700: Chapter 700 [Offering Incense and Worshiping Buddha] 700: Chapter 700 [Offering Incense and Worshiping Buddha] “Donor Chu, you have arrived?
Please, Amitabha!” A monk specialized in reception recognized Chu Renkuang and the others at a glance.
Afterward, Ye Chenfeng and the others naturally enjoyed a VIP passage.
Chu Renkuang was recognized as a great benefactor of the temple, having donated a considerable amount of incense money.
Even the grand mountain gate was built with his donations.
Every year at this time, Ziguang Temple had designated personnel to receive them.
Looking at the imposing mountain gate of the temple, Ye Chenfeng had an inscrutable smile at the corner of his mouth.
After entering the gate, Ye Chenfeng looked around the temple with great interest.
“Donor Chu, the same as last year?” The middle-aged monk specially assigned to take care of Chu Renkuang asked cautiously.
Chu Renkuang nodded, “Yes, let’s go burn incense first.”
“Very well, Donor Chu, please follow me!”
“Qingxue, I didn’t expect to meet you here.
The Buddha says that 500 glances in a past life exchange for one passing by in this life.” At that moment, a person, Jiang Qi, appeared in front of them.
“Jiang Qi, why are you here?” Chu Qingxue couldn’t help but exclaim, even Chu Renkuang shot him a surprised look.
Ye Chenfeng glanced at Jiang Qi and snorted coldly, “Clearly, he’s just waiting here for this.
Do you have to show off?”
Jiang Qi glanced at Ye Chenfeng and readily admitted, “Indeed, Qingxue, I’m here specifically waiting for you.”
Chu Qingxue looked at him in disbelief.
Jiang Qi smiled and said, “Qingxue, I know today is an extremely important day for you.
Every year at this time, you come to Ziguang Temple to worship the Buddha and burn incense.
I know everything about you very well.
So on this significant day, I came to Ziguang Temple specifically, just to burn incense with you.
You wouldn’t refuse, would you?”
“Extremely important day?” Ye Chenfeng was stunned for a moment.
Chu Renkuang had just invited him here; he really didn’t know what made today so important.
“I wouldn’t refuse.” Chu Qingxue hesitated for a moment but agreed, considering Jiang Qi’s good intentions.
“Qingfei, what day is today?” Helpless, Ye Chenfeng had to whisper in Chu Qingfei’s ear.
He also noticed that Chu Qingfei had been unusually quiet today, walking all the way with a cold face without saying a word.
Seeing it was Ye Chenfeng asking her, Chu Qingfei finally looked up and said lightly, “Today is the anniversary of our parents’ death.
Every year, we come to Ziguang Temple.”
Ye Chenfeng instantly understood why Chu Qingxue agreed to Jiang Qi and why everyone was so subdued today.
Faced with Chu Qingxue, he kept chattering away and was lucky she hadn’t gotten angry.
Originally, there were five of them, including Uncle Fu.
Now Jiang Qi had joined them.
Under the guidance of the monk, they arrived at the Mahavira Hall.
“The Mahavira Hall enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha, the Crown Prince of Ancient India’s King Suddhodana, who later renounced the world to practice, attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
He became the fully awakened one and was the founder of Buddhism, revered by disciples as the ‘World-Honored One’.” Jiang Qi spoke eloquently, but Chu Qingxue and the others weren’t interested.
However, it caught the attention of a nearby monk, who smiled kindly at Jiang Qi, “This donor has a considerable affinity with Buddhism.
Many donors, even those who come to worship and burn incense, don’t know these details.”
“Master, you’re too kind.” Jiang Qi humbly smiled.
The monk’s eyes gleamed, and he couldn’t help but say, “May I say something more?”
“Please, master.”
“Donor, do you know the true meaning of burning incense and worshipping the Buddha?” the monk asked.
Jiang Qi smiled slightly, “The true meaning of burning incense and worshipping the Buddha lies in expressing respect, gratitude, and remembrance of the Buddha.
To purify oneself, dedicate one’s life, and become enlightened.
In doing so, one naturally achieves blessings, wisdom, and the fulfillment of wishes.”
Not only did the monk’s eyes light up, but also those around them.
Even Chu Renkuang’s eyes revealed a look of surprise, thinking more highly of Jiang Qi.
“The donor indeed has a deep affinity with Buddhism.” Even the monk seemed a bit excited.
Jiang Qi was thrilled to display his knowledge in front of Chu Qingxue and the others.
“Grandpa Chu, Qingxue, you all wait here.
I’ll go get incense for everyone.” Jiang Qi, in his excitement, was about to go get incense.
Upon hearing this, the monk who had just praised him suddenly looked very strange.
At this moment, Ye Chenfeng spoke up, “In the temple, you don’t say you’re buying incense; you say you’re requesting it.
Also, the incense you offer should be bought by yourself; you can’t have someone else pay for it.”
Ye Chenfeng’s words made Jiang Qi stop in his tracks, looking at everyone in bewilderment.
Especially when he saw the expression of the monk who had praised him, he knew Ye Chenfeng was right.
“It seems you know how to offer incense?” Jiang Qi turned his gaze to Ye Chenfeng.
Ye Chenfeng didn’t answer him but looked at Chu Renkuang since he was accompanying them today and shouldn’t mix up the priority of who’s first.
Soon, Chu Renkuang nodded.
The process of requesting incense, lighting it, and burning it was very familiar to Ye Chenfeng.
However, after lighting the incense, the flames on the three sticks had to be extinguished before offering them.
Seeing this, Jiang Qi watched Ye Chenfeng with great interest, wanting to see how he would extinguish the flames.
He guessed Ye Chenfeng would blow them out.
But Ye Chenfeng clasped the three sticks of incense lightly with both hands, his left hand on top, and his right hand below.
Suddenly, with a lift, the flames went out automatically.
Those around were dumbfounded.
Usually, these rituals required a monk’s guidance; someone like Ye Chenfeng doing it was rare.
In front of the Buddha statues, Ye Chenfeng used his thumb and forefinger to hold the incense, with the other three fingers closed, lifting the incense to his brow.
He inserted the first stick of incense in the middle, reciting, “Offer to the Buddha”; the second stick went to the right, “Offer to the Dharma”; the third to the left, “Offer to the Sangha.”
Finally, Ye Chenfeng put his palms together and silently recited, “Offer to all sentient beings.
May this incense cloud fill all ten directions, offering to all Buddhas, revered Dharma, and all holy sages.”
Chu Qingxue and her sister watched him without blinking, and in Chu Qingxue’s eyes, Ye Chenfeng’s image grew taller.
Meanwhile, Jiang Qi felt a sense of defeat, as if Ye Chenfeng excelled in every domain, being almost omnipotent.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Ye Chenfeng frowned and stopped in his tracks, turning back to see that the three sticks of incense he had just offered were all extinguished.
Because of Ye Chenfeng, the others also saw this scene.
How could the incense they just offered suddenly go out?
It was really strange.
“Hmph, perhaps even the Buddha can’t tolerate him.
The incense he offered actually went out,” Jiang Qi snorted coldly, making Chu Qingxue and the others’ faces change.
At that moment, Ye Chenfeng’s eyes scanned the surroundings, seemingly looking for something.