"What?"
Wunian wore a confused expression.
Zhang Wei leaned closer to Wunian and slowly said, "It's about which Buddha you prefer, who you admire and revere the most, and what you like about them."
As soon as the question was asked, Zhang Chao's interest was piqued.
Yes.
Which Buddha did Wunian like?
It was known that Buddhas could also be female. If Wunian preferred a female Buddha, it would be akin to asking about his preferred type of woman.
How could Zhang Chao not be interested in learning about Wunian, the silent type's, preferred type of woman?
He quickly sidled up, giving Zhang Wei a thumbs-up.
Zhang Wei returned a "you know what I mean" look to Zhang Chao.
Zhang Chao gave Zhang Wei a "I know" look in return.
Meanwhile,
Wunian was completely unaware that Zhang Wei and the other were "plotting" against him.
He was genuinely pondering the question.
Which Buddha do I like?
Amitabha.
Let me think.
After a moment, Wunian clasped his hands together and replied earnestly, "I like and revere every Buddha. They are my guiding lights."
"If I had to choose one favorite,"
"I would choose Guanyin Bodhisattva."
Zhang Wei said "Oh," and exchanged a look with Zhang Chao.
"So, it's Gu~an~yin~ Bodhisattva~."
Before Wunian could say anything,
Zhang Wei continued, "Then, Brother Wunian, what does the Guanyin Bodhisattva in your heart look like?"
In order to pry into the young monk Wunian's preferred type of woman,
Zhang Wei even took out his phone.
He opened Baidu and searched for a bunch of images of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
"Take a look at these images of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Which one matches the image in your heart?"
He presented images of famous cosplayers portraying the Bodhisattva.
One was as beautiful as an immortal, ethereal, like a pure and innocent little fairy.
One was mature, like an older sister, exuding a powerful aura.
One was in the appearance of a junior high schooler, petite and tender, as cute as a neighbor's daughter.
One was pure and voluptuous, extremely well-endowed.
One was...
"There are all sorts of types here: mature, loli, pure, dominant, etc." Zhang Chao remarked.
He nudged Wunian with his elbow.
"Wunian, pick one. Which one fits the image in your heart? Tell me, if that fourth one is the image in your heart, then as your brother, I'm making you my sworn brother!"
"Amitabha, let me see."
Wunian took Zhang Wei's phone.
As he scrolled through the images, his expression remained calm.
He was not moved by any of the Bodhisattva photos.
He merely glanced at them and then looked away.
Even though the girls dressed as Bodhisattvas were all beautiful, especially the fourth one with her overwhelming curves, he passed over them without being affected.
Seeing this,
Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao looked at each other strangely.
Zhang Chao muttered quietly,
"Unbelievable, Wunian isn't moved even by the fourth picture?"
"Normally, a guy would at least take another look at a girl with such prominent curves, right?"
Zhang Wei nodded noncommittally.
"It seems that Brother Wunian's eyes are only on studying and Buddhist teachings. He truly has no desires."
Zhang Chao sighed.
"I thought I could find out what kind of girls Wunian, this silent type, likes. I didn't expect him to be completely uninterested in women. Alas, I suddenly feel sorry for his little brother; it can only be used for urination and nothing else. How tragic."
Zhang Wei chuckled upon hearing this and was about to say something,
But at that moment,
"What are you guys talking about?"
Wunian looked over.
He had finished looking at the pictures and returned the phone to Zhang Wei. His expression had been calm throughout, showing no hint of emotion, fulfilling Zhang Wei's description of him having no desires.
"Nothing much."
Zhang Wei waved his hand, changing the subject.
"Brother Wunian, did you finish looking? How was it? Was there not a single one that matched the image of the Bodhisattva in your heart?"
Wunian heard this.
He smiled and shook his head.
"Benefactor Zhang Wei, please don't joke. None of these are the image of a Bodhisattva."
"Bodhisattvas do not look like that."
His words rang out.
The next second,
"Why wouldn't they be Bodhisattvas?"
Zhang Wei spoke earnestly and eloquently, "Brother Wunian, isn't there a saying that Bodhisattvas have three thousand manifestations, and each manifestation is different? So, Bodhisattvas naturally have various appearances. How can you be sure that Bodhisattvas cannot have these cute appearances?"
"Moreover, in the stories and deeds of Bodhisattvas, isn't it often mentioned that Bodhisattvas transform into mortals and enter the mortal world to save sentient beings?"
"Then, wouldn't their transformed appearances possibly include cute little lolis and mature women?"
His voice was not loud,
But it made Wunian pause.
Following that,
He pondered for a moment, clasped his hands together, and replied with a smile,
"Benefactor Zhang Wei, what you say is not without reason. It is true that Bodhisattvas have three thousand manifestations."
Before he finished speaking,
His tone shifted, pointing to a Bodhisattva photo in Zhang Wei's hand.
"However, no matter how a Bodhisattva transforms, they wouldn't transform into something like this. Look at this one, where is the Bodhisattva holding a modern weapon?"
Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao looked over.
This was an image Zhang Wei had found to find a type of girl who was both cool and stylish. In the picture,
The Bodhisattva was extremely imposing, holding a Gatling gun in both hands.
As she pulled the trigger, the Gatling gun's muzzle spewed fire.
The Bodhisattva's appearance
Was as imposing as it could be, as cool as it could be, as stylish as it could be, a truly commanding goddess.
Seeing this,
Zhang Wei grinned.
"How could there not be?"
"This is Namo Gatling Bodhisattva."
Zhang Chao also chimed in from the side.
"(⊙o⊙)... Wunian, you actually don't know Namo Gatling Bodhisattva?"
Wunian was stunned.
He looked at Zhang Wei and the other, a look of confusion on his handsome face.
"Namo Gatling Bodhisattva? Is there such a Bodhisattva?"
At this time,
Zhang Wei's voice came.
He pointed to Zhang Chao and said,
"Of course there is. See, Zhang Chao knows about Namo Gatling Bodhisattva. She's one of the most popular Bodhisattvas in recent years, worshipped and venerated by many."
Seeing Wunian's suspicious gaze,
Zhang Wei took out his phone and searched for an image on Baidu.
It was the famous "Namo Gatling Bodhisattva" photo.
It could be seen that
The Bodhisattva in the photo was different from the ones previously shown to Wunian. It wasn't a real person, but a real statue, possibly made of bronze or iron. Behind the Bodhisattva was a cabinet, and on the cabinet were many bronze Buddha statues.
"Brother Wunian, look."
"Someone has even directly enshrined a statue of Namo Gatling Bodhisattva."
"There's even a Buddhist verse for Namo Gatling Bodhisattva below."
Zhang Wei pointed to a line of text below the photo and read it directly:
"Namo Gatling Bodhisattva, six senses pure, depleted uranium rounds, three thousand six hundred turns per breath, great compassion to save all beings."
Then,
Zhang Wei also opened Baidu and searched directly for Namo Gatling Bodhisattva.
"Many people like Namo Gatling Bodhisattva. There are so many posts. This is the image of the Bodhisattva they like, and many people venerate her."
"In addition,"
"Besides Namo Gatling Bodhisattva,"
"There's also Anti-Tank Arhat, Western Heaven Armaments Tathagata, and so on."
Zhang Wei searched and showed Wunian the Buddhas he mentioned.
For example, the Western Heaven Armaments Tathagata.
In the picture, the Tathagata sat on a mechanical lotus with missile petals. The halo behind him was composed of countless armaments, including rocket launchers, AK45s, grenades, and so on – a halo made of armaments.
Wunian shook his head, clasping his hands together.
"Benefactor Zhang Wei, these are just fabrications, not real Bodhisattvas or Tathagatas."
"After all, I've never heard of any Buddhist practitioners using these Bodhisattvas or Tathagatas to subdue demons and ghosts."
"Because these Bodhisattvas and Tathagatas cannot exorcise ghosts."
In response to Wunian,
Zhang Wei wagged a single index finger, shaking his head.
"You're wrong there. Who says they can't exorcise ghosts?"
Seeing Wunian's confused gaze,
Zhang Wei grinned.
"Don't you believe me? Brother Wunian, you know this clearly."
"The more 'gods' are worshipped by people, the more powerful they become to protect people. For example, City God temples. They were human in life, and after death, they were built temples and worshipped by people. With the power of incense, they became gods in the eyes of mortals."
"So, Namo Gatling Bodhisattva and Western Heaven Armaments Tathagata are the same."
"Many people believe in them, and thus they gain the power of incense. Then, they can deal with ghosts."
Zhang Wei's words
Left Wunian stunned.
As a Buddhist disciple, how could he not know about the power of incense and faith? Moreover, he had encountered the "Hu San Taiye" of the "Chu Ma Xian" sect, and was even more aware of the power of incense.
It was known that the origin of the "Chu Ma Xian" sect was that mountain spirits and monsters, in order to become immortals, allowed people to worship them. In return, they helped humans with things like protecting homes and subduing demons and ghosts, thereby accumulating merit, gaining the power of incense and faith, and thus achieving enlightenment.
Their methods were similar to what Zhang Wei described about the City God.
The City God achieved the body of incense through merit and faith, transforming from mortal to immortal.
Besides this,
There was also a folk belief about faith.
It was said that the gods in the world were merely manifestations of people's faith.
Because they believed in gods.
Because they had faith in deities.
Therefore, under faith, deities were condensed and manifested.
Even modern theology has a saying.
It is that belief brings existence.
For example, the Japanese urban legend that if people believe in a certain urban legend, and if enough people believe it, then the ghosts and monsters in that urban legend will truly appear.
Therefore,
Namo Gatling Bodhisattva, Western Heaven Armaments Tathagata, being believed in and having faith placed in them by people,
Why couldn't they condense the body of incense, manifest into reality, and be ranked among the immortals like traditional immortals and Buddhas?
...