaving behind an even more enduring emptiness.
The earth longed to fill itself, but the earth itself did not possess such vitality, so it needed to grow its own roots.
What can the earth provide for life? Nutrients, this is the most direct and simple. But to ask on a deeper level, the earth also provides the fundamental basis for life's actual existence.
If the foundation of existence is extended, then the earth is not the earth, but the root of humanity, the primordial ancestral qi.
In the deepest meditation, Simon vaguely perceived his innate primordial qi.
The foundation of his existence, a qi, evolved into the earth, and the existence of the earth element - heavy, turbid, nurturing, transforming, condensing into essence, becoming metal, the metal element descending and converging, this qi continued to transform, nourishing and cold, becoming the water element.
Water and earth combine, nurturing all things, the wood element sprouts, its branches and capillaries burning brightly, rising like fire.
Flames rise, and after burning out, ashes settle into the earth. This earth is more active, purer, and more aligned with nature than its original state.
The transformation of a single qi's nature is the five elements. Qi operates within this integrated system, elevating human essence to align with the universe and heaven.
The barren land had already given birth to the five elements.
The earth element was at the very center as the main body, the settled metal element and the flowing water element were embraced by the earth element, the wood element rose on the surface of the earth element, and the fire element burned the outermost layer of the wood element, returning to the earth element.
The system of qi evolution and operation had been established.
But qi was still qi; the operation of the five elements was merely imitating nature and had not become reality.
Vitality surged, but it was chaotic and scattered.
The traces of root hairs on the earth still existed, subtly aching.
Simon gradually forgot the five elements, forgot the earth.
Meaningless.
Nature does not dwell on its own operating system; nature is merely an existence observed by humans. Therefore, nature itself is not natural enough; it is a distorted origin. To truly integrate into nature, one must forget nature.
Jueguang stared blankly at Simon. Had this child entered samadhi?
Complex emotions emerged on his tender face, from comfort to pain, from sorrow to deep thought, from satisfaction to longing.
Jueguang thought, perhaps this was a born Buddha-child.
He no longer dared to treat Simon as a child; before him was a future Patriarch! A Bodhisattva!
Jueguang's expression became solemn, and he recited the entire diamond sutra.
"Thus have I heard… All forms are illusory. If one sees that all forms are not forms, then one sees the Tathagata…"
The earth collapsed, the five elements disintegrated, everything ceased to exist, and in the void, a pure qi burst forth with a bang.
The innate qi, vigorously and spontaneously, circulated through the body, endlessly.
Simon opened his eyes and smiled slightly at Jueguang.
And Jueguang, with a respectful expression, prostrated himself in worship, truly a pilgrimage.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
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